Have you ever been at a club or concert where a fire broke out and the smoke was so thick you could barely breathe, much less see two feet in front of you? More than likely you haven’t, but in February 2003, more than 400 people attending a concert at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, were in that situation and 100 of them lost their lives in a fire. If a fire broke out, would you know how to escape? We're sure most of the 100 attendees who lost their lives thought they could escape the fire by exiting the club the same way they entered, but that was an epic mistake. Concert-goers started running to the front door, shoving and pushing each other; some fell, causing a massive pile of human bodies blocking the door way. These people were stuck, seeing and even touching those who had escaped to safety, but not being able to move and get out themselves.

After this tragic event, the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted a fire safety evaluation of 189 nightclubs, bars and dance halls, in eight randomly selected Texas counties, to determine whether fire and life safety violations existed that were similar to those that contributed to the multiple fatality fire at The Station nightclub. Of the 189 establishments we inspected, 182 – 96 percent – had exit violations. This led to the “Have an Exit Strategy” initiative. "Have an Exit Strategy"encourages people to know at least two ways out of every building, recognizing that in an emergency, the best way out may not be the way you entered. If patrons of The Station nightclub had known or recognized one of the alternative exits in the building that were not obstructed, their lives may have been saved.

When you enter a public place or building, get in the habit of identifying where the Exits are located. We urge you to pass this information along to your friends and family, particularly, young people who may often attend large events, concerts and parties. When you go out this weekend, or anytime, remember that in a fire, the best way out may not be the way you came in. Have an Exit Strategy, it could save your life.

For more information: http://www.haveanexitstrategy.com/

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The likelihood that you and your family will recover from an emergency tomorrow often depends on the planning and preparation done today. While each person's abilities and needs are unique, every individual can take steps to prepare for all kinds of emergencies from fires and floods to potential terrorist attacks. By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. This guide outlines commonsense measures older Citizens can take to start preparing for emergencies before they happen.

 1) Build a Kit - Of Emergency Supplies

 The first step is to consider how an emergency might affect your individual needs. Plan to make it on your own, for at least three days. It's possible that you will not have access to a medical facility or even a drugstore. It is crucial that you and your family think about what kinds of resources you use on a daily basis and what you might do if those resources are limited or not available.

 Basic Supplies:

 Think first about the basics for survival - food, water, clean air and any life-sustaining items you require. Consider two kits. In one kit put everything you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own for a period of time. The other kit should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to leave your home. Recommended basic emergency supplies include:

 * Water, one gallon of water per person per day or at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

 * Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and a can opener if kit contains canned food

 * Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

 * Flashlight and extra batteries

 * First aid kit

 * Whistle to signal for help

 * Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

 * Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

 * Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

 * Local maps

 * Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pet or service animal

 Include Medications and Medical Supplies:

 If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on a daily basis, be sure you have what you need on hand to make it on your own for at least a week. You should also keep a copy of your prescriptions as well as dosage or treatment information. If it is not possible to have a week-long supply of medicines and supplies, keep as much as possible on hand and talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you should do to prepare.

 If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans. Work with them to identify back-up service providers within your area and the areas you might evacuate to. If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity to operate, talk to your health care provider about what you can do to prepare for its use during a power outage,

 Additional Items:

 In addition, there may be other things specific to your personal needs that you should also have on hand. If you use eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen, be sure you always have extras in your home. Also have copies of your medical insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cards readily available.

 Include Emergency Documents

 Include copies of important documents in your emergency supply kits such as family records, medical records, wills, deeds, social security number, charge and bank accounts information, and tax records. It is best to keep these documents in a waterproof container. If there is any information related to operating equipment or life-saving devices that you rely on, include those in your emergency kit as well, and also make sure that a trusted friend or family member has a copy of these documents. Include the names and numbers of everyone in your personal support net- work, as well as your medical providers, if you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information list notes the best way to communicate with you, also be sure you have cash or travelers checks in your kits in case you need to purchase supplies.

 2) Have a Plan - For What You Will Do in an Emergency

 The reality of a disaster situation is that you will likely not have access to everyday conveniences. To plan in advance, think through the details of your everyday life. If there are people who assist you on a daily basis, list that they are, and how you will contact them in an emergency. Create your own personal support network by identifying others who will help you in an emergency. Think about what modes of transportation you use and what alternative modes could serve as back-ups. If you require handicap accessible transportation be sure your alternatives are also accessible. For every aspect of your daily routine, plan an alternative procedure. Make a plan and write it down. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency supply kits and a list of important information and contacts in your wallet. Share your plan with your family, friends, care providers and others in your personal support network.

 Create a Personal Support Network:

 If you anticipate needing assistance during a disaster, make a list of family, friends and others who will be part of your plan. Talk to these people and ask them to be part of your support network. Share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your group, including a friend or relative in another area who would not be impacted by the same emergency who can help if necessary. Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster. Make sure that someone in your personal support network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies. Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your personal support network.

 Develop a Family Communications Plan:

 Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact, not in the impacted area, may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. You may have trouble letting through, or the phone system may be down altogether, but be patient. For more information on how to develop a family communications plan visit vww.ready.gov.

 Deciding to Stay or Go:

 Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you stay or go. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use commonsense and available information to determine if there is immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should monitor television or radio news reports for information or official instructions as they become available. If you're specifically told to evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately. If you require additional travel time or need transportation assistance, make these arrangements in advance.

 Consider Your Pets:

 Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets and service animals. Keep in mind that what's best for you is typically what's best for your animals. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you, if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that only service animals may be allowed inside. Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets; consider loved ones or friends outside of your immediate area, pet-friendly shelters and veterinarians who would be willing to take in you and your pets in an emergency. For more information about pet preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.

 Staying Put:

Whether you are at home or elsewhere, there may be situations when it's simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside. Consider what you can do to safely shelter-in-place alone or with friends, family or neighbors. Also consider how a shelter designated or the public would meet your needs. There could be times when you will need to stay put and create a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside. This process is known as sealing the room." Use available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to take this kind of action. For more information about "sealing the room", visit www.ready.gov.

Evacuation:

There may be conditions in which you will decide to get away, or there may be situations when you may be ordered to leave. Plan how you will get away and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. Ask about evacuation plans at the places where you spend time including work, community organizations and other places you frequent. If you typically rely on elevators, have a back-up plan in case they are not working.

Fire Safety:

Plan two ways out of every room in case of fire. Check for items such as bookcases, hanging pictures, or overhead lights that could all and block an escape path. Check hallways, stairwells, doorways, windows and other areas for hazards that may keep you from safely leaving a building during an emergency. Secure or remove furniture and objects that may block your path. If there are aspects of preparing your home or workplace that you are not able to do yourself, enlist the help of your personal support network.

3) Stay Informed - About What Might Happen

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an emergency supply kit and making an emergency plan are the same regardless of the type of emergency. However, it's important to stay informed about what might happen and know what types of emergencies are likely to affect your region.

Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. Above all, stay calm, be patient and think before you act. With these simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected.

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There are no known emergency road closures at this time, however emergency incidents can occur without warning at any time and may not be noted on this site.

The much anticipated weather event is coming together over portions of the area, still waiting on the main impacts later today (Thursday) and tonight. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until noon Friday. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for western sections of South Central Texas until 1 pm today. The severe threat will spread to most if not all of the area by this afternoon and evening. Heavy rain threat will increase by tonight. The main impacts of this storm system will keep us busy for the next 24 hours.

The large upper low is currently over northern Mexico just to the south of El Paso. It is already causing widespread thunderstorm activity near the Rio Grande, spreading these storms into South Central Texas. We have already seen severe thunderstorms early this morning. The atmosphere is primed to give us large hail and damaging wind threats. The threat for tornadoes is also on the increase, especially across the southern half of Texas - so can't rule them out today as well. Look for additional Severe/Tornado watches to be issued today for all or portions of the area. The southern half of South Central Texas will see the largest severe threat.

With such a large storm system. it is hard to pinpoint when and where the next storms will form. There won't be 24 hours of continuous rain, but passing clusters of storms, each one capable of producing quick bursts of 1+ inches of rain. Overall widespread rain totals of 2-4 inches are likely. Isolated totals through tomorrow afternoon could exceed 4-6 inches in some areas. The heavy rain threat this morning and afternoon will be in areas that see "training" storms, storms that move over the same location. Later tonight storms will likely slow down as the upper low gets closer and a very large cluster of storms develops increasing the chances for flash flooding. The main impact time of the widespread heavy rainfall should be from about 8 pm tonight until 8 am on Friday morning. Be cautious if driving the next 24 hours, especially tonight. Low water crossings will likely flood. It will be a good night to stay home and off the roads. Turn Around, Don't Drown.

It is going to be a busy 24 hours with all elements of severe weather possible, hail, strong winds, flash flooding, and even an isolated tornado possible.

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Take part in Disaster Ready Austin's first "Emergency Preparedness Flash Mob"

4pm, Wed., May 30, at City Hall Plaza.

Click here to learn the dance routine, and get more information.

It's important for all Austin residents to understand the dangers of wildfires, and learn how to plan, prepare and protect their property against wildfire. The Austin Fire Department is asking every homeowner to read "Ready, Set, Go, Your Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide." This information can help you protect your family, home and property during a wildfire.

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

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