Severe Weather Resources

Fire Service & Emergency Medical Services

Natural disasters bring with them lots of uncertainty, but having carefully thought-out plans put in place ahead of time can help ensure that you’re better equipped to handle the storm. From our experience serving your industry, we’ve learned the following tips greatly help reduce your risk of damage or loss of property as well as great resources that can help you prepare:
  • Property Mitigation Tips – Best practices to help protect your property after water-related catastrophes and what to consider when working with a remediation contractor.
  • Electrical Surge Protection – These grounding techniques can help protect your electrical equipment from power surges during extreme weather conditions.
  • Grounding Best Practices – This podcast episode discusses how you can use grounding system to help to keep electrical surges out of your building
  • Water rescue – This podcast episode discusses best practices to help keep rescuers and victims safe during water-related emergencies.
  • Be Prepared for a Hurricane – Here are recommendations for your organization before, during and after a hurricane.
  • Hurricane Safety Checklist – This customizable flyer can help you share hurricane safety tips to share with your community.
  • Lighting Protection – This article outlines the potential impacts of lightning strikes and ways communication centers can help protect their property and personnel.

 

  • Tornado Preparedness and Response– OSHA shares preparedness tips, accessible checklists and recovery resources for tornadoes.
  • Sample SOG for Tornado Alerts – These are actions to consider taking when a tornado alert is issued.
  • Electrical Surge Protection – These grounding techniques can help protect your electrical equipment from power surges during extreme weather conditions.
  • Lighting Protection – This article outlines the potential impacts of lightning strikes and ways communication centers can help protect their property and personnel.
  • Grounding Best Practices – This podcast episode discusses how you can use grounding system to help to keep electrical surges out of your building

 

  • Pre-Flood Readiness Checklist – An easy to follow checklist to help your emergency service organization prepare for a potential flood.
  • Water rescue – This podcast episode discusses best practices to help keep rescuers and victims safe during water-related emergencies.
  • Property Mitigation Tips – Best practices to help protect your property after water-related catastrophes and what to consider when working with a remediation contractor.
  • Electrical Surge Protection – These grounding techniques can help protect your electrical equipment from power surges during extreme weather conditions.
  • SOG Sample for Thunderstorm Alerts – This Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) shares methods to help alert your community about thunderstorms.
  • Lighting Protection – This article outlines the potential impacts of lightning strikes and ways communication centers can help protect their property and personnel.
  • Grounding Best Practices – This podcast episode discusses how you can use grounding system to help to keep electrical surges out of your building

 

 

  • Wildfire Mitigation and Structure Hardening – Here are tips and actions to consider taking if your organization is in an area that is at risk for wildfires.
  • Wildland Fire Preparations – This podcast episode talks about how departments can plan and prepare for the wildland fire season.
  • Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) – The USFA shares information about the WUI zone, how rapidly the zone is growing and the importance of creating fire-adapted communities.
  • Wildfire Preparedness – OSHA shares steps to help organizations prepare for and recover from wildfires.
  • The Deep Devastation of Wildfires – This article discusses the mental health impacts of wildfires on firefighters.
  • Learning from Maui's 2023 wildfires – The Maui Police Department, who supported fire response, evacuations, communications and rescue efforts during the events, released this “Preliminary After-Action Report” which outlines 32 recommendations to help improve their response to natural disasters in the future.

 

  • Hail Damage Prevention Guide – Best practices to help protect your property and vehicles from hail damage.
  • Earthquake Preparedness & Response – OSHA shares steps and procedures to take within your organization and community when an earthquake hits.
  • Electrical Surge Protection – These grounding techniques can help protect your electrical equipment from power surges during extreme weather conditions.
  • Heat Illness Prevention – OSHA shares information on heat exposures, sun safety and the importance of hydration.
  • Lighting Protection – This article outlines the potential impacts of lightning strikes and ways communication centers can help protect their property and personnel.
  • Grounding Best Practices – This podcast episode discusses how you can use grounding system to help to keep electrical surges out of your building

 

  • Severe Weather Preparation – This podcast episode discusses how to be proactive, not reactive, in storm response.
  • Disaster Planning & Business Continuity – A booklet dedicated to helping emergency service organizations prepare for and recover from disasters.
  • Severe Weather Action Plans – This bulletin shares best practices to help emergency service organizations develop severe weather action plans.
  • Roof Assessments Checklist – This checklist can help your organization preform ongoing roof assessments to help prevent moisture from leaking into buildings during storms.
  • American Red Cross – A reliable resource for information on shelter, food, relief supplies and other assistance during disasters.
  • FEMA – Frequently updated resources to help America prepare for and respond to disasters.
  • National Weather Service – A resource for up-to-date information on your local severe weather threats.
  • Self-Inspection for Buildings + Grounds – This checklist can help your organization preform ongoing assessments of your property to help ensure you don’t have any hazards before and after storms.
  • Staffing for a Crisis – This article shares ways you can begin to prepare for potential staffing issues during crisis situations.

 

Claims instructions and forms can be accessed through any of our divisions’ websites, and are available here: www.glatfelters.com/claims
  • Have your insurance agent’s name and phone number readily available.
  • Carefully survey all damage and take photos first if you are able to do so safely.
  • When you call your agent, you will be asked to: describe the property and/or auto damage in detail and discuss the type of damage.
  • Be sure to provide your agent with quality contact information where you can be easily reached.
  • Take inventory of personal property and portable equipment that has been damaged, and set aside for your claims adjuster to inspect.
  • Use tape or yard sticks to measure and photograph water levels on vehicles.
  • Do not attempt to operate a vehicle that has been submerged in water.
  • Do not provide personal or sensitive information to anyone other than your insurance agent and dedicated claims representative.