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Tag: #emergencyprep

Can you identify an extreme heat hazard?

Posted on by dekiss4

Each year approximately 175 Americans die from extreme heat. Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify an extreme heat hazard:

  • Heat Wave – Prolonged period of excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity.
  • Excessive Heat Watch – Conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed local Excessive Heat Warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.
  • Excessive Heat Warning – Heat Index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least 2 days (daytime highs=105-110° Fahrenheit).
  • Heat Advisory – Heat Index values are forecast to meet locally defined advisory criteria for 1 to 2 days (daytime highs=100-105° Fahrenheit).

Then, follow these tips and #BeatTheHeat!

Learn more at https://www.ready.gov/heat

Preparing pets for emergencies

Posted on by dekiss4

Cat with an Emergency KitJune is National Pet Preparedness month. Just as we prepare ourselves and other members of our families for emergencies, if we live with pets, we need to gather emergency supplies and make plans for our pets too. Not sure how to get started? This fact sheet from ready.gov/pets is a great resource.

 

Important basics to include in your pet’s emergency kit are:

  • at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container
  • a first aid kit appropriately stocked for your pet’s emergency needs
  • collar with ID tag, harness or leash, and vaccination information
  • favorite toys, treats, and bedding

Watch how Basil the Disaster Kitten gets prepared for a natural disaster in this fun video from the Humane Society of the United States.

Kansas Commissioner of Insurance provides checklist of storm season insurance precautions and preparations

Posted on by dekiss4

In light of recent and anticipated severe storm activity in Kansas, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, Ken Selzer, CPA, provides the following checklist of storm season insurance precautions and preparations:

·         Check your homeowner and vehicle policies to make sure you have proper coverage for hail and windstorm damage.  Review your homeowner’s policy with your insurance agent to check for current coverage and adequate protection.

·         Take inventory of your personal property, including model and serial numbers when available. The Kansas Insurance Department has a good Personal Home Inventory booklet that can be downloaded at www.ksinsurance.org.

·         If possible, take photos or make a videotape of personal items to give to insurance adjusters in the event of loss. Store this information, along with receipts, in a safe deposit box or somewhere other than in your house.

·         See that trees or branches are not in danger of falling on your house. Closely inspect your trees, and remove weak branches that could fall in high winds.

·         Check your roof for leaks or damage to gutters.

·         Be sure to use a generator wisely if your power goes off. Make sure it is connected properly, and ventilation is adequate.

·         Have plenty of fresh batteries for radios and flashlights, as well as a supply of bottled water, blankets, dried foods and canned goods, in case of a power outage. Also, regarding food spoiling in your refrigerator or freezer, a homeowners or renters policy often allows for compensation for food losses, but only up to a certain (usually fairly low) dollar amount.

·         Be aware of the latest forecasts from television or radio news and smartphone applications.  Severe weather warnings are activated to protect you and your property.

·         If you have time to act in a severe storm warning, move vehicles into a safe structure.

For questions or assistance, contact the Consumer Assistance Hotline (for Kansas residents) at 800-432-2484. You can also go online to their website, www.ksinsurance.org, to use the live chat line feature from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.