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What is a Hurricane?
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone. It is accomanied by thunderstorms and its winds move in a counterclockwise motion.
All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes and tropical storms. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October.
Hurricane Categories:
Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale from 1 to 5 depending on their wind speed and damage potential (1 being the least damaging and 5 being the most damaging.) Hurricanes categorized as a 5 have sustained winds of more than 155 miles per hour and can be catastrophic. Hurricane Katrina, which devastated parts of the Gulf Coast was a Category 4 storm when it went through New Orleans in August 2005.
What to Do Before a Hurricane
To prepare for a hurricane you should take the following measures:
- Make plans to secure your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking. Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
- Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed.
- Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Determine how and where to secure your boat.
- Consider building a safe room.
- Make sure your gas tank is full of gas in case you have to evacuate.
- Have an emergency kit ready at all times. Your kit should include food, water, first aid supplies, battery-powered radio, flashlight , and other emergency supplies.
During a Hurricane:
If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:
- Listen to the radio or TV for information.
- Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
- Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Avoid using the phone except for serious emergencies.
- Moor your boat if time permits.
- Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
You should evacuate under the following conditions:
- If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
- If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.
- If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
- If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
- If you feel you are in danger.
If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:
- Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
- Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.
- Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.
- Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
- Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
Be a Tick Fighter...BLAST Tick-Borne Diseases this Year!
Tick season is here and the Newtown Health District is promoting the BLAST Tick-Borne Diseases program. BLAST stands for the five most important things YOU and your family can do to stay safe from tick-borne diseases.
It is important to BE AWARE of the risks of Tick-borne Disease – Everyone should understand that we live in an area where Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are widespread. The good news is that tick-borne disease is preventable. We should be aware of how the disease is transmitted, what to look for, how to minimize contact with ticks and what steps to take if you suspect you have become infected. Education and awareness will greatly improve your ability to prevent tick-borne disease.
- B stands for bathing soon after spending time outdoors. A recent study showed that people who bathed or showered within 2 hours of coming indoors did not contract Lyme disease as frequently as those who did not bathe or shower soon.
- L reminds everyone to look their bodies over for ticks daily and remove them properly. Speedy removal helps avoid disease transmission. Remove ticks carefully by their mouth parts with a tweezer and save them in a plastic bag for identification. Contact your local health department for tick-testing policies and notify your physician if you have any concerns. “L” also reminds us to look for expanding rashes and reported them to your physician in a timely manner. The painless erythema migrans (EM) rash sometimes seen with Lyme disease can often go unnoticed and will eventually disappear while the infection remains. Other early symptoms include fatigue, headache, fever and achy muscles and joints.
- A encourages you to avoid ticks when possible, and to become educated about repellants and apply them appropriately. Know where ticks live and avoid those areas: Ticks don’t like sunny, dry areas; they like shade, shelter and moisture. ~Ticks can be found in leaf litter, shaded gardens, weeds, tall grass, shrubs, low trees, and ground cover like pachysandra. Dress properly when entering potentially tick-infested areas: Wear long pants that are light-colored to allow easy identification of ticks. ~Tuck your pant legs into socks and shirt into pants. ~Tape pant legs and wear long sleeves when working near the ground. ~Cover hair with a hat. ~Tie long hair back. Apply repellent. Studies have shown that applying 30-40% DEET-based repellant to skin is effective at
repelling blacklegged (deer) ticks. Application of 0.5% permethrin-based insecticide to clothing is highly effective at repelling and even killing ticks. Clothing treated with permethrin can be washed several times and still retains its repellant properties. The use of repellants, while proven effective is a personal decision. For more information on tick repellants, visit the National Pesticide Information Center's website.
- S stands for safeguarding your yard to reduce your possible tick exposure. Spraying the yard can reduce tick abundance. Homeowners should consider the benefits of applying pesticide to the perimeter of their yards. Studies have shown that even one application of pesticide at the right time of year and in the best location can reduce blacklegged tick populations by 85 – 90%. Complete information on tick management is available at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station website. Additional safeguards include creating a “Tick Safe Zone”, in which the homeowner manages their yard to make it less hospitable to ticks, by doing the following: remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edges of lawns; place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration to recreational areas; mow the lawn and clear brush and leaf litter frequently; keep the ground under bird feeders clean; discourage deer from migrating into your
yard by using deer-resistant plantings; stack wood neatly and in dry areas; and keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees. The Health District has an excellent brochure that can guide homeowners with making changes in their yards.
- T reminds everyone about treatment. In general people who begin medical treatment soon after becoming infected, have a quicker and more complete recovery from Lyme and other tick-borne disease. Learning to recognize the symptoms and receiving early medical treatment will help to prevent more serious illness. Erythema migrans (EM) is a rash and can be the first symptom of Lyme disease. The telltale rash starts as a small red spot at the site of the bite and gets larger over a period of days or weeks and forms a red rash shaped like a circle or oval. Not everyone gets or sees the rash. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, stiff neck, body aches and tiredness. Although these symptoms may be like those of common viral infections such as the flu, Lyme disease symptoms tend to continue longer or
may come and go. Lyme disease can also affect your nervous system, causing symptoms such as stiff neck, severe headache (meningitis), temporary paralysis of the facial muscles (Bell’s palsy), numbness, pain or weakness in the limbs and poor muscle movement. Other more serious long term affects may include memory loss, difficulty with concentration and change in mood or sleep habits. Less commonly, people who have not taken antibiotics may develop heart or other problems weeks, months, or even years after they were infected with Lyme bacteria. Receiving early medical treatment is the key to preventing long term health effects. It is also important to treat your pets. Local veterinarians offer a variety of methods for protecting animals from tick-borne diseases. Dogs and cats increase one’s chances of exposure to Tick-Borne Disease. Pets can carry ticks in to the home on their fur. Pet owners should be cautious about sleeping with their
pets.
For additional information on the BLAST Tick-Borne Disease prevention program, contact Donna Culbert at the Newtown Health District. Phone 203-270-4291 or email donna.culbert@newtown-ct.gov Make everyone in the family a Tick-Borne Disease fighter this year. BLAST Tick-Borne Disease.
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TEMPORARY FOOD EVENT NOTICE
As warmer weather approaches and with summer just around the corner many groups and organizations are preparing for seasonal events such as church fairs, fund raising picnics and carnivals. The Newtown Health District wants to help make these events healthy, safe and successful by ensuring that food served at these events is safe for the public to consume. To do this the health district requires that any operation offering food to the public obtain a temporary food service license. If your facility rents space to groups serving food to the public, please advice them to contact the health district.
Organizers may obtain an application for a temporary food service license from the health district or online (see above) and should submit it at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event. Every applicant will receive a Temporary Food Service Guide containing basic food safety information and personal instruction on proper food handling. To review specific details regarding upcoming events please contact Suzette Le Blanc @ newtownhdsuzette@earthlink.net or by calling the health district at
203-270-4291.
The Newtown Health District is located at 3 Primrose Street in Newtown. Please contact Newtown Health District for more information and to obtain a Temporary Food Service License application (download application above).
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