Updated: Dec 6, 2020
Now that we are nearly eight months into this pandemic year, take a moment to look back at March 23 when Governor Jay Inslee issued Washington State’s Stay Home. Stay Healthy order, and recall how difficult it was to get needed items from area stores when everyone else was trying to do the same thing. It’s not too early to look ahead to winter days with unknown weather conditions and make plans to get prepared for those days.
It would be a good time to start preparing your home for falling leaves, fir needles, and branches that could end up on roofs and filling up gutters. Start clearing around your house in preparation for the rain and windy days.
As you do your regular grocery shopping in the coming weeks, pick up some food items you could cook on a camp stove in case the power goes out. Never use a camp stove inside your house or garage.
Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases during winter storms as people turn to alternate heat sources. If you need help to install either smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms, contact the fire department at (360) 437-2236.
If you are new to Port Ludlow and Jefferson County, consider signing up for Nixle, Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management’s Alert service, that provides residents with public safety information like blocked roads, traffic accidents, and weather-related information that could affect the area.
To sign up to get the alerts, text JEFFCODEM to 888777, or log on to jeffcoeoc.org and click on the cell phone to sign up. If you have any questions about the services Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue provides, don’t hesitate to contact me at (360) 437-2236, or via email at bmartin@plfr.org.
This article was previously published in the September 2020 edition of the Port Ludlow Voice.