Severe Weather Awareness Week 2014
The week of April 6 through April 12, 2014 has been declared Severe Weather Awareness Week in Michigan. Most severe storms in our area occur between April and August. The Farmington Hills/Farmington Emergency Preparedness Commission (EPC) recommends that every resident prepare for severe weather by following these tips:
- Prepare an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
- Remove dead or rotting trees and branches from your property and ask neighbors to do the same.
- Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule – if you see lightning, start counting. If you can’t count to 30 before you hear thunder, then you need to go inside. Remain indoors for 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.
- Rubber soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning, however the steel top and frame of a car provide some protection if you’re not touching metal.
- Unplug any electronic equipment, including corded telephones, well before the storm arrives.
- Injured persons do not carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely, unless they are in contact with electricity. If you’re qualified to do so, begin first aid procedures to the victim. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
- After the storm, carefully look for fallen power lines and call 9-1-1 and DTE to report them. Do not touch fences as they may be energized by a fallen wire.
- Stay at least 25 feet away from any downed lines. This includes phone and cable lines as they could be energized by fallen DTE wires. Also keep in mind that standing water conducts electricity, so stay 25 feet away from the edge of standing water.
- Keep pets inside until their outside area is safe.
- Listen to radio station AM 1650 for emergency instructions. A car radio is the best to use, before and after the storm.
- Purchase and use an NOAA weather radio to stay up to date on weather alerts.
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