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The new year was ushered in as it always is; ball drops, fireworks, friends, family, and well wishes.

A new year with curiosity for what it holds and hope that anything is possible on a clean calendar allows us to envision a “better you” which improves the world around us.

Thus, why New Year’s Resolutions are made. Setting lofty, extreme goals that are unrealistic is part of the reason why they are broken.

The concept of making a resolution is so ingrained in American culture that a University of Scranton psychology professor studied the practice. Most people looked at self-improvement as their matter-of-change, followed by weight loss and improving relationships around them coming in third. The survey also showed that most resolutions don’t make it out of the gate, with 25% being dropped the first week. 54% don’t even make it past the first six months.

So, what can you realistically do to become and sustain a better you, which in turn can enhance the world around you? Be reasonable. Make realistic goals and take sensible steps.

We want to help you do this. Everyday during the month of January, our 31 Days of One Thing (#1for31)  blog will highlight a program or particular that can help you become a more involved and knowledgeable citizen which leads to a more prepared, safer, and resilient Philadelphia.

January 29th-31st: Money Matters

January 31st: Go Direct

We depend on our paychecks. No clever aphorism attached. Only  the obvious.

In a world that is shifting towards an electronic existence on many fronts, having cash in you wallet or holding a physical check gives us reassurance that our money truly is real.

However, when emergencies affect a community’s infrastructure, like highways shut down due to flooding, what is your Plan B if you rely on the mail to get your paychecks if the delivery service is disrupted? A difficult situation can become worse real fast if you’re evacuated, lose your home or if mail service is interrupted. 85,000 people learned this real life lesson during Hurricane Katrina and, more recently,  during Hurricane Sandy.  Switching to electronic payment is a significant way people can protect themselves before disaster strikes, something we discuss with residents or business owners in our READYHome and READYBusiness presentations.

Do you receive or know someone who gets Federal benefits, such as Social Security and Veterans Administration checks. If you still receive a paper check for your Federal benefit payments, you are jeopardizing getting your funds. Law now requires Treasury Department federal benefit payments to be made electronically, something the Treasury promotes through the Go Direct campaign. You can choose to get your payments by direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or to a Direct Express Debit MasterCard card account.

January 30th: Insurance Assurance

Think of your most valuable assets; family, home, personal belongings, and your business if you own one. If disaster strikes, no matter what the level, having insurance for your home, rental, or business property is key to you enduring the emergency and getting back on your feet. Insurance allows you the financial resources available to help you rebuild, make repairs, or replace damaged items. Yet, more than half of all United States homeowners don’t have adequate homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to replace their home and its contents should a catastrophe occur.

This is why we discuss the importance of insurance during our READYHome and READYBusiness program presentations.

Ask your insurance company for a check-up.  Make sure you have enough homeowners or renter’s insurance for your residence.  Standard homeowners insurance does not  cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for it, and it’s available through your company, agent or the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood insurance requires a 30-day wait period, so act before the storm.

Not all insurance policies are the same. Coverage amounts, deductibles, and payment caps can vary significantly. Talk with your insurance provider to find what fits you best.

A homeowner’s policy generally covers the following:

  • Dwelling: coverage for your house
  • Other Structures: coverage for structures such as garages, decks, and fences
  • Personal Property: coverage for items such as furniture, clothing, and appliances
  • Loss-of-Use: compensation if you need to relocate temporarily due to covered damage
  • Personal Liability: coverage for accidents occurring on your property
  • Medical Protection: payments for a person who is injured on your property

Renter’s insurance policies can include the following coverage types:

  • Personal Property: coverage for items such as furniture and clothing
  • Loss-of-Use: compensation if you need to relocate temporarily due to damage
  • Personal Liability: coverage if sued due to accidental injury to others
  • Medical Payments: payments for a person who’s injured on your property
  • Property Damage to Others: coverage if you accidentally break or damage someone else’s property

If you own a business, you may need to purchase business (or commercial) insurance to protect your business property and employees:

  • Property: protection of your physical business location, such as a store, and its contents
  • Liability: payment for medical costs and other obligations if someone gets hurt on your business property or you or your employees cause property damage, including legal defense costs if you are sued
  • Business Interruption, or Business Income: coverage for lost revenue in the event that a business needs to close due to fire, burglary, or another covered disaster; assistance making rent and utility payments; and coverage for operating your business from a temporary location

An insurance professional can assist a business owner with these additional types of commercial coverage:

  • Business Vehicle: automotive insurance specifically designed for business vehicle use
  • Workers’ Compensation: coverage that provides cash benefits and/or medical care for employees who are injured or fall ill as a direct result of their job; • Flood Insurance—coverage designed for damage to a business property and its contents caused by flooding, which is not typically covered under general business insurance; •
  • Cyber Liability: protection against cyber risks and costs, including data loss or corruption, identity theft, extortion, and reputation recovery
  • Terrorism: coverage for buildings, equipment, furnishings, and inventory damaged or destroyed in a terrorist attack

January 29th: Compelled to Help

An intrinsic instinct of humans is compassion: The need to help someone during a time of need. It is something we at OEM see on a large scale after natural or human-caused disasters or on a more personal level after a fire that displaces a family. People want to know what they can do, what they can give, and who they can donate to.

The best way to help disaster survivors is to make a financial contribution to support their recovery. Many charitable organizations are dedicated to helping survivors in the aftermath of disasters and emergencies. By funding charitable services, your donation can help survivors get back on their feet.

If you need help determining where to donate, check the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster’s list of major non-profits that are active in disaster work.

If you would like to collect disaster relief supplies or food, please consider the following:

  • Find out which organization or group is willing to receive your collected goods before you start collecting supplies or gathering food.
  • Call the organization to find out which supplies the survivors need most urgently.
  • Remember that items needed to support disaster survivors change very rapidly. Some items needed in the immediate aftermath of an emergency may not be required several weeks later.
  • Be prepared to transport the supplies to the sites where the organization needs them to be delivered.
  • Please note, OEM does not directly accept donations at city facilities or evacuation shelters.

Time is more valuable than money. If this is how you would like to help, consider non-profits and partner agencies that we work with during emergencies.

January 22nd-28th: Weather Aware and Ready

January 28th: Social Media Responsibility

Information flows through our digital devices at the speed of send. Certainly a hot topic after this past November is factual information being published and shared on social media platforms.

When it comes to emergency management, it is paramount that the public, elected officials, and first-responders get and give accurate info. Life and death decisions are based on what is received and read.

The number of messages passed along are staggering. Facebook statistics from 2015 said users send an average of 31.25 million messages every minute. Also in 2015, Twitter’s active users tweet a combined average of 347,222 times per minute.

A fictitious storm report, Photoshopped pictures or an old video revived anew  that gets shared, and shared, then shared again, can misinform and cause confusion during a time when precise, accurate details are needed.

Be social media responsible. Does the information make sense? Does the photo match the description? Is it a trusted source? Take a moment to think it through, research it yourself, and for Pete’s sake, read the source’s bio. Think before you commit to click.

Information our office publishes through ReadyPhiladelphia and our Facebook and Twitter page comes from the National Weather Service, SEPTA or city officials and is vetted, ready to share content.

January 27th: Snow Emergency Explained

Municipalities and counties define Snow Emergency differently. It is based on public safety and infrastructure needs.

In Philadelphia, the Managing Director will declare a Snow Emergency prior to the storm’s arrival based on the National Weather Service forecast. The main action of a Snow Emergency is a ban on parking on Snow Emergency routes. This is so the Philadelphia Streets Department can plow the 110 miles of snow emergency routes from curb-to-curb. Residents should look for snow emergency route signs along streets where they work, live, or shop.

According to the Streets Department, One of the major challenges they face is snow being shoveled back into plowed streets after city teams clear the street. This practice is not only illegal, it’s a hazard to drivers and pedestrians. Another challenge is cars parked too close to a corner, which interfere with the turning radius of snow removal equipment. Philadelphia Code 12-9131(1)(b)(iii) prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

Information and details from the City will be published through free ReadyPhiladelphia alerts and on social media accounts. Updates to the storm and information on city services will be published through social media accounts and on the City’s homepage in the Service Updates section. Follow @PhiladelphiaGov, @PhilaOEM, @PhillyPolice, @PhillyFireDept, @PhilaStreets, and @Philly311 for updates.

January 26th: Gauge Your Flood Concern

Floods are one of the most common natural hazards in the United States. According to the Pennsylvania 2013 Hazard Mitigation Plan, Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the U.S., with the southeastern region, including Philadelphia, being the most susceptible.

Severe storms that cause streams, creeks, and rivers to swell prompt the National Weather Service to issue Flood Watches and Warnings. OEM in turn sends important information through free ReadyPhiladelphia alerts regarding actions like moving to higher ground or not driving through closed or flooded roadways.

You can check flood stages from your laptop or phone as well. The National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, aka flood-stage monitoring site, takes data from flood gauges placed at certain waterways throughout our area and give you real time water levels along with flood stages and timing.

January 25th: Get a Grip

An enjoyable seasonal sport associated with winter’s weather products of cold, snow, and ice is skiing and ice skating. This, when you’re on the slopes or in a rink. Not so much when you’re in your car on the road or find yourself slipping down a sidewalk. Having the right traction on your tires or feet is important to avoiding accidents while travelling on wintry conditions.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured on snowy, slushy or icy surfaces annually.

Make sure you tires treads are not warn or bald. You do not have to visit a mechanic to check. All you need is a penny. Simply insert a penny into your tire’s tread with Honest Abe’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it’s time to replace your tires.

Examine your soul too…..I meant sole. Your shoes should have raised tread for traction as well. Bonus suggestion: walk on ice and snow like a penguin to help avoids falls. Center of gravity over front leg and slight steps rather than walking in the center of a stride.

In Philadelphia, neighbors look to keep their pavements clear after a snow storm to help avoid slip and falls as City code requires 3 feet of path to be shoveled outside of your property six hours after the storm ends.

January 24th: Know the Snow

The National Weather Service launched an experimental program last year. The “Probabilistic Snowfall Forecast” gives the public and National Weather Service partners, like the Office of Emergency Management, another tool to gauge the impact of an approaching snow or ice storm.

Broken up into three categories (Expect at Least This Much, Most Likely, and Potential for This Much), the page looks to highlight the range of possibilities and probabilities to provide you with a full range of forecast information direct from the source so you can make more informed decisions on whether the weather will affect your plans.

Add this to free ReadyPhiladelphia alerts to become prepared and well informed on the forecast.

January 23rd: Advisories, Watches, and Warnings: What They Mean to You

Weather gets our attention. See, I got yours. It affects daily life, whether adding time to a commute, causing us to dress in layers or add more sunscreen, and postponing an event that we were looking forward to.

Now, add the words Advisory, Watch, or Warning to Winter Weather or Extreme Heat and you’re really focused in on weather. But what do those terms mean to you? An added level of awareness, preparedness, and action.

Only the National Weather Service can issue these statements. Information gathered from special weather statements compose the important information OEM shares through free ReadyPhiladelphia alerts which are sent to your electronic device, email inbox, or on our Twitter or Facebook pages.

Advisories, Watches, and Warnings are issued by your local National Weather Service office. Philadelphia’s regional office, based in Mount Holly, knows our area and will issue special weather statements based on local criteria and trigger points.

So, what do these words mean? Although each has slightly different criteria depending on the season and type of weather, in general:

  • Advisory: Informational statements that severe weather could affect your area. Meant to make you aware of forecast conditions and hazards that may occur as a result and could affect your plans.
  • Watch: Statements issued when conditions are favorable and there is the potential for dangerous weather approaching. Meant for you to prepare for any measures you may need to take due to severe weather.
  • Warning: Statements issued when severe weather is imminent or occurring. Meant for you to take action on hazards associated with the type of severe weather and follow direction from local officials for safety.

January 22nd: Where to Go for Info

Becoming a meteorologist is a scholarly process and involves many disciplines such as science, math, and intrinsic qualities such as old-fashioned instinct. Years of training and being able to interpret varied computer models allow them to give you their most accurate forecast to so you are safe, prepared, and aware.

There are trusted resources that allow you, the public, to find a forecast or information on a weather related incident when you local television meteorologist is not on air.

The National Weather Service website will give you your forecast all at the touch of your phone or keypad. Entering your zip code on their website will bring up your regional map and any hazards, like wind advisories, winter weather watches, or extreme heat warnings to name a few.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a flood observation page that allows you to view areas that are a concern for rising water levels.

By adding an extra layer of knowledge, you become more informed and therefore, prepared.

January 15th-21st: Technology Smart

January 21st: Safety APP-ropriate

During Hurricane Sandy, we saw electronic devices become a primary means of communication and safety notification. Technology and socia media have only evolved since then. Facebook’s Safety Check program is a good example.

During and after an emergency, we recommend texting or notifying loved ones through social media, like Facebook or Twitter, to let them know that you’re ok. This keeps 9-1-1 phone lines open for emergencies.

If you would like to take digital safety one step farther, there are paid and free apps like Parachute, Kitestring, bSafe, and Safe Trek, that contact 9-1-1, sound an alarm, allow you to instantly contact those close to you during an emergency, services that check in with you and send an alert to pre-selected contacts should you fail to respond, privately alert friends that you’ve arrived at your destination, give your GPS location, and record video as well.

Keep in mind that if you have a real emergency, always contact emergency services at 911. An app may have its flaws and cannot substitute our professional first-responders.

January 20th: Internet Fraud Glossary

The internet can be used as a tool to commit crime and fraud against an unsuspecting public. One of the best was to avoid being a victim is to indulge in being educated. Use the FBI’s online tips form or the IC3 website to report potential cases of Internet fraud.

According to the FBI, high profile means and methods of Internet Fraud include:

Business E-Mail Compromise (BEC): A sophisticated scam targeting businesses working with foreign suppliers and companies that regularly perform wire transfer payments. The scam is carried out by compromising legitimate business e-mail accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques to conduct unauthorized transfers of funds.

Data Breach: A leak or spill of data which is released from a secure location to an untrusted environment. Data breaches can occur at the personal and corporate levels and involve sensitive, protected, or confidential information that is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or used by an individual unauthorized to do so.

Denial of Service: An interruption of an authorized user’s access to any system or network, typically one caused with malicious intent.

E-Mail Account Compromise (EAC): Similar to BEC, this scam targets the general public and professionals associated with, but not limited to, financial and lending institutions, real estate companies, and law firms. Perpetrators of EAC use compromised e-mails to request payments to fraudulent locations.

Malware/Scareware: Malicious software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems. Sometimes scare tactics are used by the perpetrators to solicit funds from victims.

Phishing/Spoofing: Both terms deal with forged or faked electronic documents. Spoofing generally refers to the dissemination of e-mail which is forged to appear as though it was sent by someone other than the actual source. Phishing, also referred to as vishing, smishing, or pharming, is often used in conjunction with a spoofed e-mail.

Ransomware: A form of malware targeting both human and technical weaknesses in organizations and individual networks in an effort to deny the availability of critical data and/or systems. 

January 19th: Back Up Now

Our electronics have become our everything. Our computers and phones evolved into our photo albums, scheduling assistant, link to social life, health coach, and business partner, to name a few.

For as important a role computers play in our everyday life, how often do you backup your files? Not taking time to make copies of important documents along with pictures and not saving them in other locations can be detrimental, especially for small business owners. This process is an important part of a Continuity of Operations Plan, or COOP, something that we highlight in our READYBusiness program.

Any files only saved on your computer are at risk if there is a malfunction and cannot be retrieved. Backing up files is easier than ever with the existence of the cloud or even emailing yourself documents to be saved on your email server.

January 18th: Software Current-cy

Seeing pop-ups on your screen asking you to update antivirus software or your operating system’s security make be white-noise to you. We’re all guilty of putting off those updates. But what saves you a moment in the short term could cost you much more time and money later. Out-of-date software on a computer is more prone to hackers and viruses which may open up access to your private information or content that could compromise your work’s business network.

Cyber-criminals and hackers look to exploit weaknesses such as out-of-date software. Take a moment before you click OK however. Take the Department of Homeland Security’s advice and Stop. Think. Connect.

January 17th: Slim Down in the New Year  (Your Email Accounts, That Is)

Consolidate your email addresses and close those that are old and unused. There is a paradox in the cyber communications world; It is good to have several different passwords to help keep accounts secure, but not such a good idea to have several personal and business email addresses.

You may not even be aware of old accounts on old platforms you’ve forgotten about. Not keeping up with them could cause your accounts to be hacked and your information compromised without your knowledge.

January 16th: Gone Phishing

Avoid the bait: Avoid becoming a phishing victim. We discussed this method of cyber crime in November during Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience month. Stick By the “if it’s too good to be true” adage. Don’t click on links or open attachments that arrived in your email inbox or phone unexpectedly. Scams look very convincing, coming in many forms; social media, prize emails, voicemail, eFaxes, invoices or from the IRS.

Opening links or attachments may open information and content on your computer to hackers.

January 15th: New Year, New You, New Passwords!

Raise your mouse if you have or have used Password1234 as a password. With hacking and data breach stories filling our social media timelines and newscasts, you would think having a strong password and changing it every few months would be paramount. But it is not. We use names, phrases, and dates that are important to us. That personal information, ironically, is also available to hackers through that same internet by simple Google searches.

Stolen identity, drained bank accounts, and unauthorized purchases cause huge headaches and months, sometimes years of damage. Internet crime can debilitate businesses, something we have a conversation with business owners and employees in our READYBusiness program.

Google suggests using a mix of numbers and letters, having a unique password for each account, and making sure your backup password options are up to date and secure. If you have a hard time remembering, don’t write down passwords on sticky notes and place on your computer monitor. If you choose to save passwords in a file on your computer, create a name for the file that won’t give it away. If you have a difficult time remembering multiple passwords, use a trusted password manager. Take security one step further and use 2-Step Verification if available.

For cyber criminals, hacking and data breach is their business, 24/7, 365. It’s up to us, an informed public, to stay ahead of their game.

January 8th-14th: Home Safety

January 14th: Community and Life Improvement

Philadelphian’s are very proud of the neighborhoods they come from. Street intersections reflect an attitude in some. Part of having community pride is keeping your section of the city clean, as it can be reflection of you.

Pride is a base principle of our READYCommunity program and a foundation of the City’s CLIP (Community Life Improvement Programs) agency.

CLIP performs a lot of functions to help make Philadelphia More Beautiful, but its bread and butter is graffiti removal and empty lot cleanup. In 2016, CLIP cleaned over 113,000 properties and street fixtures of graffiti, inspected over 40,000 vacant lots, clearing 15,000 of them of trash, and completed over 1,200 service projects for the city.

A clear lot and debris free street creates less hazards for first-responders and neighborhoods, and also builds community pride!

January 13th: Prepare for Power Outages

Power outages always seem to happen at the most importune moments; Thanksgiving turkey in the oven, Super Bowl game winning drive, the hottest heat, and chilliest cold. While there are some things you can do to prevent power outages in and around your home, it’s best to be knowledgeable and have a plan in place if an outage should occur.

Our office preaches having a flashlight, a battery operated AM/FM radio, and spare batteries in a Shelter-in-Place kit for easy access. Keeping your cell phone fully charged is a smart preparedness idea as well. Other beneficial knowledge includes:

  • Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Candles become a fire hazard.
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed tight as most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely for several hours. An unopened fridge can keep food at the proper temperature for about 4 hours.
  • If hot out, find a location to stay cool. The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management may open a Cooling Center if warranted. Wear light colored, lightweight clothing and keep hydrated with water, even if you’re not feeling that thirsty.
  • If cold out, wear layers of clothing. Do not burn charcoal indoors nor use your over as a source of heating. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location, like a relative or friends house. OEM may open up a Warming Center if there is a need.
  • Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices. Consider adding surge protectors.
  • If you are considering purchasing a generator for your home, consult an electrician or engineer before purchasing and installing.
  • Only use generators away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage, or connect it to your home’s electrical system.

Philadelphia’s power provider PECO has ways to help before, during, and after a storm, including; preventing outages, storm readiness, storm restoration process, reporting outages online, and tracking current outages.

PECO also wants you to know you can report an outage on mobile via text message to 697326 (MYPECO). To report a gas emergency or a downed or sparking power line, please call 1-800-841-4141. If there is a street light outage, call Philadelphia’s non-emergency number 3-1-1. Street lights in the city of Philadelphia are owned and maintained by the city.

January 12th: Lifesavers are Sweet

What you would do if someone around you is having a medical emergency, besides calling 9-1-1 and staying calm? If you took a First Aid Class you would be better prepared and informed to help until first-responders arrived.

The American Red Cross Philadelphia is one of several organizations to offer such classes, which go beyond First Aid to include Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, better known as CPR, and Automated External Defibrillator (aka AED) training.

Speaking of AED’s, the University of Pennsylvania began crowdsourcing AED locations throughout the City of Philadelphia so you are aware if your location has one.

Also, we know you can never forget your pets. How can you? They’re always following you. Take a Pet First Aid Class for your furry family members and learn how to help them when they need you the most.

Become a hero in your house. Spend time to learn how to save a life. Someone close to you will be happy you did.

January 11th: Get your Go-Bag

Emergencies are not planned. That is why it is so important to plan for them. If an emergency hits your home or neighborhood, do you have the basic supplies to help keep you and your family healthy, safe, and financially protected when you need to leave your home quickly?

A Go-Bag provides this for you. Some examples include:

Planning for the unknown helps you overcome a crisis and recover when the emergency is over. Planning and preparation will help you avoid risks and give you peace of mind.

January 10th: Don’t Wait: Communicate

Who knows you better: Your family or your electronic device? If the advertisements that pop-up on your home screen or social media are any indication, the answer is right there in your own hands. Several studies published over the past few years indicate Americans spend a work-shift on average, anywhere from 7.5 to 9 hours a day on their electronic devices.

Although cell phones, tablets, and social media help people communicate during an emergency, there is nothing more important than sitting down and having old-fashioned face-to-face communication setting up a Family Emergency Plan.

Having phone contact numbers, meet-up locations, copies of important documents, and any medical issues written down are just some of the important issues to know BEFORE and emergency.

A chance to sit down together, coming up with and practicing a plan, like a Fire Escape Plan, is a great way to have quality time with an important purpose, away from staring at your electronics.

Having time together is valuable. Having an Family Emergency Plan is indispensable.

January 9th: These are the People in Your Neighborhood

Philadelphia is known as the “City of Neighborhoods”, a moniker you can see on some of the overpasses throughout the city.

This was earned by residents in tight-knit communities who look out for one another’s safety and well-being, a base principle in the Office of Emergency Management’s READYCommunity program where we help you be prepared, which you then take into your neighborhood.

Get out and meet your neighbors, especially those with access and functional needs or are vulnerable, like the elderly.

Get their phone numbers. When an emergency happens or when the weather is extreme in the winter or summer, check in on them and see if they need help. That good feeling you get helps maintain Philly’s “City of Neighborhoods” designation.

January 8th: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The terms Shelter-In-Place and Evacuation are common and seemingly broad definitions during emergencies. The meaning and reasons are very specific, and very important to the safety of the public.

A Shelter-In-Place order by Philadelphia Police or Philadelphia Fire for residents or businesses is used when there is a threat outside the residence or building. This can be a haz-mat situation in the air or an active shooter, for example. Sometimes, during an police or fire response, residents will be asked to stay within their homes. This may not be an actual Shelter-In-Place order, but necessary for the safety of the public and first-responders,  when there is a lot of activity and equipment on the streets.

An Evacuation is requested when the danger is within the property you are occupying. If an evacuation is necessary, the Office of Emergency Management may open up a Reception Center or Shelter along with requesting a SEPTA bus to stay on scene as a Warming Center.

If Philadelphia Police or Philadelphia Fire request either a Shelter-In-Place or Evacuation, there will be notifications at the scene by first-responders and by the Office of Emergency through ReadyPhiladelphia and social media.

January 1st-7th: City Services

January 7th: Hearing the Sirens, Knowing the Meaning

The first weekend of every month, residents throughout the northeast, south, and southwest sections of the city hear sirens at noon. The sound is Philadelphia Prisons and Philadelphia Energy Solutions testing their Community Alert Siren System.

As a means to notify residents why the sirens are being used, free text or email messages are sent to ReadyPhiladelphia subscribers. Its another method to keep citizens in communication, important especially if there should be a true emergency.

Information, such as the nature of the alert, a description of a prisoner escapee or instructions such as shelter-in-place, evacuation, and reception center locations would be sent in the event of a real situation.

January 6th: Protect Your Property: Register Your Bike

Heightened interest in biking as a choice of transportation in the City of Philadelphia can be gauged by the move to add and upgrade miles of bike lanes, as noted in a recent Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia article.

In 2016, the city also saw its first parking-protected bike lane on Ryan Avenue, a few blocks west of Cottman and Frankford in the Northeast.

An increased interest in biking may also lead to an uptick in opportunity by criminals.

If your bike is stolen, a likely initial question by Philadelphia Police when you report the crime will be, “Is your bike registered?”

You can register your bike with Philadelphia Police. Your police district’s community relations or crime prevention officer can help you, as noted in this blog from Philly Police website. Some police districts, like the 6th and 17th, allow you to do this online.

January 5th: Beautify Your Home, Help the Environment and Save Money

Our partners at the Philadelphia Water Department want you to know residents can save money on outdoor landscaping and other green projects by signing up for the Rain Check program. Signing up for the program in the winter is a smart way to beat the spring rush and avoid longer wait times for projects like rain barrels, rain gardens, downspout planters and more. All you have to do to get set up ahead of the busy season for discounted spring greening projects is attend one of PWD’s upcoming free workshops.

January 4th:  Help Individuals Who Are Homeless

Have you walked by a person on the street who is homeless, and thought to yourself, “What can I really do that will make a difference?”

Being conscientious of those less fortunate may happen more during the extreme cold, like when a Code Blue is declared by the City.

However, the needs by those who are homeless as well as city agencies and non-profits who help them are year-round.

  • The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services and Project Home will be conducting the 2017 Point in Time Count on January 26th.  The outreach gives both the city and federal government a census on unsheltered individuals. The organization had a great response for volunteers, so they are no longer in need of team members. Project Home does need experienced outreach workers to help as team leaders though for the count.
  • Project Home’s work goes beyond January 26th of course and there are always ways to help 365 days a year.
  • An initiative supported by the Mayor’s Fund of Philadelphia, Ending Street Homelessness Challenge, calls for everyone’s help to establish more supportive housing and offers assistance for those looking to help those who are homeless.
  • There are may more non-profits in the city that provide assistance for everything from; food, shelter, mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Project Home compiled these agencies and non-profits in an easy to read, printable “Where to Turn Guide“.

January 3rd: Who You Gonna Call?

Have a question, concern or emergency and not sure who can answer it best? It’s your call.

Philadelphia has a great department and resource in Philly311, the city’s non-emergency number. Whether it is over the phone, in person, on the web, social media, via email or their app, Philly311 looks too answer your question or direct your concern to the proper department. Philly311 also keeps the City’s emergency line, 911, open for those who needs quick access to police, fire, or ems.

  • 211 will provide free quick and easy access to information about health and human services.
  • 411 is the nationwide information system available any time day or night to get a phone number by utilizing a name of the person or business. This service may or may not be free depending on your provider.
  • 511 is a free nationwide telephone number for traveler information, including any traffic delay and tourism information, as well as weather and transit information.
  • 611 is a free service to everyone using a wireless phone that quickly connects you with your provider.
  • 711 is the dialing code for access to Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). It allows persons with a hearing or speech disability to use.
  • 811 is the free national number designated to protect landscapers/contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects.

January 2nd: Keep the Holidays Green and Your City Sustainable

The Philadelphia Street Department’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program kicks off Tuesday. The program, now in its 28th year, runs January 3rd through January 14th.  Trees can be dropped off anytime at six Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers and on Saturdays at 23 drop-off sites throughout the city.

It gives residents an environmentally beneficial alternative to putting them curbside. Your tree returns to the earth as mulch and compost and saves cost rather than adding to the city’s waste stream.

You can do your own recycling as well with tips from Philly Streets. In a season of discarded wrapping paper and boxes, the Philadelphia Streets Department wants to remind you to stay seasonal year-round in your recycling with their 3 R’s that are important to the environment; Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce.

January 1st: Answers at Your Fingertips

When we do our READYCommunity, READYBusiness or READYHome workshops, we find involved residents or business owners always want more information. And we love and appreciate that. If you think you’re alone in what your need may be, whether it’s a “How do I” or “How Can I”, chances are in a city of 1.5 million people, you’re not alone.

The City of Philadelphia’s redesigned website answers those questions, 24/7, and brings city government to your screen. The homepage features hot topics that the public is searching for under ‘Trending requests’, updates on city services, and a section for those looking to give back under ‘Take action in your community’.