Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department - August 27, 2007 Press Release

Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department
Scott Township - Allegheny County Station 255

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Bower Hill VFD
161 Vanadium Road
Bridgeville PA 15017-3025

Emergency Dial 911

Business Phone 412-221-3497

Fax 412-221-3990

Hall Rentals 412-221-9073

e-Mail bhvfd255@yahoo.com

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News Release, August 27, 2007

BE PREPARED: SEVERE STORM APPROACHING

Hurricane Katrina is expected to continue inland and is very likely to cause severe weather, particularly heavy rains, in our area. While it's very unlikely that these will be of the magnitude of the rains from Hurricane Ivan last September, it is still possible that some flooding and damage will occur. The storms are likely to arrive sometime during the evening of Tuesday, August 30 and will be out of the area by the morning of Thursday, September 1. The major stream and creek flooding of last September is most unlikely, since the ground is very dry right now and creek levels are at or below normal, but runoff and flash flooding is possible. Begin making your preparations now. If you live in a low-lying area, move items out of the basement to higher levels. Be prepared for the likelihood of power failures, and have a battery-powered radio, candles or oil lamps and food that does not require refrigeration. Keep cell phone batteries charged. Have an adequate supply of drinking water ready. If you are taking prescribed medications, make sure you have an adequate supply of these. If you have a resident with special needs like home oxygen, make sure that you have an adequate back-up or portable supply. Observe fire safety precautions at all times, particularly when using fireplaces, wood or coal stoves, candles or oil lamps. Never let them burn unattended. Though the need for supplemental heating is unlikely, if you use a kerosene heater, make sure that you use it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not use a gas oven or stove as a heater. It releases carbon monoxide gas.

Bower Hill VFD is implementing our severe weather preplan. We will have as much staffing as we can muster throughout any emergency. If you have basement flooding during a severe rainstorm, you can usually solve the problem by clearing the floor of obstructions and opening the floor drain. In Scott Township, the storm sewer improvements that have been done over the past few years have been effective, and the sewers will handle all but the most severe of rain storms. The fire department's trash pumps are most useful only in areas where the water is actually backing up into residences through the floor drains, in low-lying areas like the creek valleys. Runoff flooding usually comes in through dryer vents or below-grade basement windows. Cover or dike these areas before the rain arrives. If your property has a slope (and most of them around here do) a water-filled basement window well can usually be drained by making a siphon out of a garden hose. Fill the hose with water, place one end in the water-filled area, and place the other end at a lower elevation. The water will drain from the water-filled area. Runoff flooding can usually be controlled by clearing the floor of obstructions and opening the floor drain. If you have basement flooding that you cannot control, shut off the gas supply to the furnace and hot water tank, and if the water approaches the level of any electrical outlets, turn off the electricity at the breaker or fuse box. The fire department will respond to your aid in these situations, and for any other assistance that we can provide.

We do not expect any evacuations in Bower Hill. All residents should shelter in place. In the event of tornado or severe windstorm, take shelter in the lowest level of your home, away from any windows. If you live alone, you should make arrangements to shelter with a friend or relative, or at least have a plan to make voice contact with someone in case of emergency.

The fire department is very proud of the way our residents helped each other and themselves during last September's floods. We hope that this storm will not be nearly as severe, but we are committed to be ready for the worst possibilities. The Scott Township Emergency Management center will be put into operation if severe weather strikes.

For information on what to include in a family disaster supply kit, visit the Federal Citizen Information Center.

For further information on emergency preparedness, visit the American Red Cross or download the Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide (.pdf file - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or greater).

For current weather forecasts and information, visit the National Weather Service page.

For current information on the water level of Chartiers Creek, visit the NOAA Advanced Hydrologic Prediction page.