the 4-1-1 on 9-1-1

the 4-1-1 on

9 1 1 What to doBefore & after An

emergency

Including information about:

Bad Weather Safety

Emergency preparedness

Air Ambulances & EMS Teams

Fires, Floods & Power Outages

Comanche Peak Emergency plan

“Code Red” Emergency Response system

911 dispatch & County Emergency Center[

In

[NewsNewsHood CountyHood County

A Special Supplement to the

A U G U S T 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

, Saturday, August 18, 2012 What To Do Before & After An Emergency Hood County News

Instant destruction led to neighborly hand

■ Know where the safest rooms are with no windows.■ Check with your insurance agent every

year or two to make sure your policy still covers the value of your home.■ Turn on the TV or radio when you see the

skies turning bad to check for storms and torna-do activity.■ Have an emergency preparedness kit with

food, water and fl ashlights.

THEN AND NOW: Gwen Miller stands in front of her house in Pecan Plantation, reconstructed after a tornado destroyed a large portion of it in 2007. She said the entire ordeal lasted only about 10 or 15 seconds when the storm hit. While the reconstruction took place, she rented her neighbor’s house a couple doors down.

BY RICK MAUCHHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Gwen Miller understands how life can change in an instant.

In 2007 while doing a little work around her house one afternoon, she and her fam-ily felt the wrath of a tornado that struck their Pecan Plantation home.

“It was over in an instant, 10 or 15 sec-onds it seemed was all it took,” said Miller. “I saw it was getting dark outside. I walked out in the kitchen and it hit and sucked everything into the house. There was glass everywhere.”

The Millers were victims of one of per-haps the most unpredictable natural disaster there is. Tornados often give no indication where they will strike, even though they might be in plain view.

Such was the case this day. The mighty winds skipped their neighbors’ homes for the most part, but ripped apart the front part of the Millers’.

The severe damage was in the front of the house. In fact, she said it was as though the winds never touched the back, even leaving a birdhouse unmoved.

The kitchen was in the back of the house, otherwise she might not have lived to see her house rebuilt.

“I was very fortunate,” Miller said. “If I had been in the dining room or den I’d have been hurt. The blast damage coming in was awful.

“We had a boat sitting in the driveway. It parked it in our garage as nice as could be.”

Fortunately, her daughter followed two cats into the bathroom where they were all safe.

Once the terrifying ordeal was done, Miller called her insurance agent.

Windows were broken, all of the brick had to be replaced in the front, along with carpet, light fixtures and even furniture.

Fortunately for the Millers, a neighbor two doors down whose house was virtu-ally untouched was moving. He offered to let them rent his house while theirs was being reconstructed.

“It was nice to be able to walk over and check on the progress,” said Miller. “One day I caught them putting on the wrong paint.

“Our house ended up on the weather channel. The kids were watching and said,

‘Mom, we’re on TV.’” And the TV is now always on in the

Millers’ house when there is bad weather, along with the radio, she said.

As for advice to anyone who might someday face such a catastrophe, Miller has some advice.

“Have a good insurance company know you are covered,” she said. “Check with your agent at least every couple of years to make sure the value of the house is cov-ered.”

And as for emotional preparedness, she said, “Rely on your friends and relatives to

comfort you. I moved in with my sister un-til we moved into the rental house.

“But my house is better than new now.”

[email protected] |817-573-7066, ext. 256

MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS


| BE READY WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES

Hood County News What To Do Before & After An Emergency Saturday, August 18, 2012,

*We accept Medicare, Medicaid Pending, Private Pay and many Insurance carriers.

Rehab to Home 301 S. Park St. Granbury

817-573-3726

B87747

Help and Care when you need it.

– We’re here for you!

Providing nursing and rehabilitation therapy

Medical emergency transportation best handled with call to 911BY DEBBIE SCHNEIDERHOOD COUNTY NEWS

When a medical emergency arises, Ann Quinlan, BSN, RN says it’s best to put the transport in the hands of professionals. “People love to drive themselves to the hospital,” she said with concern. “It’s not just in Granbury, but nationwide.”

Quinlan has been the emergency room director at Lake Granbury Medical Center (LGMC) since November 2010. Quinlan came to LGMC after years with various medical facilities in Cleveland, Ohio and Fort Worth. Ironically, she was the first full-time emergency department nurse at Hood General Hospital back in the early 1980s.

Quinlan is now part of the team respon-sible for making the “30-minutes or less” ER service pledge at LGMC. “We have a lot of nurses here with a lot of experience. We realize that we are in this as a team. Together we are thinking of new ideas to decrease the length of stay.”

Some 9,916 patients have been to the emergency department at LGMC this year. That’s up almost 8 percent from last year. Admissions are down 3 percent from last year, and the number of patients leaving without treatment is down 34 percent.

The average time to triage at LGMC is 6.5 minutes, and the time to see a doctor with an emergency is 25 minutes. The “door-to-balloon” time, referring to the time to get a catheter in the heart, is 45 minutes.

Quinlan recalled an incident where a

man drove himself to the hospital think-ing he had eaten bad eggs.

“He was sick to his stomach and throw-ing up,” Quinlan said. “We got him in a wheelchair to bring him in to the hospital. At his (hospital) bed, he had cardiac ar-rest. We shocked him and gave CPR.” He was taken to the Cath Lab and the block-age was relieved.

“If he had lived four minutes farther from the hospital, he would have had car-diac arrest while he was on the road – in-stead of at the hospital,” she stated.

When an ambulance responds to an

emergency, it speeds up the process for medical care. “With the LifeNet system on the ambulance, the team can send an EKG to the hospital. Then, the emergency de-partment team is ready when the patient arrives,” Quinlan explained. Some first responders have the same technology, she added.

Medical emergencies require prompt treatment, stressed the longtime regis-tered nurse.

Who’s the worst about seeking medi-cal care? “Women,” said Quinlan. “They put off going to the hospital because they

Learning the signs of serious illnesses and trusting your instincts are important. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:■ Bleeding that will not stop.■ Breathing problems.■ Change in mental status (such as un-

usual behavior, confusion, slow to rouse).■ Chest pain.■ Choking.■ Coughing up or vomiting blood.■ Fainting or loss of consciousness.■ Feeling of committing suicide or mur-

der.■ Head or spine injury.■ Severe or persistent vomiting.■ Sudden injury due to a motor vehicle

accident, burns, or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wound, etc.■ Sudden, severe pain.■ Sudden dizziness, weakness, or

change in vision.■ Swallowing a poisonous substance.■ Upper abdominal pain or pressure. If you or someone you know is experi-

encing any of the above symptoms, go to the Emergency Department (ED) immedi-ately. If you have a minor injury or a minor illness, consider seeing your primary care physician or talk with a pharmacist to see if there are over-the-counter medications that might alleviate symptoms.

DON’T DRIVE: When a medical emergency arises, follow the advice of the experts: Don’t drive yourself to the hospital. With all the medical equipment available during a transport by ambulance, the emergency team will be ready for your arrival at the hospital.


| SIGNS OF SERIOUS ILLNESS


Quality Protection Since 19583902 E. HWY. 377, SUITE 102 (HEB Shopping Center)

www.aikeninsurancegroup.com 817-279-8000

CodeRED proves useful, outside the boxBY MARK WILSONHOOD COUNTY NEWS

The CodeRED emergency notification system in use in Hood County has been proven useful in more than just communi-ty-wide disaster warnings.

One Hood County family can attest to that after a potentially life-threatening in-cident on July 31. A 60-year-old woman re-portedly experiencing the onset of demen-tia left their home on Lipan Highway and was reported missing. She was believed to be on foot – on a day when temperatures were well above 100 degrees.

Approximately 25 Sheriff’s Office depu-ties, firefighters from two volunteer units, two K-9 sniff dogs, EMS and other officials were beginning their search of the area surrounding the home, a few miles north-west of Granbury.

About an hour into the search, Hood County Library Director Courtney Kincaid called 911 to report that staffers believed the missing woman was at the library, on Travis Street in Granbury.

Kincaid had the county’s CodeRED app on her cell phone, and it gave an audible alert about the missing woman. One of the library staffers, Larry Rupp, mentioned the details of the alert to Kincaid, who was busy at the time. Rupp thought that another library staffer, Jenni Carlisle, had seen the woman and spoke to her.

“(Carlisle) said, yes, the description does sound familiar,” Kincaid said.

By then, the woman was waiting outside after calling for a paid ride to an airport in

the Metroplex, according to Kincaid. An-other staffer, Danielle Donnelly, had seen her outside.

The name the woman gave them matched that of the missing person.

“The description was spot-on,” said Kincaid, who then called the Sheriff’s Of-fice to report that the missing woman was there.

“We were able to help this lady quickly, when it could have been a bad outcome,” she said. “I’m grateful for the app, and my observant staff.”

Brian Fine, emergency management co-ordinator for Hood County, said it was a perfect example of how CodeRED can be used outside the usual natural disaster threats.

Fine said that getting the crisis resolved quickly “not only got the woman home safely, but also allowed us to quickly put the many assets that were responding back into service for other calls.”

Fine noted that CodeRED has also been used in Hood County for incidents such as major water line breaks, a pipeline explo-sion, and weather warnings.

[email protected] | 817-573-7066, ext. 254

■ Approaching severe weather ■ Poten-tial flooding■ Other natural disasters■ Missing persons

Ready for actionFirefi ghters show off a new fi re boat, funded by do-nations, that is ready for use anywhere it may be needed on Lake Granbury. Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department members Bobby Jeff erson and Jeff Young organized a fundraising eff ort that paid for the boat and its equipment. As of press time, the boat had been called out for three emergencies –

twice on boat rescues and once for a boat fi re – but has not yet seen any fi refi ghting action. About half of the members of the nine volunteer fi re depart-ments in the county have been trained as boat oper-ators in conjunction with the Brazos River Authority, Young said.


| EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

County to provide debris disposal sites after a disasterBY JESSICA LEEHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Tornadoes and floods are devastating events, and the task of cleaning up after them can seem even more devastating.

When that happens, the county steps in.Precinct 4 Commissioner Steve Berry

said that disposal sites are set up to clear out debris such as tree limbs. With larger

and heavier pieces of debris, such as chunks of roofs and pieces of tin, a collec-tion agency is opened so the roads can be cleared as quickly as possible, he said.

Hood County also provides the Co-deRED Emergency Notification System - an ultra high-speed telephone communica-tion service. Citizens sign up through the county to receive notification of situations that may require evacuation or other safe-

ty precautions. Berry said that “CodeRED” is “important

for getting out information to the public.”Berry also stated that the county judge

must declare a disaster in order for any-one to go onto someone else’s private property for the purpose of emergency efforts. Examples would be removing a stranded school bus or any debris that might impede the flow of traffic on county

roads.In addition to creating disposal sites,

the county works in coordination with volunteer fire departments and church groups in clean-up efforts.

Berry stated that there are “a lot of dif-ferent ways (for the county) to provide help” to citizens in the aftermath of a di-saster.


❐ Do you live or work in the

Granbury area?❐ Do you never have time to

bring your vehicle in for

service?

✓

✓

S e r v i c e C h e c k l i s t :S

PICK-UP & DELIVERYfor Ford, Dodge, Jeep and ChryslerLet our team at Mike Brown Ford Service

Department take the hassle out of maintenance

repairs. We’ll pick up your vehicle and deliver it

back to you when the repairs are complete.

(One more way we want to show our customers

how much we appreciate their business!)

ack to youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu (One more way how much wmore way

817.279.5900mikebrownauto.com

4950 E. Hwy. 377Granbury, Texas

When your vehicle breaks down, call Mike Brown

SALESSERVICEPARTS

Officials trained on nuclear plant emergenciesBY KATHY CRUZHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Officials with the county’s crisis man-agement team say that it is highly unlikely that there will ever be a disaster at the Co-manche Peak Nuclear Power Plant.

Nevertheless, they train for it.In the event that an emergency should

ever occur at the plant requiring county-wide evacuation, fleets of school buses would be dispatched to evacuate Mam-brino School - the school in the Granbury Independent School District that is closest to the nuclear power plant. Depending on wind conditions, Brawner Intermedi-ate and Emma Roberson Elementary also might be evacuated.

If all 12 GISD campuses ever have to be cleared, the school district’s 64 “regular” buses and 12 special education vehicles would not be enough to handle the load, so help would be requested from Aledo ISD. That district has 37 school buses.

Hood County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Fine there are many fail-safes in place at the plant, and plant officials would be alerted 18 hours in ad-vance that systems were failing and that radioactive particles would ultimately be leaked into the atmosphere.

The county has a radiological expert who would be sent to monitor first re-

sponders in the event of a nuclear inci-dent.

The Sheriff’s Office, Granbury Police and the county Road Operations depart-ment would spearhead evacuations via the county’s roadways.

Fine said that nuclear disaster practice drills are conducted periodically at the EOC.

[email protected] / 817-573-7066, ext. 258

MASS EVACUATION: In the unlikely event of a disaster at the nuclear power plant, fl eets of school buses will evacuate Granbury school campuses.

■ Disaster practice drills are conducted at the county’s Emergency Operations Center in preparation for the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency.■ There are many failsafes at the Co-

manche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, and officials would know 18 hours in advance that systems were failing, sources said.■ Aledo ISD’s 37 busses would assist in

the event of an evacuation of all Granbury school campuses.■ The Hood County Sheriff’s Office,

the Granbury Police Department and the county’s Road Operations department would handle a mass evacuation.

| COMANCHE PEAK EMERGENCY PLAN



The 30-Minutes-or-Less E.R. Service Pledge.

A physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner is committed to working diligently to have you initially seen within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

GranburyER.com

County emergency operations center serves as base when disaster strikesBY KATHY CRUZHOOD COUNTY NEWS

It’s Hood County’s version of the Bat Cave.The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located near

911 dispatch at the Law Enforcement Center, is Ground Zero during times of disaster - a gathering point for a crisis team comprised of local, state and federal officials. Their mission is to safeguard Hood County residents.

Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Fine said that a matching grant from the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA) will be used to either build a new and bigger EOC or expand the current one. No solid plans are yet in place, he said, because of budgetary issues.

“We’re waiting to see what the budget year is go-ing to look like,” Fine said after a recent meeting of the Com-missioners Court.

Other recent news involving the EOC is that the county now has “Web EOC,” which Fine said is “a secure, online situational board.” It enables county officials to post in-formation and to also view information posted by other counties during emergency situations. “Web EOC” can get the word out faster than phone calls and emails in situ-ations, such as when a county needs certain additional resources.

Fine said that, eventually, there will be a media page where media outlets can access press releases as situa-tions unfold.

The county’s crisis team is comprised of county com-missioners; the county judge; city officials from Gran-bury, Tolar, Lipan, Cresson and Brazos Bend; fire de-partment representatives; emergency medical services; county and city health officers; police chiefs; the sheriff; public works and public utilities officials; county and

city attorneys; The Salvation Army; Texas Department of State Health Services; school districts; animal control and other entities.

From the EOC, officials can monitor broadcasts on several television stations. In a corner of the room is a ham radio area, manned in times of emergency by volun-teers from the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). The ham radio operators play a “vital role” when other lines of communication are down, said Fine.

In Hood County’s Emergency Management Plan, torna-

does, floods, droughts and wildfires rank high for “likeli-hood of occurrence.”

County officials credit Luminant and the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose for the EOC’s well-equipped status. Former County Judge Andy Rash said that Hood County’s EOC is among the most impressive among those in counties of similar size.

[email protected] / 817-573-7066, ext. 258

EYE OF THE STORM: Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Fine stands in the county’s Emergency Operations Center, located near 911

dispatch. In the event of a disaster, a crisis team comprised of local,state and federal offi cials will gather there.

■ The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located near 911 dispatch at the Law Enforcement Center, is Ground Zero for local, state and federal officials work-ing to safeguard Hood County residents in the event of a disaster.■ Grant funding is going to allow the

county to either expand the current EOC or build a new, larger one.■ A new component of the EOC is “Web

EOC.” It allows for faster communication when certain resources are needed.

| WHEN DISASTER STRIKES



The moment you feel chest pain or shortness of breath that could be a heart attack, go to Lake Granbury Medical Center. We are accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, the national chest pain center accreditation agency. That’s important because accredited chest pain centers have demonstrated expertise in the timely diagnosis and treatment of cardiac emergencies.*

So in an emergency, call 911 and know where to go. Choose a nationally accredited Chest Pain Center. Choose Lake Granbury. For more information, visit GranburyHeartCare.com.

When your heart’s on the line, choose nationally accredited care.

*According to the Society of Chest Pain Centers, www.scpcp.org.

The E.R. at Lake Granbury Medical Center

Web site helps prepare for bad weatherBY RICK MAUCHHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Bad weather can’t be prevented, but preparations can be made.

The office of Hood County Fire Mar-shal Brian Fine has a link on the county’s web site to help folks be ready when bad weather arrives.

To get to the link, visit www.co.hood.tx.us and click on departments and go fire marshal. Click there and go to emergen-cy management. Once there, click on the Hood County Emergency Preparedness Guide.

According to the guide from the Hood County Office of Emergency Management, there are four critical things a person should know in an emergency:

1. Know the hazards.2. Know your needs.3. Know the plan and practice it.4. Know the programs and use them.The guide informs that even though re-

sponses vary with disasters, preparing for each situation is similar. For example, the emergency plan for a tornado will be simi-lar to other emergencies, such as finding the safest area in your home to gather the family. This should be away from window, doors and skylights.

It is also prudent to make sure every-one in the family understands what to do in case they are not all together when bad weather strikes.

“You cannot be prepared enough,” Fine said. “We get all the weather here. Since I’ve been here we’ve had floods, severe heat, ice storms, if it’s out there, we’ve had it.”

There are also two kinds of ice storms

that hit these parts. In a typical ice storm, a common occurrence in Texas, business-es, schools and even roads will close. In a straight-line ice storm, high winds can cause minor to severe damage, and these are commonly mistaken for tornados.

In floods and thunderstorms, do NOT cross moving water. What appears to be shallow may be deep enough or have a strong enough current to be deadly.

The site even covers what to do in the event of a threat to homeland security, terrorism, and even chemical/biological/nuclear disasters. Recovery tips for the af-termath can also be found.

The family pet is even given a section as instructions on planning for their protec-tion is available.

And, of course, there is a list of impor-tant phone numbers.

“There are two very important things people need to remember when it comes to being prepared,” said Fine. “Part of it is reading the guide. Another is attending a storm spotter/severe weather class to help them learn how to be prepared.”


■ Know the hazards.■ Know your needs.■ Know the plan and practice it.■ Know the programs and use them.■ Make sure everyone in the family

understands what to do in case they are separated.

| BE PREPARED IN A BAD WEATHER EMERGENCY


EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Emergencies can arise without warning. High water can fl ood the roads, light-ning strikes can leave thousands without power. It’s important to have emergency plans for your family.


Note: If you are already a member of CareFlite, please give this application to a friend or extend your membership for $10 per Year per Household.

Caring - Heart MembershipHood County Residents Application

Plan Year 01/01 - 12/31

Member Services Office3110 S. Great SW ParkwayGrand Prairie, Texas 75052(877) 339-2273 (M-F 8a-5p)(A Texas 501c3 non-profit entity)

__5 Years $49Check here for 5 Years for the price of 1 year

(normally $49/yr.)

First Name: _____________________________________ Middle Initial: _______ Last Name: _______________________________________

Home or PO Box Address: ___________________________________________City: _____________________ Zip Code: ____________ County: Hood

Home Phone#: __________________________________________ Email: ___________________ @ __________________ . ______

Date of Birth: Male Female Employer Name: _________________________________________________________

Primary Insurance: No Yes (If yes, insurance name__________________________)

Supplement Insurance: No Yes (If yes, insurance name__________________________)

LIST Other Family Members of Your Household: (For additional household family members, please copy this page and attach to this application.)

First Name: ____________________________ Middle Initial: ______ Last Name: ____________________________________

Date of Birth: ____________________________________ Male Female








DO NOT SEND CASH - Please make $49 Check Payable to CareFlite or or apply by credit card below.

If applying by credit card, you may fax your application to (972) 602-7182 anytime 24/7.

Card Type: _____________ Card Number: ____________________________________________________________

Expiration Date: ________________ Billing Zip Code: __________ Date: _________________________________

Name on Card: ____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Fill outonly if usingCredit Card

By paying the CareFlite Memebership fee I agree (on behalf of my family) to abide by the terms and wish to hereby apply for Air Membership in the CareFlite Caring-Heart Membership Program for my self and members of my household listed on the Application, as set forth in this Agreement. I have reviewed the Caring-Heart Air Membership Agreement and agree to abide by the terms thereof. I request payment of authorized Medicare or other insurance benefits to me, or on my behalf, to be paid to CareFlite for any emergency services and supplies furnished to me by CareFlite. I authorize any holder of any of my medical information to release that information to the CMS, its agents and carriers, or CareFlite, in order to determine benefits payable on my behalf, now and in the future. This agreement and authorization is executed on my behalf and on the behalf of the other members of my household, if they are minors or otherwise unable to sign. I understand that under the State ruel 157.11k, if I or a household member is a Medicaid recipient, then I am not allowed to have them on my Application, therefor I am stating that I have not listed on my application anyone that is a Medicaid recipient. If a family member becomes a recipient of Medicaid, I will notify CareFlite in writing of this change immediately. I warrant that all the information in the Application is true and correct. CareFlite reserves the right to request documentation demonstrating the accuracy of such information. I acknowledge that membership in CareFlite Caring-Heart Membership Program is simply a membership in a program sponsored by CareFlite, and thus, is not membership in CareFlite’s non-profit corporate entity as the term membership is contemplated under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act.

For CareFlite Office Use Only / Hood County News Emergency Tab 8/12 Welcome Card Sent On:

Date Received: ____________________________Form of Payment: _________________ Amount Paid:___________________

Membership # Assigned: __________________________ Date Sent to Fulfillment: ___________________Emp. Initial: _____________

1

TEAR THIS PAGE OUT & SUBMIT APPLICATION

2

3

Fill out & mail this application with your payment to:

CareFlite, 3110 S. Great SW Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Applications will be effective on the date of the postmark or fax to (972) 602-7182. All memberships in this group will renew each year on January 1st.

Membership Benefit

Includes San Antonio AirLife

and Corpus Christi HaloFlight

if you are flown by those programs in their service

areas.

}Signature for Processing, Acceptance

of Terms & Credit Card (If Used):4

All ApplicantsSign Here

___/___/___

B87735

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY & FINANCES

It’s Your Life. It’s Your Right.Ask for CareFlite by Name.

Membership (877) 339-2273 www.careflite.org

CareFlite is a 501(c)3 Not For Profit Air and Ground Ambulance Service Sponsored by:

5 YEARS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

Just $49 for 5 Years...Detach & Fill Out this Application or

Includes Granbury Based Helicopter ServicePlus CareFlite Air and Ground / 911 Service across North Texas

Membership Benefit Honored by AirLife & HaloFlight

In all emergencies, Call 911 ♥ Compare CareFlite’s Rates and Service ♥ For transports from hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living ♥ Membership covers entire household if all are listed

Membership effective on date faxed or envelope postmark date ♥ Membership benefit honored by San Antonio AirLife and Corpus Christi HaloFlight ♥ Complete program rules ar www.careflite.org

Photo courtesy of Sheldon Cohen


Plan ahead with inventory list to document household items

BY RICK MAUCHHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Disasters aren’t good at announcing their arrival until it’s too late.

But there are things folks can do to be prepared in the case of a disaster such as a fire, flood or tornado.

In the case of a fire, insurance agents advise people to:

1. Get out of the house as quickly as possible and get to safety.

2. Call 911.3. Call their insurance agent.In the case of a flood, the same proce-

dure would likely apply. In the case of a tornado, finding a safe place within the house, such as in the bathroom and away from windows, might be the safest route.

Once the agent is called, it is important to have a few things in place:

1. Have an inventory of the items in the house and their value. A suggested form for this is through videos, photos or even just making a list.

2. Keep precious items in a safe deposit box, including receipts for major pur-chases.

3. Make sure your policy is up to date. One of the worst things that could hap-pen is to be hit by a disaster and find out you are not covered -- which also means taking out separate flood insurance as most normal policies do not cover floods.

It is also advised to have an emergency preparedness kit. This should include some food, water and flashlights.

An annual review of one’s policy is recommended. Sit down with your agent and tell him about changes to your home.

For additional information on how to be properly prepared for such an emer-gency, visit www.ready.gov.



FALL CREEK SECURITY HERON SECURITY ACADEMY

817-326-4933 1-800-768-7117Security Officers - Armed & Unarmed

Vehicle Patrol

Special Events & Emergency Coverage

State License # B-13300

P.O. Box 5553Granbury, Texas 76049

Concealed Handgun Training

Security Levels 2 - 3 - 4

Firearms Safety

State License # F-00581

P.O. Box 5543Granbury, Texas 76049

BE PREPARED FOR RECOVERY: While disasters can’t always be avoided, such as the fi re that destroyed this home, there are precautions one can take to be ready

to recover from such an ordeal. Among these are documenting all valuables and making sure your insurance policy is up to date and enough to cover the value.


IN AN EMERGENCY■ Get out of the house as quickly as possible and get to safety, or if it’s a tornado fi nd a safe room in the house with no windows.■ Call 911.■ Call insurance agent.

AFTER THE DISASTER STRIKES■ Have an inventory of items in home. This can be done through video, photos or simply keeping a written list with approximate value of each.

BE PREPARED■ Make sure your insurance policy is up to date.■ Have an emergency preparedness kit with items such as food, water and fl ashlights.

| EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TIPS

uv

vb


Thank You Hood County For Your Vote!

Law Offices ofTerry K. Fleming

40 Years of Practice

1-800-444-0738TARRANT COUNTY OFFICE

B

817-738-7196HOOD COUNTY OFFICE

817-579-7196SE HABLA ESPAÑOLFREE CONSULTATION

2011

THE

BestAttorney

Being thereis why I’m here.

Whether you need a question answered, a problem solved, or a claim reported, my job is to make it happen.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ®

CALL ME TODAY.

Cody Garrison CLU ChFC, Agent817-573-1166 | [email protected]

514 E. Hwy. 377Granbury, Texas 76048

Bus: 817-573-1166Fax: 888-863-6910

P097193.1State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

> Breaking News & Updates> Photos & Videos> Sports - Obits - Sound Off> Coupons - Weather> Classifieds and More!

Hood County News

HIGH VOLTAGE: Anyone who fi nds themselves near a downed power line after a storm should be careful not to lift their feet. Doing so could cause an “arc” of electricity, sending thousands of volts through their body.

Power outage?

Stay where you areBY JESSICA LEEHOOD COUNTY NEWS

We all know to stay away from downed power lines. But few of us are aware that if unavoidable circumstances place us in the vicinity of a downed power line, the last thing we should do is run.

Picking up one foot could cause 10,000 volts of electricity to go through one’s body, according to Granbury Public Works Director Alva Cox. The lifting of a foot - such as, say, to run - could “arc” the volt-age, “which is not good,” he said.

Cox also stated that keeping the power off in an outage can save appliances. How-ever, it is not dangerous to leave them plugged in, he said.

The public works director also advises keeping generators outside. If they’re in-side, he said, people can asphyxiate from the fumes. It is recommended that people should be prepared for any unforeseen

outages by keeping bottled water and flashlights in the house.

Mauri Montgomery with United Cooper-ative Services advised also having on hand a battery-operated radio; a three-day sup-ply of non-perishable, ready-to-eat food; a manual can opener; a fully-stocked first aid kit; tools; disinfectant soap; personal hygiene items; toilet paper and paper tow-els; blankets; an inventory list of house-hold items; and important documents, such as insurance policies.

■ A person should never run if they find themselves near a downed power line.■ The lifting of one’s foot near a

downed power line could cause 10,000 volts of electricity to course through their body.■ Never operate a generator indoors.

The fumes could cause asphyxiation.

COURTESY

| WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OFF

BY MARK WILSONHOOD COUNTY NEWS

Even with 23 years of experience as a 911 emergency dispatcher behind her, Molly Fitts said sometimes calls still get tense.

One of the more intense recent calls was during a recent response to a suicide threat, southeast of Granbury. The first law enforce-ment officer on the scene called in with an emotional report – “shots fired.”

For a few moments, Fitts was left hanging. She didn’t know who, if anyone, had been shot. Unfortunately, the person who had been threatening suicide died after shooting him-self.

It helps that she is not prone to panicking in her everyday life, she said.

“I’m a calm person anyway, so it’s not as dif-ficult for me” she said. “It comes with experi-ence to be able to handle a lot of those calls successfully.”

Fitts said that more ordinary occurrences can also be scary, such as when a dispatcher asks if the deputy or officer if everything is “10-4” – meaning the situation is okay.

“When you check and they don’t answer, that’s nerve-wracking too,” said Fitts, who is 44. “I’m very proud, and I love my job. I love being able to keep my officers and depu-ties safe. And I help those involved – medical (calls) and people with fires.”

Experience can be a crucial factor in her job, Fitts said.

“Dispatchers are very intuitive – once you

get a lot of experience and you can tell if the person is telling the truth.”

Even so, some calls are challenging as the dispatchers have to sort out exactly what should be done.

One woman called to say she was in a canoe on a private lake in the county, but had a puz-zling complaint.

“She said that if she stepped out of the ca-noe, she would get muddy,” said Fitts, who sent deputies and members of the fire depart-ment to help the woman exit the canoe. “We can’t judge how she is. We don’t know if she is impaired or having a mental episode. Officers have to make that determination.”

Fitts said that one of the most common problems is 911 callers who don’t know the exact address to give the dispatchers.

“A lot of people don’t know where they are,” Fitts said. “There’s a lot of people that aren’t even sure of their own address.”

Also, some are overcome with fear or anger.“We do have to try to calm a lot of people

down,” Fitts said. “You keep your voice down, and they’ll come down. There is a point you just have to take over.”


GOT WATER?$3900

Plumbing Calls

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE817-578-8823a-apexair.com

TACLB018470ETECL23537M28929B

87470

900 Autumn Ridge Drive ~ Granbury, Texas817.573.7720 ~ arborhouse4u.com Lic. #120425 B87570

The ONLY Certified Alzheimer’s and Memory Care in the AreaAlso offering Day Stay and Respite Care

“Arbor House was a beacon in the night to our family. Staff has become Dad’s extended family, providing an environment that has become his home, providing care, companionship,

concern, kindness and even hope for the future...Thank you for all you do...”

- G. Stephens Family

Even experienced 911 dispatchers can find job challenging

■ Accomplished communicator.■ Can determine the emergency.■ Intuitive.■ Calming and understanding.

| DISPATCHER SKILLS

CHALLENGING: Molly Fitts said one of the most common problems is 911 callers who don’t know the exact address to give dispatchers.



B84300

The number to know when you

need a tow.

817-573-3818 Day/Night

817-894-2806 Cell125 Corporate Drive Granbury, TX 76049

Jay’sTowing & Recovery, LLC

B87522

8817.579.686688HOTLINETLINETLINETLINE

817.579.6848

“ProProviding Resources forResources Indndividuals and Families inals and Families innn NEEDED OR IN CRISIS.”N CRIS

A NEWW APPROACH,FOR NENEW BEGINNINGS,

FOOR CHAHALLENGED FAMILIESHeelping viictims of crime and domestic

viololence, abbused children, individuals in finanancial neeed and homeless prevention.

Researrch indicates that victims of crime arates that victims of crime are oftoften left finfinancially and emotionally devastaty and emotionally devast ted.

Misission Granbanbury is dedicated to helping provdicated to helpin videthhose individuduals with relief and resources.s.

Served 12,998 in 2011998 in 2011-ALREAREADY SERVED OVER

1919,470 MEMBERS AS OF JULY 2011919 ERS AS OF JULY 2 12

B87687


Bent Out of Shape o v e r a n a c c i d e n t ?

The professionals at Classic Chevrolet of Granburycan have you back on the road in no time!

- Collision Repair and Refinishing

- Accessories- Structure Repair

- Custom Body Kits- Paintless Dent Repair- Full Detailing- All Makes & Models

B87462

817-279-8700Monday - Friday 7:30am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 1pm

ClassicGranbury.com

Chevrolet BuickGMC

Relax...and enjoy the difference.

Body Shop

AED offers high-tech help for heart attacksYou’ve seen it time and again on televi-

sion shows: After someone suffers a sud-den heart attack, emergency room doctors grab the paddles and deliver an electric shock to the patient to help restore a nor-mal rhythm.

Such scenes may play out for real at air-ports, malls, sports arenas, health clubs, golf courses and even some businesses -- and you could be holding the paddles. That’s because technology has given us the automated external defibrillator (AED), which is turning up far from hos-pitals. Some schools and public buildings already have AEDs.

“Defibrillation is necessary when a heart begins to beat too fast, which can disrupt the heart’s contractions thus preventing blood from properly pumping through-out the body,” explained Ann Quinlan, BSN, RN – ED director at Lake Granbury Medical Center.

An AED uses an electric shock to help the heart return to its normal rhythm of contraction.

WHAT IS AN AED?An AED is an electronic device about the

size of a large laptop computer. Trained emergency personnel -- or almost anyone else who has had some training -- can use an AED to see whether a heart attack vic-tim needs a jolt of electricity to the heart and, if so, to provide the right shock.

The average person, with no medical background, can learn to use an AED in an

hour or two, Quinlan noted.“Usually, people learn to

use an AED in a four-hour course that also teaches car-diopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),” she explained. The computerized device will tell a rescuer to keep going if the cardiac arrest stems from either ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.

Ventricular fibrillation is the most common heart-rhythm problem in victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

IS AN AED FOR ALL HEART ATTACKS?

An AED is not appropri-ate for all heart attacks, said Quinlan. Abnormal rhythms, such as a very slow heart rate or no heart beat at all, cannot be treated with an AED.

“When a user puts the AED’s electrodes on a vic-tim’s chest, the device will read whether the patient’s heart needs to be shocked or not. Then the AED will prompt the rescuer through visual and voice commands about the next step,” she stated.

Many of the newer models will talk you through it and will deliver the shock itself if it reads a shockable rhythm.

DO AEDS MAKE CPR OBSOLETE?AEDS and CPR go hand in hand. “An

AED can restore a normal heart rhythm in certain cases; chest compressions in CPR are used to help keep blood flow-ing through the heart and the body,” said Quinlan. “CPR can double the chances of

survival when used at the moment of collapse and just before an AED deliv-ers a shock.” CPR should be started while someone runs for the AED.

Research shows the sur-vival rates of people who had sudden cardiac arrest in casinos and got prompt AED treatment from security per-sonnel trained to use AEDs. The survival rate for people who got their first shock no more than three minutes af-ter collapse was 74 percent, compared with 49 percent for those shocked after more than three minutes.

The rate of sudden cardiac death can be reduced by placing AEDs in the commu-nity and by teaching people how to use them. Time is of the essence when cardiac ar-rest occurs. The rate of sur-vival drops 7 to 10 percent for every minute that goes by without this type of help.

If your business or organization is in-terested in learning how to use an AED, please feel free to contact Quinlan at LGMC.

Appointments can be made by calling 817-408-3237 and requesting a presenta-tion.

AED INSTRUCTIONS: People learn to use an AED in a four-hour course that also teach-es cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The computerized device will tell a rescuer to keep going if the cardiac arrest stems from either ventricular fi brillation or ventricular tachycardia. Ventricular fi brillation is the most common heart-rhythm problem in vic-tims of sudden cardiac arrest.

COURTESY


Granbuurryy

817-579-9779SSeerrvvice rain lleaning

nnstaallation Repair RReepllaacceemment

www.justiceplumbing.com

10%DISCOUNT

oor Sennioorrr iittiizzeennss &&&&&& MMMMMiiiillliiitttaaaarrrrryyyyyy!!!!!

PURCHASE & INSTALLATION OF THE NO

SALT EASY WATER SYSTEM

LAUNDRY PURE

EEEElllliiimmmiinnnaaaatttteeeeeHHHarrdd WWaatteerrrrrrrr

PPProoblemss bbbyyy UUUUUssssiingg NOO SSAAAAAALLLLTTTTT

EEEEEEaaaasssyyyWWaaatttteeeerrrrrrrrrrrruilt

PURCHASENSTALLATION OF THIN E NO

$10000E & F THE NO

0FFDISDFFoCCCCiiMMMMMLAUNDRY P

nn

$5000DDDFFFCCC

PURE0FF

Save Money & Energy!

USE:

*$2000 OFF ANY SERVICE CALL

*

EEEllliimmiinnaattee

Tired Of Clogged Shower Heads?

Please Visit Website forPrintable Coupons

Floodproof your homeHomeowners know no home is per-

fect. While the notion of a dream house is nice, every home eventually experiences a problem or two. Many problems are bound to occur sooner or later, but there are a few that diligent homeowners can prevent.

One of those preventable problems is flooding. Any home with floor drains or plumbing fixtures below street level can flood, and this can be due to inclement weather, such as heavy rainstorms, local sewer system backup, or groundwater swelling.

Flooding can even occur in the spring when melting occurs as the air tempera-ture increases. While homeowners won’t be able to control the weather, they can take steps to floodproof their home.■ Do some preventive landscaping. If

the ground around the home’s founda-tion slopes toward the house, make some grading changes so that the ground slopes away from the home.■ Insulate the heating ducts. Some

home heating ducts are under the base-ment floor. In such homes, homeowners should make sure these ducts are prop-erly insulated and watertight.■ Make sure the vents all lead outside

the home. The weather can cause mois-ture issues, but some moisture problems can come from inside the home as well. Clothes dryers and bathrooms are both internal moisture sources, and these

sources should always be vented outside the home.■ Clean gutters and downspouts. Gut-

ters and downspouts should be cleaned to ensure water is effectively being diverted away from the home. Clean gutters and downspouts in the spring after a long winter, and do so again in the fall to keep fallen leaves from blocking the flow of wa-ter. Downspouts should extend four feet from the outside wall of the house.■ Inspect the home at least once a year.

Before buying a home, buyers often hire a professional inspector to ensure the home is safe and sound. But the inspec-tions should not stop once buyers sign on the dotted line. To prevent flooding, homeowners should inspect their home’s foundation for cracks once a year. If the home has a chimney and fireplace, check for cracks there as well. If any cracks are discovered, consult a professional imme-diately.■ When leaving the home for an extend-

ed period of time, turn the water valve off. Homeowners worried about flooding can calm those fears when going on vaca-tion or another long trip by turn the water valve off at the source. This ensures that, should a line break while no one is home, water will not pump into the house.

Floodproofing a home can save home-owners from potentially costly repairs and unsightly damage to a home’s inte-rior.

CLEAN GUTTERS REGULARLY: Cleaning gutters and downspouts is one way to prevent homes from fl ooding.

COURTESY


WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOU.

FIRST NATIONALBANK OF GRANBURY

125 YEARSwww.fnbgranbury.com

YOUR

BANK

RS

Apply online at www.mgfnb.com3324 Hwy. 377 East | Granbury | 817.279.6655

4208 Fall Creek Hwy.4517 E. Hwy. 377

4950 Hwy. 377 East817-279-5900mikebrownauto.com

LAKE GRANBURY

817-579-1504 4810 E. Highway 377www.remax-lakegranbury-tx.com

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAK

Cresson TexasCresson Texas

VGKIA.COM817-279-8700www.classicgranbury.com

Catch the Country Spirit

Chevrolet BuickGMC

Relax...and enjoy the difference.

817-326-6478www.careyandsonsmarine.com

108 Gateway Hills LaneGranbury, TX 76049

Carey & Sons MarineGranbury’s #1 Dealer G for Sales, Servicervice

Find-a-Physician817.578.8900GranburyDocs.com

25+ physicians. 12 specialties. One number.

LakesidePhysicians.com

817-573-DOCS

the 4-1-1 on 9-1-1

Documents