Alerts & Warnings

Listen

The City of Elk Grove Police Department or Cosumnes Fire Department may try to notify you about a possible hazard by driving through your neighborhood while sounding their vehicle sirens. If you hear the sirens in your neighborhood:

• Stop what you are doing.
• Stay calm.
• Listen for possible voice announcements coming from the emergency vehicles.
• Turn on the radio or television, there may be important information provided by the City.
• Avoid using the telephone.
• Do not call 9-1-1, unless you have a life-threatening emergency.

Severe storms can cause flooding, uprooted trees, and downed utility lines. Tune to local TV channels for emergency advisories and instructions.

• If water has entered a garage or basement, do not walk through it - it may contain hazardous materials.
• Do not try to drive over a flooded road. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately. Attempting to move a stalled vehicle in flood conditions can be fatal.
• If you are asked to leave your property, disconnect all electrical appliances.
• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you must walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Stay clear of water that is in contact with downed power lines.
• Do not allow children to play around high water, storm drains or any flooded areas.
• If you are asked to leave your property, shut off electric circuits. If advised by your local utility, shut off gas supply line as well.

For more information contact:

City of Elk Grove Department of Public Works:
Phone: (916) 687-3005

The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs.

People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves.

Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use.

How to protect against heat-related illness:

• Slow down, and avoid strenuous activity.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Avoid sunburn. Stay in the shade, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and ultraviolet type A (UVA) rating.
• Conserve electricity other than that being used for cooling equipment.
• If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours.
• Wear lightweight clothing.
• Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath.
• Dress appropriately:
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing that will cover as much skin as possible.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat when outdoors.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies.
• Avoid extremely cold drinks, which can cause cramping.
• Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine.
• If you are taking water pills or you limit the amount of fluid you drink on your doctor's orders, ask how much you should drink during hot weather.
• If you take medications, check with your doctor to see if you need to take extra precautions in extreme heat.
• If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors.
• Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat.
• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Neverleave children, elderly or functional needs adults, or pets alone in closed vehicles.

Protecting your pets from heat emergencies:

Heat stress can cause brain and organ damage in dogs, cats and other pets. Symptoms of heat stress include heavy panting, glaze eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness. If an animal shows symptoms of heatstroke, gradually lower its temperature through these steps:

• Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
• Apply ice packs or cold towels to its head, neck and chest, or
• Immerse the animal in cool (not cold) water.
• Let the animal drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
• Take the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Tips to Stay Cool in Hot Elk Grove Weather

Temperatures rise during the summer months in the Sacramento region. Here are some tips for keeping cool during the hot weather. We've also included information about cooling centers that are open in serious heat emergencies. Ensure the safety of your loved ones and check on family members, friends, and neighbor during heat waves.

• Never leave your loved ones and/or pets in a parked vehicle.
• Drink lots of fluids - During the hot weather you're more vulnerable to dehydration.
• Increase your intake of nonalcoholic fluids, regardless of your activity level and whether or not you are thirsty.
• Limit drinking fluids containing alcohol and caffeine.
• If you are on a fluid-restricted diet, consult your doctor before increasing the amount of fluid intake.
• Eat light meals regularly, and avoid hot and heavy foods.
• Wear sunscreen and dress appropriately.
• Apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher
• Wear light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting attire
• Use a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face and head. Keep cool.
• Take cool showers or bath
• Limit exposure to the sun by staying indoors as much as possible, especially during the hottest hours of the day (3 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
• If you don't have air conditioning at home, consider a trip to the mall, theaters, public libraries, or other public buildings.
• In serious heat emergencies, the City and County will open 'cooling centers.
• Avoid activity in the hottest hours of the day.
• If you must work outside take breaks in a shaded area.
• If you must exercise make sure to drink 2-4 glasses of cool fluids, such as water or sports drink every hour.

Additional information can be found on the following links:

http://www.sacramentoready.org/Emergencies/Pages/Heat.aspxov/

When are cooling centers open?

Sacramento County Public Health in concert with Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services has developed a policy regarding when to open cooling centers.

It is as follows:

When the outdoor temperature is accurately documented to be greater than 105 degrees for at least 3 consecutive days and the outdoor temperature does not go below 75 degrees at night during those 3 days, Sacramento County may declare a Heat Emergency. If a declaration is issued, Sacramento County will consider opening cooling centers in the county.

Location of the centers will be posted atwww.elkgrovecity.orgafter the declaration.

A contagious disease emergency could affect many people. It could cause mild illness, hospitalization, or death in rare cases. In the event of an infectious disease emergency, the Sacramento County Department of Public Health will provide up-to-date information and instructions to the public through media and public outreach sources.

To find out how to prepare yourself and your family for a contagious disease emergency, visit theSacramento County Department of Public Health's, site.

This site also provides information on what Sacramento is doing to prepare for an avian or pandemic flu emergency, including mass distribution of medications or vaccines.

Immediate risk:

If you smell gas, smoke or see fire or otherwise fear for your safety, evacuate household occupants immediately. From a safe location, call 9-1-1 and report the incident.

General evacuation orders:

If local officials issue evacuation orders, use the evacuation routes and methods specified; carpool whenever possible. If time allows:

• Wear sturdy shoes, long-sleeve shirts and pants.
• Bring car keys, credit cards, road maps, cell phone, charger and important phone numbers.
• Bring your Go Bag
• If you have a pet, make sure it is wearing a collar, bring it in a pet carrier labeled with your name and the pet's name. Bring your pet's Go-bag.
• Lock your home and shut off the water and electricity, but leave gas on unless instructed otherwise.
• Leave a note or tell a neighbor where you are going.
• Once you arrive at a safe location, call your out-of-area emergency contact.

Disaster Shelters:

Immediately following a large disaster, suitable shelter sites will be selected from a predestinated list based on areas of need and estimated numbers of displaced persons. Each site must be inspected for safety prior to being opened to the public. Therefore, it is not possible to say with advance certainty which sites will actually operate as disaster shelters. As soon as disaster sites have been formally designated, this list will be announced through local media to the public. If it is unsafe to shelter-in-place, and you do not have an alternative, evacuate to a designated emergency shelter.

• Tell your out-of area-contact where you are going.
• Take your Go-bag with you to the shelter.
• Initially, emergency shelters may not be able to provide basic supplies and materials. Consider bringing extra items (e.g. blanket, pillow, air mattress, towel, washcloth, diapers, food and supplies for infants.)
• Provide for your pet only if service animals are allowed in "human" shelters. If you cannot make other plans for your pets, Animal Care and Control staff will be available at "human" shelters to help with pet sheltering needs
• Elk Grove Animal Care Program Line (916) 687-3042 or go toAnimal Services.

SPCA Shelter Location:

6201 Florin-Perkins Road
Sacramento, CA

Open Tuesday - Sunday
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Website:www.sspca.org
Phone: (916) 383-7387

If your smoke alarm goes off or you see a fire:

• Remain calm and get out.
• If you see smoke under the door, find another way out.
• Feel the door with the back of your hand before you open it. If it is hot, find another way out.
• Drop to the floor to avoid smoke and fumes. Crawl to safety.
• If your clothes catch on fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground and ROLL over and over to smother the flames.
• Call 9-1-1 from a safe location. Stay on the line until the operator hangs up.
• If you are trapped in a burning building, stay near a window and close to the floor. If possible, signal for help.
• Do not go back inside the building unless instructed that it is safe to do so.