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Category Archives: Fire
Video–Safety in the Post-Disaster Environment
Here is a good training video for CERT volunteers to review the challenges and dangers of working to assist their neighbors and communities after a disaster has occurred. It covers the importance of protective gear, size-up (think before you leap), and the buddy system. Common post-disaster dangers are reviewed including flooding and contaminated water, downed power lines, falling debris, cuts from broken glass, nails through shoes, back injuries, eye and head injuries, and even getting lost in your own community following a devastating event.
Preparing for a Wild Fire
Here is an excellent post about wild fire mitigation and safety tips written by Bill and Janet Liebsch, authors of the emergency preparedness book, It’s a Disaster–and what are YOU gonna do about it?
Check out other articles on their blog on a variety of subjects pertinent to our role as CERT members.
Wildfires
Wildfire is one of the most serious threats facing residents of Caldwell County. Cities have grown into suburbs and suburbs into what was once considered rural America. Citizens are acquiring secluded homes surrounded by forests, mountain cabins, or sprawling farms. This movement is creating an extremely complex landscape that has come to be known as the wildland/urban interface. The impact of severe wildfire on your community, your state and your federal government is staggering. According to the National Wildland Coordinating Group, since 1970 we’ve spent more than $20 billion dollars fighting fire at the fringes of our burgeoning population centers, in the areas described above as the wildland/urban interface.. Encroaching development into forests, grasslands and farms is resulting in numerous infrastructure problems, including catastrophic wildfires which increasingly threatens lives, homes and businesses.
Here is a Wildfire booklet provided by Caldwell County Emergency Management with information about protecting your home and community from the devastation of a wildfire. It includes checklists and information about becoming a FIREWISE community.
