Red Cross Responds to Tennessee Ice Storms

Offers Vital Power Outage Safety Tips for Communities that May Still be Affected

 

DICKSON, MONDAY, March 3, 2014 — The American Red Cross will open an emergency shelter at 4:00 p.m. to offer safe refuge for local residents who were affected by the ice storm and are expected to face long-term power outages.  The shelter is located at:

Walnut Street Church of Christ

201 Center Avenue

Dickson, TN 37055

 “We are working in coordination with the Dickson County EMA due to the expected extended power outages that are affecting hundreds of residents.  As always, we strongly urge you to continue to shelter in place until the electricity is restored, but for those that are in need of a safe place to go, they may come to the Walnut Street Church of Christ Shelter for relief,”  said Julie Campos, Two Rivers Chapter Executive. 

The Red Cross encourages those who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter to bring the following items for each member of their family:

 

·        Prescription and emergency medication

·        Extra clothing

·        Specialty snacks and juices for those with dietary restrictions

·        Baby food, formula and diapers for infants and toddlers

·        Identification

·        Other comfort items

 

POWER OUTAGE SAFETY TIPS If you are one of the hundreds of people that remain without power, the Red Cross has steps you should follow until your electricity is restored:

·        Do not use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

·        Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.

·        Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

·        Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.

·        If you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

·        Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics.

·        Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.

·        Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.

·        Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out and roads will be congested.

·        Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Use perishable food from the fridge first, then use food from the freezer. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours if the door remains closed.

·        If it looks like the power will be out for more than a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep your food in a dry, cool spot and covered at all times.