Safety Tips

Smoke Detectors

• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home
• Test detectors once a month
• Keep detectors clean and dust-free
• Change batteries twice a year (changing clocks is a great reminder)
• Never remove working batteries for toys or other devices — smoke detectors save lives

🚪 Home Fire Escape Planning

• Create a fire escape plan with your family
• Make sure everyone knows two ways out of every room
• Practice your plan at least twice a year (practice once during winter)
• Choose a meeting place outside and away from the home
• If you suspect a fire, get out immediately and call 911 from a neighbor’s house
• Never re-enter a burning building

⚡ Downed Power Lines

Downed power lines are extremely dangerous. Always assume they are live.

• Never touch or move a downed power line
• Keep children and pets far away
• Do not drive over downed lines
• Stay away from water near downed lines, even small puddles
• If a line falls on your vehicle, stay inside unless there is immediate danger
• Be cautious after storms — damaged lines and tree limbs may fall later

Before a Power Outage

• Keep flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio accessible
• Maintain a 3-day supply of food, water, and medications
• Know how to manually open your garage door
• Use surge protectors for sensitive electronics
• Never plan to cook indoors with grills or camp stoves

During a Power Outage

• Report outages and hazards to your power company
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
• Avoid candles when possible; keep flames away from combustibles
• Use space heaters only in well-ventilated areas
• Never use charcoal or fuel-burning devices indoors

Generator Safety

• Use generators outdoors only
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet
• Plug appliances directly into the generator
• Avoid bare wires and wet conditions
• Use GFCI protection where required

Fireplaces & Wood Stoves

• Never leave a fire unattended
• Have chimneys inspected annually
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood — never trash
• Never burn charcoal indoors
• Place ashes in a covered metal container outdoors

Portable Heaters

• Keep heaters at least 3 feet from anything combustible
• Never use extension cords
• Turn heaters off before sleeping or leaving home
• Avoid heater use in bathrooms

Furnaces

• Have your furnace inspected yearly
• Keep combustibles away
• Ensure emergency shut-offs are working properly

Slow down — slippery roads magnify mistakes

Increase following distance

Brake before turning, not during

Keep emergency supplies in your vehicle:

• Shovel
• Ice scraper
• Blankets
• Flashlight
• Food and water

If stranded, stay with your vehicle unless help is certain

Tornado Safety

• Watch: Conditions are favorable
• Warning: Take cover immediately
• Go to the lowest level of a building, away from windows
• Mobile homes and vehicles are unsafe — seek sturdy shelter

Flooding

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown
• Never drive through flooded roads
• Move to higher ground immediately

Earthquakes are rare locally, but basic preparedness still matters:

• Drop, Cover, and Hold On
• Stay indoors during shaking
• Move away from windows and heavy objects
• After shaking stops, check for injuries and hazards

(Extended earthquake planning information may be found through state or national emergency resources.)