County Office of Emergency Management provides safety tips

CLEVELAND, OH – Due to severe weather on Tuesday, August 6, widespread power outages continue to impact residents across Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management is conducting damage assessments across the County and providing aid to local municipalities. The office urges residents to check on friends and neighbors when it is safe to do so and follow these safety recommendations:

• Call 9-1-1 in emergencies. Emergencies are events that include serious medical issues, any type of fire, life threatening situations, and crimes in progress. Do NOT dial 9-1-1 for non-emergencies, or to check the status of a power outage.
• NEVER touch downed wires or electrical power lines and keep children and pets away from them. If you encounter a downed power line, stay away, and call 9-1-1. If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside until first responders arrive.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Use generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills outdoors, at least 20 feet away from any building openings like windows, doors, or garages. Never use a gas stovetop, oven, grill, or dryer to heat your home.
• Stay fire safe. Use flashlights, lanterns and other battery-powered lights. Don’t use gas stoves or candles to heat your home. Always use fireplaces, portable heaters, and wood-burning stoves safely. Don’t leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the garage door is left open. If you use your vehicle as a source of power or to stay cool, make sure to run it in a well-ventilated place outside. Only use your generator outside of your home, do not run it inside a home or garage or connect it to your home's electrical system.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away any refrigerated food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for more than 4 hours. Throw away refrigerated food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• Replace refrigerated medications if the power is out for a day or more unless the drug’s label says otherwise. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you depend on refrigerated medications that have been at room temperature.
• Unplug appliances, equipment, and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. Use surge protection devices.
• Pay attention to water advisories. If boil advisories are issued, boil water or use bottled water from your emergency supply kit, if needed.
• Know how to stay cool in extreme heat, even when the power is out. Check your local municipality’s website for information on cooling centers. Find places with air conditioning that you can go to. Find shade, wet your skin with water, avoid high-energy activities and wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Keep pets safe! Bring pets inside during severe weather. Make sure that pets have identification tags and are secured on a leash when outside.
• If you are in need of food assistance or other resources:
  • Call the United Way Help Center at 2-1-1 for resource information for food, clothing, housing, healthcare, and more. The United Way Help Center is free and available 24 hours a day.
  • The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless provides resource information for meal sites, housing, counseling and more. Find more information.

Stay prepared and informed of emergencies by signing up for ReadyNotify, Cuyahoga County’s emergency notification system. The ReadyNotify system provides notifications for emergency events, weather alerts, and other information. Additional information and tips about staying safe in emergencies can be found at Ready.gov.