Yakima, WASH- The State Enhanced 911 Office and local telephone carriers remind citizens in the affected area:
To stay off the telephone unless you have a critical need to make a telephone call. Remember a FAX or a computer also uses a telephone line and its use may affect your ability to get immediate help in a life-threatening emergency.
DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you need an emergency response from police, fire or emergency medical personnel. DO NOT call 9-1-1 unnecessarily. 9-1-1 lines must be kept open for people who have a true emergency.
If you experience other types of problems not related to these emergency services, call the appropriate telephone number for those services.
If you pick up your telephone to make a call and do not hear dial tone, DO NOT HANG UP. Simply wait a few seconds, and you will get dial tone and be able to make your call.
Residents in the state should consider the following preparedness actions:
Listen to radio or television stations for local information and weather reports.
Do not use charcoal or gas grills to cook or heat indoors.
If you must travel, assemble an emergency auto kit, stay on main roads, follow traffic instructions.
If the power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food frozen up to two days.
Provide assistance to your neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled.
Winter weather could mean power outages and increased chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. That kind of poisoning is the result of poorly ventilated generators or using charcoal or gas grills to cook or heat indoors. For more information about how to prepare for winter storm power outages and avoid carbon monoxide hazards, check these web links from Washington Emergency Management Division:
• http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus_winter2011.shtml
• http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus_winter2011.shtml#COSafety
• http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus_winter2011.shtml#PowerLines
• http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus_winter2011.shtml#FoodSafe
Prevenga el Envenenamiento de Monóxido de Carbón
¿Qué es el monóxido de carbono?
In Spanish /Espaniol
