Phyllis Kimber Wilcox
Ethnic Media Services in association with California Black Media, the National Weather Service and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, hosted a briefing on how the public can plan to keep safe during what could be severe weather this winter.
Storms, power outages and flooding are expected to be more common occurrences as well as increasingly cold temperatures this winter. In order to stay safe in what is expected to be another intense storm season, several experts offered tips and information on how to prepare.
The speakers included Diana Cross Palio, Assistant Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; Bianca Philjicker, meteorologist from the National Weather Service, Western Region headquarters; and Yasmin Ortega, Deputy Press Secretary with the California Department of Insurance.
According to Philjiker, El Nino conditions or the warming of layers of water at the oceanâs surface mixing with cooler water from below, causes a shift in moisture and the jet stream which in turn can cause more intense weather conditions.
Stay Informed
According to Cross Palio, it is important to follow some basic tips to be prepared during this winterâs storm season including signing up for weather alerts:
âGo to listocalifornia.org/alerts,â she advised, stressing the site provides emergency alerts that are specific to your city, county or your region. Alerts will give you and your family the latest updates from the government about extreme weather conditions in your area including winds, snow, mudslides and flooding and will send alerts directly to your phone.
Make A Plan
It is also important to make a family plan in case you have to evacuate your home. Emergencies can occur anytime. Everyone should know where and when to meet in case you are not together when an emergency happens.Â
If you are separated from loved ones, you should have the name, address and phone number for an agreed upon person. Someone who does not live close by, who everyone can keep in contact with if you are separated from your loved ones when a weather emergency happens. All your family members should also have a written list of emergency phone numbers in case there is an interruption of telephone and or cellular service. In addition, families should have an emergency bag with food, water, medications and important documents, such as insurance papers etc. and you should have a list of emergency shelters if they are needed. To find help in your area visit disasterassistance.gov. The public is asked to make sure to check on family members and neighbors who may live alone or are elderly or ill.
âItâs really important to ask every single person to check on friends, neighbors and loved ones during an emergency and even better to ensure they’re ready,â the experts advised.
If you live with someone dependent on medical devices you can contact the utility company to ask about what you can do to insure they are not affected during power outages.
You should also make a review of your insurance policies as a part of your emergency plan.
Flood Insurance
According to Ortega, flood insurance is not a requirement in the state of California and most homeowners and business policies don’t cover flooding or other hazards caused by weather emergencies without additional coverage. However the state of California does offer flood insurance policies to home and business owners through FEMA. For more information go to the California Department of Insurance for more information about flood insurance options.
Increasing Likelihood of Storms
The National Weather Service is predicting an increased likelihood of storms around mid December. Be sure to sign up for weather alerts and to start making a safety plan today.