Thursday, May 28, 2020

Preparing for Wildfire Evacuation: Making a Plan

When you are planning for wildfire evacuation, do so with a clear head. You must consider that in such a disaster, flames could reach your home before firefighters could extinguish them.*

This sobering possibility should inform your planning decisions as to what you would want to gather and take with you in an evacuation.

A warning will usually include how long you are given to safely exit your home.  What will you take with you?  These decisions are the heart of your family plan.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Campfire Basics Will Help Prevent Utah Wildfires

If you think wildfires have become more aggressive and destructive, the professionals agree.
In Utah and all Western states, wildfires are burning bigger, hotter and more intensely because of higher temperatures, low humidity and winds.  A small fire can quickly morph into a huge, threatening Red Flag event.

Summer 2020 has an added threat:  The relaxing of Stay Home directives means Utahns and out-of-staters, eager for recreation, will head to canyons and campsites.  Many of those visitors are inexperienced in outdoor safety – particularly lacking in campfire savvy -- a recipe for heightened wildfire risk.

So, here are the Basics for the novice, and a reminder for the experienced.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

What is the Utah National Guard Doing at our Long-Term Care Facilities?

  • Governor Herbert and General Burton of the National Guard announced after nearly a week of reduced risk (from Red to Orange) that “Utah is performing well. What we are doing is working, stay strong.”  Here are some highlights starting with National Guard (NG) news.
  • 120 NG are being deployed to expand our state’s capacity to: test at long-term facilities and other COVID-19 hot spots; provide needed support to labs; and, do case tracking.