Tips

The onset of prolonged below-freezing temperatures can cause the surface area of lakes, ponds, creeks, and ditches to freeze over and form a super thin sheet of ice. But many don’t know that this ice is thin and extremely unstable. Please avoid playing, skating, or driving over any frozen body of water, including lakes, ponds, creeks, and ditches. If you have an open body of water on your property, keep an eye out for children who may be adventurists. Post warnings around the area and provide an access barrier whenever possible. Dress in layers of warm insulated clothing and limit…

“Small fires are easy to contain and put out.”   This is FICTION! While it may seem simpler to contain smaller fires, flames can spread rapidly and become uncontrollable and uncontainable in an instant. This could lead to the destruction of property or worse — the loss of a life. Steps to follow : Should you encounter a small fire, first alert everyone in your home before calling 911 as soon as you can. Calling 911 immediately is imperative, even if you think you can extinguish the fire alone. If you're confident about using a fire extinguisher and can do so…

Freezing winds and cold temperatures can create additional hazards on the roads. Please follow these safety tips to keep you and your family safe, should you have to drive in below-freezing conditions. Keep your gas tank as full as you can. A full tank will also keep the fuel line from freezing. Make sure your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated before driving. In addition to essentials, consider adding a portable cell phone charger, ice scraper, extra blanket, and jumper cables to your vehicle, should you become stranded. Keep family and emergency phone numbers in your vehicle, including your auto insurance…

The best is to stay at home, but if you have to go out......Bundle up! As the cold weather continues, remember to bundle up! Wearing multiple layers of clothing is key to staying warm and safe.

When the lights flicker and everything goes dark, most of us will spend the first few minutes waiting for the power to return. Rather than grumbling, get up and tackle these simple tasks to keep you and your home safe for the duration. Check to ensure everyone in the house is safe. Find your family members and bring them together in one room to distribute lights and other equipment. If it’s dark, use your cellphone flashlight to prevent injuries or falls. Retrieve your emergency kit. Check that your flashlights are operational and replace batteries if needed. Inventory your candles and…

As temperatures fall, rain can freeze, leading to icy and dangerous road conditions. Increased ice accumulation can cause more trees and branches to fall, potentially damaging powerlines and leading to widespread power outages. If you see a downed powerline don’t touch it and call 911. Let utility professionals and emergency personnel handle the situation. Please also keep these safety tips in mind: Always assume powerlines are live and stay as far away as possible. Even downed wires can still be energized and extremely dangerous. Never drive over downed powerlines. Even if they appear inactive, they can be entangled with your…

The holidays have come and gone, but the cold weather won’t be leaving any time soon. Please follow these tips to ensure you and your family’s safety in case of a cold weather-related incident. •Keep your gas tank as full as you can. A full tank will also keep the fuel line from freezing. •While we discourage unnecessary travel during inclement weather, if you must go out, please install good winter tires and make sure they have enough tread. •When driving, increase your following distance from 3 to 4 seconds to 5 to 6 seconds. It takes longer to slow…

Due to the winter storm, we advise residents to know how to properly shut off their water to keep their homes safe in the event of a burst pipe during freezing temperatures. - Avoid burst pipes by dripping your pipes and opening cabinets under your sinks. - Locate your home’s water shut-off valve before it becomes an emergency. Valves can typically be found in the front yard of your property. Look for an oval steel plate to locate it. - Shut off your water if a pipe bursts! Remove the steel plate that covers the shut-off valve and turn it…

During the winter storm, you may notice branded tape that reads “Fire Line Do Not Cross” in your neighborhood. For your safety, it is incredibly important for all residents to stay away from areas marked off by this tape in the coming days. High visibility fire line tape is used to mark hazards such as downed powerlines, cable lines, trees, and more. For downed powerlines especially, it is critical to stay away as there is no visible way of knowing if they’re charged or not. This tape is also used to keep residents out of potentially dangerous areas affected by…