September 2023 | Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Each September, National Preparedness Month encourages and reminds Americans to be prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.
Homeowners, families, communities, and businesses can use this opportunity to find ways or help others understand more about preparing for disasters and reducing risks to health and the environment. There are many ways to reduce risks from contamination, leaks, spills, hazardous materials, and other dangers. This page doesn't include all possible ways of preparing but provides many ideas and links to more information.
- General information about any emergency
- How to report emergencies
- Individuals and homeowners
- Communities
- Schools, businesses, or other facilities
- Share information
September is also the peak of hurricane activity. Learn more about:
How to report emergencies
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger, or if someone is injured, has trouble breathing, or is unconscious.
- To report oil, chemical, or hazardous substance releases or spills, call the National Response Center 800-424-8802.
- For pesticide poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Individuals and homeowners
Know ahead of time where you would run a generator. Generator exhaust is toxic and can sicken or kill you. Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, garage, crawlspace, tent, shed, or any other indoor or enclosed area. Carbon monoxide (CO) is deadly, can build up quickly, and linger for hours.
If your drinking water is from a private well, know your state or local contacts for inspecting the safety your drinking water after a flood. Keep at least a 3-day drinking water supply per person -and don't forget pets. More about protecting your household drinking water well.
If your home is on a septic system, know whom to call to have it inspected after a flood, before you use it. Read more on septic systems and what to do after the flood.
Contractors need to use lead-safe work practices on emergency renovations on homes or buildings built before 1978. Activities such as sanding, cutting, and demolition can create lead-based paint hazards. Lead-contaminated dust is harmful to adults, particularly pregnant women, and children. About post-disaster renovations and lead-based paint.
Communities
Communities should plan ahead to handle exceptionally large amounts of disaster debris from damaged or destroyed buildings, supplies, trees or other green waste, carcasses, or other materials. Disposal problems can result from large amounts of debris but also from hazardous or toxic substances in the debris that can contaminate air, water, land, and food if not handled properly. Burning large amounts of debris to reduce volume may not be an option. More information on disaster debris.
EPA offers tools communities and facilties tools to help plan for for disaster or security threats to water systems. More about community water-based resilency tools.
Schools, businesses, or other facilities
Suggested activities to help facilities prepare for severe weather conditions. Please note, the linked information is written for hurricane preparedness, but much of it will still apply to many types of preparedness.
EPA offers tools communities and facilities tools to help plan for disaster or security threats to water systems. More about community water-based resilency tools.
Mold cleanup in schools and commercial buildings. Information for building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for commercial building and school maintenance.
Industries and businesses that encounter spills or discharges in the aftermath should contact the National Response Center immediately. You or your organization may have legal requirements for reporting or for taking other actions, depending on the spill.
Contractors need to use lead-safe work practices on emergency renovations on homes or buildings built before 1978. Activities such as sanding, cutting, and demolition can create lead-based paint hazards. Lead-contaminated dust is harmful to adults, particularly pregnant women and children. Important information about post-disaster renovations and lead-based paint.
For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/september-preparedness-month
Bullying
School days can bring hard times for children and teens. Pressure to be someone they are not, not meeting the standards of their classmates or just being different. There are so many different reasons their peers turn against each other.
The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you” just doesn’t apply anymore. Words hurt regardless of how strong you are. We all want to belong and be a part of something. Worse even in today’s society it does not stop at the end of the school day, with cell phones and social media it can seem to go day after day with no end in sight.
Bullying can stop if we all learn to respect each other’s differences. No two people should want to be the same all the time. How boring would the world be if we all liked the same things? Looked the same? Wore the same clothing? Learn to respect what others can teach you. You are the change needed to end bullying.
If you are being bullied
- Try to stay calm, bullies enjoy seeing your reaction.
- Assert yourself non-violently.
- Let the bully know you won’t play their games.
- Make good friends, there is strength in numbers.
- Tell a trusted teacher, parents, or other trusted adult.
- Find out your school policy to stop bullying.
Friends/Bystanders
- Stand up for your friends by telling a teacher or trusted adult.
- Don’t stand around as someone is being bullied.
- Non-violently tell the bully your disappointment in their actions/words.
- Be a friend to the person being bullied.
- Complement each other to build each other up.
If you are the bully
- Understand bullying makes people dislike you.
- Talk to a trusted adult about how to change your behavior.
Citizens Police Academy
The Winter Springs Police Department will be holding a Citizen’s Police Academy starting October 3rd 2023 through December 19th. The academy will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Winter Springs Police Department, 300 N. Moss Road. During the academy, attendees will be given a brief overview of topics ranging from K-9 Operations to Code Enforcement, taught by WSPD Officers who focus on each topic in their daily roles.
The Citizen’s Police Academy is limited to 20 people. If interested, complete the application which can be downloaded here, or picked up at the Winter Springs Police Department. Once completed, return it to the Winter Springs Police Department with a photo ID to begin the process. A background check will be completed and the applicants will be notified confirming their acceptance.
Citizen’s Advisory Committee
The Winter Springs Police Department wants your input at our Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting. CAC meets the second Wednesday of the month during the months of September through May. CAC does not meet during the summer months. Come join us and meet community leaders, discuss community issues with the Police Department staff and learn more about taking an active role in the security of your community.
The CAC meets at the Winter Springs Police Department (300 N. Moss Rd) at 6:30pm. Everyone who attends is encouraged to ask questions and talk about what is going on in their neighborhood. Light refreshments are served.
Always remember, if you see something unusual, do not hesitate to notify the Police. “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!” If you feel uncomfortable about calling the police department, you can report suspicious activity anonymously. In addition, you can call 1-800-423-TIPS or report at www.crimeline.org. You do not have to give your name.
Help the Winter Springs Police Department:
Be a crime stopper, not a victim. Lock your car and report suspicious activity.
Emergency
911
Non-Emergency
407-327-1000
