Preparing for a Tornado

Preparing for a Tornado

To ensure that you’re able to act quickly and get the best available protection during a tornado, you need to plan ahead. Advanced planning and practicing specifically how and where you will take cover for protection may save your life.

Your primary goal is to go to the safest place for protection before the tornado approaches and take additional measures for personal cover. If a tornado warning is issued, immediately move to the best available protection.

Having advance notice that a tornado is approaching your area can give you the critical time needed to move to a place with better protection. The best protection in all tornadoes is to seek shelter in a structure built to FEMA safe room or International Code 500 storm shelter standards.

If you’re unable to get to a safe room during a tornado, move to an interior windowless room on the lowest level of a building, preferably the basement. Take personal cover under sturdy furniture such as a table. Cover your head and neck with your arms and place a blanket or coat over your body.

The America’s PrepareAthon! How to Prepare for a Tornado guide provides preparedness tips if you live, work, or travel through an area that is susceptible to tornadoes:

·         Know how to stay informed, including monitoring weather reports provided by your local media;

·         Consider buying a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receiver, which receives broadcast alerts directly from the National Weather Service and offers warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

·         Download the FEMA mobile application for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips;

·         Know where you would go to have the best level of protection from a tornado for every place you spend a lot of time, such as home, work, school, or place of worship;

·         Practice how you will communicate with your family members in case you’re not together during a tornado; complete the Family Emergency Communication Plan;

·         Store at least a 3-day supply of food, water, medications, and items you may need after the tornado passes; and

·         Store the important documents on a USB flash drive or in a waterproof container that you will need to start your recovery.
Some locations don’t provide protection from tornadoes, including: manufactured (mobile) homes/offices, the open space of open-plan buildings (e.g., malls, big retail stores, and gymnasiums), vehicles, and the outdoors. An alternative shelter should be identified prior to a tornado watch or warning.

You can find additional resources online, including a tornado checklist that provides guidance on what steps to take before and after a tornado.

Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Tornado: When the Storm Comes (Video)

Tornado: When the Storm Comes (Video)

When a funnel cloud forms, how prepared are you? Do you have a safe place to go?

 

Watch America’s PrepareAthon!’s newest short animated video on tornado preparedness showing what you need to do to prepare for a tornado. Then, share it with your friends and visit ready.gov/prepare for more tornado preparedness information and resources.

Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Advisory: Beware Of Phone Scams – Don’t Be A Victim

The Lincoln Park Police Department wants to provide a few tips on how to avoid being a victim of phone scams. Recently we have had several reports of citizens being contacted by suspected phone scammers. Following these tips can help avoid being a victim.

  1. If you get a call saying you’re a winner – don’t pay any money to collect supposed sweepstakes winnings. Legitimate operations won’t require you to pay to collect your winnings.
  2. Never wire money to anyone with whom you are not familiar with
  3. Never provide anyone with personal information such as bank accounts, pin numbers or Social Security numbers.
  4. Check any unfamiliar area codes before returning calls
  5. Never make donations over the phone, no matter how nicely the caller may ask and how tempting the reward.
  6. IRS scams – This is not the IRS scamming you, but rather someone impersonating the IRS. Never give any personal information over the phone to anyone claiming to work for the IRS. This is not an IRS policy to request payment and personal information over the phone. * The IRS already had your information*
  7. If you become a victim please immediately contact the police department.
Lincoln Park Neighborhood Watch – Open House 3/23/2016

The Lincoln Park Neighborhood Watch Program will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 from 7:00pm to 9:00pmn at the Lincoln Park Community Policing Building.

The purpose of the Open House is to engage with current members, recruit new members and share exciting new opportunities for members to get involved with the program in a leadership capacity.

This event is open to members and non-members alike, so please feel free to invite family, friends, neighbors, and any other Lincoln Park residents you think might be interested. Children are welcome.

For more information please contact Michael Parr at gmparr714@gmail.com or by calling at 313-381-3217 .

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Shop Safe on Cyber Monday

Online shopping has become the preferred purchasing method for customers who want to avoid in-store crowds during the holidays. While the Internet offers convenience, it also gives hackers the chance to access the personal and financial information of unsuspecting shoppers.

Don’t let the ease of online shopping ruin your Cyber Monday activities onNovember 30. The Department of Homeland Security offers tips to stay safe while shopping online, including:

  • Use secure websites for purchases;
  • Shop with companies you know and trust;
  • Keep personal information private and passwords secure; and
  • Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware software.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility. Visit the DHS Stop.Think.Connect. website for more ways to make using the Internet a safer experience this gift-giving season and throughout the year.

Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

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