a preparedness guide brought to you by the municipalities...

A preparedness guide brought to you by the municipalities of Shelby County and The Commercial Appeal

WhenDisasterStrikesEmergency preparedness can certainlyinfluence the success in overcoming adisaster. Proper emergency planningcan mean the difference between lifeand death and can significantly improveyour comfort and ability to cope in adistressed situation. In an emergency,call 528-4465.

Resources:Outage Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544-650024-Hour Emergency line . . . . . . . . . . 528-4465Customer Care Center . . . . . 544-MLGW (6549)Start, Stop, Transfer Service . . . . . . . 820-7878Claims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528-4621MLGW Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mlgw.com

Electricity SafetyAfter a major disaster, shut off theelectricity. Sparks from electricalswitches could ignite leaking gasand cause an explosion.

Gas SafetyDO NOT USE matches, lighters,or appliances, or operate lightswitches until you are sure thereare no gas leaks. Sparks fromelectrical switches could ignitegas and cause an explosion.

Generator SafetyNever use a generator indoorsor in an enclosed area such asa garage. Generators emit toxiccarbon monoxide from the engineexhaust.

For more safety tips, visitwww.mlgw.com or downloada preparedness manual:www.mlgw.com/stormprep.pdf

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13Power-outage tipsand a Q&A with anMLGW crew leader

12Getting involved ina local emergency-response team

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Cover illustrationby Shane McDermottThe Commercial Appeal

What’s inside

How to plan for winterand driving in someextreme conditions6

7Earthquake safety andthe research effortsat the U of M

Flash-flood risks,prevention and drivingtips

Preparing fortornadoes andsevere weather

Keeping cool in thesweltering heat, pluswater-safety tips

Fire education andsafety tips, especiallyfor children

THE MAYORS OF MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY, along with the mayors ofthe county’s other municipalities, have identified emergency preparedness as acritical focus for their respective communities and constituencies.

Their objective is to protect and equip the residents for emergency situationsand natural disasters.

The mayors came together in March and jointly signed a proclamation towork collaboratively to accomplish the following goals:

Educate Shelby County residents on how to prepare for an emergency, withspecific attention given to the first 72 hours after an emergency.

Partner with public, private, faith-based and nonprofit sectors to share theprecepts and overall importance of emergency preparedness with Shelby Countyre s i d e n t s .

This month, a cohesive, coordinated public awareness and education campaignon preparedness will launch.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Do n ’t flirt with disaster

response in an emergency or disaster.This guide is part of the overall campaign.

In December, a 12-month preparednesscalendar will be distributed in the Dec. 28edition of The Commercial Appeal. It willcontain month-by-month tips onpreparedness related to different emergencyand disaster situations. In addition, localtelevision and radio stations will beginairing spots with these preparedness tips.

These easy, simple tips are also availableon the county’s preparedness Web site,ReadyS helby.org.

The overarching goal of the campaign isto make Shelby County a role model forthe country on how a community can worktogether to say:

The goal of the campaign is to provide arallying cry to inspire individuals to takepositive, simple steps toward beingprepared. This countywide campaignprovides quick tips individuals can do tobetter prepare themselves, their homes,their families, their cars, workplaces andeven pets for all kinds of emergencies.

This preparedness guide is the first steptoward the goal of better preparedness forall residents of Shelby County.

The guide examines the five majornatural disasters that affect Shelby Countyand the Mid-South (winter storms,tornados, flooding, severe heat andearthquakes), offering preparedness tipsfor each event as well as fire safety tips forchildren and families.

We talked with Memphis Light, Gasand Water Division crew leaderEarnest Holliday about hisexperiences in the fieldduring power-restorationefforts and offer tips onwhat to do when thelights go out.

And we highlightwriter Sara Hoover’sexperience in a two-dayCommunity EmergencyResponse Team course, whereshe learned tips on putting out afire, first aid and other skills related to

Taking care of basics:Emergency numbersand more4

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Have plenty of pet food andextra water for each pet inyour family’s emergencysupply kit.

Have an emergency kit in acontainer at your officethat would be easy to grabif you had to evacuate.

Keep a kit in your car thatcontains food, water, firstaid supplies, flares andjumper cables.

Additional items for youremergency kit includeprescription medication,eyeglasses, infant formula,

diapers and important documents.

Assemble an emergency kitcontaining a three-daysupply of water (one gallonper family member per day)

and nonperishable food, abattery-powered or hand-crankradio, a flashlight with extrabatteries and a first aid kit.

Assistance numbersBartlett Police: 385-5555Collierville Police: 8 5 3 -3 207Germantown Police: 75 4 -72 2 2Memphis Fire: 458-8281Memphis Police: 5 4 5 - 2 67 7Millington Police: 872 -3 3 3 3Shelby County Fire: 379 -7070Shelby County Sheriff: 379 -76 2 5District 11 Homeland Security Office:379 -7 13 3Memphis/Shelby County EmergencyManagement Agency: 4 5 8 -1 5 1 5City of Memphis, Mayor’s AssistanceCenter: 576 - 6 5 0 0Shelby County, Mayor’s AssistanceCenter: 545-4584Memphis and Shelby County HealthDepartment: 5 4 4 -76 0 0MLGW help desk: 544-6549Poison Center: (800) 222-1222For information on road and trafficconditions in the area, call 511 or go online totn511.com. Also, dial 211 for information onhow to contact resources to help you with awide variety of nonemergency situations.

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By Sara HooverSpecial to The Commercial Appeal

When basics like power, communicationand transportation fail, the situation canseem scary and chaotic.

Preparation is the most important step. Adisaster kit is essential to having theappropriate resources on hand. It shouldinclude enough food for each family memberand a gallon of water per person for at leastthree days.

Some other basics to store are blankets, aNOAA weather radio and batteries, multipleflashlights, cash, books and extra medication.

In case communication fails, familiesshould have a way to get in touch if they areseparated. Family disaster plans shouldinclude a meeting place and an out-of-statecontact everyone can check in with.

When the power goes out, you should useflashlights and avoid using candles since theyare fire hazards. Turn off all major appliancessince they could overload electric lines whenthe power is restored, causing a secondout age.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closedas much as possible since food can be keptcold for a day or two if the doors remainclosed. Food can be cooked in the fireplace orin a charcoal grill or camp stove outdoors.

People with special needs should providethe power company with a list of all power-dependant life support equipment at theirhome.

A chaotic time can also have apsychological impact on a person.

Some of the physical and mental symptomsinclude: depression, headaches, fear, shock,confusion, anger, exhaustion and insomnia.

There are some ways to lessen that impact.According to Dr. Richard James, professor ofcounseling, educational psychology andresearch at the University of Memphis, whohas written books on stress and copingduring crises, there are several steps to helpindividuals during disasters.

The first thing is to take care of the basicneeds. It is important to rest, sleep, eat anddrink water so you can function.

It’s OK to cry, swear and let off steam, butdon’t focus to the exclusion of the crisis.

Coping mechanisms start with having aplan.

Define a problem and determine whatneeds to be done and what can be done.Focus on one thing and make that happen. Ifyou take care of it, you’ll feel like you’remaking progress.

READINESS 101

Plan to take care of basicsFor your kit …

5 easy things you cando to get ready

CALLING 911

Nonemergency calls placed to 911 wastetime and money and risk delaying helpto someone who might really need it.The Shelby County EmergencyCommunications District offers thefollowing tips on when and when not todial 911.

Call 911 only in emergencies, when youor someone else is seriously hurt or isexperiencing life-threatening conditions.

An emergency is any situation thatrequires immediate assistance of apolice officer, firefighter or emergencymedical services.

Examples of emergencies include acrime in progress, fire, breathingproblems, choking, unconsciousness,poisoning, drowning, stabbing, gunshotwounds, someone struck by a vehicleand a child locked in a vehicle.

Examples of nonemergencies, whichyou should not call 911 about, includea minor accident with no injuries, barkingdogs, burglarized property, poweroutage, drug sale, loud parties, weatherand road conditions, scores for sportingevents, runaways, legal advice and keyslocked in vehicle (no child inside).

DIALING 911 FROMYOUR CELL PHONE

If you are driving andwitness an accident oremergency situation,pull over to a safelocation and dial 911.

Calmly tell theoperator whichemergency agencyyou need: police, fire oran ambulance.

Clearly state whereyou are. Give youraddress AND thenearest intersectingstreet, which is veryimportant for verifyingthe address. If anaddress is not available,use landmarks such asbillboards, milemarkers, buildings, etc.,to describe the location.

Clearly state whatyour emergency is.

Stay on the line. Do nothang up until theoperator has all theinformation. Theoperator or emergencydispatcher may askquestions regarding theemergency or provideyou with instructions forstabilizing a patientbefore an ambulancea r r i v es .

Be patient and calm.Cellular calls are oftennot automaticallyrouted to the properpublic safety answeringpoint because thewireless signals travelbeyond municipalboundary lines. Oftenyou may need to betransferred to theproper agency. It helpsthe dispatcher if you tellhim or her exactly whichcity your call concerns.

Source: ShelbyCounty Emergency

Communications District

Ben Fant/Special to the Commercial Appeal

The Memphis and Shelby CountyEmergency Management Agencyoffers instruction on the proper useof fire extinguishers during a two-day CERT course.

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Bring all outdoor petsinside or to a warmer area.

Never use a generatorinside. Ever.

Make sure that your car’sheater and defroster work.

Prepare for being home (orsnowed in) by havingenough heating fuel.

Be sure that family membersknow how to find out aboutcancellations and closings.

Never under anycircumstances use aback-up generator inside.

Keep extra water andblankets handy in case ofburst pipes or power loss.

Be sure your tires haveenough tread.

Develop a plan that hasevery family membercontacting the same personin case of emergency.

Check the forecast andstock up on essentials whensevere weather threatens.

WINTER DRIVING TIPSNever warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.Keep your gas tank at least half full. Air carries moisture that can freeze and

crystallize in your gas line.If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (water, ice,

sand, etc.).Visit your mechanic for a tune-up or other routine maintenance.Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is

the best method for retraining traction and avoiding skids.On slick roads, leave more room between you and the car in front of you.Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads — a cce l e r a t i n g ,

stopping, turning. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly. And taketime to slow down for a stoplight.

Source: AAA

WINTER DRIVING

Prepare cars ahead of time

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For winterstorms …


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For extremecold …


Snow and ice are not the firstthings that come to mind whenthinking about the Mid-South.

When snow, sleet or ice does hitthe area, even a small amount cancatch drivers off guard and ill-prepared to handle it. That’s whyit’s important for drivers toproperly maintain their car andprepare for inclement weather.

Lt. Zane Smith, a safetyeducation officer for the TennesseeHighway Patrol, travels throughout10 counties in West Tennesseetalking to driver’s education classesand making presentations to othergroups to heighten people’sawareness about safety issues.

“Even before the bad weather,t h e re ’s preparations and planning,making sure the vehicle is in goodoperating condition. It never ceasesto amaze people their batteryalways tends to go bad during coldwe at h e r, ” he said. “Cold weatherhas an effect on the battery. Earlypreparations and maintenance onthe vehicle (are important) toensure it will make it through thewinter months.”

The safety tips Smith offers toclasses are relevant throughout theyear, not just the winter months.

“Rain, sleet, snow, ice — yo u ’vegot to be a defensive driver. ... Andcertainly wearing safety belts.”

In 2007, there were about 200car accidents in Shelby County onroads where sleet, hail or snow waspresent, according to theTennessee Department of Safety.

But people like Edward Shaw arealso doing their part to help lowerwinter accident rates.

Shaw, 42, is a sand-salt truckdriver for the city of Memphis andsalts the roads during inclementweather. Shaw and 20 other driversare responsible for keeping theroads clear.

“We get a grid sheet with ourroute. The sheet has on there thespots we need to hit — hospit als,fire stations, police stations — sothe emergency people can get inand out,” said Shaw.

Each driver also covers bridgesand overpasses.

“It’s a little bit treacherous if it’s realicy. Freezing rain or something likethat is a little more hazardous becauseyo u ’ve got to try to get up your hillsand get around your curves. You got tokind of take your time to make it toeach destination,” said Shaw, who’sbeen with the city for 10 years.

He hasn’t encountered a day yet

“where we weren’t able to get outand serve the public,” he said.

When he’s out in the truck,Shaw often sees a line of carsfollowing him to get bettert ra c t i o n .

“People have needs to get tostores and hospitals,” he said. “Itgives you a little satisfactionknowing you’re helping the city tokeep moving.”

Snow, sleet or ice can make driving hazardous during the winter.Motorists should prepare their vehicles before winter sets in.

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For bug bites and stings, apply iceimmediately to the area and removethe stinger if it’s visible and seekmedical treatment if there is difficulty

breathing, extreme swelling or if the affectedarea changes color.

Treat minor burns with cool water or acool compress. If there is blistering, seea doctor to determine the extent of theinjury.

For sprains, apply ice immediately toswelling and then off and on for the next48 hours and elevate the area.

With bleeding, apply direct pressurewith a towel or gauze until the bleedinghas stopped. Apply antibiotic ointmentand a bandage.

Stock at least three days worth ofnonperishable food and water for eachmember of your family, including pets.

Remember that phone lines and celltowers could be down, so work out aplan for family members to contact eachother or meet up.

Make sure that all tall furniture in yourhome is bolted to the wall so that itwon’t fall over on someone.

Teach children when and how to call 911,the police or the fire department.

Make sure each pet is wearing asecurely fastened collar with contacti n fo r m a t i o n .5

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For shaky ground …


CENTER FOR EARTHQUAKE RESEARCHAND INFORMATIONAd d r es s : 3890 CentralPhone: 678 - 20 07Online: ce r i . m e m p h i s .e d uSAFETY TIPS

During an earthquake, stay inside until the shaking stops. Stand ina doorway or crouch under a desk or table, well away from windowsand glass dividers.

If you’re outside, stand away from buildings, trees, telephone andelectrical lines. Drop to the ground.

Expect aftershocks. Every time you feel one, “drop, cover and holdon.”

Sources: The Center for Earthquake Research and Information, TheAmerican Red Cross

EARTHQUAKES MONITORING

U of M center on watchBy Sara HooverSpecial to The Commercial Appeal

The Center for EarthquakeResearch and Information, onthe University of Memphiscampus, studies the causes andconsequences of earthquakes,specializing in seismicmonitoring of the centralUnited States.

Seismic monitoring is vitalto meet the nation’s need fortimely and accurateinformation used in reducingthe loss of life and propertyfrom earthquakes, tsunamisand volcanic eruptions.

Founded in 1976, the centeris the regional center for over26 states for the advancednational seismic system. Thecenter has 130 stations in 10states monitoring the NewMadrid and SouthernAppalachian seismic zones.

The center has a graduateprogram in Earth Sciences,which includes students fromall over the world who arestudying to becomeseismologists.

It also provides teacherworkshops to science teachersto help students reach statestandards of learning.

“It’s a long-term link tocommunity that is more thanjust talking about very typicalearthquake aspects. Kids aredoing better on their TCAPtests. It’s a valuable service. Ifwe talk to 30 middle schoolteachers and they talk to 50kids a day, that’s a big impact,”said Gary Patterson, thecenter’s information servicesdirector and a geologist.

To help with the area’sdisaster preparedness, thecenter formed and oversees theWest Tennessee Seismic SafetyCommission, which received a$500,000 grant from the AssisiFoundation of Memphis to doan assessment of local masss h el t e rs .

At the center, the mostpopular attraction, at least with

Keep basic first-aid supplies on hand,including bandages, pain medication andantibacterial soap.


Cub Scouts (from left) Chase Brown, William Lancaster andDalton Duff watch a demonstration that shows what earthquakevibrations can do to the foundation of a home at the Universityof Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information.The boys learned how to be ready for an earthquake. For first aid …

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kids, is the center’s mini-museum. Visitors can maketheir own earthquake with ageophone and oscilloscope.

The museum’s goal is toraise awareness of earthquakehazards, earthquakeengineering and seismology. Itincludes a full-scaleliquefaction trench exhibitdemonstrating techniques used

to date ancient earthquakes,real-time local and globalearthquake displays, historicalearthquake documentation,lesson plans and classroomactivities.

Visits are free and byappointment only. The centeris working with the PinkPalace to create a similarexhibit there as well.

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Be alert to the possibility ofa flood if it has beenraining hard for severalhours or steadily raining for

several days.

Raise your furnace, waterheater or electric panel ifthey are in areas of yourhome that may be flooded.

Know your area’s floodrisk. If you don’t, you cancontact your local RedCross chapter, emergency

management office or planning andzoning department.

Listen to local TV and radiostations for floodi n fo r m a t i o n .

Plan and practice a floodevacuation route with yourfa m i l y .

Flood preventionWhat you can do to keep gratesclean and streets from flooding:

Do n ’t throw trash in streets.Do n ’t mow your lawn and put

the clippings in the street. Bagthem or leave them on the lawn.

Do n ’t put leaves in the street.Bag them.

Source: Memphis Public WorksD epartment

FLASH FLOOD TIPSIn the event of flash flooding, follow these tips to stay safe:If you are outdoors:

Climb to high ground and stay there.Never try to walk or swim through water above your ankles.Many flood fatalities are caused by people playing in high water. Even 6

inches can sweep you off your feet. Wild animals including snakes may be inthe water.If you are driving:

Turn around and find another route if you come upon rapidly rising water.As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle

and 2 feet of water will carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups.Many flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through

water. The depth of the water is not always obvious. Also, water may beelectrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

Stay away from underpasses, which can fill rapidly with water.If you live in a flood-prone area:

Consider flood insurance. Homeowners’ policies do not cover flooding.Listen to a NOAA weather radio.

Source: American Red Cross

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For deepwater …


FLOOD PATROL

Vehicles don’t take to waterBy Sara HooverSpecial to The Commercial Appeal

The Mississippi River may notflood Memphis, but when heavy rainfalls for hours, city streets do flood,sometimes with several feet of water.

Drivers who enter floodwatersrisk not only their safety — since 2feet of water will carry away mostvehicles, including SUVs and pickuptrucks — but can seriously damagethe car as well.

“The first thing that’s going tohappen to your car — 90 percent ofthe time — is it’s going to take inwater through the intake and causethe engine to hydrolock. It suckswater into the engine, stops theengine. That’s what stalls your car ifyo u ’re driving through,” said BenLester, a mechanic at Ballinger’sShell Station, AAA’s approved autorepair facility in Memphis.

Lester knows from personalexperience. He once drove throughfloodwater and got water in theengine.

“You can pull the spark plugs outto dry it out and hopefully it willstart. If not, then you’ve got somedamage to the engine or you candamage the electronic components,”said Lester.

According to him, the cost forengine repair can be anywhere from$250 to $5,000.

Even if your car goes through thewater and is still running, there areno guarantees.

“If you get water in the engine,it’s going to mess something up. Youmay dry it out. It may run again. Buteventually you’re going to havet ro u b l e . ”

Other areas of the car aresusceptible as well. If the brakes getwater in them, the water acts as alubricant. So until the brake linedries out, the car will have troublestopping. Lester estimated a brakejob to be $150 to $175.

Since most cars have computersonboard, getting water in theinterior of the car can ruin thecomputer system.

“Water starts coming in and getsinto the electronic components, it’susually going to kill the computer. If

the car’s got a lot of electronics onit, then you’re in a mess. You cantotal a car out real easy,” s aidL e s t e r.

The estimated cost for computer

repair on domestic cars is $650 andimports can be as high as $2,000.

“If that water’s over 6 inchesdeep, I wouldn’t touch it, cause itdon’t take much to flood a car.”

A heavy downpour can leave roads and fields under water, posing athreat to life and property for those attempting to drive through it.

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Make sure all family members, especiallychildren, know the “s a fe ” location in yourhome for severe weather.

Keep a battery or crank-powered flashlightand radio in your home’s “s a fe ” l o ca t i o n .

Keep an emergency kit in your car thatcontains food, water, first aid supplies,flares and jumper cables.

Keep an emergency kit in a container atyour office that would be easy to grab if youare asked to evacuate.

Have plenty of food and extra water foreach pet in your family’s emergencysupply kit.

Tornado tipsPrepare a tornado plan for your home. Pick aplace where family members could gather:basement, center hallway, bathroom or closet onthe lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered.Assemble a disaster supply kit. It shouldcontain a first-aid kit and essential medications;canned food and can opener; at least threegallons of water per person; protective clothing,bedding or sleeping bags; radio, flashlight andextra batteries; and instructions on how to turnoff electricity, gas and water if necessary.Stay tuned for storm warnings. Listen to l o ca lradio and TV stations for storm information.Know the difference between a tornado watchand a tornado warning. A tornado watch meansa tornado is possible in your area. A tornadowarning means a tornado has been sighted.When a tornado watch is issued: Listen to localradio and TV stations for further updates.When a tornado warning is issued:. Thetornado may be approaching your area. If you areoutside, hurry to a nearby sturdy building or lieflat in a ditch or low-lying area. If you are in a caror mobile home, get out and head for safety.After the tornado passes... Watch out for fallenpower lines and stay out of the damaged area.

Sources: American Red Cross, National WeatherService, Federal Emergency Management Agency

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For severe weather …


TORNADO WATCH

Twisters traverse regionBy Eunice J. HartSpecial to The Commercial Appeal

Tornadoes that struck theMid-South on Feb. 5 this year,which caused extensivedamage in the Hickory Hillarea of Memphis, killed 31people alone in Tennessee.

The large death toll in thestate highlighted anunfortunate statistic: the Mid-South has become the nation’stop killing ground for twisters.

The Great Plains region stillgives rise to the greatestnumber of tornadoes. But azone stretching from near LittleRock through Memphis and onto Birmingham accounts for thelargest number of fatalitiesfrom twisters, according to ananalysis of 126 years of datapublished last year in Weatherand Forecasting, a journal of theAmerican MeteorologicalS ociety.

Experts point to a numberof factors for the highfatalities, from the type ofstorms, the times of theiroccurrence and the region’slarge number of mobile homes.And unlike many of the plainsstates, where there is a well

defined March-June tornadoseason, the Mid-South can gethit at almost any time of year.

To lower the risk of tornadofatalities, Jim Belles,meteorologist at the NationalWeather Service in Memphis,said adequate shelter is themain ingredient. In lieu ofthat, being prepared comes avery close second.

“We try to encourage peopleto consider storm shelterswhen engaged in new buildingconstruction,” Belles said,

“community shelters formobile home parks or a shelterin a ball park.

“This is hard work. How doyou retrofit a community?” hes aid.

Until that happens, Bellesstresses adequate planning. “Idon’t want to undercut whatplanning can do,” he said.

This includes making surefamilies, schools andbusinesses have an establishedplan for tornadoes and theira f t e r m at h .

Thunderstorms are often associated with severe weather. When in doubt, head for safety.

Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal files

Students were shocked by the devastation of the tornado thatslammed Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

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Teach your children how toswim.

Have a member of yourhousehold certified in CPRand keep that certificationcurrent.

Post CPR instructions and911 or your localemergency number in theswimming pool area.

Never leave children orpets unattended in aswimming pool or otherbody of water.

Always enter the water feetfirst.

Have your family membersavoid vigorous activity inhot and humid weather.

Keep your home as cool aspossible with airconditioning, fans andclosed shades or blinds.

Notify 911 immediately ifyou believe a family memberis overheated and monitortheir body temperature.

Use a sunshade to lowerthe temperature insideyour car.

Limit exercising your petsto the early morning orearly evening hours when itis cooler. HEAT WAVE TIPS

Slow down. Strenuous activitiesshould be reduced, eliminated orrescheduled to the coolest time ofthe day. Individuals at risk shouldstay in the coolest available place.

Dress for summer. Lightweight,light-colored clothing reflects heatand sunlight and helps your bodymaintain normal temperatures.

Put less fuel on your inner fires.Foods (like proteins) that increasemetabolic heat production alsoincrease water loss.

Drink plenty of water or othernon-alcoholic fluids. Your bodyneeds water to keep cool. Drinkplenty of fluids even if you don’t feelthirsty.

Spend more time inair-conditioned places. Airconditioning in homes and otherbuildings greatly reduces dangerfrom the heat. If you cannot affordan air conditioner, spending sometime each day (during hot weather)in an air-conditioned environmentaffords some protection.

Do n ’t get too much sun.Sunburn makes the job of heatdissipation that much more difficult.

Sources: American Red Cross,National Weather Service, FederalEmergency Management Agency

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For triple-digitheat …


For watersafety …

SUMMER HEAT

Agencies team up, cool downBy Eunice J. HartSpecial to The Commercial Appeal

A network of nonprofit andgovernment agencies work togetherthroughout the year to prevent heat-related deaths during the summermonths.

The Shelby County CommunityServices Agency operates thefederally funded Low Income HomeEnergy Assistance Program forcounty residents who have receiveda cutoff notice from Memphis Light,Gas and Water Division.

An applicant whose householdincome does not exceed 125 percentof federal poverty guidelines($26,500 a year for family of four)is potentially eligible for theprogram and a subsidy of as muchas $600.

The program runs July 1-June 30,making it more likely thatapplicants can receive assistance forboth winter and summer, accordingto Kaye Lawler, CSA administrator.

To contact the CommunityServices Agency, call 545-4630.

This year, the agency beganproviding air-conditioning units toapplicants with no working airconditioner in their home. The costof the unit is deducted from theLIHEAP subsidy.

Lawler said that out of 893requests for air-conditioning unitsthis past summer, the agencydelivered 249 units. Of those, 26applicants also received utilityassist ance.

Lawler said the CSA continues tocoordinate with the AgingCommission of the Mid-South todistribute fans to their elderlyapplicants.

Kathryn Coulter, chiefdevelopment officer for the AgingCommission, said 1,800 fans weredistributed in 2007.

For 15 years, the 20-inch box fanshave been distributed to seniors andthe disabled between June 15 andSept. 15. The fans are donated byindividuals and companiesthroughout the Mid-South.

Metropolitan Inter-FaithAssociation Meals-On-Wheelsdelivery volunteers help keep track

of elderly or disabled mealrecipients in need of a fan,according to Elizabeth Maynard-Garrett, MIFA’s vice president ofpublic relations.

MIFA also provides utilityassistance through MLGW’s Plus-1program. Maynard-Garrett saidcustomers can add $1 to theirmonthly utility bill, and MLGWsends the money to MIFA toadminister the program.

Plus-1 is only for emergencysituations and there are strictguidelines for applicants, she said.

If you need Plus-1 assistance,contact MIFA at 527-0208. Formore information on the program,go online at plus1memphis.org.

Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal files

MLGW customer service technician James Young helps install an airconditioner in the home of Lucile Bishop in South Memphis.

To beat the summer heat, it’s hardto beat the swimming pool for arefresher, if safety is followed.10

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FIRE SAFETY

Kids learn about fire safety Fire-safety tipsKeep matches and lighters out of

reach of children.Do not smoke in bed.Never leave food cooking on the

stove unattended.Install smoke detectors on every

floor, especially near sleeping areas.Test the smoke detectors once a

month and change the batteries everysix months.

Pick a safe place to meet outsideafter escaping from a fire.

Practice home fire drills with yourfamily twice a year.

“Get Low and Go” to escape a fire.(Crawl on hands and knees)

Feel a closed door before opening. Ifit is warm, use another way out.

Never go back into a burning houseor building.

Call 911 for the fire department afteryou have exited the building.

Sources: Fire Museum of Memphis,American Red Cross, National FireProtection Association

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Teach every family member howto “Stop, Drop and Roll” if clothescatch on fire.

Do n ’t plug in too manyappliances in your house at once.

Make sure every family memberknows what to do in case of a fireand choose a safe meeting placeoutside of the home.

Make sure that your smokedetectors are working.

Test windows and doors to see ifthey open easily.

For home fires…



Kindergartners and first-gradersfrom Star Academy in Memphisslid down fire poles, got behindthe wheel of a fire engine andplayed in the back of anambulance.

They even put on “turnout”gear — f i re f i g h t e rs ’ coats andh at s .

The group of 30 schoolchildrenwas in the Guardsmark Play Area,the final stop on the tour of theFire Museum of Memphis.

The museum offers fireeducation tours free to ShelbyCounty school children.

“We reimburse them for thetransportation, as well, so it’stotally free to the student and theschool,” said Brier Turner,executive director of the FireMu s e u m .

The mission of the museum isto teach fire safety education,especially since Memphis’ f i refatality rate is 11/2 times thenational average.

More than 112,000 childrenhave participated since themuseum began offering the freetours in 2001.

The first stop is Ol’ Billy, atalking horse that tells the historyof Memphis firefighting. Studentslook at equipment dating back tothe 1800s, including the 1910Crump Steamer.

Educator Patricia Youngteaches safety tips by singing the“Stop, Drop and Roll” song andphrases like “Don’t hide, gooutside.”

Kids learn in the Fire SafetyHouse and at video stations,including one on the first African-American firefighters in Memphis.

In the FedEx Fire Room, which

includes maybe the mostimportant exhibit, a six-minutefilm is shown that safely simulatesa room on fire. On the recent StarAcademy tour, some of the 5- and6-year-olds started crying andscreaming during the firesimulation, in which thetemperature inside actually risesand smoke billows.

But Raven Collins, 5, likedlearning about fire safety on herfirst visit to the museum.

“I was brave in the movie. I wasbrave on every part,” she said.

The Fire Museum, which iscelebrating its 10th anniversary,offers a free smoke detectorprogram as well.

The museum is located in thehistoric Fire Engine House No. 1at 118 Adams in DowntownMemphis. For more information,call 320-5650 or go online atf i re m u s e u m . c o m .


Christopher Richardson, 8, (foreground) and Jalique Coston, 8, pretend they are firefighters reacting toan emergency while on a field trip to the Fire Museum with their class from Star Academy.

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The CERT programeducates and trainspeople about disasterpreparedness for

hazards that may impacttheir area.

Become a trainedmember of your localCo m m u n i t yEmergency Response

Tea m .

CERT members arealso encouraged tosupport emergency-response agencies by

taking a more active role invarious emergency-preparedness projects intheir community.

By using theirtraining, CERTmembers can assistothers in their

community following anevent when professionals arenot immediately available tohelp.

Basic response skillstaught during CERTtraining includedisaster medical

operations, teamorganization, light search andrescue and fire safety.

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

Class helps before help arrives

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For helpingmy city…

5 easy things youcan do to get ready


CERT training teaches how to suppress a fire. Learning emergencytechniques lets community members cope until the professionals arrive.

Pr e p a r e d n es smeans knowingwhat itemsshould go into adisaster kit.Other trainingincludes first aidand triage,search andrescue, handlinghazardousmaterials, anddisasterpsychology.


Leslie Nelson, a stay-at-home mom,got caught in a hurricane in Destin,Fla. The power was out for severaldays and she boiled water to help herfamily manage.

Nelson, 44, later survived theNorthridge earthquake in Californiain 1994.

“You just realized people weren’tprepared. There was a lot ofdepression. People died and hadinjuries. Houses were explodingbecause of gas. Nobody knew how toturn it off. Ever since then, I’ve beenas prepared as I can and I wanted herto be as prepared as she can,” s aidNelson, referring to her 14-year-olddaughter, Hailey.

That was the reason Nelson decidedto bring her daughter to one of theMemphis and Shelby CountyEmergency Management Agency’srecent Community EmergencyResponse Team classes.

The two-day CERT class is free andoffered monthly on weekends andweekdays. The concept is to trainvolunteers how to help during adisaster and better prepareindividuals. Since no one knows whena disaster will strike, how long it willlast or when professionals will arrive,community members can be trainedto lend a hand to others.

“The CERT class prepares peopleto respond in the event of a disasterbefore help arrives. Basicpreparedness starts with ourselves.We are trying to reach as many as wecan, so when something happensthey’ll be ready,” said Cheryl Ballard,interim training officer and reserveprogram coordinator for theEmergency Management Agency.

About 4,300 people have beentrained since the start of the localCERT classes, which each have about40 participants.

During a recent class, participantsincluded a Boy Scout troop, staff fromthe Regional Medical Center atMemphis and St. Jude Children’sResearch Hospital and administratorsfrom local middle schools. Some werethere as a work requirement and othersjust wanted to learn more.

“I decided to get a refresher course,”said Cheryl Fowler, who has workedfor the Memphis and Shelby CountyHealth Department for 15 years andhas been a nurse for 30 years. Shebrought her adult children, Leandreaand DaMarcio, along.

“We stay by the refinery and theexpressway and I thought we neededto find out more about what we needto do to survive.”

She said she’s done disastertraining at her work, but “this is morein-depth and hands-on.”

The class covers a range of topicslike preparedness, disaster kits, firesuppression, medical first aid andtriage, light search and rescue,

hazardous materials, terrorism anddisaster psychology.

Students learn when and how touse fire extinguishers and put out atest fire. Instructors teach how tobandage and splint, including how towrap a pencil stuck in someone’s eye.Each participant practices shutting offgas, electric and water utilities. Theyalso learn how to strap heavy objectsdown, such as a water heater.

Upon completion of the course,students receive a certificate and aCERT ID badge.

For more information on CERT classes,contact the Memphis and Shelby CountyEmergency Management Agency at 515-2605 or go online at mscema.org.12

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Give family members presents ofpreparedness that they might notbuy themselves, such as abattery-powered or hand-cranked

weather radio.

POWER OUTAGES

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Power outageHere are some tips for weathering apower outage:

Keep flashlights andbattery-powered radios and televisionshandy along with extra batteries.

If you use candles, be sure to placethem in open areas away fromanything that could catch fire.Extinguish all candles and other openflames before going to sleep.

Turn off electrical equipment youwere using when the power went out.

If you use a motorized wheelchair orscooter, have an extra battery.

Do not run a generator inside ahome or garage.

Do not touch or come close todowned power lines. Call MLGW’s24-hour emergency numberimmediately at 528-4465.

Call MLGW’s outage hotline at544-6500 to register your outage viathe automated system.

Sources: MLGW, American Red Cross

Check the pressure in your homefire extinguisher and buy a newone if needed.

Take your car in for a full-servicecheckup around the holidays.

Be sure that your officeemergency kit is well stockedbefore the new year.

Consider getting a microship putin your pet this holiday season toensure that you would bereunited if you got separated.

For gift giving …



When the lights go out, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Divisiondispatches crews of linemen to restore power in Shelby County.

Earnest Holliday, 42, has worked at MLGW for 21 years and serves asa crew leader. In an interview, he talked about his often dangerous, yetrewarding, work in the field.

s h a k i n g.It just shook really bad, and I’m

up 60 feet in the air. The entirepole had ice on it. The only thingthat was actually holding me upwas my prines, or my hooks.Their sharp points were longenough to get past the ice andstick in the pole itself. My belt,which is made of leather, was justsliding up and down with 40pounds of tools along with all mybody weight.

Something I will alwaysremember. It’s just part of the job.I was just fortunate.

Q: What is the biggest concernduring restoration?

A: The biggest concern for us iscalled “backfeed.” It is whensomeone starts a generator up andthey don’t have a changeoverswitch. It generates secondary

voltage back into primary voltage.A lot of times, we’re out workingand stop if we hear a generator.Everybody pauses.

It’ll put backfeed on us and it’svery dangerous. A lot of thepeople aren’t aware of this.

Q: W h at ’s the best part of yourjob?

A: It’s a brotherhood. Everyonejust comes together because it’sso hazardous.

People are relying on us. Youput everything to the side becausenow your city needs you. It makesyou kick into a different gear.When you see people clapping,cheering when those lights comeon, it’s like a birthday party. Ithink that’s the biggest reward allthe linemen get.

My best moment was after theice storm hit. I don’t know howthis lady, a customer, sent me athank-you letter and a croquetedcross she made. That washeartfelt. I couldn’t believe thatsomeone would take time out ofher busy schedule and payhomage for someone doingsomething like that. It wasmemorable for me.

M LGWservicecrews areon the frontlines, oftenworking indangerousconditions,when powergoes off inthe area.Linemenworkaround theclock to getpowerr es t o r e d .

Q: Can you tell me about one ofyour experiences during a power-restoration effort?

A: A few years ago, when I wasa lineman, a sister public utilitycalled and asked if I would like togo over to Arkansas during an icestorm.

It was freezing cold. All thepoles were frozen on both sides. Itmade it difficult to climb. My beltkept slipping because ice was onthe pole. There was some treetrimmers working about an eighthof a mile down from me. Theycouldn’t see us and we couldn’tsee them. They cut this huge treelimb and it hit the power lineswhen I was up on the pole.

The pole starts swinging. I justknew it was over with, knew thepole was going to break. I wasterrified. The pole started 13

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When thelights go out,

Always have a flashlight and extra batteries.No one can predict when or for how long a power outage might occur. But anyone

can be ready. In fact, study after study shows that just thinking about it in advance can

improve how you – and your whole community – come through the challenge. Join the

growing list of Shelby County residents who are saying,“I’m ready.”

Neverunderestimatethe power ofteamwork.FedEx is proud to work with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Direct Relief International and otherworld-class organizations to act quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. It is because ofour firm commitment to disaster preparedness and relief that FedEx is pleased to support ShelbyCounty’s I’m Ready Preparedness Campaign.

fedex.com© 2008 FedEx

When disaster strikes local response is critical. Lifeblood is the Memphis-area’s

only full service community blood center. All of the blood Lifeblood collects stays

here for patients in our local hospitals. At least 300 volunteers are needed each and

every day to donate enough blood and help patients in need. We cannot predict

disasters, but we can prepare in case you, your loved one or your neighbor should

ever need blood. Please visit a Lifeblood community donor center or mobile blood

drive today. Give blood. Give life. For our community.

TENNESSEE - Medical Center, 1045 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 | Bartlett, 7505 Highway 64, Suite 109, Bartlett, TN 38133 | Collierville, 875 West Poplar,

Suite 18, Collierville, TN 38017 | East Memphis, 4934 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38117 | Germantown, 2095 Exeter, #75, Germantown, TN 38138 | Tipton County,826 A Highway 51 N., Covington, TN 38019 | University of Memphis, Rawlins Service Court Bldg., Suite 201, 501 University Street, Memphis, TN 38152

ARKANSAS - Blytheville, 320 North 6th, Blytheville, AR 72315 MISSISSIPPI - DeSoto County, 577 Goodman Road, #5, Southaven, MS 38671

THINK IT CAN’T HAPPEN TO YOU?YOU’RE WRONG. GIVE BLOOD.

SCHEDULE YOUR DONATION. CALL 901.529.6320 OR VISIT WWW.LIFEBLOOD.ORG.

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