NEWS RELEASE: LEPC Meeting-December 10th

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: November 25, 2009 TIME: 8:00 a.m.

CONTACT: Michael Amberson, Public Information Officer

ema@cityofgadsden.com

LEPC Meeting

The quarterly meeting of Etowah County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will be held on Thursday December 10^th at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at Glencoe Fire Station #2, located at 1120 Lonesome Bend Road in Glencoe.

The LEPC is comprised of members of the community, industry, and emergency responders. Members of the public are welcomed to attend this meeting. For more information, please contact the Gadsden/Etowah Emergency Management Agency at 549-4575.

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H1N1 Vaccine: Myth Versus Fact

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Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather Safety

As we head into the winter months, it is important that we all make preparations for the possibility of winter weather in the coming months. While winter weather is not common for Etowah County, it does occur. We only need to look back to the blizzard of 1993 to see how severely winter weather can impact our lives and our community. It doesn’t take a major event like the 1993 blizzard to adversely affect us. A few inches of snow can shut down roads and close stores. A minimal accumulation of ice can cause trees and power lines to fall, creating power outages. Extreme cold weather can cause hypothermia and frostbite to persons exposed. It can also burst pipes, causing homes to be without water. And don’t forget that severe thunderstorms, floods and strong winds can affect our area as well during winter.

Therefore, it is important to take three steps to prepare for the coming winter months. Many of these things, you probably have already done. If you have, go ahead and review them to make sure that you are prepared for winter weather.

1. Prepare a Disaster Supply Kit

· A basic disaster supply kit contains a three day supply of water and non-perishable food. Don’t forget to include a can opener if you have canned food.

· Make sure you stockpile medicine. This includes prescription and non-prescription medications. In addition, include a first-aid kit for minor injuries.

· If the power goes out, you will need flashlights. Also, a radio will be useful to stay in touch with what is going on outside. Radio was a major source of information during the 1993 blizzard, with power and cable out. Don’t forget to include extra batteries fitting the type you will need for all of your electronic devices.

· Extra blankets and clothes can help make you more comfortable.

· Include personal care items such as toilet paper and soap. While we take these for granted, you could run out and not be able to get more.

· Other items important to you. If you have children, include toys and books. You may want to put money in your kit in case you don’t have access to it during an emergency.

2. Prepare Yourself and Your Home

· Dress for the weather

-Several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing

-Mittens or gloves

-Wear a hat

· Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel and an alternative heating source.

· Winterize your home by adding insulation to the walls and attic. Add weather-stripping to doors and windows. You can also add plastic to your windows.

· Clear gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut away tree branches that can fall on your home during a storm.

· Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic. Allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Also, learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.

· December-March are peak months for home fire deaths. Safely operate heaters. Keep fire extinguishers and teach everyone where they are and how to use them.

· Don’t forget about helping elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.

· Make sure your outdoor pet have a fresh, unfrozen supply of water and shelter.

· Make sure your car is winter ready by checking its:

-Antifreeze levels

-Battery and ignition system

-Brakes

-Exhaust System

-Fuel and air filters

-Gas: try to keep at least a ½ tank in at all time

-Heater and defroster

-Lights

-Oil

-Thermostat

-Windshield wipers

-Winter Emergency Kit: Windshield scraper, flashlight, water, snack food, socks, gloves, and blankets

3. Stay Informed of Winter Weather Threats.

· Monitor your emergency alert radio or local media outlet for weather information.

· Know what the different winter weather terms mean.

· Keep family, neighbors, and friends informed of winter weather threats.

As always, you can contact the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency with any questions you may have regarding preparedness. Our number is 256-549-4575 and our email address is ema@cityofgadsden.com.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather Terminology

This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Alabama, as declared by Governor Bob Riley. It is a good week to remember how winter weather can affect you, and how to prepare for it. Today we will review some of the terminology that is often heard before and during winter weather.

v Blizzard Warning: Issued for sustained wind speeds or frequent gusts of 35 M.P.H. or more and falling or blowing snow which reduces visibility to less than ¼ of a mile for at least three hours.

v Freezing Rain: Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze on contact with these surfaces. An ice coating or glaze can form on trees, cars and roads. Even small amounts can become a significant hazard.

v Frostbite: Damage to body tissue cause by tissue being frozen. Frostbite causes the loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in the extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, slowly warm the affected area(s) and seek medical help immediately.

v Hypothermia: The loss of heat from the body. Warning signs are uncontrollable shivering, memory loss and distortion. Medical treatment should be sought immediately.

v Sleet: Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets. These are transparent or translucent pellets of ice of 5 millimeters or less in diameter before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists and pedestrians.

v Snow Flurries: Intermittent light snowfall of short duration. Usually causes no accumulations.

v Snow Showers: Brief periods of snowfall in which intensity can be varied and may change rapidly. Some accumulation is possible.

v Snow Squalls: Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty wind. Accumulation may be significant.

v Wind Chill: Based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. It is caused by the combined effects of wind and cold temperatures. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill. Inanimate objects such as pipes and car radiators are not affected. So a wind chill below freezing, with a real temperature above freezing will not cause pipes to freeze. Wind chill at -20° can cause frostbite in 15 minutes or less.

v Winter Storm Watch: Winter events are expected in the next 12 to 48 hours. This is issued when the following is forecasted to occur:

§ Snow-Accumulations of 2 inches or more

§ Freezing Rain-Ice accumulations of ¼ of an inch or more

§ Sleet-Accumulation of one inch or more

§ Wind Chill-At or below -10°

v Winter Storm Warning: Issued when hazardous winter weather is occurring, is imminent, or has a high probability of occurrence within the next 0 to 36 hours. If forecasters’ confidence in a predominant precipitation type is high, the warning can be event specific such as a heavy snow warning, sleet warning, and ice storm warning. This is issued when the following is occurring or is forecasted to occur:

§ Snow-Accumulations of 2 inches or more

§ Freezing Rain-Ice accumulations of ¼ of an inch or more

§ Sleet-Accumulation of one inch or more

§ Wind Chill-At or below -10°

v Winter Weather Advisory: Issued for winter events that are significant to the public, but does not constitute a serious enough threat to life and property to warrant the issuance of a warning. These advisories are issued for forecasted accumulations less than those of the winter storm warning.

Source: National Weather Service in Birmingham: Winter Weather Terminology. Found at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/index.php?n=winteraware2009pnsday2

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Weather History in Etowah County

This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week in Alabama, as declared by Governor Bob Riley. It is a good week to remember how winter weather can affect you, and how to prepare for it. Today we will look back at winter weather history in north-central Alabama.

Winter officially begins on December 21st and ends on March 20th. However, winter weather has often affected our area well before the winter solstice and after the spring equinox. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham indicates that the average date of the first freeze is November 9th. The average date of the final freeze is March 26th. Here is the order of the coldest months according to climatological data for Gadsden:

• January (40°)
• December (43°)
• February (44°)
• March (52°)
• November (52°)
• April (60°)
• October (62°)

On average, central Alabama receives 1.7" of snow. Here is the order of the snowiest months according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham:

• January (0.8")
• December (0.3")
• March (0.3")
• February (0.3")
• April and November (Trace)

In addition to severe weather we normally associate with winter, severe thunderstorms can also occur in the winter months. Etowah County had eight days of significant thunderstorm activity during the winter of 2008-2009; and had ten days of significant thunderstorm activity during the winter of 2007-2008.

Here are links to a couple of winter weather events that have happened in Etowah County:

Blizzard of 1993

Coates Bend Tornado of 2000

Source: National Weather Service in Birmingham: Birmingham Cold Weather Facts. Found at: http://test.crh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=climo_winter2006bhm

News Release: H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: November 10, 2009 TIME: 12:45 p.m.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

The Alabama Department of Public Health will hold an H1N1 vaccine clinic this Friday November 13^th from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at its office on 709 Broad Street. Limited quantities of the vaccine will be available to the following groups:

• Pregnant women
• Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (parents, siblings and child care providers)
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• Persons from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Individuals aged 25 through 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV and certain types of arthritis)

For more information, please contact the Alabama Department of Public Health at 256-547-6311.

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