When you are experiencing an emergency, you call 911. In that moment, the only thing that you may be concerned with is receiving help. But, after receiving the help you needed, you may start to replay the experience in your mind. Often times, you are left wondering whether the information that the 911 operator automatically had about your call is secure, and whether the call itself is secure. Privacy is important, so these are valid concerns. Here is what you need to know about 911 and your privacy. 

When a person picks up the phone to call 9-1-1 during an emergency, the expectation is that a dispatcher will pick up immediately, quickly determine the nature of the problem and then send help in the form of first responders. 

In many cases the dispatchers have to work off of incomplete information, from a person who is in crisis or is making the call during a chaotic scene. There might be an answer from a coherent person speaking clearly to describe what’s happening, but sometimes all the dispatcher can hear is screaming in the background or sounds of gunfire and has to send help over with scanty details about what to expect.

Smartphones and the constant connectivity provided by the internet keep us up to date on just about everything you care about on a minute to minute basis. From the latest celebrity news to what you need to pick-up from the grocery store on the way home, you wouldn’t even attempt to go a day without getting the many notifications that you rely on to keep your head straight. However, there are some notifications that are even more important, and you need to make sure that you have opted into those notifications to ensure that you are up to date on potentially life-saving information that is pushed out to keep you safe in our community. This is especially true for keeping up to date with emergency weather alerts that could prevent you from being left stranded or in peril danger as a result of major weather events.

Winter holidays present a rare chance to celebrate the magic of family, along with the spirit of the season. Unfortunately, they also bring with them increased risks to your health and safety. Staying vigilant against criminals and household risks are the best ways to keep the season special -- and safe. 

The latest trend in holiday feasts is fried turkey. While it's crispy outside, and juicey seared inside is a special treat, frying a turkey can be rather dangerous. In fact, the US Fire Administration reports that Thanksgiving Day sees more in-home fire reports than any other day, largely due to improper cooking methods.

Many cases are the result of people frying turkeys indoors, which is a no-no. That being said, here are some additional—and equally important—turkey frying risks to be aware of even when cooking these birds up outdoors.

Halloween can be a fun night for children. However, you want to ensure the night is full of treats, without any tricks that can turn hazardous. Taking the time to plan ahead of time and follow safety tips can help to ensure that you and your children are safe while they are out in the dark trick-or-treating. Here are five Halloween safety tips we hope you will follow. 

No matter what time of year it is, water safety is always a concern for first responders — and it should be for you, as well. From indoor pool parties to Spring break vacations, the possibility of drowning incidents never goes away. Learning water safety basics, as well as how high tech solutions can help in emergency situations, is a crucial component in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.

The first day of school normally brings butterflies of excitement, paired with the thrill of wearing new shoes or clothes for the first time and the joy of brand new school supplies. This year, the normal excitement is tempered by an unprecedented situation. Instead of just wondering if they will have their best friend in any of their classes or if they will have to sit alphabetically in the lunchroom, kids are worried about getting sick and possibly losing someone they love to a virus without a proven treatment or a known cure.

Thankfully, as a parent, there are ways for you to ease their fears and create a sense of wellbeing for your kids, even amid the chaos and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. We at Montgomery County Emergency Communication are happy to help you make going back to school a little easier with these tips from Hackensack Meridian Health:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid public health crisis, changing almost daily. On July 18 almost half of Texas’ 254 counties, including those in the Houston metro region, were classified as being in the “red zone”  because of new COVID-19 cases and rising positivity rates. Texas, which has mandated restrictions in response to COVID-19, has seen five straight days of 10,000+ new cases as of July 19.

Hurricane season officially started on June 1, 2020 and will run through November. With many stores currently operating with limited hours and inventory, preparing for hurricanes this year is even more important. So far, 2020 has already had four named tropical storms, with two of those, Arthur and Bertha, forming in May.

We’ve seen several predictions for a busy 2020 season. While we’re already one month into the season, it’s not too late to make sure you’re ready for future storms.