September is National Preparedness Month: Somers Fire Department Shares Information About How to Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed
September 12, 2023
September is National Preparedness Month. It’s a time for people across the country to explore and revisit the steps necessary to ensure they’re ready in the event of an emergency – whether it’s a natural or man-made disaster. To help members of the community prepare, Somers Fire Department is sharing important information about how to make an emergency kit, create a plan, and be informed.
“The best time to prepare is before an emergency happens and, with some of the extreme weather events we’ve witnessed lately, there’s no time like the present,” says Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “Just like making and practicing an escape plan in the event of a home fire, we can ensure our families and neighbors have the tools they need to cope with the unexpected.”
The Ready and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites are chock full of great information for people looking for advice about how to prepare. In general, there are three key components of emergency preparedness. They are:
Get A Kit
According to Ready, an emergency kit should include:
- Food and Water for Several Days – One gallon of water per person per day and foods that are non-perishable and easy to make (e.g., canned soup, dry pasta, powdered milk). Don’t forget a can opener and basic utensils.
- Health Supplies – At least a three-day supply of all medicines as well as any medical supplies such as syringes, walking canes, masks, and extra batteries for hearing aids.
- Personal Care Items – Soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, baby wipes, glasses.
- Safety Supplies – First Aid kit, blankets, multipurpose tool, and a whistle.
- Electronics – Radio, flashlight, cell phone with charger, extra batteries.
- Documents – Insurance cards, medical records, family emergency plan, emergency contact information.
- Extra cash, local maps, extra house and car keys.
- Don’t forget about pets and children – Be sure to bring enough pet food, medications, supplies, and documents, and pack games and activities for children.
Make a Plan
Ready offers an online form for making a Family Emergency Communication Plan – once complete, the form can be saved as a PDF. Some things to consider include:
- Making a contact card for each family member, selecting an emergency contact, making sure everyone knows how to send a text, and knowing emergency phone numbers.
- Identifying the safest places in the home for different types of possible disasters, choose meeting places (they may differ depending on the situation), map out escape routes from the house (two ways out of each room), and practice by running drills. Don’t forget pets and that they may not be allowed in shelters.
- Teaching kids how to dial 911, quiz them on the plan, include them in the planning and drills. Ready Wrigley is a great resource.
- Checking insurance policies to make sure coverages are adequate for potential disasters, know how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main shut-off locations, make sure each family member knows where fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
Just like fire drills to learn and practice what to do in case of a fire, families can practice their disaster response as well.
Be Informed
In Connecticut, residents can sign up for the CT Alert Emergency Notification System. It uses the state’s Enhanced 9-1-1 database for location-based notifications to the public. Visit the CT Alert website to learn more.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD on Facebook and Instagram.
Prepare for Back-to-School Driving: Somers Fire Department Offers Tips for Sharing the Road with School Buses, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians
August 30, 2023
As summer draws to a close, schools will once again be in session; the first day of school in Somers is Thursday, August 31, 2023. To keep children safe, the Somers Fire Department is reminding residents about sharing the road with school buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
“When school is back in session, there’s a lot more happening around us as we leave our homes and travel through our neighborhoods and the community on our way to and from work,” says Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “Drivers need to be extra alert for school buses, as well as children waiting at bus stops and biking or walking to school.”
Somers Fire Department shares the following reminders regarding school buses:
- When driving behind a school bus, leave more room than when driving behind another vehicle to allow more time to stop when the bus’s yellow lights begin flashing.
- It is illegal to pass a school bus stopped to let off or pick up children.
- Never pass a bus from behind.
- Stop far enough away from a school bus to allow children enough space to safety get on and off the bus.
- Stay alert – keep an eye on children around school buses as they may not behave in a safe manner.
In addition, many children ride their bicycles or walk to school. Remember:
When stopping at a red light, do not block a crosswalk.
- Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk or intersection.
- Be alert in school zones and watch for crossing guards.
- Do not impatiently honk or rev the engine.
- Keep an eye out for children on foot or bicycle who may come out of driveways or from behind parked cars.
- Watch bicyclists carefully – they may not always signal or look before turning.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD Facebook and Instagram.