Severe Weather Preparedness Resources Now Available

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Energizer and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) are teaming up with local fire departments to help families prepare for spring and summer’s severe weather, particularly the power outages that frequently result from them. The program officially begins on March 20, the first day of spring.

The Keep Safe. Keep Going® initiative provides fire departments with free and low-cost resources to support a comprehensive severe weather preparedness education program in their community. Central to the program are tips for building a complete emergency power kit to keep critical lines of communication open, sustain battery-operated medical equipment, and deter the use of open flame as a light source.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of using flashlights and lanterns instead of candles during power outages,” said Chief Jeff Johnson, IAFC president. “On average, candles cause nearly 15,000 home fires each year, resulting in significant numbers of preventable injuries and deaths. An emergency power kit can literally be a beacon of light in a storm and can help prevent needless home fires caused by candles.”

Fire departments can find additional information, a comprehensive program toolkit and other resources available online, or they can call a special program hotline at 314-727-5700, x108.

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