Page 8 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - October 2024

8

SAFETY

The Chehalis Tribal Public Safety and Emergency Management team educated community members on how to be ready for emergencies.

Emergency prep HOW TO ACCESS WATER FROM YOUR HOME’S HOT WATER HEATER

Your home’s water heater could provide you with ELECTRIC
By Bobbie Bush 30-80 gallons of water for drinking, cooking, and
hygiene. (Note: tankless heaters do not provide this
The Chehalis Tribal Public Safety and Emergency option.) Follow the steps outlined below.
Management Meet and Greet was held from 11 a.m.- 1. Locate your water heater. Typically, water heaters
2 p.m. Sept. 19. Chehalis Tribal and community members are in the basement or garage of free-standing homes
learned about valuable resources to prepare and protect and in closets of apartments and manufactured homes.
themselves from disasters and other hazards.
Emergency Management Manager Clinton Davis and 2. Determine what type of water heater you have.
Emergency Management Coordinator Cal Bray offered Most water heaters are powered by electricity or natural
displays of emergency food and water systems, handouts gas. Natural gas water heaters typically have a vent on
for emergency water sanitation, a really cool pet first aid the top, a pilot light and a gas line at the bottom.
kit and a portable homemade commode. 3. Turn off your water heater’s power source. This
The suggestion is to have at least a 72-hour emergency step is crucial to ensuring your safety. You may want
supply of water and food for all members of your household. to keep a flash light, safety goggles, gloves and a
Clint said a three-week supply would be optimum. screwdriver in a location that is easily accessible.
Public Safety Administration Coordinator Mary n Electric water heaters: Shut off your water
Sanders estimated that 55 Tribal and community heater’s power by flipping the correct switch on your
members stopped by to gain important information. electrical panel. (Consider taking the time to identify
Officer Jake Dickerson and other Public Safety staff the correct circuit breaker beforehand.)
prepared a barbecue hot dog and hamburger lunch.
n Natural gas water heaters: Locate the on/off
switch on the water heater and turn the knob to the
pilot setting — do not turn it completely off.
4. Turn off your water heater’s water supply. Locate
the water shut-off valve (typically located on the top of
the water heater) and turn it clockwise until it stops.
5. Let air into your water heater. You can do this by
opening the relief valve (flip the handle so that it sticks
straight up or out) located on the side of the tank or by
turning on hot water spigots in the main living area or
upstairs in your home. This will help release water from
your water heater.
6. Locate the drain valve at the bottom of your
water heater and release water from your tank as
needed. Place a container under the drain valve spigot
to capture the water and turn the spigot or screw of
your water heater’s drain valve to the left. Be careful
because the water may be very hot. Wear gloves and
safety glasses for your protection. Turn the spigot or
screw to the right to stop the flow of water. Repeat this
process as needed until the tank is drained of water.