Active Hurricane Season Forecast Calls For Preparations Now: GBFD

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — This summer's storm outlook promises to start earlier and have more severe weather events than normal. Golden's Bridge Fire Chief Dennis Delborgo shared a few expert tips with Patch about how to keep a natural disaster from turning into a tragedy.

From the Golden's Bridge Fire Department.

With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association forecasting an above-normal outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, and warnings of more intense weather systems in store for our area this summer, a local emergency services responder says that now is the time to devise a prevention/risk-reduction and safety plan to protect your family and property. Last year was the third-most active hurricane season on record, with scientists saying this year could be worse.

"The effects of the remnants of Hurricane Ida are still fresh in our memory," Fire Chief Dennis Delborgo of the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department said. "But even what used to be uneventful thunderstorms have increased in intensity with damaging winds and torrential rainfall. Everyone should have a safety game-plan in place because waiting until the last minute, just before a storm or hurricane arrives, might be too late."

“People are surprised to learn of obvious precautions — things that don’t always come to mind when under pressure, but should be at the top of everyone’s checklist to help keep your family as safe as possible and to help keep property damage as minimal as possible,” added Delborgo. He noted that the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department responds to dozens of storm-related emergency 9-1-1 calls every year — ranging from downed power lines and uprooted trees, to limbs that crash through homes.

One of the biggest potential hazards during storm events is carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the fire chief.

“Power outages are inevitable during most major storms because electrical lines and transformers are mostly above ground in our area. This has resulted in many residents opting for emergency power generators. If these devices are situated too close to the house – and especially when they are operating continuously during a prolonged outage – they pose the danger of carbon monoxide seeping into the home,” explained Fire Chief Delborgo.

The websites of government agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – www.ready.gov – offer precautionary measures that could be helpful to starting your own prevention/risk-reduction and safety checklist in preparation of storm season, according to Fire Chief Delborgo. In addition to the standard recommendations – maintaining a well-stocked first-aid kit, supply of bottled water, fire-extinguisher, and flashlights with extra batteries.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief highlighted a few simple tips:

• Keep portable emergency power generators a minimum of 20 feet away from windows and doors of the house to keep carbon monoxide from seeping inside.
• Replace expiring carbon monoxide detectors – and always pay attention to the different sounds of your CO devices, whether it’s an actual detection warning or an alert to replace batteries.
• Remove hazardous trees and limbs in close proximity to your house to minimize the potential of them crashing down onto people and property.
• Stay indoors and away from windows during wind and lightning storms.
• Keep gutters free of debris – the debris acts like a dam and could send water cascading into your home and potentially cause flooding and electrical fire.
• Close table umbrellas and anchor deck and patio furniture – unsecured items can become potential projectiles in a wind storm and cause property damage and bodily injury.
• Keep barbecue gas grills and spare propane tanks away from the house – as these items could be damaged during high winds.
• Never drive or walk through a flooded roadway.
• Assume that all downed power lines are live. If you see power lines on the ground, says Fire Chief Delborgo, call 911, and if you lose power, notify NYSEG.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief recommended going to the FEMA website for a complete list of prevention and safety precautions.