Hazards Tips

Are You Fire Wise?

Many homes and buildings are adjacent to woodlands and parks, which provide beautiful views and peaceful settings.  But wildfire risk can be especially high in this “wildland-urban interface,” where the built environment blends with natural landscapes.
Viewer Tip: You can protect your home from wildfire by reducing the amount of flammable material between your home and a natural area. An easy way [...]

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Winter Storm Safety

Did you know the burns are a common form of injury during  heavy snowfall or freezing rain events? Winter storms may break utility polls or disrupt electric lines, cutting off some households from power, heat and communication. Those unaccustomed to using candles, wood stoves and other heating devices can suffer from burns and other injuries. Wood burning and use of [...]

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Oklahoma Severe Weather Awareness

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Oklahoma.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Oklahoma, including tornadoes, flash floods and thunderstorms.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and [...]

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Louisiana Severe Weather Awareness

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Louisiana.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Louisiana, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you [...]

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Arkansas Severe Weather Awareness

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arkansas.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Arkansas, including flash floods, thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will [...]

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Arizona Severe Weather Awareness

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arizona.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Arizona, including flash floods, thunderstorms and damaging winds.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside [...]

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Alabama Severe Weather Awareness

February 22-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Alabama, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside [...]

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Texas Severe Weather Awareness

February 21-27 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas.  This is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared for the kinds of severe weather experienced in Texas, including flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you [...]

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Snowmelt Flooding

In terms of area, property damage and deaths, eight of the most significant floods in the 20th century were snowmelt-related. Several factors contribute to snowmelt flooding:

High soil moisture content: Soil that is saturated with water in late fall may not have time to drain and dry out before it freezes, resulting in deep ground frost [...]

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Floods and Frozen Ground

Heavy rain falling on frozen ground means that water will run over the ground quickly rather than soaking in, increasing the potential for flash flooding.  Melting snow can add even more water to the mix.  In smaller rivers and streams, ice jam flooding may occur when ice breaks up and floats downstream, where it piles [...]

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Travel Season

AAA projects that 87.7 million Americans will be traveling more than 50 miles during the year-end holiday period.  About 88 percent of those travelers will be hitting the road and AAA expects to come to the aid of nearly 1.3 million stranded motorists this season. That help will come in the form of half-a-million tows; [...]

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Turn Around, Don’t Drown

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into flood waters; the next highest percentage of deaths is from walking into or near flood waters.  Many people falsely believe that cars, trucks and SUVs are heavy enough to maintain contact with the road [...]

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Lightning Plan

Those who are involved in outdoor sports and recreational activities between the months of May and September can be exposed to the dangers of lightning.  The majority of injuries related to lightning occur over the summer, with 80 percent of injuries occurring between 10 am and 7 pm. 
Viewer Tip:  If you spend time outdoors, have a [...]

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Hail and High Water

This spring and summer have been especially difficult for farmers and gardeners in the Northeast due to the inordinate amount of water received, mainly in the form of rain. Several storms have brought heavy downpours with hail. At Garden in the Woods of Framingham, MA, one particularly damaging hail storm roared through just after the [...]

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Fireworks (Wisconsin)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: Over half of Wisconsin is currently experiencing [...]

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Fireworks (Hawaii)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: Nearly all of Hawaii is currently experiencing [...]

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Fireworks (Minnesota)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 43 percent of Minnesota is currently [...]

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Fireworks (Oklahoma)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: More than 50 percent of Oklahoma is [...]

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Fireworks (Arizona)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: More than 64 percent of Arizona is [...]

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Fireworks (Louisiana)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 67 percent of Louisiana is currently [...]

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