Fort Bend County HS&EMFort Bend County HS&EM

Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Prepare

April Community Emergency Response Training Opportunity at Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management

April CERT Training Opportunity:

Grant funded Community Preparedness training for residents within Fort Bend County

CERT_APR_2019_Training.pdf

Modules:

  • Disaster preparedness

  • Fire suppression

  • Disaster medical operations

  • CERT OrganizationĀ Ā 

  • Terrorism and CERTĀ 

  • Light Search and Rescue

  • CERT Team Organization and Disaster Psychology

  • Course review and Disaster Table Top Exercise

For more information or questions, contact Kaila Williams at 281-238-3428 or Kaila.Williams@fortbendcountytx.gov.

Registration:

CERT Course Registration

Basic CERT Course (24 Hour) Registration, this course is a prerequisite to join Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management's Community Preparedness Emergency Response Volunteer Programs
    The CERT training program is offered in Fort Bend County and rotates throughout the year. Some of the skills taught include organizing resources, medical operations, basic search and rescue, how to use a fire extinguisher and damage assessment.

Tornado Warning for Fort Bend County until 1:30PM

The National Weather Service in League City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for…
East central Austin County in southeastern Texas…
Northwestern Fort Bend County in southeastern Texas…
Southern Waller County in southeastern Texas…

* Until 130 PM CDT.

* At 1252 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
tornado was located near Fulshear, or 7 miles northwest of
Richmond, moving north at 40 mph.

Lightning Strikes

  • There are approximately 25 million lightning flashes each year in the U.S, which result with an average of 62 deaths and at least 300 injuries annually. Employees should prepare and have protection measures in place against lightning at home, office, and the workplace.
  • Prepare for lightning strikes. Consider installing a lightning protection system to ground your house and equipment, surge arresters to prevent surges from entering your home or other structures on power or telephone lines, and transient voltage surge suppressors in receptacles to limit the voltage on equipment.
  • Have an emergency plan in the office, disaster area, and at home. Communicate safe areas and practices to employees and family members. These include how to shelter during a thunderstorm; how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water; how and when to call 911, police, and fire department; and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.
  • Anticipate thunderstorms ahead. Watch for dark, towering, or threatening clouds; expect an approaching thunderstorm when you see a flash of lightning, hear thunder roll, or when your hair stands on end; observe weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service on TV or radio. Seek a safe shelter (i.e.; enclosed building, car etc.) immediately when a thunderstorm approaches.
  • If outdoors, avoid tall trees, water, grouping with other people, metal fences, convertibles, gazebos, picnic shelters, toss golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets, baseball bats, tools, and walking sticks. If no safe shelter is available, crouch down on your feet; keep hands on your knees and lower your head. Get as low as possible. DO NOT touch the ground with hands or knees; DO NOT lie down!
  • If indoors, disconnect and turn off all electrical devices and do not touch them during the storm. Avoid water, doors, and windows; do not use the telephone.
  • It is safe to help injured individual; they do not carry an electrical charge. Apply first aid if you are qualified. Call 911 immediately.

Top 10 Lightning Safety Myths

  1. MYTH: Lightning Never Strikes The Same Place Twice

    TRUTH: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall pointy isolated object. The Empire
    State Building used to be used as a lightning laboratory, since it is hit nearly 25 times a year. Places prone
    to lightning are places to avoid when thunderstorms are nearby!

  2. MYTH: If It’s Not Raining, Or If Clouds Aren’t Overhead, I’m Safe From Lightning

    TRUTH: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or even
    thunderstorm cloud. ‘Bolts From The Blue’, though infrequent, can strike 10-15 Miles from the thunderstorm.
    Anvil lightning can strike the ground over 50 Miles from the thunderstorm, under extreme conditions.
    Lightning in clouds has traveled over 100 miles from the thunderstorm.

  3. MYTH: Rubber Tires Protect You From Lightning In A Car By Insulating You From The Ground

    TRUTH: Lightning laughs at two inches of rubber! Most cars are reasonably safe from lightning. But it’s the metal
    roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. Thus convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, open
    shelled outdoor recreational vehicles, and cars with plastic or fiberglass shells offer no lightning protection.
    Likewise, farm and construction vehicles with open cockpits offer no lightning protection. But closed cockpits
    with metal roof and sides are safer than going outside. And don’t even ask about sneakers! ā˜ŗ

  4. MYTH: A Lightning Victim Is Electrified. If You Touch Them, You’ll Be Electrocuted.

    TRUTH: The human body doesn’t store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.
    This is the most chilling of lightning myths. Imagine someone dying needlessly, for want of simple CPR or
    mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, when their chances of survival was ~90%!

  5. MYTH: If Outside In A Thunderstorm, Go Under A Tree To Stay Dry

    TRUTH: Being underneath trees is the second leading activity for lightning casualties – enough said?

  6. MYTH: I’m In A House, I’m Safe From Lightning

    TRUTH: While a house is a good place for lightning safety, just going inside isn’t enough. You must avoid any
    conducting path leading outside, such as corded telephones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables,
    plumbing (including plastic pipes with water in them), metal doors or window frames, etc. Don’t stand near a
    window to watch the lightning. An inside room is generally best.

  7. MYTH: When Playing Sports And Thunderstorms Threaten, It’s Okay To Finish The Game Before Seeking Shelter

    TRUTH: Sports is the activity with the fastest rising rate of lightning casualties. No game is worth death or life-long
    severe injury. All people associated with sports should have a lightning safety plan and stick to it strictly.
    Seek proper shelter immediately when lightning threatens. Adults are responsible for the safety of children!

  8. MYTH: Structures With Metal, Or Metal On The Body (Jewelry, Watches, Glasses, Backpacks, Etc.), Attract Lightning

    TRUTH: Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The
    presence of metal makes virtually no difference on where lightning strikes. Mountains are made of stone, but
    receive many strikes each year. When lightning threatens, take proper protective action immediately. Don’t
    waste time shedding metal off your body, or seeking shelter under inadequate structures. But while metal
    doesn’t attract lightning, touching or being near long metal objects (fences, railings, bleachers, vehicles, etc.)
    is still unsafe when thunderstorms are nearby. If lightning does happen to hit it, the metal can conduct the
    electricity a long distance (even over 100 yards) and still electrocute you.

  9. MYTH: If Trapped Outside And Lightning Is About To Strike, Lie Flat On The Ground

    TRUTH: This advice is decades out of date. Better advice is to use the ‘Lightning Crouch’: put your feet together,
    squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears. Lightning induces electric currents along the top of the
    ground that can be deadly over 100 Feet away. While lying flat on the ground gets you as low as possible,
    which is good, it increases your chance of being hit by a ground current, which is bad. The best combination
    of being low and touching the ground as little as possible is the ‘Lightning Crouch’. But the ‘Lightning
    Crouch’ should be used only as a last resort. Much better would be to plan outdoor activities around the
    weather to avoid thunderstorm exposure and to have proper shelter available.

  10. MYTH: Go near a tall pointy isolated object when thunderstorms threaten, to be within the 45Ā° “cone of protection”

    TRUTH: The “cone of protection” is a myth! While tall pointy isolated objects are statistically more likely to be struck
    by lightning, it’s not nearly reliable enough to rely on for safety. Lightning can still strike you near the tall
    object. Besides, the lightning electricity will likely spread out along the surface of the ground and can still kill
    you over 100 Ft from the “protecting” object. Also, if you are close to or touching the tall object, you can be
    electrocuted via side flash or contact voltage. NO PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE NEAR A THUNDERSTORM!

In lightning safety, a myth is not as good as a mile. Distance and proper shelter is your best protection from lightning.

Hurricane Evacuation Questions and Answers

How do I know when to evacuate?

Listen regularly to your local radio or television stations when the threat of tropical storms or hurricanes exists. Pay close attention when such storms threaten your local area. If it appears that a storm may affect the local area, local officials may order or recommend that residents evacuate and also provide instructions about what people in those areas should do. Be ready to follow the instructions given by local officials. Because it takes time to evacuate heavily populated areas, evacuations may be recommended well before the storm makes landfall.

Who should consider leaving before hurricane evacuation is recommended for the general public?

  • People who live in low-lying or flood-prone areas or on barrier islands. Tropical storms and hurricanes often produce heightened seas and tides that may affect these areas long before the storm makes landfall.
  • People who live mobile homes near the coast, or are concerned about the structural stability of their home, should plan to evacuate any time a storm threatens. Even less powerful hurricanes can produce high winds capable of damaging or destroying mobile homes.
  • People towing boats or trailers or driving recreational vehicles or other high-profile vehicles should leave early. Some roads and bridges may be closed to high-profile vehicles due to high winds before they are closed to cars.
  • People traveling with young children, elderly family members, or people with special needs. If you wait to leave until a general evacuation is recommend, traffic will be heavier and the weather may be worse, lengthening the time you will have to spend in your car getting to your destination.

What should I do if I need help to evacuate?

  • Preferably make arrangements with your family members, friends, or neighbors to assist you before you need to evacuate. Most people will be glad to help if they know you need assistance.
  • If you do not have friends or family to assist you, listen to your radio or TV for information on provisions being made to assist those who need assistance in evacuating. If necessary, contact your local emergency management office to let them know who you are, where you live, and what kind of help you need. Do not wait until the last minute to call for assistance or local authorities may be unable to assist you.
  • If you are experiencing a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1.

What should I take with me?

  • License or Identification card with photo
  • Your medications, extra eye glasses, hearing aids and other essential items
  • A flashlights with batteries, if you don’t already have one in your car
  • A battery-operated portable radio, if you don’t have a car radio
  • Water or other beverages to drink on your trip
  • Non-perishable foods to eat on your trip
  • Spare clothes and shoes
  • Soap, shampoo, and other toiletries
  • Important papers, including deeds and wills
  • Contact numbers of friends, family members, physicians, and your insurance agent
  • Money, checks, travelers’ checks or credit cards
  • An inventory of your personal belongings and any photographs or videotapes of your possessions

If I plan on going to a public shelter, what additional items should I take?

Public shelters are austere facilities that provide temporary housing for evacuees. Most shelters do not have beds or cots, so you will probably be sleeping on the floor. So pack as if you were going camping.Ā  Bring:

  • Sleeping pads or air mattresses
  • Blankets or a sleeping bag for each person
  • Robe & shower shoes
  • Books, cards, games and QUIET toys for children

What should I NOT take to a public shelter?

Alcoholic beverages, weapons, and drugs are not allowed in public shelters.

Why should I carry food and drinks in my car?

Stopping for food or drinks during a large-scale evacuation may significantly delay you in getting to your destination. Some restaurants and stores along hurricane routes may be closed and those that are open are likely to be very crowded. Additionally, once you leave the evacuation route to purchase food or drinks, it may be difficult to re-enter the flow of traffic.

What can I do to help others?

Check on friends and neighbors to make sure they have transportation or to see if they need help in getting essential items together so they can be ready to evacuate. Assist them if you can. If you cannot, help them get in touch with the local emergency management office.

How do I know where to go in an evacuation?

Decide early on where you will go when a hurricane threatens so that you can make preparations. Your general objective should be to move away from the coast and well inland.

  • If you want to stay at a hotel or motel, make reservations as soon as it becomes apparent that you may have to leave. If you are trying to find a suitable hotel or motel:
  • If you’ve previously stayed somewhere that was satisfactory, call that place.
  • If prefer a particular hotel or motel chain but need help in finding a location within reasonable driving distance, call Toll-free Directory Assistance at 1-800-525-1212 and ask for the toll-free number for that hotel/motel chain. You may also make reservations at most major hotel/motel chains and many bed and breakfast facilities over the Internet.
  • For major cities, the local Convention and Visitors Center can usually provide you information on hotels and motels; many Convention and Visitor Centers can also be accessed through the Internet. In smaller towns, the local Chamber of Commerce can generally tell you what accommodations are available locally.
  • If you plan to stay with family or friends, call them in advance so they may plan for your arrival. If your plans change, be sure to inform the person with whom you intended to stay so that they don’t worry.
  • Let your family and friends know where you can be reached.
  • Make sure you choose an alternative destination in the event you are unable to get to your first choice.

What if I want to stay in my RV or camping trailer?

Keep in mind that both tropical storms and hurricanes often produce torrential rains and tornadoes well inland. If you plan to stay in an RV or trailer, you might want to avoid campgrounds located adjacent to streams and rivers or whose only access is via a low water crossing. And you may want to seek a campground that has some sort of stout building that could be used as a tornado shelter.

Preparedness Websites for Texans with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs

Planning and preparedness information for Texans with disabilities or special health care needs, their friends and their families can be found on the following websites.

Prepare.org also has a number of articles offering tips for people with:

For more information on how the public can prepare for hurricane season, visit the GDEM website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/hurrweek06index.htm. Other resources can be found at www.Ready.gov and www.redcross.org.

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