Safety Advice

Precautionary/preparedness actions: A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. Be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flash flooding is occurring and that conditions are present that flash flooding is likely to occur.

Flash Flood Facts...

Flash floods occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall or a dam failure. Flooding is a longer-term event and may last a week or more.

Most flash flooding is caused by (1) slow-moving thunderstorms, (2) thunder-storms repeatedly moving over the same area or (3) heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms.

Flash floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, and destroy buildings and bridges.

Densely populated areas have a high risk for flash floods. The construction of buildings, highways, driveways, and parking lots increases runoff by reducing the amount of rain absorbed by the ground.

Water can erode the roadbed creating unsafe driving conditions.

Many flash floods occur at night when flooded roads are hard to see.

2 feet of water will float your car, truck or SUV!!! 6 inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock you off your feet.

Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are auto related. If your car stalls, leave it and seek higher ground, if you can do so safely.

Underpasses can fill rapidly with water, while the adjacent roadway remains clear. Driving into a flooded underpass can quickly put you in 5-6 feet of water.

The Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department wants you to stay safe during this potentially dangerous weather conditions. Help us by helping yourself and heed warnings and safety tips.

Flash Flood Safety Tips...

Never try to walk, swim, or drive through swift-moving floodwater. Remember, 2 feet of water will float your vehicle and 6 inches of fast moving floodwater can knock you off your feet.

If you come upon floodwaters, STOP, TURN AROUND AND GO ANOTHER WAY!!

Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road.

If your car stalls in high water, DON'T PANIC, leave your car and seek higher ground, if you can do so safely and call 911.

Stay informed about the storm and possible flooding by listening to your NOAA weather radio, commercial radio, television or Internet.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO

Today is October 1, 2015, the "Safety First Day of the Month." Having a working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm could be the difference in life or death - yours and your family. Today is the day that the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department has designated for everyone to test their smoke and CO alarms. It's simple:

PGFD Press to Test

Press the TEST button on the front cover of your smoke and CO alarm.

An audible beeping noise SHOULD sound. If it does, congratulations, your done until next month.

If it does not sound an audible alarm - replace the battery. Push the TEST button again - still no alarm - remove the alarm and immediately replace with a new 10-year, tamper proof, with hush feature smoke or CO alarm or better yet a 10-year combination smoke/CO alarm.

If your alarms are at about 10 years old or you don't remember if you ever replaced the alarm, do it today!!! Smoke and CO alarms work all day - every day and will wear down over their 10 year service life.

County Law requires a working smoke alarm in your home. Over the next two years the law will continue to evolve to require a working 10-year smoke alarm on every level of your home, primarily outside of sleeping areas.

County Law currently requires a working CO detector on every level of your home, primarily, outside of sleeping areas. This law includes all homes with a gas service (natural, propane, oil, etc), a fireplace or an attached garage. This law also requires that all hotels, motels, dormitories and all apartments and condos have working CO alarms.

Have you ever noticed that it is sometimes a challenge to reach your alarms installed on your ceiling or high on the wall. Perhaps you use a step-ladder or stand tall on your toes to reach the test button. Think about your senior citizen neighbors and relatives that may have difficulty even reaching a light switch. Test their alarms for them every month, change their batteries at least once-a-year and contact 311 for them if they need a new 10-year smoke alarm installed by firefighters, free of charge.

Don't wait for a firefighter to knock on your door. If you need a working smoke alarm and can not afford to purchase one, call 311 and ask about the free smoke alarm program.

While members of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department promote fire prevention year round, October is the month we provide extra emphasis. Fire Prevention Week is in the month of October as well. This years theme is; "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep."

Keep your family safe with a working smoke alarm in every bedroom.

Did you know that roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep?

Smoke alarms save lives. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half!

The Fire/EMS Department, in cooperation with the Prince George's Sentinel and the First Tee Golf Program, are holding a Fire Prevention Poster Contest. Read this article for additional details.

The Sentinel teams up with the PG Fire Department for Fire Prevention Week

23 Sep 2015
Written by Jim Davis
Published in Local
Read 207 times
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The Prince George’s County Fire Department and The Prince George’s Sentinel are teaming up to ask county residents to install smoke alarms in their homes in recognition of Fire Prevention Week.

This year the fire department will recognize Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 4 through 10, with a theme of “Hear the beep where you sleep.”

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, a notorious blaze that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres on Oct. 8 and 9 in 1871. Forty years after the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary should be used as an occasion to raise awareness about the importance of fire prevention.

“It’s required in Prince George's County to have a smoke alarm on each floor of your house, as well as in the basement and attic area,” said Mark Brady, spokesman for the Prince George’s County Fire Department. “If a resident of Prince George's County is in need a smoke alarm, the county will provide a free one.”

According to the United States Fire Administration, each year there are an estimated 405,000 fires in residential structures, which cause nearly 3,600 fatalities, 18,600 injuries, and $4.7 billion in property loss.
According to the fire department, there have been several fires this year in Prince George's County where smoke alarms have saved residents’ lives.

"This year there has been 24 house fires where county residents have been saved by smoke alarms,” said Brady. "Last year in 2014, there were 36 house fires where smoke alarms alerted residents of a fire and they were able to get out safely.”

To help spread the word regarding smoke alarms, The Sentinel and the fire department will sponsor a poster contest for elementary school students in Prince George’s County. Students may design a poster depicting how fire alarms save lives, or demonstrate an example of a fire safety plan for their home and where to place smoke detectors.

Students may submit their contest entries at their local fire house or by emailing The Sentinel at editor-pg@thesentinel.com between Sept. 30 and Oct. 10. The winner will have their photo in the paper and will receive a one-year membership at the First Tee Program.

The First Tee of Prince George’s County offers golf programs and instruction, which focus on developing life skills using the game as its vehicle. The First Tee of Prince George’s Chapter was established in 2001 and is operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Department of Parks and Recreation. This award is provided courtesy of the Chapter at the Paint Branch Golf Complex in College Park.

Posters will be judged by Prince George's County Fire Department officials and The Sentinel.

Several Prince George's County Volunteer Fire Departments will be holding fire prevention open-house programs. The Branchville Volunteer Fire Department at 4905 Branchville Road in College Park will host theirs on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free fire trucks rides and other actives will take place.

In November it's "Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery or Change Your Entire Alarm" to a 10-Year Model!!!!

The Washington Redskins officially kicked off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Sunday with a variety of initiatives for their game against the Eagles.

Tanya Snyder, wife of Redskins owner Dan Snyder, remembers photos from 17 years ago with the volunteers of Zeta Tau Alpha, pinning on pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness, helping start the NFL’s league-wide mission.

Sunday morning -- several hours before the beginning of the Redskins-Eagles game -- that momentum continued, with more than 300 ZTA members gathering together for a few photos before spreading out and offering pink ribbons to fans entering FedExField.

VIEW GALLERY | 25 Photos

Redskins Vs. Eagles: Think Pink (2015)

“This is influencing these young ladies that are here, being able to reach out and touch our fans,” Snyder said. “Today’s a very important football game, but it’s also extremely important to get the message out.”

The message involved “A Crucial Catch,” in partnership with the American Cancer Society, a league-wide mission that is focused on the importance of regular breast cancer screenings.

Throughout October, NFL games will continue to feature players, coaches, and referees wearing pink game apparel to help raise awareness for the campaign. During the morning, Snyder, along with the volunteers, made sure they did their part, handing out ribbons and interacting with women who, like herself, had battled and beaten breast cancer.

“It does have an impact on these 300 girls that are here and their future families,” Snyder said. “And this is my next generation who is with me, from the time they were really young, [and] have been doing this as well. So, I’m really proud.”

Snyder then made a visit to the eighth annual All-Star Survivors Celebration, a festive tent of pink that catered to 31 local women currently battling with breast cancer. Each of the women, who posed for photos with cheerleaders and received lunch, represented the 31 days of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The All-Stars received new jeans as well as new wigs, scarves and a Redkins gift bag along with a custom-made Redskins jersey.

The celebration ended right as the game began, with Snyder participating as an Honorary Captain for the coin toss at mid-field.

“We are making a difference in the community,” She said. “We are getting the message out there; I hear stories every day from our fans, from being able to work with survivors while they’re actually going through it and learning about that and letting them know that the money raised for American Cancer Society, 32 teams are donating money for screenings and we are effecting lives out there. Proud is a humble word, but these girls again made it happen, one ribbon at a time and one person at a time, and I’m so proud.”

# # #

The Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department was honored to have our pink engine "Courage" present at Fed Ex Field for the opening of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink engine is stationed in Capitol Heights and is one of three pink pieces the Department has. The crew of Lt. Rob Kight, Fire Fighter Tavon Scott and Fire Fighter Jay Johnston brought "Courage" to the stadium for opening festivities and pictures. For additional information about the PGFD Pink Pumper Courage, click here.

Mark E. Brady
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department
Chief Spokesperson/PIO

These images were captured by Lt. Rob Kight