Orange County Issues Public Safety Message

1.Stay at home if at all possible. The severity of the weather has lessened but the
hazards and danger hasn’t. Many traffic lights are out making driving through intersections and on roads dangerous.

2.Downed power lines are to be considered LIVE POWER LINES. If you see power lines
on the ground. STAY AWAY and DO NOT TOUCH! Electricity WILL travel through the wet ground and through tree branches.

3.I bought a generator - KEEP CHILDREN AWAY

·Do
not connect a portable electric generator to your household wiring,
this can be DEADLY! “Electric can back feed” onto the power lines
connected to your home.

·ONLY operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. NEVER use a generator indoors or in an attached
garage. Internal combustion engines emit carbon monoxide (odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that can kill you).

·Do not store fuel indoors and do not refuel a generator while it is running or the when the engine is hot.

·Tidal
surge or flooding can contaminate the public water supply. Drinking
contaminated water may cause illness. Individuals cannot assume that the
water in the storm-affected
area is safe to drink.

·Flood
waters contain disease causing microorganisms. If water treatment
plants are affected by flood waters, residents should heed instructions
from local authorities to boil
their water before drinking it and for use in preparing meals.

·Water
boiling guidelines; bring water to a boil for no less than 2 minutes or
use bottled water for drinking and preparing meals.

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