| NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Be sure that your pets have a collar & current tags on their necks so that if they do escape, they can hopefully be safely returned to their home. Also, check your backyards. Have your dogs been digging? Do they have a secret “out” that you don’ t know about? If so, you can use bricks or rocks to “seal” the escape route until you have time for a more permanent solution. We are continuing to hear reports of Mountain Lions (possibly mom & offspring), possums, raccoons, skunks and coyotes. Please continue keeping a close eye on your small children & pets. Garage doors – some garage doors are left slightly open – maybe 6-10 inches from the bottom. If left open all night, critters can and will enter. If you don’t want any “surprises” in the morning, please make sure the doors are completely closed before turning in for the night. Locking cars – we know we sound like a broken record, but we are urging everyone to please LOCK your car doors (and remember to close the windows, too). There have been several cases of unlocked cars in the neighborhood that have been rifled through and items stolen. Locking back doors / sliders – there has been an increase in home break-ins via unlocked doors, ground floor windows or sliders. Criminals know that in the warmer weather many people open the windows at night to get ventilation through their homes. To the thieves, this is an “invitation”. Ground floor windows or sliders should not be kept open at night time. If you are one to leave your slider open during the day, you are urged to add a noisemaker to the screen (i.e. bells) so that if someone is attempting to enter, you will hear it first. We had the opportunity to attend the SCV National Night Out. What a wealth of information we collected! We will do our best to share the most pertinent information. Remember you can always visit the SCV Sheriff’s Department website at: www.SCVSheriff.com CRIME PREVENTION & SAFETY TIPS To report crimes anonymously, call the 24-hour Crime Tip Hotline (661) 284-2-TIP (284-2847) SCV Sheriff’s Station – Non-Emergency Number (661) 255-1121. Vacation Checks – Call SCV Sheriff’s Department (661) 255-1121. Visit http://www.scvsheriff.com/prog_safety_tips.asp#solicitors for safety tips on everything from ID theft to Back-to-School tips. There is an amazing amount of information on this site. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 72-hour Emergency Financial Kit – After a damaging earthquake or other disaster, it may not be “business as usual”. Banks and ATM’s might be closed for an indefinite period. Be prepared with an Emergency Financial Kit. Include in your emergency kit a sufficient amount of cash to get you through an emergency period – you’ll need cash to purchase food, gas, & other emergency supplies. Store cash in SMALL bills – 1’s, 5’s and 10’s are best. Keep an extra credit card on hand for emergency funds. Include plenty of change to call out-of-state contacts from a public phone (public phone lines are among the first to be restored after a disaster). You can also use a calling card to make a call. You’ll need insurance policies, birth certificates & other vital records after an earthquake or other disaster for insurance claims & other matters. Take steps NOW to protect these items & keep copies in a safe deposit box, fireproof storage box or other safe place. Scan important documents and back it up on a CD or flash drive: Social Security Cards Birth Certificates Marriage & Death Certificates Driver’s Licenses / Passports Credit Cards Insurance Policies Recent income tax returns Mortgage or Rental receipts Paycheck stubs Deeds Stocks & bonds Bank account books Wills, healthcare directives, trust documents, durable power of attorney Documentation of valuables Health history, allergies, blood types Recent photos for ID purposes Inventory log of household items Video or photo documentation will facilitate insurance claims Emergency Supplies Checklist – Stocking up now on emergency supplies can add to your safety and comfort during & after an emergency. Store enough supplies for the household for 5 days. Water (1 gallon per person, per day) Water purification kit First aid kit, freshly stocked & First aid book Food Adjustable wrench for turning off gas Can opener (NON ELECTRIC) Blankets or sleeping bags Portable radio, flashlight & spare batteries Sturdy Shoes Heavy gloves to clear debris Duct tape, plastic sheeting Light sticks Whistle Swim goggles (to protect eyes from smoke if there’s fire) Face mask to protect your breathing Essential medications including Tylenol, Advil, prescriptions Extra pair of eyeglasses Extra pair of house / car keys Fire extinguisher (ABC type) Food, water and restraint (leash or carrier) for pets Cash & change Baby supplies Comfort toys for toddlers Important documents Personal ID Emergency contact list & phone numbers Inventory of Valuable household items (photos, videos, DVD’s) Personal photos Map of the area Large plastic trash bags for waste Tarps & rain ponchos Large trash cans Bar soap & liquid detergent Shampoo Toothpaste/toothbrushes Feminine hygiene supplies Toilet paper Unscented household bleach Change of clothing Knife or razor blades Garden hose Tent Paper, pens, stamps Plastic knives, forks, spoons Paper plates, cups, towels Heavy duty aluminum foil Camping stove for outdoor cooking Crow bar Axe, shovel, broom Tool kit with screwdriver, pliers & hammer Coil of ½” rope Bicycle Emergency Vehicle Kit – Emergencies can occur at any time and without warning. If such events occur when you are in your vehicle you need to be ready to handle the situation. Emergency Professionals recommend that drivers carry an emergency kit in their vehicles. The supplies should provide for the passengers that are in the vehicle on a daily basis. Check expiration dates & rotate products twice a year: Water Non-perishable food Sturdy shoes/spare set of clothes Blanket Leather work gloves Flashlight & extra batteries or light sticks Fire extinguisher First aid kit Flares Local maps Battery operated radio, extra batteries Re-sealable plastic bags Pre-moistened towelettes Utility Knife Jumper cables Flat tire fixer Hand cleanser Reflective roadside safety kit Notepad, marker, pen VEHICLES: To report dangerous teen driving, you can go online to: www.sttop.net or call 1-877- 310-STOP (toll free) (STTOP Program stands for: Sheriff’s Teen Traffic Offender Program). Please be prepared to provide: License Plate number, Make/model of car, color, male or female driver, # of passengers in car, location, date/time To report an unrestrained child (not in a safety seat) call 1-800-TELL CHP. Report the License number, make of vehicle, date, time and location. The new law states that children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system (child safety seat or booster seat) until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds. Non-Emergency calls to report non-injury accidents, stolen vehicles, gross polluters, etc.: 1-800-835-5247 The CHP offers a “Start Smart” Driving class for new drivers. This class highlights what the CHP is looking for in terms of infractions when they are driving down the highway. You can get more information by calling: 661.294.5540 What to do in case of a vehicle collision: Keep your insurance card and registration in your wallet so it can be presented to an officer or other driver whenever necessary. If you have more than 1 car in your family, all drivers should carry the registration / insurance cards for all vehicles. When an accident occurs, most people are not thinking straight and might forget to obtain important information. Make yourself a little cheat-sheet to keep in your glove box. Here is the necessary information you will need to collect / share: 1. DATE OF VEHICLE COLLISION 2. THEIR INFORMATION 3. YOUR INFORMATION Date_____Time________AM/PM Name: ___________________ Name: __________________ Location: _________________ Address: _________________ Address: ________________ Cross Streets: _____________ City, ST, Zip_______________ City, ST, Zip______________ _________________________ Home Phone: ______________ Home Phone ______________ Weather: __________________ Cell Phone: ________________ Cell Phone ________________ Road Conditions: ___________ Drivers License #____________ Drivers License #____________ Traffic Conditions: ___________ Expiration: _________________ Expiration: _________________ What happened: ____________ Vehicle (Year/Make Model) _____ Vehicle (Year/Make/Model) ____ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ License Plate # ______________ License Plate #______________ __________________________ Insurance Co: ________________ Insurance Co.________________ __________________________ Policy #: ____________________ Policy # ____________________ __________________________ Expiration: ___________________ Expiration: __________________ __________________________ Witnesses Witnesses __________________________ Name_______________________ Name ______________________ __________________________ Phone_______________________ Phone ______________________ First attend to the medical needs of anyone involved. Call 9-1-1 if necessary but remember that’s for emergencies only If no injuries, move your vehicle out of traffic to the nearest place of safety Notify the CHP or police department of the city where the collision occurred Exchange driver license, vehicle registration & insurance information with other drivers Do not accept or place any blame. Your insurance company has people trained to determine who is at fault. Gather contact information from possible witnesses Take a moment to write down the details of the collision while it is fresh in your mind To hear prerecorded messages on road conditions throughout California , updated daily, or as weather conditions warrant, call California Department of Transportation at 1-800-427-7623 NEW LAWS for California Drivers On July 1, 2008, California Vehicle Code 23123 went into effect which prohibits all drivers from using a HANDHELD wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. Motorists 18 and over may use a “hands-free device.” (Exception permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities). On January 1, 2009, Vehicle Code 23123.5 went into effect which states a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication regardless of age. On January 1, 2008, California Vehicle Code 12814.6 went into effect which makes it an infraction, punishable by a fine not exceeding $100 for a person to smoke a pipe, cigar or cigarette in a motor vehicle any time a minor is present in the vehicle. Move Over, Slow Down. While traveling on California’s freeways the law states that if you see a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck with the emergency lights activated, you are required to move over one lane, either right or left depending where the stopped emergency vehicle and/or tow truck is located. If unable to move over, or it is unsafe to do so, slow to a safe and prudent speed prior to passing. CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) A series of CERT classes is offered through the city of Santa Clarita beginning on Thursday, September 10 through Thursday, October 22nd on Thursday nights from 6pm-9pm at the SCV Activities Center . You can learn more about the training at: http://www.santa-clarita.com/community/safety/cert.asp Cost is $30 per person, participants must be 18 years of age or older. Course outline includes: Disaster Preparedness, Fire suppression, Hazardous Materials & Utility Control, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search & Rescue Operations, Terrorism / Incident Command System, Psychological First Aid / Tabletops, Disaster Simulation GRAFFITI If you see graffiti, you can report it to (661) 25-CLEAN (5326). It will generally be removed within 24 hours. Also, you can report it online using the City’s eService system at: www.santa-clarita.com Individuals who report any person(s) responsible for acts of graffiti in SCV may be eligible for a reward up to $500 upon conviction. For more information or to make a report call 661.250.3749 You can get free Graffiti wipes (for smooth surfaces) from the City at the Aquatics Center , 20880 Centre Pointe Pkwy , Mezzanine, Santa Clarita , CA 91350 (661) 250- 3734. HEALTH “It’s Not FLU as Usual” – information about Pandemic flu is available at the following websites. Do yourself a favor and do your research NOW so you will be prepared in the event a pandemic flu hits the US . www.lapublichealth.org (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health) www.dhs.ca.gov (California Department of Health Services) www.cdc.gov (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) www.pandemicflu.gov (US Department of Health and Human Services) www.who.org (World Health Organization) www.redcross.org (American Red Cross) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES / COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS For those of you who are looking for ways to become involved with the City, or for students who need community service hours, please contact the Volunteer Program with the City of Santa Clarita . The phone number is 661.250.3708, or you can visit the website at www.santa-clarita.com .. There are many ways to become involved with relevant, helpful opportunities for you to share your special talents, interests, skills, expertise & energy. Be Safe! Josy and Steve Block |