April 29, 2023 Issue, Page 8 of 12

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8 - The Elk City News April 29, 2023 Prepare & Protect How to make homes s the time to review your insurance policie. Make sure Zyou have the coverage C2you need! safer from fires Over a five-year period be- inspect a home and identify Look outward as well. Western Oklahoma Insurance ginning in 2015 and 2019, fireany issues that could make the Though the majority of home “Tt’s always something” departments across the United home more vulnerable to fires. fires begin inside, the NEPA States responded to roughly Ask electricians to look over reports that 4 percent of such Homeowners « Vehicles « Farm and Ranch « Life and Health 347,000 home structure fires every part of the house, in- fires begin outside the home. per year. That data, courtesy cluding attics and crawl spaces. Homeowners can reduce the 580-225-1121 of the National Fire Protection Oft-overlooked areas like at- risk of such fires by ensuring 119 N. Jefferson Ave, Elk City, Ok. Association, underscores the tics and crawl spaces pose a po- all items that utilize fire, in- significance of home fire pro- tentially significant fire safety cluding grills and firepits, are tection measures. threat, as data from the Fed- always used at least 10 feet Smoke detectors are a key eral Emergency Management away from the home. Never op- component of fire protection, Association (FEMA) indicates erate a grill beneath eaves, and but there’s much more home- that 13 percent of electrical do not use grills on decks, Nev- owners can do to protect them- fires begin in such spaces. er leave children unattended selves, their families, their + Audit the laundry room. around firepits, as all it takes is belongings, and their homes ‘The laundry room is anoth- asingle mistake and a moment from structure fires. er potential source of home - Routinely inspect smoke structure fires. NFPA data in- for aSweat fire to become unwieldy, the small stuff. Hair detectors. Smoke detectors dicates around 3 percent of can only alert residents to a home structure fires begin scented candles, straighteners, dryers, hair clothes irons, fire if they're working properly. in laundry rooms each year. and holiday decorations are Battery-powered smoke detec- Strategies to reduce the risk tors won't work if the batteries of laundry room fires include some additional homefire safe- die. Routine smoke detector leaving room for laundry to ty hazards. Never leave candles check-ups can ensure the bat- tumble in washers and dryers; burning in empty rooms and teries still have juice and that routinely cleaning lint screens make sure beauty and groom- the devices themselves are to avoid the buildup of dust, ing items like dryers, straight- PUBLIC SERVICE | COMPANY OF still functioning properly. Test fiber and lint, which the NFPA eners and irons are unplugged alarms to make sure the devic- notes are often the first items and placed in a safe place to es are functioning and audible to ignite in fires linked to dry- cool down when not in use. | OKLAHOMA in nearby rooms. Install addi- ers; and ensuring the outlets Fire departments respond tional detectors as necessary washing machines and dryers to hundreds of thousands of so alarms and warnings can are plugged into can handle home fires each year. Some be heard in every room of the the voltage such appliances simple strategies and preven- house. require. It’s also a good idea to tive measures can greatly re- Hire an electrician to audit clean dryer exhaust vents and duce the risk that a fire will your home. Electricians can ducts every year. overtake your home. An AEP Company Disaster assistance for farmers BOUNDLESS ENERGY* benefits to livestock producers Natural disasters) are) Of| "ers shiuld know that various for livestock deaths in excess ten devastating, #esulting i ) Support programs are in place So Many of normal mortality caused by losses of life, livelihood and } ie provide assistance should adverse weather or by attacks homes, among other él J | they need it in the aftermath by animals reintroduced into If it seemsas though weather | Of anatural disaster. the wild by the federal govern- im |) Programs in the United related disasters have risen frequency in recent decades, that’s because they have Im States © Livestock Forage Disas- ment. - Emergency Loan Program: This program provides loans Options! fact, a 2021 report from the ter Program (LEP): The Farm to producers as they seek to World Metereological Orga= Service Agency of the U.S. recover from production and nization indicated that the Department of Agriculture physical losses due to drought, number of disasters has in- motes that this program pro- flooding and other natural creased by a factor of five over vides compensation to eligible disasters. Loans also may be the last half-century, livestock producers who have available after losses due to Weather-related disasters suffered grazing losses due to quarantine or by animal quar- do not discriminate, and drought or fire on land that is antine laws imposed in accor- people from all walks of life native or improved pasture- dance with the Plant Protec- and corners of the globe can land with permanent vegeta- tion Act. be affected by such catastro- tive cover. Assistance also is : Emergency Conservation phes. The agricultural sector available when land planted Program (ECP): This program is especially vulnerable to specifically for grazing has helps farmers and ranchers natural disasters, as farmers been affected by drought or repair damage to farmlands can lose their homes and their fire. livelihoods in what feels like + Livestock Indemnity Pro- caused by natural disasters. The program also helps put in place 1919 S. Washington Ave the blink of an eye. But farm- gram (LIP): ‘This provides water conservation methods during severe drought. Elk City, OK + Noninsured Disaster As- Bathrooms MAY be a good shelter, provided they are not along an outside wall and have no windows. Contrary to popular belief, there is sistance Program (NAP): ‘This program pays covered produc- ers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or 060.467.4321 nothing magically safe about getting in a prevented planting occur due WWW.premierbuildingswesternoklahoma.com bathtub with a mattress. However, it depends to natural disasters. on the location of your bathroom. Yes Finance 1414 W. 3rd St, Elk City, OK Loans * Checking Accounts * Savings Accounts 980.225.1525 + V4 Great Plains Bank 128 E. Main St, Sayre/ 888-449-2265 « 2017 W. 3rd, Elk City/580-225-2265 gpbankok.com