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TextHealth and Safety Podcast Transcript: March 24, 2010
Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast for March 24, 2010. I’m Jim Person, Fairfax County emergency information officer. Coming up, learn about open burning, an EPA video contest and preparing for flooding. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
Fairfax County Fire Marshals remind residents that open burning is prohibited, unless prior approval is received. A permit is required for all bonfires and controlled burning in Fairfax County, and the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna. Recreational fires, outdoor solid fuel burning devices and open-flame cooking devices are allowed, in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code. For questions about open burning and recreational fires, contact the Fire Inspections Branch of the Fire Marshal's Office at 703-246-4849. That’s 703-246-4849.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a video contest for professional and amateur filmmakers on “Burn Wise,” the EPA’s campaign to help reduce pollution from fireplaces and other wood-burning appliances. With the theme “Learn Before You Burn,” the winning 30- or 60-second videos will promote responsible wood-burning techniques that can help residents save money while making the air healthier to breathe. Information is available to help filmmakers get started right now on the contest Web site. Then, at noon eastern time on Friday, April 9, EPA will reveal, on the contest Web site, three mystery criteria that must be included in the videos. Final videos must be uploaded to EPA’s YouTube channel within 48 hours --by noon eastern on Sunday, April 11. Viewers will vote on their favorite video via YouTube. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/burnwise/contest.html. That address again is www.epa.gov/burnwise/contest.html.
Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Virginia, and it is costly. Just one inch of water in a home or office leads to about $8,000 in cleanup, including replacing drywall, baseboards, floor coverings, furniture and some utilities and heating equipment. Homeowner’s and business insurance policies typically do not cover flooding. As spring flooding season approaches, Fairfax County residents and businesses are encouraged to talk with their agents now about flood insurance, since there is normally a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Flood insurance is available to all types of property owners and tenants, including renters. Go to www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419 for information about flood insurance. To learn about preparing in advance for disasters and emergencies, including flooding, visit www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
Here’s a helpful flood safety tip from FEMA for the business community… Businesses can prepare their organizations for flash floods with a flood evacuation plan, off-site data servers and remote work plans. More information is available at www.fema.gov.
Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management can also assist businesses and homeowners with flood safety and other preparedness information. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/oem or call 571-350-1000. Additional emergency preparedness information can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency.
That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov. And remember, if you have a police, fire or medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency needs, call 703-691-2131.
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