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December 21, 2004
US Marine Elves Drop off Toys for Tots
US Marine Elves dropped off toys for tots at Pottstown Municipal Airport. Flying his CH53 Super Stallion helicopter, Major Dave Stockton, a local resident and member of the Phillies Fire Company, flew the goodwill mission. Major Stockton is stationed at Willow Grove Naval Air Station and recently completed a tour in Iraq. Phillies Fire Company members answered the call to action and assisted the Marines in distributing toys to local churches and civic groups. This is an annual event for the fire company and we are glad to assist Santa any time.
November 10, 2004
Phone Cards for US Service Personnel
The Phillies Fire Company is offering free phone cards to US service personnel stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Phillies Fire Company are using proceeds from our annual WWII swing dance to pay for the cards. Your letter must be received by November 15th. Families from the Pottstown area can forward the address of their family members to:
Bill Krause
695 N. Hanover Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
November 6, 2004
800 MHZ Communications Implemented
On November 1, Pottstown became the very first fire department to go on-line with the new 800 megahertz (MHZ) communications system in Montgomery County. The 800 MHZ system is running parallel with the older forty year old, low-band 30 MHZ system. The 800 MHZ system is in a test phase for the county but the only means of communications for Pottstown. Eventually the entire county will transfer over to the new system and 30 MHZ will be entirely phased out. The newer 800 MHZ system basically brings the latest digital computer technology to communications and it is known as "trunking." Trunking can allow a multitude of channels to be used at an emergency. A multitude of channels allows a commanding officer with the ability to separate operations on different channels which cuts down on radio traffic and jammed channels. The current 30 MHZ band only allows for one main channel and a few tactical frequencies set aside for operations. At a major incident, radio frequencies are usually jammed with radio traffic and that alone is a safety issue in itself. If a distress call would be made on the existing system, it is quite possible that the call would never be heard because of excessive radio traffic. Imagine that you were trapped inside a burning building and you could not call somebody to help you because your weaker radio signal was being cut out by other people talking. The new 800 MHZ system has a distress call button that patches a lost or trapped firefighter directly to the communications dispatcher and cuts out all other traffic. The unfortunate aspect of this system in Pottstown is that only fire officers will have a 800 MHZ radio to communicate, so if you are not with an officer, it is over for you any way.
800 MHz communications coupled the latest digital computer technology with radio communications. However, 800 MHZ has experienced problems in other fire departments across the country. Brief radio outages and total system failures have been experienced with 800 MHZ communications. Failures have been attributed to total equipment failure and improper backup systems implemented by the municipality purchasing the system. In other words, they cut backup systems to cut costs and that yields a sub-standard system performance. Some problems have been experienced with the radios not being able to transmit from inside a building to the outside. The cure for this is to install radio repeaters or additional radio towers in these dead areas. In some cases, it takes time to identify these dead communications areas and it is a similar situation that everybody has experienced with cell phones.
Improper frequency management by fire officers during operations can scatter communications on too many channels and essentially cutting off firefighters from receiving vital information (e.g., dangerous fire conditions) during an incident. This scenario is responsible for firefighter deaths as well and this is attributed to human error. Proactive training and a Borough standard operating procedure (SOP) can prevent this situation from happening in Pottstown. A published SOP should address officers, drivers, and firefighters about the procedure to be used when responding to incidents to keep everybody on the same page and channel for that matter.
Cost was another serious issue with 800 MHZ communications. The average radio costs three thousand dollars. As in all electronic devices, the price should drop as competition increases and as more fire departments switch over. The initial impact to retrofit a fire station can run in the tens of thousand of dollars. Quite frankly, some fire departments/companies just cannot simply afford to switch over without going bankrupt. Unlike Chester County, no grant or State aide money could be secured to pay for the system at the local level. Chester County switched to 800 MHZ and the County secured grant money which brought the system to their county practically for free for the fire companies that had to switch over.
The 800 MHZ system had a rocky beginning but it is continually being developed and improved upon. Motorola is staffed 24/7/365 to assist fire communications centers in handling unexpected problems. Some ask why did Pottstown buy in to this system if there could be problems? The answer is that the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. 800 MHZ communications will couple additional technologies like on-board computers, mapping systems, and global positioning system tracking. 30 MHZ communications just falls short in these areas and you can thank Motorola for discontinuing this system.
800 MHZ has made its first week in Pottstown and so far there have been no serious problems to report. Hopefully this trend will continue. As with all new cutting edge technologies, problems can be expected at first. However, the end result will enable the Pottstown Fire Department to be a more efficient and safer organization for both firefighter and citizens alike.
Do you agree with me or disagree? Email Gadget65@aol.com with replies on this issue.
October 24th, 2004
POV's Blocking the Scene
A majority of firefighters in Pottstown respond directly to an emergency in their personally operated vehicles (POV's). There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of response but it has worked in Pottstown for many years. One disadvantage that deserves some attention is the parking of POV's at the scene of an emergency. In the past year, I do not know of any serious incidents involving a POV that blocked access to an emergency vehicle responding to an incident. However, I know of situations that occurred in the past and it is good practice to bring this subject matter up to prevent problems from creeping up on us again in the future. I have personally witnessed the dire consequences of a POV blocking access to a scene while the guilty party is located to move their vehicle. Meanwhile, precious time is being lost to fight a fire or to rescue a victim. It is an embarrassing situation for the POV operator and it is embarrassing for the fire department. Nobody is exempt from this sort of situation from happening to them because it can happen unexpectingly. I have seen this situation occur from the ranks of junior firefighters to the fire officers that were actually coordinating the emergency incidents. The root cause of blocking the scene is due to the fact that everybody wants to be as close to the scene as possible. Let's face it, your next response could have you in a lot of "hot water" or it could put you in an embarrassing situation if you do not watch what you are doing.
When personnel in POV's respond to an emergency, they are usually planning in their mind how they will travel to the scene. If personnel are unfamiliar with the exact location of the emergency, they can suddenly find themselves in the middle of it trying to figure out where to go next. This problem is more likely to happen in daylight hours because responders cannot easily see the flashing lights from the emergency vehicles. An easy solution to this problem is to slow down and take your time when you are getting close to an emergency scene. Matter of fact, you should always travel at a safe speed for conditions while responding to an emergency. Also, look and listen for clues that indicate you are close to the area like visible hose lines in the street, other responders in the area, smoke, fire police, or the sound of outdoor radio traffic.
When you arrive in the area, start looking for parking places at
least a block away or more from the location. This allows extra room for
additional vehicles responding to the scene and it will keep you out of trouble.
Fire Police will generally have an idea of how many parking spaces are available
on a street that is near the scene of the emergency. Fire Police do a good job
of blocking off the immediate area to prevent civilian vehicles as well as POV's
from congesting or blocking the scene. However, emergency personnel in close
proximity of an emergency will be able to beat the arrival of the Fire Police to
the incident. Nonetheless, if you are waived off by the Fire Police, it is
because all spaces are taken and you should try another location to park. If
conditions permit, it may be an advantage if you ask the Fire Police where you
can find a safe place to park. This has worked for me over the years.
When you find that perfect place to park, take your time and do it right. All it takes is for one improperly parked vehicle in an alley or one-way street to obstruct the path of all incoming emergency vehicles. This situation results in delaying the response of emergency vehicles and it can deny their entry to an emergency scene. It could really cost a life. Use your head. If your POV does not fit in the parking space, try finding something else that works.
Vehicle fires, vehicle rescues, and other emergencies that occur on our roadways present additional challenges. When responding to these situations, it is important to find a parking spot that will not block access to the scene and it will not impede the flow of traffic around the scene. Traffic is usually snarled after an accident and it is important that personnel do not further complicate the situation by obstructing traffic with their POV's. If at all possible, try to find a parking lot or park on a side street away from the scene. And above all, make sure you are parked in a safe location that will provide protection from being struck by another vehicle. Being run over by another motorist or being struck by another vehicle has been known to happen at accident scenes all over the country. If my memory serves me correctly, station 58 had a piece of apparatus struck a few years ago on route 422 by an oblivious motorist. So it does really happen.....beware and be safe.
August 8, 2004
What's in your Pockets?
I found out through the years that firefighters either are carrying too many items in their pockets or nothing at all. The items that I am talking about include small hand tools, flashlights, and other accessories. These useful items will assist you in performing your job more efficiently and it will probably save you a trip to the truck. Some of these items may even keep you out of danger as well. If you want to learn more, ask another firefighter what they have in their pockets and why they carry that particular item. You just might learn something new and useful.
The first item that you should have in your gear is a well-built, water-proof, flashlight. I am not out to advertise any particular brand of flashlights but only Pelican's Super Sabre Light has been able to withstand my grueling punishment from fire fighting. I bought the light ten years ago and it is still in my pocket today. Another item in your gear should be some sort of small prying tool. The key rule here is that it is small enough to fit in your pocket, it does not weigh you down, and it does not inhibit your mobility. I have seen people violate this common sense rule by strapping pry bars, pry axes, and other bulky tools to themselves. There is no need to do this because you generally carry these sorts of tools in to the fire with you from the truck. Another important item to carry with you is a cutting tool of some sort. I have seen butterfly knives, bowie knives, and other cutting tools that are nothing more than weapons that serve no purpose at all on a fire ground. Take some advice and leave the weapons at home and bring something more useful like a box cutter with extra blades. I carry a box cutter and it usually comes in handy in removing sopping wet carpets, removing window screens, or cutting down wash lines. When my blade gets dull, I change it and keep right on cutting. Disposable rope is another important item to carry in your gear. Something inexpensive is the key here because you probably end up losing it or leaving it behind. Rope has a number of uses in any emergency scene from tying doors open to roping off a dangerous area. A 10 to 15 foot piece of small diameter rope should do fine. A wooden wedge is also a good item to have to prop open a door in a fire situation or to stop the flow from an activated sprinkler head. One final item to have in your gear is a piece of contractors chalk. Chalk is used to mark the door of a room that was searched during the initial fire attack. If a room does not have a door, then the outside wall of that room is marked. Over the years, firefighters usually leave an "X" to indicate that a primary search was done. Marking a door or wall saves firefighters from re-checking the same room twice.
Below is a list of the basic items that I mentioned plus a secondary list of other items to consider.
Required items: flashlight, small prying tool, box cutter with spare blades, rope, wooden wedge, piece of chalk
Items to consider: Safety glasses, hearing protection, cell phone, wire cutters, electrical outlet tester, webbing, carabiner, and other small miscellaneous tools
February 26, 2004
Filthy Fire Gear, A Source of Illness and Cancer?
That's right, your fire gear is a potential source for cancer. Fires involve a whole myriad of combustible products that can release disease causing byproducts into the air. As firefighters, we enter these hostile environments and there is no way for us to possibly know all of the materials that burned during the course of a fire. Gear becomes laden with the ash and particles that are released into the air during the fire. After the fire, we place our gear back into our cars and then transport it home. Often in colder weather, firefighters will store the gear in their homes. The unfortunate aspect is that while the fire gear is in your home or in your car, it is releasing ash particles into the air and causing additional exposures. Typical ash from wood fires can irritate the sinuses, nasal passages, lungs and even cause infections. The real bad news is that plastic products can give off toxic ash laden with dioxins and cyanides which are known cancer causing chemicals. If you are the type that never washes your gear, you are exposing yourself and your family to the toxic byproducts of a fire.
The solution is quite simple to protect you and your family. Develop an "after-the-fire routine" to follow. The very first thing you should do after a fire is to take a shower. Taking a shower will remove excess particles from your body and it will prevent any chemicals from being absorbed through the skin.
Another good practice, if you were unexpectedly exposed to smoke, is to irrigate the nasal passages with saline solution. You can purchase saline nasal spray at any drug store or supermarket for a couple of bucks. You will be surprised at the amount of carbon particles that come out on your tissue after a good saline rinse.
The final task is to wash your gear according to the manufacturers instructions. Most often I hose down my gear outside and then presoak it in a tub before I run it through the washing machine. That way you get a majority of the particles off before it goes into the washing machine. Do not forget to wash your gloves and boots. Also, wash the inside lining of your helmet by soaking it in a tub of warm soapy water for 10 minutes and then rinse it.
One final note, while you have your gear apart, inspect it for excessive wear, tears, or discoloration. If your gear is damaged, report it to the equipment officer.
January 20, 2004
On-Line Fire Academy
Fire academies and schools should be available and easily accessible to every fire department. The sad truth is that not every fire department across the commonwealth has easy access to a fire academy like Montgomery county. The less populated areas of Pennsylvania are forced to rely on the State Fire Academy in Lewistown for their primary source of fire education. In some cases, the drive could be over a hundred miles to attend a fire school and that is just unreasonable.
Another problem plaguing volunteers these days is the increased requirements for certifications. A new recruit will need certifications in firefighting and hazardous materials that will add to more than 150 hours. It is no wonder that it is difficult to attract and to retain volunteers with such a heavy burden. Balancing a job, family, and personal time can make it difficult to attend fire school. However, there is hope on the horizon.
The National Fire Academy (NFA) is making leaps and bounds in developing FREE on-line classes, CD-ROM's, and home-study manuals to allow firefighters to stay up-to-date without leaving the comfort of their own homes. Plus there is another program being developed by the Illinois Fire Service Institute. Through an NFA grant, the Illinois Fire Service Institute has developed an on-line Virtual Campus that offers Hazardous Materials Awareness and is developing a Hazardous Materials Operations program. The Hazardous Materials Awareness program is accepted by the State of Pennsylvania for firefighting certification. Also, I must mention that the National Fire Academy has a number of courses that you can complete in your spare time. Follow this link for a list of NFA classes by the U.S. Fire Administration Self Study Courses. There are also courses at FEMA's web site that deal with emergency management Independent Study Courses.
January 19, 2004
Phillies Fire Company Members Volunteer at the Link
Phillies Fire Company members volunteered for concession stand duty at the Linc for the Philadelphia Eagles playoff games on January 11th and 18th. In return, the Phillies received a contribution from the daily sales of the concessions stands for their efforts. Most of the volunteers noted that it was hard work keeping up with the steady stream of customers and there was no time at all to watch the game. However, they commented that they had a lot of fun. Below are photos from the event and they were submitted by Neil Fuerman. The far right picture includes members of Cub Scout pack #146 from 1st Presp Church in Pottstown.
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November 29, 2003
Holiday Season Accidents Expected to Rise
A number of Pennsylvanians will lose their lives on the busy roadways this holiday season. As all may bare witness to the heavy traffic that was generated on "Black Friday," congestion is one of the reasons for more serious accidents during the holiday season. Already there has been a number of stories in the news media about serious traffic accidents. In heavy bumper to bumper traffic moving at fifty miles per hour, all it takes is for one driver to make a mistake and it can set off a major catastrophe.
The biggest cause of traffic accidents this holiday season will be because of the human factor. Let's face the real fact now, people tend to drive like lunatics around the holiday season. I am sure your loved ones would rather have you home for the holidays instead of being in the hospital or worse. Here are a few people that cause car accidents around the holidays. Which person sounds like you?
1. The Bargain Hunter/Extreme Shopper - I have to be a 2 stores at the same time and I have 4 others to hit by the end of the day. I will make it to all of the sales to save money. My car has a turbo and can go zero to sixty in 3.4 seconds to make it to the next store in time.
2. The Maniac Holiday Worker - Ok, the holidays are coming and I could use a little extra cash this year to buy presents. However, I am now working 18 hours a day between 3 jobs, I have two kids, I go to school, and I am catching a nap while I am driving from job to job. No wait, I think I can go home now...or am I supposed to pick up the kids????.......
3. The Holiday Reveler - I have to be at a holiday party. I have to quickly rush home after work to change my clothes and make it there before happy hour ends. After all, I wouldn't want to miss out on all the free drinks that the company is buying. I bet if I blow through a couple of stop signs and cut it close on any red lights, I can make up some lost time.
4. The Holiday Drunk - I was 30 minutes late for the holiday party and I had to quickly make up for the lost happy hour time by slamming as many drinks as I could. Plus my boss bought a few drinks, my co-workers bought me a few drinks, and I just had to show them that I could drink with the best of them. Despite all this, I refused to let somebody drive me home or to take the taxi the bartender offered me.
5. The College Kid - I was up all night to cram for my last exam. Right after exams we partied the rest of the day because we were all going home for the holiday break. We ran out of beer. I wasn't as bad as the rest of them so I volunteered to go and get more beer for all of us.
6. The Yapper - You know me. I am the person in front of you on the highway swerving because I am trying to dial the next person on my cell phone and drive at the same time. No sense pulling over to make the call. After all, I would never get back home because I talk so much on the phone.
7. The 4-Wheeler - Yep, got my 4x4 with all-terrain tires that will not stop me from going any place. A foot of snow on the ground is no problem at all for me to do 55 MPH on the highway. I cannot believe all the slow people that I had to pass on the highway tonight.
Well maybe all of the personalities above did not match you perfectly but one of them was maybe close. Better yet, maybe you are a combination of a few. What ever the case, you need to do something about you bad driving habits before you cause an accident. After all, good drivers do not get involved in accidents.
November 12, 2003
Faulty Consumer Products
Consumer products are supposed to function properly, to work trouble-free, and to not pose a serious safety risk to the user. However, the manufacturers do not always have all the bugs worked out of some products and others do not operate correctly at all. Some of the reasons for these faulty products can be manufacturing errors, design flaws, and sub-standard materials. In some cases, faulty products have been known to start fires, cause severe injuries and even deaths. Products that I am talking about could be toys, Christmas tree lights, household appliances, automobiles, or maybe even a fire alarm system (yes, one is listed). Before you start the holiday gift buying season, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) web page for the latest information about these dangerous items. And if you would come across one of these dangerous items in your own home you can report it on the CPSC's page as well.
October 6, 2003
Ladder 14 Found in Africa
Ladder 14 originally belonged to the Hollidaysburg (Pennsylvania) Fire Department and was purchased to cover for Ladder 13 when it was out for a major overhaul some years ago. The officers and members of the Phillies decided to buy the truck so there was always a timely ladder truck response in the Borough. When it came time to sell the truck, it was close to the end of its service life and we were unable to sell it. The truck was taking up space in a local garage and it needed to go. A General in the Guinea Military approached us about donating the truck to help the country of Guinea. The deal was arranged and we never knew of the whereabouts of the truck ever again.
One very important lesson is never underestimate the power of the Internet and the information that it can bring to you. In this case, Edward Huguenin, a Bomb Disposal Specialist working for the U.S. Embassy in Guinea, found the truck near Conakry, Guinea. Lucky for us that Edward had a camera and took a photo. He later forwarded it to the Goodwill Fire Company of Pottstown. Toby Wise of the Goodwill Fire Company received the email and forwarded it to us immediately. Many thanks to Edward Huguenin and Toby Wise in bringing some closure to the destination of our old fire truck.
September 9, 2003
Organ and Tissue Donations Saves Lives
As of September 5th, 2003, more than 82,000 American men, women, and children were on the National waiting list for organ and tissue transplantation. More than 4,300 people were on this waiting list from the Tri-State region alone. Nationwide, an average of seventeen people died each day because organs and tissues were not available when they were needed most. According to "Gift of Life Donor Program, in the past ten years, the waiting list for heart, kidney, liver, lung and pancreas transplants has doubled. However, one person can give life to fifty people by simply registering yourself as a organ and tissue donor. Even after you have passed on, you can still help the lives of so many that are desperately waiting to be given another chance. To be an organ or tissue donor, please call 1-800-DONORS-1 (1-800-366-6771) or visit http://www.donors1.org for more information.
August 20, 2003
Accidents: A Never-Ending Problem
Motor vehicle accidents are a never-ending tragedy in the Borough of Pottstown and surrounding communities. According to a 2001 Insurance Research Council study, 81% of all accidents occur in urban settings. The most tragic aspect of these accidents is that they all could have been prevented. Distractions that cause drivers not to pay attention to the road, excessive speed, and just a plain old lack of good judgment are just a number of contributors of accidents. According to the U. S. Department of Transportation, the leading cause of death in American's between the ages of 1 and 34 is by motor vehicle accidents. Injuries from accidents can cripple a person for life or leave them permanently disfigured. Below are a number of recent accidents photographs in which the occupants managed to escape death but they encountered serious injuries. A few areas with high accident rates are Manatawny and King Streets; Route 100 and State Street; Route 100 and Shoemaker Road; and Industrial Highway and Hanover Streets. Be extra careful when traveling in these areas.
Please slow down and pay attention to the road at all times.
June 3, 2003
Joel Bui gets accepted by the Air Force
Joel Bui, a junior firefighter for the past several years at the Phillies, just graduated from Pottstown High School and was accepted by the Air Force. Joel signed up for four years of military service and his first choice was, of course, to serve as a firefighter. Also, he selected airframe mechanic, readyness, and medical services as backup choices. Joel will start boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas after June 20th. We wish him good luck, success, and hope that he writes to us in the future to let us know how he is doing.
April 28, 2003
Two Bucks County Firefighters Hopitalized
Two Bucks County firefighters were hospitalized after airbags deployed in a car. Apparently, the Edgely Fire Company received a call for a car fire in a nearby industrial park. On arrival they found a car smoking from the dashboard. While checking the car for the source of the problem, the airbags suddenly deployed and injured the firefighters. These firefighters were caught of guard as most others would have been in the same situation. The Chief of the Edgely Fire Company basically stated that more information is needed about airbag systems and how they deploy in order to prevent firefighters from injuries. If you ever encounter a fire within a vehicle, always maintain a safe distance from the airbags. Read more about this at Fire Engineering's Airbag Article.
April 2, 2003
Local Pottstown Man Burned
A Pottstown man was seriously burned while filling gas cans in the back of his pickup truck. When the Phillies Ladder 13 arrived on location, the vehicle, the gas pump, and a puddle of fuel was burning out of control. Within a few minutes the fire was brought under control. The man filling the gas cans received serious burns to his upper and lower extremities. He was flown by MedEvac to a trauma center for treatment. The unfortunate aspect was that this situation could have been prevented.
According to the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI), gasoline containers accumulate static electricity while riding on a truck's plastic bedliner or on the carpet/mat of a car. What happens is the gasoline container picks up static electricity and cannot normally discharge it to ground because of the insulating affects of a bedliner or carpet/mat. When the gasoline nozzle is placed in the container, the static electricity discharges, causes a spark and ignites the fuel. Of the cases investigated by the PEI, fires occurred while gasoline containers were being filled inside the vehicle. However, in one case, a plastic gasoline container ignited while being filled on the ground. In light of all this, it should be obvious that all containers should be removed from your vehicle and filled on the ground. If a this situation would happen to you, clear everybody from the area at once, notify the gas station operator to call 911 and to immediately to shut down the pumps. For more information check: http://www.pei.org/FRD/gascan.htm
The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA), offers free learning materials including videos, brochures, and comics books to teach your whole family about the hidden dangers of gasoline. Burns from gasoline are serious injuries that can cause permanent, disfiguring injuries or even death. Protect your family by ordering your free materials at: http://www.gamanet.org/
Five Quick Tips While Dispensing Fuel
1. Extinguish all smoking materials before arriving at the station. This includes your passengers as well.
2. Turn off your cell phone.
3. Turn off the ignition of your vehicle.
4. Remain outside the vehicle at all times. This includes inclement weather too.
5. Fill all approved and suitable containers outside your vehicle on the ground.
For more information on this subject go to: http://www.pei.org/faq/static.htm
February 19, 2003
Snowfall Presents Serious Obstacles for Firefighters
Imagine that it is one o'clock in the morning, your house is on fire and your entire family is trapped on an upper floor. You call 911 and your local fire department is dispatched but you can not escape because of intense heat and acrid smoke. The day before, a snowstorm dumped 20+ inches of snow on the ground. The fire department's response is delayed because of slippery road conditions and the narrowed streets caused by the excess snow accumulation. The first fire engine arrives at your house and a large portion of the first floor of your home is engulfed in flames. Firefighters start stretching hose lines to fight the flames and try to gain entry. The second fire engine arrives and tries to find a fire hydrant to supply water to the first fire engine. The first fire engine is now starting to pour water on the flames as firefighters are gaining entry to your house. The second fire engine is unable to locate a fire hydrant in the huge snow banks that were piled up by people shoveling snow and the snow plows that cleared the streets. The first fire engine runs out of water and the firefighters are driven back from your burning house. Your fate is now certain and it could have been prevented by simply clearing the snow around the fire hydrant that was right in front of your house.
Illustrations like the example above really happen and it is a real American tragedy. Adopt a fire hydrant near your home and make sure that it is clear of obstructions at all times. You should also remove snow from:
1. all of your exit ways to ensure that all of your escape exits are available at all times
2. your gas meter because it does have a breather vent that must remain unobstructed in order to work properly.
3. sewer system breather caps in order to prevent water from backing up in to your home.
February 14, 2003
Homeland Security Threat Level Raised. Are you Prepared?
Recently the Homeland Security Threat Level was raised to level orange by George Bush. The color orange represents a high probability that a terrorist attack could take place. There have been many debates, whether in the news media or in America's social institutions, about the likelihood of another terrorist attack. Military defense systems have been beefed up around Washington DC and you cannot ignore the fact that the threat is real. Despite all of that, are you prepared in the event of a disaster?
Every citizen should be prepared in the event of a disaster. Disasters can occur without notice and it is not just associated with a terrorist attack. Disasters can occur from the result of natural events such as snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, catastrophic fires, extreme heat, and drought. Man-made, technological disasters can result from a train derailment, chemical plant leak, power plant catastrophe, or a terrorist attack. Find out what you should do to create a Disaster Supply Kit. Also, find more information from FEMA's main website.