Fire House Monsoon Facts

Fire House Monsoon Facts

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Published on Wednesday, 18 July 2012 20:30

Written by YFD

Yuma, Arizona - A weekend storm caused over 24 emergency responses from the Yuma Fire Department during a 2.5 hour span. Some of those calls for service involved damaged utility lines/poles. Since it appears “monsoon” season is here, we probably can expect more summer storms to pass through our area. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Always treat any power lines as if they were live. Don’t touch them! Leave that to the experts. Even if a line is not charged at that moment, it could become live without warning. A common time for lines to be down would be during or after a storm like we just experienced. Puddles or flowing water expand the area of danger, so be sure to stay well clear of them. Instead of stepping over them, go all the way around.

If power is out, intersections may be dark and the traffic control lights may not be working. If that is the case, approach the intersection with caution and treat it as if it was controlled by four way stop signs. It is not just a good safety procedure, it is the law!

Many traffic accidents seem to occur during or just after a rain storm. Roadways are slick and you need more room to stop. So slow down and use extra caution. Visibility is also reduced. Have you inspected your windshield wipers lately? Heat and direct sunlight can quickly age your wipers. Old and worn wipers can make visibility worse instead of better.

The time to make our personal and family plans/preparations are BEFORE the emergency occurs. We probably have not seen the end of “Monsoon Season,” so be careful and drive safely.

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