North Dakota has had our fair share of scary storms already this year. Tornado sirens have been an eerie refrain for some communities. We always hope no one needs these reminders, but it bears repeating:
- A tornado WARNING is a level of severity higher than a tornado WATCH. Warning means there's been rotation spotted in your area. If there's a tornado watch, you should plan to be near shelter for the remainder of the watch period, altering plans if needed to stay near shelter. If there's a tornado warning, take shelter immediately.
- Shelter means the lowest level of the building, preferably an inner room without windows if at all possible.
- Before storm season begins, it's not a terrible idea to go over your emergency plan with family members and make sure you have essentials stocked, including a few days' worth of water, food, and any needed medications. If you have an alternate energy source, such as a generator or portable power station, make sure it's functioning and any fuel needed is available.
Storm are out of our control and important to prepare for, but there are other more manmade hazards that early July brings -- fireworks season. Here are some tips to enjoy responsibly:
- Respect any fireworks bans, either due to fire restrictions or, if applicable, within city limits. Fire stations must make these determinations based on their available resources and other outside factors not always obvious to the general public. Make the responsible decision to respect their expertise.
- Fireworks season is not the time to shirk on PPE. If you're the family pyrotechnic for the night, really consider safety glasses and gloves at the very least. If you're got FR clothes from work or can borrow some, you might really appreciate it if something goes wrong.
- Make sure to light fireworks a respectable distance away from buildings, trees, or other structures, and do not light up in tall grass.
- Did you know sparklers can reach temperatures of 2000 degrees? They also account for almost a third of all injuries to children under five. Be careful and consider other fun alternatives for the little ones.
- Don't try to relight malfunctioning fireworks and do not hold lit fireworks (such as Roman candles).
Hopefully with these tips everyone can enjoy a fun and safe Fourth of July!
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