As Hurricane Florence moves through the WBTW News13 viewing area, Midway Fire Rescue has shared hurricane safety tips.
The safety tips they gave include:
– Flooding can wash away road surfaces, leaving dangerous situations you cannot see. Avoid driving or walking through moving water.
– Always treat any downed wire as being energized, and do not try to move them. It is easy for live electric lines to tangle up with other wires and energize them.
– Remember, it is not that “the wind is blowing,” it is “what the wind is blowing.” It is best to stay sheltered during the storm and not get in harm’s way.
– Shelter inside your home in a center room during the height of the storm and avoid areas which have windows or glass.
– Keep your cell phone fully charged at all times, as well as any auxiliary charging devices.
– Ensure all your home smoke alarms have fresh batteries and are working properly.
– Avoid using candles during a power outage and use “flame-free” options for lighting such as flashlights, battery-operated lanterns, and battery-operated candles.
– In the event of a power failure, cut off all stove burners and unplug all appliances which could produce heat such as a curling iron, hair dryer, coffee pot, toaster oven, and crock pot.
– If you utilize a portable generator, never operate the generator in your home, garage, or attached porch. Always locate the generator at least 20 feet away from your home
– Never utilize a charcoal or gas grill inside of a home, garage, porch or enclosed structure. Grills should only be utilized in an outside area, away from the home.
– Always follow safety instructions from Emergency Management officials. 12. For additional storm related information, please visit gtcounty.org.