May - City of Boca Raton

A publication by the staff of the City of Boca Raton Fire-Rescue Services DepartmentMay 2010BOCA FIRE RESCUE NEThttp://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/fire/newsletters.shtmPhotographed by Jay BellTwo Brush FiresFire Chief ReportBy:Thomas R. Wood,CFOApril is historically our busiest monthfor brush fires and this April was noexception. We had two significantbrush fires in the Pond Hawk NaturalArea. Easter Sunday morning wasthe setting for “Act One” at SpanishRiver Blvd. and Military Trail. Thisfire only burned about 2 acres, but itseemed bigger. “Act Two” occurredon the following Wednesday around12 Noon and when it was done, 20acres had burned. We were very fortunatethat the “Drought Index” wasvery low (a good thing, a high droughtindex is bad). During the second fire,embers blowing downwind set at leastone fire in front of the “head”. Engine2 was assigned to the Preserveneighborhood to patrol for spot firesdownwind. We were also very fortunateto stop the fire at the dirt roadacross from the Preserve’s east driveway.The crews of Engine 1, Engine4, Brush 4 and Truck 7 made a standat this location, tapping a hydrant justinside the Preserve gates and stretchinga 5” line across Military Trail.The fire managed to jump the dirt roadin two spots, but our crews quicklyknocked it down. The eastern side ofthe fire was handled by Engine 5,Brush 5 and Engine 6. The south sidewas handled by Engine 8 and Brush54 (PBCFR). The “Fire Watch” waslifted four days later. Thank you to allthat fought both fires.Five New FirefightersCongratulations to new FirefightersScott Hauss, Mark Lacho, MannyNuno, Jonathan Santana and StevenWright. They completed their sevenweek “Orientation Program” and the“Badge Ceremony” was held on April30 th . They were joined by family andfriends as they celebrated their successes.Please welcome them to ourfamily as they now are assigned toshift duty.

Page 2BOCA FIRE RESCUEBoca Bash – Lake Boca RatonSunday, April 25 th proved to be achallenging day for EMS activity onLake Boca Raton. Hundreds of boatershad gathered at the lake for aparty. We handled 13 EMS incidentson the lake during the afternoon, with5 of those requiring transport to thehospital. Fire Boat 3 was very busy,along with Ocean Rescue, our policeboats, and law enforcement boatsfrom other agencies. There are indicationsthat this type of event may repeaton the Memorial Day weekend.We will have additional Medic Unitson-duty should that occur.L to R: Catherine Vanden Broeck, Councilwoman Susan Haynie,Jay Bell, Mayor Susan Whelchel, and City Manager Leif AhnellLast year an award was created in honor of Mr. Morton Rosen, a very special manwho volunteered at City Hall as a greeter. This year, The Morton Rosen Awardwas given to Mr. Jay Bell. Jay began his volunteer career in 1995 at Police Services,became a CERT member for Boca Raton Fire Rescue and has not stoppedsince. Jay volunteers a majority of his time at Boca Raton Fire Rescue Servicesputting in over 950 hours. His talents as a photographer have helped fire, policeand other departments throughout the city. It is with great pride that the City ofBoca Raton gives this award to Mr. Jay Bell.American Red Cross DonationsThe “4 th Annual Heroes Campaign” tosupport our local American Red Crossefforts has started. Battalion ChiefAide Curt Berryman will be visitingthe stations and requesting one-timecash donations. Last year Curt wasable to collect $447. These funds assistvictims of fires in our community.Please be generous and let’s see if wecan beat the 2009 donation level.Until next month…be safe.Service YearsEllen Beckman 17John Luca 17Mike Lucas 17Erik Solensten 14Michael Sklark 13Joanne Barnes 11Kim Puchalski 10Amy Ross 8Shane Leon 5John Meunier 5Paula Ursini 5Francine Chokanis 2Jesus Barrera 1Evan Gaub 1Jonathan Vought 1May Birthdays05/01 Bob Graffam05/01 Neil Duffy05/05 Dr. Terry Cohen05/05 Raul Travieso05/06 Pastor Joe05/08 Mark Lacho05/13 David Covert05/14 Todd Stewart05/14 Norman Engel05/17 James Pingrey05/17 Gerry O’Brien05/21 Joseph Hauck05/21 Patrick Lao05/21 Jonathan Vought05/22 Daniel Rush05/23 Chris Burden05/27 Thomas Carroll05/30 Michael McBrien06/01 Anthony Armijo06/02 Tom Karbowski06/09 Ryan Hardy

Page 3BOCA FIRE RESCUEOperationsBy:John JohnsonDeputy ChiefAdministrationBy:Glenn JosephDeputy ChiefPlanning &EmergencyManagementBy:Raul TraviesoAssistant ChiefThe Lieutenants Promotional Exam willbe given this month. The written examwas given by JTS Associates on May4 th with the Assessment Center to followa week later. We wish the best ofluck to all that are competing in theexamination process.The five new hires will start the secondphase of their probation, which placesthem on shift on a fire apparatus. Ifyou are fortunate to have one of theseindividuals at your station, please welcomeand assist them in completingtheir probation.Last month we experienced one of thelargest brush fires that we have seen ina long time. This taxed the resources ofour Department. The largest fear wasthat the fire could jump the fire breaks,and extend to other areas with largehomes. Fortunately, we were able tocontain the fire to where the fire breakswere established. The Departmentremaind on scene for several daysthereafter to ensure that the fire wascompletely extinguished.The hotter weather has arrived and it istime to make sure that we are all awareof the effects of heat stress on our bodies.Make sure that you keep hydratednot only at work, but on your days offas well; if you become thirsty, it is toolate. Make certain that you have waterand ice on your units when you checkthem out in the morning. In addition, atan emergency scene, rehab in accordancewith the SOP #408 to ensureyour safety.In a speech in Cape Town, South Africa,on June 7, 1966, Robert F. Kennedysaid: “There is a Chinese curse whichsays, ‘May he live in interesting times.’Like it or not, we live in interestingtimes…” Given the projected short fallin revenue for the next few years, we doindeed live in “interesting times” andthey are about to get “more” interesting,especially during the budget process forthe next few years.Our goal this year is to keep costs as lowas possible while maintaining the levelof service that the community expects.Although ascetic, the budget for fiscalyear 2010/11 contains funding for allour current commitments. The last hurdlein this process is the stamp of approvalby the City Manager and hisstaff. The approval process is scheduledfor the second week of June.I would like to congratulate our probationaryfirefighters on successfully completingthe seven-week orientation program.Their success is due to their hardwork, and in no small part the result ofthe leadership of Patrick Kelly and hiscore of very committed and talentedstaff and adjunct instructors. Thanksyou for your effort and hard work!Let’s do the numbersfor March, 2010:Total EMS Incidents 946Average Resp. Time 5.36 MinEMS Unit (most alarms) Med5 - 229Total Fire Alarms 166Average Resp. Time 6.14 MinFire Co. (most alarms) EN3—180Fire Sta. 5 (most alarms) 298Other 266Total Alarms 1,379HURRICANE PREPAREDNESSThe 2010 Hurricane Season is rapidlyapproaching and as such we are preparingour annual review and update of theCity’s Comprehensive Emergency ManagementPlan. Nicole Gasparri and I arepresently working closely together tocomplete this project prior to June 1 st –the start of the Hurricane Season.Early indications predict that turbulenthurricane season storms for 2010 areeminent. Predictions released by the Departmentof Atmospheric Science atColorado State University have statedthat they anticipate above average activityfor the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.They are anticipating as many aseight hurricanes, four of which will becomemajor weather systems with hurricanewinds in excess of 111 miles perhour, which is classified as Category 3storms.History teaches that a lack of hurricaneawareness and preparation are commonthreads among all major hurricane disasters.It is our immediate responsibility toprepare our families and homes for thehurricane season, which runs until November30 th .This year’s Hurricane PreparednessWeek will be held May 23rd throughMay 29th. The goal is to inform the publicabout the hurricane hazards and provideknowledge, which can be used totake ACTION. This is the ideal time toconduct your personal family disasterplan, your home’s shutter drill, and tocomplete your stock of hurricane supplies.Remember: you are identified asessential employees and you want to besure your loved ones are prepared in caseyou have to report to work.

Page 4BOCA FIRE RESCUENATIONAL HURRICANECENTER TERMSTROPICAL STORM WATCHAn announcement that tropical stormconditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73mph) are possible within the specifiedcoastal area within 48 hours.TROPICAL STORM WARNINGAn announcement that tropical stormconditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73mph) are expected somewhere withinthe specified coastal area within 36hours.HURRICANE WATCHAn announcement that hurricane conditions(sustained winds of 74 mph orhigher) are possible within the specifiedcoastal area. Because hurricane preparednessactivities become difficult oncewinds reach tropical storm force, thehurricane watch is issued 48 hours inadvance of the anticipated onset oftropical-storm-force winds.HURRICANE WARNINGAn announcement that hurricane conditions(sustained winds of 74 mph orhigher) are expected somewhere withinthe specified coastal area. Because hurricanepreparedness activities becomedifficult once winds reach tropical stormforce, the hurricane warning is issued 36hours in advance of the anticipated onsetof tropical-storm-force winds.The internet has many informative sitesthat can be researched for more helpfulinformation regarding hurricanes, includingNOAA, FEMA, and NWS. TheCity’s website is also an excellent resourcefor hurricane information. TheFederal Alliance for Safe Homes islaunching the GreatHurricaneBlowout.orgwebsite, an outreach campaigncreated to encourage and inspire residentsin hurricane-prone states to beproactive about their personal hurricanepreparedness during the storm season.This new interactive, family-orientedwebsite promotes fun-filled, informativedisaster preparation.Enclosed is a Hurricane Supply checklistwhich should be followed by youand your family to be fully prepared.On Saturday, May 22, 2010, from10AM-12PM, we are hosting our first“Annual Open House” at all of ourfire stations. We are opening the stationsfor visits from neighborhoodfamilies to showcase our state-of-theartequipment and facilities. Departmentvolunteers and members of theExecutive Staff will participate and beon-hand at each fire station. Please seethe attached flyer.

Page 5BOCA FIRE RESCUEEMS NewsBy:Michael BarkerAssistant ChiefOnce again talent, desire, and hardwork converged to create anotheroutstanding EMS Challenge. Thisyear, 17 teams participated, includingseveral local teams andteams traveling from Temple Terrace(outside of Tampa) on thewest coast, St. John’s County andFlagler County to the north, andMiami-Dade from the south. The“Challenge” was extended to a two-day event with extremely challengingscenarios. My hat is off tothe team led by Capt. Pat Bayneand Lt. Jamie Smith that createdthe event and worked hard to makeit our most successful ALS Competitionto date. The trophy forhigh score in the preliminary scenariowent to Delray Beach FireRescue. The top six scoring teamscame back to participate in the finalscenario with Miami-Dade finishingthird, Davie second, andPembroke Pines taking first place.Thank you, to all who assisted inmaking this event a success.Our new LifePak 15s arrived onApril 30, 2010, and training withthe new monitors was conductedon May 4th – 7th by DebbiStanfield with Physio-Control. Atthe conclusion of training on Friday(May 7), the 15s were placedin service. This purchase was partiallyfunded by a grant from theAssistance to Firefighters Grant(AFG). The new monitors/defibrillators provide the latesttechnology for pre-hospital care ofcardiac patients and should provideyears of service for our Department.The Margate Fire Rescue Team working through a scenario.Photographed by Jay Bell

Page 6BOCA FIRE RESCUEFire andLife SafetyBy:David WoodsideAssistant ChiefFAUConstruction is booming on the campusof Florida Atlantic University (FAU).This newsletter article will be a quickoverview of four projects that are currentlyunderway on the campus. FAUhas recently completed the new outdoorswimming pool, which is located adjacentto the recreation center on thesouth side of Lee Street. On the southside of the pool complex, there is anequipment room that houses a 1000gallon tank of liquid chlorine with built-in containment in the event of a spill.A new School of Engineering Buildingis being constructed on the east side ofthe campus just south of 20 th Street.This building when completed will beconsidered a green building housingoffices and classrooms. Some of theconstruction features are: solar panelson the roof to assist with energy systems,high efficiency lighting, high efficiencyHVAC using natural water fromthe nearby lake, an individually controlledroom for better energy management,recycle material used throughoutthe construction, and diffusers andshades on each window to prevent directsunlight from entering the building.A kitchen and cafeteria are also designedinto the building. A clean agentsuppression system is scheduled on theplans along with a diesel fueled generator.The building will have a full sprinklersystemAt the Henderson school, a single story16,000 square feet addition is currentlyunder construction. The addition is onthe north side of the school and proceedsoutward to envelope part of thecurrent soccer field. The building willPhoto by Dave Woodsidebe used to expand student enrollment atthe school and will house classrooms,multimedia rooms and offices for theschool. Also under construction is theparking lot located on the west side ofHenderson school. The improved lotwill be used by the staff of Hendersonschool.The third project located at the northwestcorner of Lee Street and FAUBoulevard is the new student dormitories.Two dorms are being constructedon the corner, one seven stories and theother eight stories high. Concrete castingfor the walls are occurring on site.The contractor has set up three castingbeds on the property and a significantamount of concrete material is currentlyon site. St. Lucie Blvd. has been closedto vehicle traffic as well as the southentrance to/from the Palm Beach StateCollege. A temporary roadway has beenconstructed just west of the St. LucieAvenue that would allow access to PalmBeach State College. Entrance into theconstruction site is on FAU Boulevardjust north of Lee St. The construction isexpected to be a year-long project thatwill have various road closures duringthis time frame.The fourth project underway at FAU isthe new Media Center being constructedadjacent to the Performing ArtsCenter. The center is located betweenBrevard Court and Palm Beach Avenue.The new media center is a 70,000square feet, three story building thatwill also house the FAU Graduate Center.The new Media Center will alsohave classrooms, office spaces as wellas four performing arts stages.We forgotlast month….….to acknowledge Volunteer Jay Bellfor leading the effort to obtain the donationof the rope search units from theWoodfield County Club and WoodfieldCountry Club Homeowners Association….and Stan Friedman, who did a wonderfuljob of videotaping the Department’sExpo 2010, and finally,….to thank Deputy Chief Johnson, AssistantChief Barker, and Volunteer JayBell for taking the photos at the Expo.

Page 7BOCA FIRE RESCUELogistics &SupportBy:Michael A. GergoraAssistant Fire ChiefLadder and fire pump testing will beconducted during the week of May 24 th .We have contracted the testing of ourground ladders for years, but this is thefirst time the contracted service willinclude our fire pumps. The new pumptesting procedure will allow units tostay in service instead of being tied upduring the testing as we have been inthe past. We are always looking foropportunities to improve our delivery ofservice, and we believe this will be oneof those opportunities. Speaking ofimprovements; the Department will bepurchasing new jackets.The new jackets will replace our current“winter” jackets. The jacket is compliantwith NFPA 1999, Standard for ProtectiveClothing for Emergency MedicalOperations. The exterior is 100%windproof, waterproof, and blood bornepathogen resistant. It has lots of pockets,including one for our portable radios.The removable inner lining providesversatility to personnel in decidingcomfort level in varying temperatureranges. Personnel will be fitted forthe new jackets during the training beingconducted on the new LifePak 15defibrillators. The change in type ofjacket is a direct result from receivingyour suggestions. I know things mayseem to move slowly, but we are listening,and as the saying goes “goodthings come to those who wait”. Keepthe suggestions coming!Other outstanding Fire Rescue issues:APPARATUS:Engines & Trucks: We will be providingunit identification (ID) numbers onthe front of our apparatus. Once again,this idea came from a member on thefrontline. Captain A. Oatley sent methis recommendation and described thebenefits of having the additional unit ID.The Executive Staff agreed with hissuggestion and unit numbers will beinstalled shortly.Medic Units: The five Horton Medicunits have been outfitted with unit IDnumbers on the rear of the vehicle. Thistoo should help with unit ID at a glance.FACILITIES:Station Inspections: I wanted to thankeveryone for their cooperation and professionalismduring the recent fire stationinspections. I found our facilitiesand apparatus to have been well maintainedby our personnel. The inspectionfor Station 6 will be conducted thismonth. We will be working with FacilityServices to address wear and tearitems. Keep up the good work!Apparatus Bay Floors: The Departmentwill be striping the apparatus bay floorswith your assistance. This is being doneto provide the optimum parking locationfor our apparatus within the station.Station 4: The small sinkhole located bythe storm drain on the north side of thebuilding has been repaired.Station 5: A new book shelf will beprovided for the Captain’s office.Station 7: The circuit board on theautomatic transfer switch for the stationgenerator is on order. It should be replacedMay 12 th .Last month we recognized employeesfrom other departments for their assistancewith various Fire Rescue projects.It is through TEAMWORK that we areable to accomplish our goals and objectives.One of our goals is to provideour personnel with the finest apparatusand equipment with the objective ofproviding the best possible service toour community. Lynn Kunkel, PurchasingManager, played an integralpart in the acquisition of our newest fireapparatus. Here’s a picture of Lynnand the guys with Engine 2, Engine 6,and Truck 5.Lynn - Thanks for being part of theTEAM!I would like to wish everyone a “Happyand Safe Memorial Day”. Please take amoment to remember and be thankfulto all those who served and provided uswith the freedoms we enjoy every day.Happy Mother’s Day! I hope that youwill be able to spend time with the onesyou love on this very special day.Please stop in my office anytime thatyou are at Fire Administration.From leftto right:FF DaveDiPierro,FF JaredVermeulen,Lynn Kunkel,Capt. JoeBrooksPhotographed by Jay Bell

Page 8BOCA FIRE RESCUESpecialOperationsBy:Scott JohnstonDivision ChiefHow many times have we heard fromour “truckees” and “nozzlemen” thefollowing quote: “I / We Don’t Do NoHaz Mat”!!!! We leave that up to you“Glow Worms”, “Haz Mat Techs”, andthe one I like the best, “The Mop andGlow Boyz / Girlz”!!!Well I am here to inform you that if youare responding as a “First Due Company”,you are the first ones to likelyencounter an incident involving a HazardousMaterial / Substance way beforethe “Haz Mat Team” does!First let’s look at the definition of a“Hazardous” Material / Substance: Amaterial, substance, or environmentwhich is potentially very dangerous toliving beings or the environment. Thisdefinition has a very broad spectrumwhen it comes to the type of work wedo on a daily basis.On any given day, we respond to medicalcalls, structure fires, motor vehiclefires, brush fires, and of course, theactual “Haz Mat” call.During the month of April, we conducteddecon training for our wholeDepartment, and we discussed the importanceof decon in order to prevent usfrom bringing “contaminates” -- otherwiseknown as hazardous materials --back to the station and ultimately to ourhomes. During those discussions, wespoke about where we might find thesecontaminates, and one of the most commonHaz Mat calls we run on a regularbasis is a medical incident. BloodBourne Pathogens fall into the categoryof a hazardous material because theycan be potentially very dangerous to us.What about the car fire you ran on lastshift? What are cars made of thesedays? Unless you are driving a customBentley with real “Burl Wood” dashboards and trim, you will not a find anatural piece of material throughout thewhole vehicle. These man-made materialsliberate a host of toxic vapors andparticles when they burn and end upembedded in our turn-out gear. If theseparticles remain on our turn-out gear,eventually they will make their way thruthe layers and be absorbed into ourskin, which is why it is so important tokeep your turn-out gear clean.Then there is the MacDaddy of all HazMat calls, which is the routine “Roomand Contents”. This is where we actuallyenter an enclosed box and are fullyengulfed in this cocktail of toxic vaporsand particles. AT this point, the environmentwe place ourselves in is no longerconsidered “potentially” dangerous.Now we have entered an IDLH(Immediately Dangerous to Life andHealth) due to a “hazardous environment”full of this toxic brew, and it iscritical that we have respiratory protectionin order to survive. Then there areall the other hazards we encounter duringa structure fire.So what is the take home message of mynewsletter this month? Don’t be in astate of denial and think that “You Don’tDo No Haz Mat”. It is critical in today’sfire service that we remain informed,educated, observant, and mostof all vigilant in order to protect ourselvesand our crews. Pay attention toyour surroundings, gather information asyou are responding, and most of all protectyourself with the PPE we have beenissued, and remember that “ALL” FirefightersDo Haz Mat whether they wantto acknowledge it or not!Welcome!Ava ElizabethCihowiakApril 19, 20104:26 pm7lbs; 20” longRyan said: “Ava is skinny like me.”Hello once again.Training &SafetyBy:Pat KellyDivision ChiefThe Training and Safety Sectionwill be receiving some much neededassistance from two new volunteers.Susan Chester and Kimberly Paldawill be helping with filing and otherclerical tasks. Personnel needingcopies of documents from theirtraining files can contact either oneof them for help. They will also bethe point of contact within theTraining and Safety Section for personnelwishing to submit copies ofdocuments for filing or register toattend classes that we host fromtime to time. To facilitate this processwe have created a new e-mailaddress to which individuals cansend documents and other generalrequests for assistance. This e-mailaddress is listed as Training, Fire orFRTRAINING@MYBOCA.US andwill be accessible by both Kimberlyand Susan. The next time you are atthe 6500 Building, please stop by tointroduce yourself and welcomethem to our organization.Susan Chester

Page 9BOCA FIRE RESCUEAs Reported By:Frank CorreggioPublic Information OfficerKimberly PaldaOn May 18, 2010, the Fire TrainingOfficers Association of the PalmBeaches is coordinating a “MockEMS Trial”. This will be a stagedcourt trial based on a real medicalcall using currently practicing attorneysand a judge at the old courthousein West Palm Beach. Followingthe trial, there will be discussionon how and why the attorneys attackedthe medical report based onhow the report was written. TheDepartment will cover the cost ofattendance and participants will receivecompensatory time for theirattendance. We have a few of the 20seats that we reserved still available.Please contact Captain MitchGreenberg ASAP if you would liketo attend.Fire Displaces Boca Raton FamilyOn April 14th, Boca Raton firefighters responded to a call for a structure fire at 673Ipswich Street. The mother, who reported the fire, and her two small children wereoutside their home when fire crews arrived. Units arrived within minutes to findheavy smoke coming from the residence. Firefighters made their way into the homethrough the side door and noticed heavy smoke and flames coming from the kitchenarea. Crews quickly attacked and extinguished the fire, which had burned thekitchen cabinets up to the ceiling area. There were no injuries reported. Fire officialsbelieve that the fire started when a pot of hot oil was left on a hot burner on thestove. Fire officials estimate the damage at $10,000.00. The Red Cross was on siteto assist the parents and their two small children.Clockwise:It takes a team tofight the fires.Captain Murphychecks the damage.Kitchen where firestarted.American Red Crossshows up to assist thefamily.Till next time, be safe.WelcomeAustin MichaelWrightSteven and Erin Wright welcomedAustin into their home on April12th at 10:22 pm. He weighed 7lbs3ozs and is 19 inches big!Photos by Frank Correggio

Page 10BOCA FIRE RESCUEPhoto by Frank Correggio(pictured L.-R)Front Row – Explorers Corey Lecaroz, Chris Hope, Nick Galiardo, Kimberly Vought, Joe BerryBack Row – FF/PRM Jonathan Vought, Explorers Mike Harrison, Williams Hidalgo, Chad Watler, Sean Hallman, Ian Berry, VincentPalermo, Casey Gugliotta, Sara Jacobson, FF/PRM’s Manny Nuno and Jesus BarreraBoca Raton Fire Explorers Wins Top Honors at CSFA Explorers CampBoca Raton Fire Rescue Explorers attended the Annual Explorer Challenge hosted by Margate, Lauderhill and Coral Springs Fire RescueDepartments. The event was held on May 2, 2010, at the Coral Springs Fire Academy in Coral Springs.The firematic competition brought together teams from Broward to Estero counties to compete in nine different events. These events help topromote teamwork and test the teams’ skills in Hose Deployment, Search and Rescue, Ladder Raise, Combat Challenge, Trauma, First Aid &CPR, and other events. Teams also come to together to share ideas and network on training and education.Boca Raton Explorers won 2 – First Place, 4 – Second and 1- Third Place trophy. They also won First Place for Overall Points scoredand were awarded the Sportsmanship Award. The Explorers practiced three times a week for three months for this competition. This is thefirst time that Explorer Post 315 has won first place overall at the Coral Springs event.1st place: Boca Raton Post 315Combat challengeBarrel Push2nd place Boca Raton Post 315First AidBucket brigadeLadders3rd Place Boca Raton Post 315Hose Roll

Page 11BOCA FIRE RESCUEHurricane Supply ListWater - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 daysFood - at least enough for 3 to 7 days— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices— foods for infants or the elderly— snack foods— non-electric can opener— cooking tools / propane fuel— paper plates / plastic utensilsBlankets / Pillows, etc.Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoesFirst Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription DrugsSpecial Items - for babies and the elderlyToiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipesFlashlight / BatteriesRadio and TV - Battery operated with NOAA weather radio station (Digital TV’s)Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone setCash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periodsKeysToys, Books and GamesImportant documents - in a waterproof container or watertight re-sealable plastic bag and placed in a secured environment— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.Tools - keep a set with you during the stormVehicle fuel tanks filledPet care items— proper identification / immunization records / medications— ample supply of food and water— a carrier or cage— muzzle and leashARE YOU READY?