Emergency Safety Page

This page contains information, links, and resources to help keep you informed about fires and what you can do to protect your self, your family, and your property.

Stay informed, and stay in touch:

• In the event of an emergency you can tune to AM 1670 for information and instructions.
• Register your cell phone numbers with CAPCOG (Capital Area Council of Governments) to receive emergency notifications. This is important, if cell phones are your primary form of communication.
• Texas Interagency Coordination Center has provided a Google Earth Layer of their common operational picture. You will need to download the latest version. Open Google Earth, on the top toolbar click "Add", then select "Network Link" from the drop down list. Copy and Paste this into the Link Field: http://tfsfrp.tamu.edu/Earth/Layers/TexasCOP.kmz

Saftey Outdoors

• Avoid parking vehicles in tall, dry grass and weeds. Weeds and grass could be ignited by hot catalytic converters.
• Crush cigarettes in an ashtray and make sure they are really out. Do not throw them out of a vehicle widow.
• Wind driven wildfire can move as fast as 60 miles per hour. When you see thick smoke across a highway, do not drive into it.

If your home is threatened

• Park your car facing the direction of escape.
• Shut off gas at the meter. Only a qualified professional can safely turn the gas back on.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Wet down or remove shrubs within 15 feet of your residence.
• Place lawn sprinklers on roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Wet down the roof.
• Check your house and car for damage once it is safe to do so. Report damage to your insurance agent, and follow up with a written claim to ensure a prompt payment under Texas Insurance Code §§ 542.051 to 542.061. Contact the Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 if you have questions about or need assistance with insurance.