Prepare your home, office and family for Excessive Heat: Safety Tips and Terms

It’s never too late to prepare for excessive heat in Alabama. There are several things you can do to help your family deal with rising temperatures.  Also, it’s helpful to know the heat-related hazard terms used by the National Weather Service and local meteorologists.  Here are a few helpful tips and terms:

• Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.

Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.

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Summer Tips for Excessive Heat in Alabama

Summertime heat in Alabama is often a less recognized danger to many.  Across the US, there are on average more heat related deaths each year than other weather hazards, including tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding and lightning. The following safety tips during excessive heat can help prevent illness, and possibly death.  

What you should do if the weather is extremely hot:

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How to Donate and Volunteer Responsibly for the Oklahoma Relief Efforts

Follow these tips when thinking about ways to effectively donate or volunteer to the Oklahoma tornado relief efforts.

• The most effective donations after disasters are financial donations. Visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website to donate to those non-profit organizations that are active in disaster response.

• Volunteers are very beneficial to the response and recovery efforts after a disaster and are most effective when affiliating with a non-profit organization. Do not self-deploy to the affected areas. Contact your local non-profit organization to find out how you can become trained to respond in the most effective way.

• Additional information about the Oklahoma Tornadoes relief efforts can be found at: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Flood Driving Safety Tips

With the Spring Severe Weather Season in full swing in Alabama, Flash Flooding with heavy thunderstorms is possible. Please use the following tips when driving in heavy rain/flooding situations:

Pay attention to barricades.
Don’t ignore them by driving past them.

Do not drive through standing water on roads or in parking lots.
The average automobile can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water, and roads covered by water are prone to collapse. Attempting to drive through water also may stall your engine, with the potential to cause irreparable damage if you try to restart the engine. If you come upon a flooded street, take an alternate route.

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April 15, 2011 Tornado Outbreak A Reminder of the Spring Severe Weather Threat in Alabama

April 15, 2011 was one of the largest tornado outbreaks in Central Alabama history. Overshadowed by the historic devastation of April 27, 2011, the April 15 outbreak helped make April 2011 the most active month for tornadoes in Alabama on record.  Please remember to build/check your Emergency Kit for your home or business!

Here’s additional info on the April 15, 2013 Tornado Outbreak from the National Weather Service Office in Birmingham.

Prepare For Severe Weather - Check Your Emergency Kit Today

Alabama’s primary severe weather season is underway. Keep your household and business prepared by building/updating your Emergency Kit. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMERGENCY KIT.

(image courtesy American Red Cross)

March 18th Storms Damage Hundreds of Homes in Alabama - Help With Unmet Needs in Alabama Disasters Through the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund

(Photo Courtesy al.com)

Over 400 homes were affected by storms on March 18, 2013. Find out more in this al.com article.

To donate to Alabama Disaster Relief - Unmet Needs, mail contributions to “Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund” 8 Commerce Street, Suite 1140, Montgomery, AL 36104.

Bo Bikes Bama 2013! Tornado Relief for Unmet Needs of April 2011 Tornado Survivors - Proceeds go to Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund

BO BIKES BAMA, CORDOVA, ALABAMA - APRIL 27, 2013

Starting in Cordova, Alabama, Bo Bikes Bama offers a 20 or 60 mile route through tornado ravished Walker County - one of the most devastated counties in the nation during the April 27th, 2011 tornado outbreak that claimed 324 lives across six states.

On the second anniversary of the deadly April 27, 2011 tornadoes, two-sport legend Bo Jackson will lead a one-day charity bike ride through Cordova, Alabama to continue his mission to raise $1 million for tornado recovery. Participants will have the option to join Bo for a 20-mile or 60-mile route through the town.

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