Preparing for storm: Tips you should know

The Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services released the following safety tips you should consider before a powerful storm system hits the central coast.

Before the storm:

Keep insurance policies and valuables in a safe deposit box.
Consider flood insurance coverage. Have supplies ready at work, home and in car. Supplies may include a first aid kit.
Keep some cash on hand as some ATM machines may not be working.
In case water service is interrupted, store drinking water in closed clean containers. At least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.

During Storm:

Avoid areas that are subject to flooding.
Do not try to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees.
Do not try to drive over a flooded road as it may cause you to be stranded and trapped. If your call stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
Avoid unnecessary trips. If you must travel during the storm, dress in warm, loose layers of clothing.
Use telephone only for emergency needs.
Tune to local radio or television stations for emergency information and instructions from local authorities.
If flooding occurs and time permits, move valuable household possessions to upper ground of your home.
If advised by local authorities to leave your home, move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. Before leaving home, disconnect all electrical appliances, and if advised by your local utility company, shut off electric circuits at the fuse panel and gas service at the meter.

After the storm:

Do not tun gas back on yourself. Rely on utility crews.
Do not use canned goods that have come in contact with flood waters.
Follow local instructions regarding the safety of drinking water. If in doubt, boil or purify water before drinking.
Avoid disaster areas as your presence could hamper rescue and other emergency operations and may be in danger.
Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. If electrical equipment have been in contact with water, have them checked before use.
Avoid down power lines.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is reminding customers that power outages may occur during the week due to the storm.

PG&E is implementing its emergency preparedness plans and utilizing advanced technology to be ready to restore service to impacted customers safely and as quickly as possible.

PG&E urges customers to stay safe during storms and remember the following safety tips:

Always treat low hanging and downed power lines as if they are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep yourself and others away from them. Be aware that trees, pools of water and other objects that may be in contact with power lines. If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 911 immediately and then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, holiday trees and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
Customers with generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to crews working on power lines.
If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

Cal Fire has safety tips for people who are trying to keep warm during the storm. Cal Fire said they see an increase of house fires during this time of year due to dangerous heating equipment or unsafe heating practices.

Cal Fire has the following safety tips:

Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. Never use your oven to heat your home. Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.