“TOPs”

townwatch on Patrols

Newsletter

Pennsbury Townwatch Inc. 

Summer 2003 – Issue No. 5

  “TOPs”  -  TOWNWATCH on Patrol

 

Welcome to “TOPs”, Pennsbury Townwatch’s member newsletter.  Townwatch can be reached at 610-388-0785.

 

Pennsbury Townwatch

 

Board of Directors

Mark Girardot                       Victor Higgs

Connie Holland- Sec.           Ron Majors- President

Diane Mateson                     John McMahon

Kevin Meloney                      Claudia Peters

Norm Pritchett                      Cliff Sayre

Jim Sears-V.P.                     Richard Ward-Treasurer

 

President’s  Corner

Most of this issue of TOPs is devoted to an appeal for  assistance to the Pennsbury Emergency Management Team to possibly aid the team during an emergency in the Township. Although the charters of Pennsbury Townwatch and the Pennsbury Emergency Management Team are different, both organizations are seeking to ensure a safe, worry-free environment in our Community.

Townwatch provides daily neighborhood patrolling, an extra set of eyes and ears as an extension of our State Police. Emergency Management provides support to incident and emergency first responders such as fire, medical or the state police and to Township officials only in the case of a real emergency.  I encourage you to consider becoming a member of the Emergency Management network. More details and a reply return forms are in this newsletter.                          

I would like to thank those of you who responded to our 2003 Townwatch Membership Drive.  We received over $4000 in donations to allow us to continue our active patrolling in the Township.   

We have continued our active patrolling efforts throughout the summer months. If you see one of our active patrollers in your neighborhood with a Townwatch sign on their car, give them a friendly wave to recognize their efforts in helping to keep our Township one of the safest in Chester County.

By the way, we have over 100 Townwatch signs spread out in the Township on main roads and entrances to housing developments. We do have extras; if you feel that your neighborhood should have a Townwatch sign at the entrance,
please leave a message at 610-388-0785. The Pennsbury Road Crew will place a sign at the specified location letting would-be criminals know that we are on patrol and to move on.

As the summer draws to an end, remember that school will soon be starting and to be careful of the school buses and children crossing the streets and roads in our Township.

Sincerely,

Ron. Majors

 

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Driving on Flooded Roads

 

With all the rain we have been having, it is probably appropriate to review driving during violent rainstorms. Moving floodwaters are extremely dangerous.  In fact, a force of only six inches of swiftly moving water can knock people off their feet.  Two feet of water can carry away an automobile.  If you see high water on the road, don’t just drive into it.  What may seem like a puddle, could actually strand  or sweep  your car away.  In fact, where Route 926 crosses the Brandywine Creek is a good example of where swiftly moving currents can cause major problems.   At least once or twice a year, a motorist gets trapped on this bridge when both sides of the road are flooded. 

Longwood Fire Department gets several calls during major rainstorms where people took a chance crossing a flooded roadway.  If you are in your car and floodwater rises around it, leave it there and move to higher ground.  That’s right, get out of your car.  You can always replace your car but you cannot replace your life. 

 

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Loss of Steering Due to a Blowout!

If you experience a vehicle tire blowout and a temporary loss of steering because of it, you don’t have to panic.  You can survive the situation by following certain safety measures.  Listed below are some things to do if you experience a blowout:

·         If your front tire blows, the vehicle may suddenly veer wildly as though you’ve thrown the steering wheel to one side.  A blown rear tire will usually make the car steer off-track to a lessor degree.

·         Don’t over correct, hold tightly onto the steering wheel and slow down gradually. 

·         Don’t slam on the brakes even though that might be your first instinct.  In fact, hitting the brakes might cause you to lose control of your vehicle.   Slow down gradually and try to roll off the roadway or to a safe area to stop.   

·         It is possible to drive on a flat tire in order to reach a safe place to stop.  Better to sacrifice a wheel rim than your life.

·         Use common sense.  When changing a tire, protect your self from the traffic.  Use your emergency flashers, flares and reflectors when possible. 

 

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Assistance To Pennsbury Township Emergency Management

Pennsbury Township’s Emergency Management Team has asked Townwatch to explore ways in which Townwatch volunteers might possibly assist that team during an emergency in the Township.

Their interest in our support makes good sense.  Our patrol volunteers number about eighty residents – all with a proven interest in the Township and a detailed knowledge of its roads and structures.

For those not familiar with Emergency Management, it is an  organization set up to help our Elected Officials in caring for the Township and its residents during and after an emergency.  Emergency Management does not provide incident response. That is provide by “first responders” such as the State Police, the Longwood Fire Company, and related county and state agencies.

What Emergency Management does is to communicate with and support those “first responders” providing them with Township information and resources, and assisting them in determining the effects of a given emergency.  When first responders finish their work, Emergency Management assists Townwatch Elected Officials in coping with the aftermath of an emergency and expediting the Township’s return to normal.  

Should an emergency arise in the Township, the Emergency Management Team (which numbers fourteen) could find itself needing “extra hands.  They would like to compile a list of those Townwatch members who might be willing to be called upon.  No training or other commitment would be involved.  This would be simply a networking effort.  Contributions you might be asked to make could include:

·         Providing information about the effect of an emergency on your road or neighborhood.

·         Contacting a neighbor with special needs whom Emergency Management is unable to reach.

·         Relaying information to a neighbor.

·         Assisting an Emergency Management Damage Assessment Team by providing “local knowledge” or other information

There will be an orientation meeting in late summer or early fall for those who volunteer to acquaint them with the members of the Emergency Management Team and how the team is organized.

If you would like to be a part of this network, please complete and mail the form on the enclosed page.

Thank you,

Pennsbury Townwatch Board of Directors 

 

 

Please complete and mail to:                              Pennsbury Emergency Management

                                                                                702 Baltimore Pike

                                                                                Chadds Ford PA 19317      

 

Name:     _____________________________________________      

Address:_____________________________________________

Home Phone:  _________________________________________                      

Cell Phone:  ___________________________________________

E-mail Address:  ________________________________________