5 Mar 2010

Fire Corps advice - help communities deal with winter weather
Fire Corps teams can help their community cope with inclement winter weather. If your Fire Corps team is able to safely navigate the community after a storm, there are several ways volunteers can assist and protect citizens:

• Help shovel walkways, sidewalks, and common areas and lay salt or sand. This includes around fire stations so emergency vehicles can come and go safely.

• Check on the elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable populations - especially if there are power outages. Make sure they have what they need and are keeping warm.

• Help dig out vehicles so plows can effectively clear the streets.

Remember, it's important to keep volunteers' safety in mind while helping your community recover from inclement weather. Consider providing your volunteers with water and reflective safety vests to help ensure their safety.