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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

2018 Vol. No. 5

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF

Four seasons in one day. This can feel like a normal

occurrence in Texas. Temperatures can soar and then

plummet within hours. Following a bitter winter season, most

people embrace any opportunity to get outdoors and shake

off the cold - but don’t get too cozy. Spring is notorious for

some of the worst storms of the year. Warm weather, when

colliding with cold air from Canada or the Rockies, can result

in thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes with next to no warning.

Hurricane season approaching—check your

insurance, watch for scams

After Hurricane Harvey, Texans might not need a reminder

about how much damage a hurricane can do. Still, National

Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 6-12) is a good time to

review your insurance coverage. The Texas Department of

Insurance (TDI) encourages Texans to review homeowner or commercial property

policies carefully. Make sure they provide enough coverage to replace or repair your

property after a disaster.

National Dam Safety Awareness Day

May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. It was established to encourage and promote individual and

community responsibility and best practices for dam safety, and to highlight the steps people can take to prevent future catastrophic failures or lessen the impact of a potential

failure. The day promotes the benefits that dams can offer to communities nationwide.

Home Electrical System Safety

As we approach summer and the prospect of home

remodeling projects, major renovations or simply catching

up on minor repairs, among the many important

considerations to remember is the condition of the

electrical system in your home. According to the National

Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an

estimated annual average of 45,210 reported home structure fires involving

electrical failure or malfunction from 2010 to 2014. These fires resulted in 420

civilian deaths, 1,370 civilian injuries and $1.4 billion in direct property damage on

average per year.

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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

2018 Vol. No. 5

TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRIEFS, TIPS AND

LINKS

Find more information on events and resources for the

emergency management community.

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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

2018 Vol. No. 5

Credits Main Menu

DIVISION DIRECTOR/CHIEF

W. Nim Kidd

ASSISTANT DIVISION DIRECTORS

Sandra Fulenwider

Mike Miller

Tom Polonis

EDITORS

Suzannah Jones & Gabriela Stermolle

WEBSITE

DPS Web Team

CONTRIBUTORS

Greg Mt. Joy

Texas Department of Insurance

Warren Samuelson Texas Dam Safety Program

Orlando P. Hernandez

Texas Division of Emergency Management

E. Manny Magos

Texas Division of Emergency Management

William Sedderholm

Texas Division of Emergency Management

Kelly Hargrove

Texas Division of Emergency Management

DIGITAL IMAGES CONTRIBUTED BY:

Texas Division of Emergency Management and as noted

TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE

is a free publication. Reprinting of content in articles is permitted with credit.

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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

2018 Vol. No. 5

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF

Four seasons in one day. This can feel like a normal occurrence in Texas.

Temperatures can soar and then plummet within hours. Following a bitter winter

season, most people embrace any opportunity to get outdoors and shake off the

cold - but don’t get too cozy. Spring is notorious for some of the worst storms of

the year. Warm weather, when colliding with cold air from Canada or the Rockies,

can result in thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes with next to no warning.

“possible tornado” might as well be a real tornado. Even if you and I had Doppler

radars in our respective yards, once a tornado is forecast, it’s time to take action. A

Watch (tornado is possible) can turn into a Warning (tornado is occurring) and once

it starts, tornadoes don’t discriminate when it comes to damage.

As of the end of March, Texas had logged 10 tornadoes: 1 at the EF2 level (111-

135 mph) and all the others EF1 or EF0 (<110 mph). Just because one isn’t packing

200+ mph winds, which tends to result in the most fatalities, doesn’t mean less

violent ones are harmless. 82% of local warnings for tornadoes won’t result in an

actual twister but it’s the less intense ones that are hardest to predict and more

common.

What should you do?

Pay attention to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations, and sign up for alerts

on your phone.

Forget the old myth of opening windows to relieve pressure in your house. If you

hear a train, where no train should be, or what sounds like a jet auguring in,

opening windows is time wasted— the pressure relieved is too minimal to make a

difference, and closed windows might actually prevent rain & debris from blowing

in. A better use of your time…

Get underground if possible, maybe a basement (spoiler alert: the Alamo complex

does have a basement but not the original 18th century building), safe room, or

windowless, interior room. Store some spare pillows and even a mattress in this

space for covering yourself if you’re in a tornado-prone zone.

Stay off roads if possible and do not use an overpass as a shelter.

Here are more links and tips to explore for you and your family’s safety:

Red Cross Tornado Safety

Ready.gov National Weather Service

Coastal Bend Emergency Management Association & Regional Exercise

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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

2018 Vol. No. 5

The Coastal Bend Emergency Management Association & Nueces County, in

cooperation with numerous governmental and non-government partners, are

hosting the eighth annual Coastal Bend Hurricane Conference & Regional Exercise

on May 2 & 3 at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown,

TX. This conference is successful in drawing professionals from the lower Texas

Coast and ensuring all community stakeholders have access to high quality training

and networking. The audience includes professionals with experience ranging from

those new to emergency management, to those who are expert emergency

managers; and incorporates the full range of local, state and federal government

responders and policy makers, volunteer organizations, healthcare professionals,

private business and industry representatives.

Click here to learn more

2018 Texas Emergency Management Conference & TEMAC Meetings

There's still time! Register today for the 2018 Texas Emergency Management Conference (TEMC). Don’t forget to submit your best photos for this year’s photo

contest.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone at conference!

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Hurricane season approaching—check your insurance, watch for

scams

After Hurricane Harvey, Texans might not need a reminder about how much

damage a hurricane can do. Still, National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 6-

12) is a good time to review your insurance coverage.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) encourages Texans to review homeowner

or commercial property policies carefully. Make sure they provide enough coverage

to replace or repair your property after a disaster.

It’s important to remember that

home policies don’t cover flood

damage. You’ll need a separate

flood policy for that.

“There were more than 2.5

million residential policies in force

in counties affected by Harvey,

but only about half a million flood

policies,” said Insurance

Commissioner Kent Sullivan. “I

encourage Texans to remember

that if it can rain, it can flood. At a

minimum, talk to your agent

about flood insurance, even if

your mortgage doesn’t require it.”

(Image courtesy of Schatzman & Hovanyecz, PA:

http://www.shlawpa.com/property-damage/hurricane-

irma/hurricane-irma/)

If you live in a coastal county, your policy might not cover windstorm and hail

damage. If that’s the case, you’ll need to buy it from the Texas Windstorm

Insurance Association (TWIA). To get TWIA coverage, you must pass an inspection

and meet specific building standards. For more information, call TWIA (512) 899-

4900 or visit twia.org. (More about windstorm inspections)

TDI also recommends watching out for scam artists in the aftermath of a hurricane

or flood. To protect yourself:

Call your insurance company first to see what repairs should cost.

Use local companies, and don’t forget to check references and contact phone

numbers.

Always get written estimates, which should be on company letterhead with

clear contact information.

Get more than one bid. It will help you see if an offer is too good to be true.

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Watch out for contractors who say they can waive deductibles—you may be

responsible if they send incorrect information to your insurance company.

Don’t pay the whole cost up front. You might have to make a partial payment

to get started, but you should never make a final payment until the job is

complete.

Texas law does not allow adjusters to take part in the repair process. For

example, roofers can’t say they will handle your insurance claim.

If a contractor pressures or threatens you, call the police.

For more help with insurance questions, visit TDI.texas.gov or call 1-800-252-3439.

Theresa Rubio was one of almost 100

Texas Department of Insurance

employees who staffed disaster

recovery centers after Hurricane Harvey

to help people with insurance questions

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TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONLINE (TEMO) Newsletter

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National Dam Safety Awareness Day

May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. It was established to encourage and

promote individual and community responsibility and best practices for dam safety, and to highlight the steps people can take to prevent future catastrophic failures or

lessen the impact of a potential failure. The day promotes the benefits that dams can offer to communities nationwide.

Dams are a vital part of the infrastructure in Texas and provide economic, environmental, and social benefits. Anyone who has enjoyed an artificial lake knows

some of these social benefits firsthand. The benefits of dams, however, can be countered by the risks they sometimes present. The failure of even a small dam can cause significant property and environmental damage, as well as the loss of life,

that’s why proper maintenance is so important.

For 50 years, previous state agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and its Dam Safety Program, has worked to reduce the impacts of dam

failures and to promote good operation and maintenance programs for dams across the state.

The Texas Dam Safety Program has: Performed inspections of the most hazardous dams in the state;

Worked with dam owners to establish maintenance programs; Provided training to dam owners, engineers, and emergency management

coordinators through the Dam Owner Workshops held each year at three

locations around the state (https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/events/dam-safety.html) ; and

Provided guidelines for owners on various aspects of the dam safety. Texas has the responsibility for regulating over 4,000 dams, with more than 1,700

high and significant hazard dams. These dams have the potential for loss of life if the dam should fail.

See https://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/investigation/damsafetyprog.html for rules, guidelines, and other material.

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National Dam Safety Awareness Day commemorates the tragic failure of the South Fork Dam in Johnston, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889, which resulted in the loss of

over 2,200 lives, and was the worst dam failure in the history of the United States and serves as a reminder of the need for responsible care and operations of dams.

Home Electrical System Safety

As we approach summer and the prospect of home remodeling projects, major

renovations or simply catching up on minor repairs, among the many important considerations to remember is the condition of the electrical system in your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments

responded to an estimated annual average of 45,210 reported home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction from 2010 to 2014. These fires resulted in

420 civilian deaths, 1,370 civilian injuries and $1.4 billion in direct property damage on average per year.

When embarking on a home renovation project no matter how big or small, it is important to pay attention to the different types of wiring you may encounter.

Many homes are wired with NM Cable (non-metallic sheathed cable commonly referred to as “Romex”). This type of cabling is normally limited to interior spaces where exposure to elements such as moisture or sun is not a factor or where electric

metal tubing (EMT) is not required. Another type of wiring is THHN/THWN (thermoplastic high heat-resistant nylon coated and water resistant) wire. THHN

and THWN are codes for the two most common types of insulated wire used inside conduit and often times found in unfinished areas such as garages. THHN and THWN wiring is also used in high voltage applications such as wiring for hot water heaters,

air conditioning units and garbage disposals.

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For anyone restoring an older home you may encounter another type of wiring known as Knob-and tube. This type of wiring is mostly found in

homes built between the late 1800’s up until approximately 1950. Having this older type of

wiring may not necessarily be a problem, but it would be advisable to have a licensed electrician inspect your home to ensure there are no issues as

you move forward with your project. Some of the more common problems with knob and tube is that

the wires may have become brittle over time. Poor connections resulting from unqualified personnel working on the electrical system in the past may

also contribute to potential problems. Loose or improper connections can cause wires to either overheat, short circuit or both. For

problems with your knob-and-tube system, contact a licensed electrician for a thorough evaluation. Knob and tube wiring should be inspected and evaluated on a regular basis. The best time to replace a knob and tube system is during a

renovation or remodeling project where the potential for exposing walls and ceilings, and replacing drywall will be highest.

Some of the benefits of upgrading the electrical system in your home is the ability to add: receptacles, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets (to protect from

shock), dimmer switches and even low-voltage lighting. Regardless of the type of electrical wiring you encounter and whenever possible, seek the advice of a licensed

electrician to assist with any hidden dangers behind concealed spaces. A licensed electrician will have knowledge of the latest electrical codes and any local amendments enforced by your community.

When trying to determine if you should replace or upgrade your electrical system

remember these figures. According to an NFPA report, wiring and related electrical equipment accounted for the vast majority of home fires and losses involving electrical distribution and lighting equipment (69% of fires, 56% of civilian deaths,

53% of civilian injuries, and 66% of direct property damage). Cords and plugs accounted for 10% of fires, but 28% of civilian deaths and 20% of civilian injuries,

as well as 12% of direct property damage.

(Ref: NFPA Home Fire Statistics: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Fire-

statistics-and-reports/Fire-statistics/Fires-by-property-type/Residential/Home-fires)

TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRIEFS, TIPS AND LINKS

It Only Takes One: Why You Should Be Prepared Every Year For Hurricanes

and Tornadoes

By Chris Dolce, Apr 23 2018 01:30 PM EDT, weather.com

Meteorologists at The Weather Channel have used the phrase "it only takes one" for

years, applying it to forecasts for both hurricane season as well as the potential for

tornado-producing thunderstorms.

Photo courtesy of Cullen Electric Lockland, OH

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The intention of those four words, when used in conjunction with hurricane season, is to communicate that coastal residents should be prepared equally each and every year.

Forecasts may call for a below-, near- or above-average hurricane season, but no

matter how active or inactive a season may be, it's where tropical storms or hurricanes track in relation to land that matters most. For tornadoes, it's relevant to a day when a widespread severe weather outbreak is

not expected, but localized destructive and/or deadly impacts still occur.

Here are a couple of examples of how this applies.

Hurricane Season That Defied the Odds

Six named storms and one subtropical storm roamed the Atlantic basin in the

1992 hurricane season. In terms of just numbers, that would qualify as a "quiet"

hurricane season because it's well below the 30-year average (1981-2010) of 12 named storms per season in the Atlantic. One of those storms, however, was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, which raked South Florida where it caused

devastating wind damage. About 125,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by Andrew. At the time, Andrew was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

Andrew is just one of three hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. at Category 5 strength. It defied the odds by also striking in the least active Atlantic hurricane season in the last 30 years.

It can go the other way too, with a season having numerous hurricanes that all

steer away from the U.S. The 2010 Atlantic season, for example, featured 12 hurricanes, but none of them brought significant impacts to the Lower 48. All of this provides proof that you can't judge impacts from a hurricane season

based on the number storms forecast before the season begins. Deadly Tornadoes Don't Occur Just in Large Severe Weather Outbreaks

The day after Christmas 2015 there was a smattering of 25 to 30 severe weather reports in the south-central United States, nothing that would seem too

overwhelming at a quick glance. For comparison, a large outbreak of severe weather can feature several hundred reports of wind damage and large hail as well as several tornadoes. A closer inspection of north-central Texas that day, however,

fits the bill of "it only takes one".

Among the few severe reports on Dec. 26, 2015, was an EF4 rated tornado that tore a 13-mile path through the northeast suburbs of Dallas. The twister killed 10 people, and nine of those deaths occurred when vehicles were struck at the

intersection of Interstate 30 and the President George Bush Turnpike. Eleven other tornadoes touched down in north-central Texas that day, including

two killer tornadoes which brought the death toll up to 13. This was a high-impact tornado event on a day when severe weather was not particularly widespread. It once again illustrates that you should never let your

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guard down even on days when the threat of severe weather is not at extreme levels.

(original article here: https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-04-23-it-only-takes-one-tornado-hurricane-season

FEMA: If You Have Family with Special Needs, Here’s How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

By WFTS Webteam of ABC Action News. Published April 13, 2018

Hurricane season is only seven weeks away and FEMA wants you to start preparing

now - especially if you have family members with special needs.

FEMA suggests the following tips:

Creating a support network. Check with those who can assist you, if needed. Keep a contact

list in a watertight container in your

emergency kit. Learn more at ready.gov/kit.

Planning ahead for accessible transportation for evacuation or getting to a medical clinic.

Work with local services, public transportation or paratransit to identify local or private

accessible transportation options.

Informing a support network where your emergency supplies are; you may want to

give one member a key to your house or apartment.

Knowing location and availability of more than one facility for dialysis if dialysis is

part of a health maintenance plan or routine or other life-sustaining treatment.

Preparing to use medical equipment if a power outage occurs.

Wearing medical alert tags or bracelets.

Making note of the best way to communicate with you in an emergency if you have

a communications disability.

Planning how to evacuate with assistive devices or how to replace equipment if lost

or destroyed. Keep model information and note where the equipment came from

such as Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.

FEMA has the following tips for people who are deaf or hard of hearing:

A weather radio with text display and a flashing alert.

Extra hearing-aid batteries.

A TTY (Text Telephone).

Pen and paper in case you have to communicate with someone who does not know

sign language.

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FEMA has the following tips for people who are blind or have low vision:

Mark emergency supplies with Braille labels or large print. Keep a list of your

emergency supplies on a portable flash drive, or make an audio file that is kept in a

safe place where you can access it.

Keep a Braille, or Deaf-Blind communications device in an emergency supply kit.

FEMA has the following tips for people with a mobility disability:

If you use a power wheelchair, have a lightweight manual chair available as a

backup. Show others how to operate your wheelchair.

Know the size and weight of your wheelchair, and if it is collapsible for

transportation.

Keep an extra mobility device such as a cane or walker, if you use one.

If you use a seat cushion to protect your skin or maintain your balance, and you

must evacuate without your wheelchair, take your cushion with you.

(original article here: https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-04-23-it-

only-takes-one-tornado-hurricane-season)

Experts Warn Lyme Disease Risk is High with Warmer Weather By Blakeley Galbraith of KBTX-TV. Published March 30, 2018

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. (KBTX) - With the warmer weather moving in, it's not just people who enjoy it.

Insects like ticks also like to come out in the heat. If bitten by a tick, you could be at risk for Lyme disease.

"Ticks in Texas start coming out this time of year and in the summer through the fall," said Maria Esteve-Gassent.

"Wear long sleeves and long pants. I know it's hot but it's the best way to protect yourself from any ticks crawling on you. I truly recommend using some kind of insect repellent

when you're outdoors," said Esteve-Gassent.

Esteve-Gassent said if you believe that you have been bit, to go see a doctor. Emily Hopkins has been facing the disease since she was a teenager. "I don't know how I got it. I don't remember getting a tick bite, but pretty much I

always felt like I was the sickly kid out of my siblings," said Emily Hopkins. "It was one thing after the other. It was like migraines every day, and then my spine was

killing me all the time. Three months before my wedding, which was in 2015, I was diagnosed with Lyme," said Hopkins.

Emily has tried many antibiotics and treatments, but said since hers wasn't caught early, she still deals with the disease in her day-to-day life.

"I'm by no means better. It's still very much a journey and there's just days that I'm in bed constantly. But one thing is if you get a tick bite you should send it in

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somewhere and have it tested, where you know immediately whether or not you were exposed to Lyme," said Hopkins. Esteve-Gassent said you can bring a tick that bit you to the Texas A&M Veterinary

Medical Diagnostics Lab or send it to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

"Don’t flush the ticks. If ticks were attached to you – there’s places in the state of Texas that can test those ticks for any kind of pathogen," said Esteve-Gassent.

(original article here: http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Experts-warn-Lyme-

disease-risk-is-high-with-warmer-weather-478440953.html)