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"It can't happen to me!" That's what Councilmember Tom Oliva thought, until a recent electrical fire in his home proved that emergencies can happen to anyone.
Thanks to the excellent response by the Tumwater Fire Department (and several neighboring jurisdictions), the fire damage was limited to one wall and very few personal possessions were lost. Nobody was hurt, and the building can be repaired.
Here are a few priorities about emergency preparedness that are important to Councilmember Oliva in the wake of the fire incident.
1. The best defense is a good offense. Carefully inspect your home for preventable fire risks. Don't overload circuits or extension cords. Avoid loose connections between plugs and wall outlets, which can start a fire in minutes. Limit or avoid the use of open flames and candles.
2. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and change batteries in spring and fall. This is no place to save money. After the fire, he added smoke alarms inside rooms as well as in the hall.
3. Program emergency contacts into your cell phone for family members, neighbors and your insurance agent. Remember that you might be locked out of your home for several days. Keep extra keys and medications in a safe, back-up location.
4. Keep insurance up to date for your home and its contents. You might be displaced for several months in the case of a fire.
5. Have an emergency kit available with food, flashlights, and other supplies to last you for up to THREE DAYS if the power goes out from winter storms. 
A little common sense preparation can make a huge difference in how well you fare if an emergency affects you and your loved ones.
Councilmember Oliva serves on the Council's Public Works Committee and represents Tumwater on the Thurston Regional Planning Council and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. He was re-elected to another four-year term on the City Council in 2015. Read more about Councilmember Tom Oliva.
Stay tuned for future editions of Tumwater on Tap to learn how others demonstrate their emergency preparedness leadership in Tumwater.
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 Tumwater Downtown Association and Tumwater Parks and Recreation are proud to sponsor the Annual Tumwater Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on Saturday, December 12, from 2-5 p.m.
Performances by elementary school and local choirs, cookie decorating, holiday crafts, and games make this event a community favorite. The festivities conclude with the ceremonial lighting of the tree at 5:00 p.m. and a visit from Santa on the antique fire truck. Join us for a merry time at the Tumwater Fire Station and City Hall!
Event Parking available in the adjacent Attorney General's Office parking lot (7141 Cleanwater Dr SW). No parking at the Fire Station; disabled parking at City Hall. Please call (360) 754-4160 for more information.
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 Tumwater Timberland Library has many services you might not know about, and they're all free with your library card. In addition to offering nearly 1.2 million books, the Tumwater Timberland Library is a great place to find one-on-one help with computers, engaging activities for children like LEGO Crew and Bilingual Story Time, seasonal events, and teen programs.
For those unable to visit in person, the library continues to expand electronic services available any time of day on computers and mobile devices. From home, you can:
- Catch your favorite movie streaming through Hoopla;
- Download and keep the latest Adele track, classical favorites from the London Symphony Orchestra, or any of the 7 million music tracks available on Freegal;
- Discover a new audio book online through the Timberland Regional Library website; and
- Much, much more!
Adults looking for career development can access Microsoft's online IT Academy, resume assistance, and small business workshops. Library card holders may enroll in Gale online instructor led classes in numerous fields such as graphic design, finance, college and law school readiness, art and music, technology, parenting and family, health and wellness, and writing. No matter your age or interest, there is something for everyone at the library.
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Councilmember Oliva on Emergency Preparedness
