"Regardless of the disaster you're most at risk for, you need to know what to do to protect yourself before one strikes. A storage unit and proper storage techniques can be one of your lines of defense. This guide will look at how you can use a storage unit to protect your items as you make sure you're as prepared as possible for a potential disaster."
Thank you to Cyrus Dylan and his peer group on community safety for sharing this unique and informative resource.
Climate Change Impacts on Wildfires in Hawaii
As climate change continues to reshape the lands and waters of Hawaii, wildfire will be increasingly on the radar. Climate change contributes to conditions known to increase wildfire hazard. More wildfires in Hawaii mean less native forests and drinking water and more erosion/runoff, coastal brownouts, and communities at risk. Please share this infographic far and wide and remember, there is a lot you can do to protect your family, home, and community!
Hawaiian Fire Potential Outlook Products
March - June 2017 weather conditions that affect fire potential in Hawaii.
Stay up-to-date about various weather and fuels conditions in Hawaii that affect fire potential with this useful service from North Ops Predictive Services meteorologists. 4-month Significant Fire Potential Outlook products are available as a "pdf", powerpoint, or video.
ADT Fire Safety Tips for Kids
"It’s inevitable that your child will be curious about fire. The best way to teach fire safety for kids is to talk to them about the dangers. Make sure to also keep lighters and matches away from small children, and always talk about fire safety. Tips for teaching fire safety for kids can be found online, along with workbooks and fun guides, like our Fire Safety Packet! Make learning about child safety fun for your kids with these fire safety tips, and they’ll be more likely to remember what to do if there’s ever an emergency.
Does your family have an escape plan in place in the event of a fire? If not, teach your kids about what to do and set a meeting point for the family, a safe distance away from the house.
As your children grow, they want to do everything you do – including cooking. Because of the many fire-related risks of cooking, it’s important to be extra careful when your kids want to help in the kitchen. Make sure they understand the dangers related to cooking and don’t play around in the kitchen."
Department of Land and Natural Resources Job Listings
Latest Update (February 16, 2017):
Forester IV/V Fire Protection Forester on Oahu is open with continuous recruitment. Applications should still be submitted as soon as possible. For questions, please contact: Robert.D.Hauff@hawaii.gov
"People who work for the Department of Land and Natural Resources are committed to fulfilling the agency’s mission of managing and conserving the state’s natural and cultural resources for future generations. With nearly 900 employees working throughout the state, job opportunities within the department require various levels of education and expertise ranging from a high school education up through advanced degrees. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a conservation enforcement officer, aquatic or wildlife biologist, environmental engineer, archaeologist or cultural historian, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is the place for you."
Air Oasis Family Fire Safety Guide Library
Click above to go to site.
"Being prepared is one of the biggest things is creating a family fire safety plan. This would be utilized in the event of a fire so that all family members know what to do and where to go. In addition, in the event of a fire it is important to realize that the air will be filled with smoke and breathing this air will be a danger. In addition to the dangers of fire, one of the leading causes of death in a fire is from inhaling smoke.
To assist families in being safe in a fire, and more importantly to prevent fires, we have put together the following resources. Please feel free to use this information to keep your family safe. Also, share the information with others who can benefit from this page. And, most importantly – stay safe!"
Pleural Mesothelioma Center Resources
Click to go to the site.
Firefighters are at risk of pleural mesothelioma. "Receiving a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis can be a frightening and confusing time for families. Learn the need-to-know information that will help you treat and cope with this rare cancer."
The Pleural Mesothelioma Center offers "different but complementary services compared to the other mesothelioma sites such as:
• A monthly online support group
• An on-staff doctor and nurse as part of our team of Patient Advocates available to answer any medical-related question
• 24-hour live chat support
• Our Doctor Match program that is specific to your location
• VA-Accredited Claims agents to guide you through the process of filing a VA claim
• Information about current recruiting for clinical studies and how to qualify"
Fuels and Wildfire Behavior - Training Module
"This PFX Training Module is a self-paced mini-course that includes short self-assessments throughout.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how fuel type, characteristics, arrangement, and environment affects fire risk and fire behavior.
- Be able to identify hazardous fuels types and arrangements on a landscape. "
Western Oahu CWPP - 2016
HWMO spearheaded the effort to write and implement this 2016 Western Oahu Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
CWPPs are a great planning tool for communities and have become a prerequisite for receiving federal funding for wildfire protection projects. A CWPP assists a community in identifying and prioritizing areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments, and supports communities to take action. The plan assesses values at risk such as safety, natural resource protection, recreation, scenic values, and economic assets. Through a collaborative process involving input from community members, resource management and firefighting agencies, and a variety of other interested parties, CWPPs help bring wildfire hazard information and planning and action opportunities to all parties. These plans are increasingly important in Hawaii, which faces unique wildfire threats that are becoming more challenging due to increasing ignitions, drought episodes and land use changes. Wildfires have great impacts on Hawaii Island residents and natural resources, affecting:
• Daily life (road closures, traffic, evacuations, post-fire flooding, tax payer dollars)
• Human health and safety (dust, smoke, water quality, burned homes and structures, resident and firefighter safety)
• Ecosystem health and resilience (watersheds, forests, coral reefs, fisheries)
Official Plan:
2-Page Summary:
Upcountry Maui CWPP - 2016
HWMO spearheaded the effort to write and implement this 2016 Upcountry Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
CWPPs are a great planning tool for communities and have become a prerequisite for receiving federal funding for wildfire protection projects. A CWPP assists a community in identifying and prioritizing areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments, and supports communities to take action. The plan assesses values at risk such as safety, natural resource protection, recreation, scenic values, and economic assets. Through a collaborative process involving input from community members, resource management and firefighting agencies, and a variety of other interested parties, CWPPs help bring wildfire hazard information and planning and action opportunities to all parties. These plans are increasingly important in Hawaii, which faces unique wildfire threats that are becoming more challenging due to increasing ignitions, drought episodes and land use changes. Wildfires have great impacts on Hawaii Island residents and natural resources, affecting:
• Daily life (road closures, traffic, evacuations, post-fire flooding, tax payer dollars)
• Human health and safety (dust, smoke, water quality, burned homes and structures, resident and firefighter safety)
• Ecosystem health and resilience (watersheds, forests, coral reefs, fisheries)
