Month: September 2019

As of May 1, you cannot openly burn debris in the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division enforces a 54-county burn ban from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year in order to prevent air pollution.

Limiting Ozone Production

According to EPD, Ozone, a greenhouse gas that can cause respiratory irritation, can be formed by the pollutants produced by open burning. Ozone is already at increased levels in Georgia during the summer, and the burn ban is intended to prevent more from being produced.

A major source of these pollutants is the burning of fuels and other combustible materials. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas must be restricted during the summer months. Beginning May 1st and ending September 30th, EPD’s Open Burning Ban will be enforced in 54 Georgia counties.

Details of the Ban

Grills and campfires are not prohibited by the ban, so your summer cookouts and camping trips are not restricted. Agricultural burning, firefighting training, and operating “open flame equipment” are also permissible.

The ban will be lifted on October 1, at which point, all other outdoor burning is allowed throughout the state of Georgia.

As autumn approaches and winter draws near, the days begin to grow shorter making it the perfect time to re-evaluate your home security systems. Are there any aspects of your home security you need to tweak or change in order to keep potential burglars at bay? If soo, what do you need to do to ensure your home is safe?

Check All Points of Entry & Security Equipment

Check Your Windows and Doors – Make sure to check all windows and doors to ensure all locks are working. Think about whether you need any additional security measures such as safety restrictors for certain areas of the home.

Are Home Security Systems Working – Whether alarms to signal unlawful entry or door intercom systems to see and hear who is entering your home, verifying all home systems are working and up to date is an important part of your checklist.

Lock-up Outdoor Areas – If you have a garage, standalone structure, or gates to the side or exterior of your home, ensure that all padlocks are in working order. If necessary, upgrade your home by investing in additional locks if you don’t already have them.

For more information about home security tips for this winter, speak to one of our experts at EMC Security.

An estimated 1,579,527 burglaries occurred in the United States in 2018, but only 216,010 of those intruders were arrested — that’s just 13.67%.

Establishing a neighborhood watch program is an easy and effective way to keep your community secure.

Consider the following benefits.

1. Fight Crime for a Safer Community

The most obvious reason to organize a neighborhood watch program is to prevent crime. Groups that meet regularly and communicate efficiently are the most effective at reducing community incidents.

To get the most out of your group:

• Gather interested neighbors and define a group goal.
• Talk with the local police department to better understand common crimes, warning signs and best practices for action.
• Schedule regular gatherings so residents can get to know one another and decide on upcoming program strategies.
• Customize action plans based on the specific needs of your neighborhood. Unique activities may include, but are not limited to, forming citizen patrols to support local police officers, offering crime prevention training, applying a phone or email list in case of emergency, offering victim support services and/or assessing homes for vulnerabilities.
• Establish a reliable communication channel to keep all members informed. This could be a newsletter, website or Facebook group.
• Assign a block captain for every 10-15 houses to gather and distribute information between neighbors in their assigned area.
• Look for openings to educate residents on suspicious activity and how to alert the group or authorities appropriately.
• Advertise your program. Put up signs to warn criminals and encourage neighbors to join.

2. Create a Broad Sense of Awareness

Another benefit of a neighborhood watch program is a more connected community. Alert neighbors can stop crime and keep residents safe—while making the neighborhood a more welcoming environment.

Here’s how you can do your part:

• Contact law enforcement if you see someone in trouble, or illegal, suspicious or unusual activity. It’s important to be precise in your observations.
• Learn your neighbors’ schedules. Many have jobs that require them to be away from their homes for hours during the day. Single-home dwellings are more likely to be targeted during the day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you notice something that seems suspicious, discuss it with your neighbor or ask questions.
• Share concerns openly with your neighbors; if possible, work together to find a solution.
• If a neighbor will be out of town, offer to collect mail, mow a lawn or shovel the sidewalk while they are away.

3. Spotlight Other Important Issues

Neighborhood watch programs can also provide a platform to consider other vital matters like animal control issues or vehicle safety concerns. Use your group as an avenue to survey thoughts and ideas related to broad community issues, and labor as a team to resolve them.

Whether it’s a neighborhood beautification project or winter emergency planning, the possibilities for your group to support one another are endless.