CONWAY, SC – Following Tropical Storm Hermine or any tropical system, there are steps you can take to keep you and your family safe. Feel better prepared with these safety and recovery tips from Horry County Emergency Management.Check on family and neighbors
Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Drive only when necessary. Roads may have weakened and can collapse under the weight of a car.Document damage
Separate damaged and undamaged belongings. Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.Stay away from downed power lines
If you see power, cable or phone lines that are down in your yard or in the street, always treat them as if they were energized and dangerous. Never touch them! Stay at least 20 feet away. Call an energy provider to report the location so repairs can be made as soon as possible.
Post-storm debris can hide power lines that have fallen. Trees may also contain lines that have fallen. A metal fence, pond or standing water could be energized by lines touching them elsewhere. Even the ground can be energized near fallen lines. Approach these items with caution, keeping in mind that the real danger might be hidden.Remove standing water – Tip & Toss!
Residents are urged to remove standing water to prevent mosquitoes from living and breeding. Tips & Toss!
Horry County believes the best way residents can protect themselves is by reducing breeding sources. Breeding sources for mosquito-borne illnesses are
primarily water-filled containers left around homes and businesses. Tipping and tossing water-filled containers once a week can significantly reduce mosquito populations.
Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs inside and outside of your home. Items in and around people’s homes can collect water. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out containers that hold water, such as
- · Vases
- · pet water bowls
- · flowerpot saucers
- · discarded tires
- · buckets
- · pool covers
- · birdbaths
- · trash cans
- · rain barrels
These actions can help reduce the number of mosquitoes around areas where people live.Follow safe water storage tips
If water must be stored, tightly cover storage containers to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside and laying eggs.
Additional information on Horry County mosquito control program can be found at http://stormwater.horrycounty.org/WhatWeDo/MosquitoControlProgram.aspx.-This is from a Press Release.