When you read product labels, look for signal words. Signal words are found on labels of new products and let you know how toxic a product is. Older products in your home may not list signal words. Drugs and personal care products are not required to list them, although many are hazardous.
Poison – highly toxic
Danger – extremely flammable, corrosive, or highly toxic
Warning – moderate hazard
Caution – mid/moderate hazard
No signal word – not hazardous
More deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other thunderstorm or hurricane related hazard. Many of these casualties are a result of careless or unsuspecting motorists who attempt to navigate floodedroads. The National Weather Service now warns anyone who comes to a flooded roadway, “Turn around… dont drown!”
If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Stay away from flood-prone areas, including dips, low spots, valleys, ditches, washes, etc.
Avoid flooded areas or those with rapid water flow. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It takes only six inches of fast flowing water to sweep you off your feet. Dont allow children to play near high water, storm drains or ditches. Hidden dangers could lie beneath the water.
Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. NEVER drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Water only two feet deep can float away most automobiles.
Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly when threatening conditions exist.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
Ask your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter about the history of hurricanes in your area. Ask for information about protecting your family and home.
Ask your emergency management office, building department or floodplain management office to see a flood map of your community. There may be a projected flood elevation for your neighborhood.
If you have a step ladder that is tall enough so you can’t see the top when standing beside it, be extra cautious about tool placement. Leaving a tool like a hammer on top is easy to forget. When you move the ladder, it could slide off and drop on you. The best bet is to use a tool belt to carry unused tools, either strapped to your waist or tied around the upper part of the ladder.
Storm surge is water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the average water level 15 feet or more. Storm surge is the greatest threat to property and life along the affected coast.
A hammer is one of the most common tools around. However simple it is to use, certain safety precautions should always be taken when using this striking tool. Put on a pair of safety goggles. They’ll protect your eyes from any flying projectiles. The purpose of most hammers is to drive and remove nails. Using it for any other purpose will ultimately result in something bad. Only use the hammer’s head to strike an object, never the side, or handle. Improper use is the leading cause for a hammer breaking. Never use a hammer that has a damaged or cracked handle or chipped head.
This procedure makes uninhabited parts of your home resistant to flood damage when water is allowed to enter during flooding. An example of wet floodproofing is to install flood vents, creating permanent openings in the foundation walls.
This retrofit requires at least two vents on different walls. The size of the vents must be 1 square inch per square feet of enclosed floor area. For example, a 1,000 square foot house would require 7 square feet of flood vents.
The advantage of wet floodproofing are that it is less costly than other retrofits, no additional land is required and it does not affect the appearance of the house.
While screwdrivers may look like pry bars, chisels, punches and scrapers, they should never be used for such purposes. A screwdriver is most effective when its blade is straight, balanced and sharp. Misusing yours will keep it from performing best when you need it to do what you bought it to do…drive screws. Also, be sure that the handle is clean and free of slippery oil or grease.
If you have furniture and other outdoor equipment on your patio or deck, bring them inside when strong weather threatens. Don’t forget trash cans, grills, toys, and potted plants. Keep them from becoming flying objects that can cause additional injury or damage during storms with high winds.
When working with any type of powertool, avoid wearing jewelry such as watches, bracelets or chains. They can easily become caught in the moving parts of the tool.
