Transcript: Health and Safety Podcast

Aug. 20, 2025

Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast. Coming up, learn about preparing now for winter, thunderstorm safety and financial preparedness. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

The thermometer is hitting 90 degrees, and you’re thinking about anything except winter coats and snow boots. But here’s the thing: smart preparation starts when the weather is still warm. By the time that first cold snap hits in October, it’s too late to get the best deals or find everything you need. Stores are clearing out summer inventory to make room for back-to-school items. This means you can often find last season’s winter gear at a deep discount. More importantly, you have time to test everything, make repairs and figure out what’s missing from your emergency kit. Weather patterns have become less predictable in recent years. What used to be a gradual shift into fall now sometimes turns into sudden temperature drops or unexpected early storms. The families who stay comfortable and safe are the ones who prepare months ahead. Learn more on our emergency information blog; fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog.

 

Summertime, of course, means heat, but it also means thunderstorms. Here’s how to stay safe when the boomers hit? If you’re driving:

• Turn around, don’t drown. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles.
• Never drive through flooded roads, even if the water looks shallow.
• Find another route if you see water on the road.
• Be extra careful during evening rush hour when conditions will be most dangerous.

At home:

• Stay indoors during the heaviest rain periods (3-8 p.m.).
• Move cars to higher ground if you live in a flood-prone area.
• Avoid basements and lower levels during flooding.
• Have a battery-powered radio and flashlight ready in case of power outages.
• Prepare for possible power outages from high winds.
• Clear your leaves and debris from storm drains ahead of time.

When the weather turns bad, remember to keep children and pets away from storm drains and creeks. Also, don’t walk through moving water. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down. You’ll also want to stay off bridges over fast-moving water and watch for downed power lines in flooded areas. Our emergency blog has more; fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog.

 

Aug. 14 was National Financial Awareness Day, a reminder that strong money habits are a key part of emergency preparedness. Knowing your income, expenses, and savings is as important as knowing how to drive before hitting the road. Building an emergency fund—starting with as little as $500 and working toward covering 3–6 months of expenses—can make unexpected challenges less stressful. Prioritizing essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation while cutting back on non-essentials helps stretch your resources. Maintaining good credit, keeping adequate insurance, and budgeting with intention are all part of the foundation that will carry you through tough times. Financial awareness isn’t just for adults—teaching kids about saving, spending wisely, and knowing the difference between wants and needs sets them up for success. If you need help, turn to trusted sources like nonprofit counseling services, community workshops, or budgeting apps. Avoid common pitfalls like mixing your emergency fund with regular savings or ignoring small expenses that add up. Take action now by reviewing your finances, setting aside even a small amount each week, checking your insurance coverage, and creating a simple budget. A little planning today can make a big difference tomorrow.

 

Finally, Fairfax County's free alert system sends you important information during an emergency, helps you navigate your commute and shares community information.

You can sign up for free and begin receiving texts and emails about severe weather, traffic alerts, emergency alerts, and even community news and information. And you can customize your alerts with up to five addresses, i.e., school, work and home. Signing up is not only free, but easy. Just go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts. Sign up today and begin receiving alerts from Fairfax County immediately. That's www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts.

 

That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found on our emergency information blog at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog. Follow the Health and Safety podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. And remember, if you have a police, fire, or medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency needs, call 703-691-2131.