Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

[Texas Pirate]

Well Howdy friends and other people - I'm back!
Who knew this winter would be way more exciting than our summer?

We are up for another round of cold - like before.
The Weather Channel named this CLEON. I name it WINTER.

North of us and West of us will see the ice stuff (Dallas Metroplex)
College Station/Hill Country may see some freeze

We will see some very cold temps - don't let this 80 degrees fool you....
cuz this weekend we'll be lucky to sustain 40's - this will come with rain
May even have some wintry mix - its up for grabs and Mother Nature's mood.

HOWEVER - we will be prepared ...again.
IF you have a space heater - please monitor
If you know of someone who may need some help or is alone - check up on them.
Pets, plants and people need a warm place and space this weekend.

Take care - and we'll see what happens
From Our Houston/Galveston NWS:

HGX:
WINTER WEATHER POTENTIAL...LETS JUST SAY THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL
UNCERTAINTY. RIGHT NOW THERE LOOKS TO BE THE POTENTIAL FOR
FREEZING RAIN/DRIZZLE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. MAIN AREAS WILL BE
FROM COLLEGE STATION TO HUNTSVILLE TO GROVETON NORTHWARD. COLD
AIRMASS GETS COLDER ON FRI AND WITH MOISTURE TRAPPED OVER THE
FRONTAL SURFACE...COULD LEAD TO RAIN/DRIZZLE. POSSIBLE THAT THESE
AREAS COULD BECOME COLD ENOUGH LATE FRIDAY TO SUPPORT FREEZING
RAIN/DRIZZLE. THE MORE LIKELY TIME FRAME APPEARS TO BE SATURDAY
MORNING. GFS HAS TRENDED COLDER WITH THE AIRMASS WITH TEMPS BELOW
FREEZING. ECMWF SEEMS TO BE JUST AS COLD BUT ENDS PRECIP FRI
NIGHT. ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE SATURDAY WITH THE
APPROACH OF THE NEXT JET STREAK. GFS RAMPS UP PRECIP SAT MORNING
AND THEN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ECMWF IS SLOWER TO DO SO AND HAS
MUCH DRIER AIR AT THE SURFACE WHICH WOULD HAVE TO SATURATE THROUGH
WET-BULB THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES. SO IF THERE IS PRECIP FALLING
FROM 09Z-18Z SATURDAY...CHANCES ARE THERE WILL BE ENOUGH OF A SUB-
FREEZING LAYER NEAR THE SURFACE FOR PRECIP TO FREEZE. MODEL
SOUNDINGS SHOW A SIGNIFICANT WARM LAYER ABOVE WHICH MAY BE TOO
MUCH FOR PRECIP TO OVERCOME AND FREEZE. SOUNDINGS MAY SUPPORT MORE
DRIZZLE WHICH MAY NOT TAKE AS MUCH OF A SUB-FREEZING LAYER TO
CAUSE FREEZING. SO IF THE AIRMASS FRI NIGHT IS NOT AS DRY AS THE
ECMWF INDICATES THEN ANY PRECIP THAT DEVELOPS DUE TO ISENTROPIC
LIFT WILL LIKELY FALL AS FREEZING RAIN/DRIZZLE. STILL QUITE A BIT
OF UNCERTAINTY IN THIS BUT WORTH MONITORING


I'll Be Back (Bad impersonation of the Terminator)

[Texas Pirate]

ALTHOUGH we wont see the icy wx our friends in North Texas will experience
here is some great information on what to do if the power goes out.

You can book mark this info or pass it along to those who may be in harms way this weekend.
This will be a prolonged cold spell.


- Fill up the gas tank of your car. It gives better traction plus, if power fails, service station pumps likely will not work. Also, make sure you have an ice scraper.

- Get an inexpensive power inverter that can be plugged into your car's cigarette lighter. It will provide sufficient power to keep your cell phone or laptop charged if you lose power at your home.

- Make sure you have prescription medicines refilled. Should there be a multi-day power outage, it may be difficult for your pharmacy to fill prescriptions once the storm has occurred.

[Texas Pirate]

I hope everyone is safe up in North Texas

Just read a very sad post by a young woman who is a wheelchair user in Dallas.
She lamented that she was warm and cozy under her heated blanket, when the power went out
and she realized her hospital bed, in which she sleeps, and uses power, doesn't work.
she signed her post #Disabilityproblems.
I asked her if she had a generator and listened to what I had told her PRIOR to this event
and she said "Well, I don't use a respiratory, and I kept forgetting to buy one, and I forgot
that my electric wheelchair and bed need power. I should have listened."

Great time to forget. Sitting in the dark, with no heat, and no way to have an accessible life,
much less a comfortable sleep.

Can I stress enough how one needs to prepare? can I say it again: Its not just for hurricanes that
we need to be prepared?

Can I stress enough that generators ARE the line between being empowered and having NONE?
A cold lesson to learn.

I truly hope that everyone stays safe and has their emergency kits/generators/water/cash on hand/medication
to get thru this storm, which may, for some, last a while.

If you know of anyone who needs help, do so.

Stay warm.

[Paul Robison]

What about it, Texas Pirate? Think Houstonians are going to need generators this Friday, Saturday, Sunday? Ice accumulations will be up to 0.5 of an inch, you know.

[Texas Pirate]

Hi Paul - cant say for sure, we may be on the line.
I am prepared though - just worrying about those up North who are sitting in the dark
and not prepared. Stay warm.

[Texas Pirate]

Close to 50,000 people in North Texas are out of power.

If you are out of power, call the electric company and tell them you are a person with disability.
They won't come out that moment, but may put you on a priority list. Maybe. It's worth a try. I know
several people during Ike called (some depended on ventilators), and they had better luck.
Some ended up calling 911. BUT they learned that lesson, huh?
Better yet, if you have friends/family in the area that has power, go there
Remember when we created our Emergency Plan:
Arrange to GO TO A PLACE that you will be safe at: family/friend or shelter for last resort!

Here are just some common sense tips for y'all -when the power goes out in freezing weather book mark it



1. Call your electrical service provider on your cell phone and report your outage. Even if you think it may not be necessary to report a widespread outage in your area, that data is still tracked by your provider which helps them to determine where crews are needed the most.

2. Dress in layers and wear a hat or scarf over your head and shoes or boots on your feet to help retain body heat. During really cold times like these, and especially in residences with poor insulation, temperatures will drop rapidly. Dressing in layers and wearing a head covering will help your body retain its heat longer than just putting a coat on over a t-shirt.

3. Do not try to heat your house by burning a camp stove or charcoal stove of any kind as the fumes are toxic. In addition to the toxic fumes, any open flame inside your home, other than in your fireplace, is a danger.

4. Speaking of fireplaces, use one if you have one, and remember to warm up the flue before lighting the fire so the smoke will be drawn up into the chimney rather than blowing out into your room. Also, do not attempt to use candles or your gas stove as a heat source. This can be dangerous, especially if left unmonitored.

5. Food safety: While most instances of power outages are restored within just a few hours, there may be cases where it takes quite some time to get your electricity turned back on. Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer too often so it can keep its cold air inside. If it looks like power will be out for any length of time that would allow your food to begin thawing or reaching temperatures above 40 degrees, consider relocating your food to a clean, sealed cooler or container outside where the temperatures are much colder. As long as no stray animals can get into it, food kept outside in the freezing temps in a clean, sealed container or cooler is just as safe as keeping it in your fridge. If frozen food has already thawed, throw it out and do not attempt to re-freeze it.

6. If roads are icy in your area and driving would be dangerous, do not attempt to leave your house. If there is a medical emergency, or urgent power is needed for critical medical devices used by someone in your family, call 911 for emergency assistance.

7. For extended (beyond 12-24 hour power outages) contact your local non-emergency line to find out where the closest warming shelter is. If you can safely drive there, do so. If transport is needed, the shelter may have personnel available that can assist you. If not, check with neighbors facing the same issue and see if carpooling to the warming shelter is a possibility.

8. Make sure your phone is charged before the event. Try using text messages verses phone calls to conserve batter life. If it comes down to it, plug your phone into your vehicle to let it charge for a while.

[Texas Pirate]

As of today December 6th there are reports that 250,000 people in the Dallas/Metroplex
are sitting in the dark.

There are some shelters opened -
Rosemeade Rec. Center
1330 E. Rosemeade Pky
Carrollton, Tx

Sanger United Methodist Church
115 No. 5th St
Sanger, tx

Decatur Recreation Center
Decatur, Tx

This was reported by Channel 8 in Dallas.

Hope this helps. If you know of any other, please help me and add it.

[Texas Pirate]

Raise your mittens if you love this weather.
Said no one ever. Certainly, not I.

Well, if you do, we'll do this again
Long range models say right before Christmas, the North Pole
will visit - around December 23-28th, maybe some sleet too.
Santa take this away!

I cant wait to start complaining about the summer heat.

Yesterday I came across an incident that made me aware and I want to share it with you.
It is a true story.
I was driving home, turned onto my street, and there across the road was a body.
I slammed on my breaks, grabbed my cell phone and ran over to this person.
Called 911 and told them the assessment of this poor young man, unconscious on the ground.
It looked like he either had a seizure or was in diabetic shock.
First assessment - I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV
Put my jacket under his head and waited. Last thing we needed was to be run over.

EMS came and lo and behold there was no ID on this young man.

It made me think, though.
Whether this man suffers regularly from epilepsy or another medical condition
there was no medical bracelet on him.
We were all left wondering what was wrong.

In this time of high tech and pretty bling - there is no reason why a person
who may have a medical condition, doesn't wear a bracelet.
To help them, to help others. Or if a person has an allergy to let's say, medications.
Laying flat on the ground, unconscious doesn't help the situation.

Just a thought and a shake of my head. And a plea to care for yourself
just in case.

Stay warm. Stay aware.

[Texas Pirate]

With the upcoming potential cold that may or may not visit us during Christmas
it's always good to be prepared
Fema has a couple of ideas of stocking stuffers - while it isn't the sexiest of things
it can save lives - yeah, that's pretty hot....

Preparedness Stocking Stuffers
Still looking for holiday gift ideas? What better way to say happy holidays than to give the gift of preparedness to your family and friends? The onset of winter is a critical time for safety preparation. Several items that are critical in emergencies also make good gifts to store in a disaster supply kit. Download FEMA’s “Preparedness on a Shoestring” activity module for cost-effective ways to create disaster kits on a budget. Many of the items may be found around your home including:

Adhesive bandages of various sizes;
Two pairs of sterile gloves; and
Antibiotic ointment.
The gift of preparedness can mean more than the basic supply kit! If it becomes necessary to boil water during an emergency, consider giving a tea kettle as a gift. Tea kettles are better at boiling water than pots and pans because they are enclosed and the metal interiors allow for more even heating. A solar charging unit for charging and powering electronic devices would also make a good stocking stuffer. They range in size from pocket-size to fold-out panel and are powered by the sun, making them useful on clear days when electricity is unavailable.
For more preparedness gift-giving ideas this holiday, visit FEMA.gov.

[Texas Pirate]

Here's some info on preparing pipes for potential upcoming freeze:

Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

* Disconnect all gardening hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.
* Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you're leaving the house for an extended period of time.
* Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate.
* Identify the location of the main water valve and the valve on your water heater. (Learning the location of these valves may come in handy during an emergency.)
* Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape. This can prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.
* Close all windows near water pipes; cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.
* Heat your basement and consider weather sealing your windows.
* Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.
* If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves to your washing machine.

Monitor Freezing Pipe Conditions

* Allow a faucet to drip slightly (lukewarm water) in order to minimize freezing.
* The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.
* Check your faucets for water flow and pressure before you go to sleep and again when you wake up.
* Check pipes around your water meter, in unheated areas, near exterior walls and in crawl spaces.
* These tend to be vulnerable to freezing conditions.
* Identify cold air drafts coming in from a flue or chimney chase and caulk gaps that are near pipes.

If a Pipe Freezes

* If a faucet or pipe inside your house freezes, you can thaw it using a good hair dryer. (For safety purposes, avoid operating a hair dryer around standing water.)
* To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold sections of the pipes.
* When thawing a pipe, start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on so that melted water can drip out.

If a Pipe Bursts

* Shut off water at the main valve.
* If the break is in a hot water pipe, the valve on top of the water heater should be closed.
* Call a plumber. Keep an emergency number nearby for quick access.

[Texaspirate11]

HELLO FRIENDS

Hope you are staying warm ~ I've been really sick with bronchitis that's been going around
(totally missed Christmas and all the trimmings this year)
Also had some issues logging in - thanks to our wonderful team here for getting me back on. You rock.

I want to wish *EACH* and *EVERY ONE* of you who stops by and reads this forum
a MOST WONDERFUL SAFE 2014.... and *THANKS* for taking the time to read this.

Stay warm, stay aware and remember
because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim!

Here's to 2014 and another hurricane-less summer!

XOX Texas Pirate XOX

[Texaspirate11]

HELLO EVERYONE!

Well January is HERE. And Mother Nature will be leave her cold calling card starting SUNDAY NIGHT into TUESDAY.
Several hours of deep freeze for our neck of the woods - including Galveston.

Today (Saturday) would be a great time to PREPARE for our arctic freeze.
Pipes need to be wrapped
Bring in Plants
Pets are in
You have supplies to carry you through

Check up on those who may be alone and need help and make sure they are aware of the upcoming FREEZE Sunday - Tuesday.
If you use a Space heater please monitor it - make sure its not around curtains or kids....

Bundle up ~ it's gonna be cold...

Warm up on Wednesday....How many days until Summer?

[Texaspirate11]

Well are we having fun yet?

Some tips on how to stay warm these next couple of days

Protect people
•Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
•If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves and an appropriate coat.
•Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body.

Observe heater safety:
•Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
•Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture and drapes.
•Never leave children unattended near a space heater.

Protect pets
•Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
•Keep adequate food and water available.
•Click here for more information on preparing animals

Protect pipes
•Disconnect outdoor hoses, drain and store in protected area.
•Wrap exposed faucets and pipes - including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas.

Protect plants
•Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
•For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.
•Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.

County officials also recommended that residents prepare their vehicles for winter by having their cars serviced and adding antifreeze as needed.

[Texaspirate11]

Hard freeze warning in effect from 2 am to 9 am CST Monday...
... Hard freeze watch in effect from Monday evening through
Tuesday morning...

The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has issued a
hard freeze warning... which is in effect from 2 am to 9 am CST
Monday. A hard freeze watch has also been issued. This hard
freeze watch is in effect from Monday evening through Tuesday
morning.

* Event... an Arctic airmass will move into southeast Texas today.
Temperatures will be dropping throughout the day. After
sunset... temperatures will quickly drop. Along with freezing
temperatures... expect very low wind chill readings.

* Timing... temperatures are expected to fall below freezing
overnight almost everywhere expect right along the coast. The
duration of below freezing temperatures is expected to be 9 to
12 hours across inland locations.

* Impact... these cold conditions could kill crops and other
sensitive vegetation. Outdoor water pipes including those
associated with sprinkler systems should be wrapped or
insulated from the cold.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A hard freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are
imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and
other sensitive vegetation.

A hard freeze watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible.
These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

PLEASE check up on those who are vulnerable - may be alone - disabled and see that they have enough supplies
to get through the next couple of days.
Thanks - Stay warm - we may see 70's by Friday......hang in there.

[Texaspirate11]

Hello ALL

I hope you have enjoyed this awesome weather ~
Don't get to used to it - this coming Thursday (23rd) and Friday (24th)
we may see some sleety weather around here. It is still winter, huh?
Depends if the rain and cold get here at the same time though.
In any event - it will be cold.

Check your emergency kits
and remember if using a space heater - keep it away from kids and curtains....

Take care - stay warm and stay aware

_Texaspirate.

[Texaspirate11]

Morning y'all

Our Houston NWS may issue a Winter Storm Watch or winter weather advisories Thursday into Friday.

Please begin to monitor our weather. Freezing rain, possibly (dare I say it?) snow? Could happen.

Be stay safe and weather aware.

(And warm!)

[Texaspirate11]

Here is some good advice I'd like to pass along if you are caring for a senior citizen
or are one yourself!
Stay safe

Winter Care for Seniors

Winter is an especially important time to keep an eye on seniors to make sure they are living as safely as possible. In addition to cold weather, ice and snow, the winter season can bring health problems and injury to senior citizens. That’s why it’s important for relatives and friends to check in with their older adult family members, friends and neighbors. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
•Falls are a concern for seniors. Putting road salt, cat litter or sand on sidewalks, steps and driveways will make these areas as slip-free as possible. Seniors should also wear boots with non-skid soles to make a fall less likely to occur. Older adults, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure should leave snow shoveling to others.
•Cold temperatures make senior citizens susceptible to hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature. Older adults tend to produce less body heat than younger people and it’s hard for them to tell when the temperature is too low. Learn the warning signs of this weather related illness and how to prevent it.
•Keep indoor temperatures no lower than 55 degrees. If going outdoors is necessary, dress in layers to stay warm. Wearing two or three thin layers of loose-fitting clothing is warmer than a single layer of thick clothing.

It’s a good idea to check on elderly loved ones regularly or, if you live out of town, make arrangements for neighbors to check in and provide their number to call in an emergency. With your help, older adults can enjoy the winter months safely.

[Texaspirate11]

1/23/2014

Well we've gone from 60 and sunny to Winter Weather Watch
and potential warning
While I have your attention - lets pull out your emergency plan.
Don't have one? WHAT? REALLY?

This RX for Readiness (From FEMA) will truly help you along

I especially like pages 5 and 6. When I get a chance to visit disability organizations and teach them to
prepare I always suggest that those that take medications put them in a zip lock bag with your name and instructions.
On pages 5-6 you can write all of it down. This is great!

Please take a moment to go thru this and see what you already have done (YAY YOU!) or need to do.
Remember I kept telling y'all, its not just about hurricanes we have to prepare for....

Stay warm and weather aware the next couple of days.
Please pass this along to those who may also need this.

Thanks - http://emilms.fema.gov/IS909/assets/13_ ... diness.pdf

[Texaspirate11]

WELL HOWDY FRIENDS

Would you ever believe we'd get two winter storms back to back in HOUSTON?

I'm sure you've heard that this coming Monday night - Wednesday we get a repeat
x2 of all the fun winter stuff we had last week only this time we may get 2-3 inches of snow.
That's right. SNOW.

So, we know what to do right?
Make sure you got that emergency kit
You have heat - and if use a space heater - be careful.

Metrolift probably wont be up and running on a normal schedule - only
for emergency purposes (holding tongue on Metrolift overall...)

PLEASE be safe - help others - be weather aware

Winter Storm Watch in effect from late Monday night through
Tuesday evening...

The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has issued a
Winter Storm Watch... which is in effect from late Monday night
through Tuesday evening.

* Timing... snow and sleet with some patchy freezing rain will
develop around College Station early Tuesday morning then expand
east and southeastward across the Huntsville and Conroe areas
eventually reaching the Houston metroplex around noon. Closer to
the coast freezing rain and sleet will be the more common form
of precipitation and should develop around 3 PM. The
precipitation should taper off from northwest to southeast
during the late afternoon and around the coast by 9 PM.

* Impacts... very cold Road surfaces will be conducive to freezing
rain and snow accumulations. Surface roads are likely to be
impacted in addition to elevated roadways. Elevated roadways may
be entirely impassable. Travel may be severely limited.


Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant
snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel.
Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.

[Texaspirate11]

Jan. 27th, 2013

WE GOT A WINTER WARNING now - Please heed the warnings and DONT GO OUTSIDE tomorrow
Make sure you have what you need to get thru these next couple of days.
There are numerous school closings. I put the timing of the storm from our Houston NWS

Please be safe and warm

* TIMING...SLEET MIXED WITH FREEZING RAIN AND POSSIBLY SOME SNOW
WILL DEVELOP AROUND COLLEGE STATION EARLY TUESDAY AROUND 5 AM
THEN EXPAND EAST AND SOUTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE HUNTSVILLE AND
CONROE AREAS TRANSITIONING TO SLEET AND SNOW THROUGH THE WARNING
AREA. SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR AN INCH OR
LESS FOR THE CORRIDOR FROM NORTH FROM CALDWELL TO GROVETON.
AREAS TO THE SOUTH OF THIS LINE WILL SEE MORE SLEET AND FREEZING
RAIN AND LESS SNOW IF ANY SNOW. ICE ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD RANGE
FROM 0.05 TO 0.10 INCHES WITH THIS DEVELOPING BETWEEN 6 AM AND
NOON AS IT SHIFTS SOUTHWARD. THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD TAPER OFF
FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD HOLD WITHIN A DEGREE OR TWO OF THE FREEZING
MARK THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON THEN FALL TOWARD THE 30 DEGREE
MAR. AREAS ALONG THE COAST SHOULD BE THE LATEST TO RECIEVE
PRECIPITATION. ALL OF THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD OVER BY 6 PM.

* IMPACTS...VERY COLD ROAD SURFACES WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO FREEZING
RAIN AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. SOME SURFACE ROADS MAY BE IMPACTED
IN AREAS NORTH OF COLLEGE STATION TO LAKE LIVINGSTON AREA. ELEVATED
ROADWAYS MAY BE ENTIRELY IMPASSABLE. TRAVEL MAY BE SEVERELY
LIMITED.