Warren County Office of Emergency Services

Lightning Safety Week: Lightning Safety and Outdoor Sports Activities: Lightning is the most frequent weather hazard affecting athletic events. It is always good to have a plan in place in the event lightning occurs. These plans should include the following: --An evacuation plan for both players and spectators --A person monitoring all weather forecasts and reports... --A safe shelter --Precautions If you are attending an organized sporting event at an outdoor stadium during a lightning storm, you can minimize your risk of being struck by taking precautions: --Remain calm. --Listen for instructions from stadium personnel. --Move to the designated safe shelters, away from metal poles and the open field. These shelters should be determined before the event if a chance of a storm exists. --Wait for an all-clear signal, which should occur approximately 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.

Lightning Safety Week: Today is Indoor Lightning Safety Day. Being indoors is safer than being outside during a storm however there are still harmful threats. While inside during a storm: --Stay off corded phones. You can use cellular or cordless phones. --Don't touch electrical equipment such as computers, TVs, or cords. You can use remote controls safety. --Avoid plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower or wash dishes. --Stay away from exterior windows and doors door...s that might contain metal components leading from outside your home to the inside. --Stay off balconies, porches and out of open garages or car ports. --Protect your pets: Dog houses are not safe shelters. Dogs that are chained to trees or on metal runners are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes. --Typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a lightning strike. Do not unplug equipment during a thunderstorm as there is a risk you could be struck. See more

Lightning Safety Week: Today's focus is on lightning safety and the outdoors. If you are outside when lightning occurs, you are not safe. --Avoid areas such as open fields and the top of a hill or a ridge top. --Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. --If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees. ... --If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members. --If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other low area. -- --Remember, a tent offers NO protection from lighting. --Stay away from water, wet items, such as ropes, and metal objects, such as fences and poles. --Water and metal do not attract lightning but they are excellent conductors of electricity. -----The current from a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances. For more information visit ready.gov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUb3hI8py3Y

Our friends at the US National Weather Service Albany NY have issued an enhanced Severe Thunderstorm Warning for our county until 9pm this evening. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds and large hail, with an isolated tornado possible. Have a plan and be aware and stay update date, latest briefings can be found here: https://www.weather.gov/.../aly/AutoBriefing/ALYBriefing.pdf

The NWS at Albany has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the southern Adirondacks from late Tonight through Sunday morning. Total snow accumulations could exceed 7 inches in the southern Adirondacks and 6 inches. As always, be prepared, be ready and be safe!

We have posted several new COVID "exposure advisories" for local businesses. Please see the details here.

Although many bodies of water have some ice on them, the thickness may not necessarily be strong enough to support all activities. Many local bodies of water o...nly have shallow ice at this time. Be sure to check ice thickness before venturing on any frozen surface and heed any safety advice from local officials! See more

The NWS at Albany has placed Warren County in a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for today. -WHAT: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches and ice accumulations between a trace and two tenths of an inch -WHEN: From 7 PM today to 11 AM EST Saturday ... IMPACTS: Plan on slippery road conditions and poor visibility ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Snowfall rates could exceed an inch per hour for a few hours this evening -PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Remember to water your tree regularly so it does not dry out! #WaterYourChristmasTree #HolidayFireSafety

Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be. This dramatic video demonstrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree and a properly maintained, well-watered tree.

Thank you Brian for your years of service to Warren County and the Office of Emergency Services. Your unwavering dedication and commitment to your community and the emergency services has inspired so many. You're a true role model and leader that many look up to. We wish you a happy "retirement" and future (even though we are still lucky to have you on for a few more weeks)!

As everyone begins to decorate for the holidays, take the time to be fire smart! As always be ready, be prepared and be safe!

COVID 19 testing information:

Please remember to take appropriate precautions as the numbers have increased.

Congratulations Guy!!!

Be fire safe while displaying Halloween decorations and during the holiday weekend. #HolidayFireSafety

Rain will change to snow tonight into Friday morning, with light to moderate accumulation expected. Slippery roads are possible for the Friday morning commute, especially above 1000 feet elevation.

Halloween is almost here, remember to be fire safe while displaying decorations. #HolidayFireSafety

The potential for accumulating snowfall across the region remains in the forecast late Thursday into Friday. Additional adjustments are to be expected with this forecast so we encourage you to visit weather.gov/albany for all of the latest forecast details.

The NWS is keeping their eyes on a storm system that could bring us snow thursday into friday. Accumulation is unable to be determined at this time. Stay prepared, stay aware and stay safe!

National Cybersecurity Month: Social Media Cybersecurity #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #CyberSafe

National Cybersecurity Month: Cybersecurity While Traveling #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #CyberSafe

National Cybersecurity Month: Cybersecure at Work

3 NEW COVID CASES IN WARREN COUNTY Warren County Health Services reported three (3) new Warren County resident COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning, with no ad...ditional recoveries documented. Health Services staff are monitoring nine (9) active cases as of Thursday, all with mild illness. None are hospitalized. Two of the new cases appear to stem from exposures during out-of-state travel, one traveling for work and one for pleasure. These cases are not connected to one another. The other case involves a person who was infected at a college who opted to come to a family home in Warren County to isolate while they are ill. Warren County Health Services Director Ginelle Jones continues to strongly urge the public to avoid non-essential gatherings, and direct that those who feel any symptom of illness should refrain from attending school, work or going into public until they consult with a medical provider to discuss a COVID-19 test. Mask use, hand washing and social distancing are particularly important during this period of time as we look to keep our schools open and COVID-free. With Halloween approaching, please find attached a flier with state and local guidance if you choose to host or attend a Halloween party despite Warren County Health Services’ recommendations against them. This flier can also be found on our Warren County COVID Hub website here: https://public.warrencountyny.gov/gis/covid/gatherings.pdf. Also: After receiving inquiries from the public about the safety of Halloween activities for children, Warren County Health Services has developed Halloween trick-or-treating guidelines for county residents. Those recommendations can be found online here: https://public.warrencountyny.gov/gis/covid/halloween.pdf. New York State’s new Halloween guidelines can be found here: coronavirus.health.ny.gov//13244_covid_halloweenguidance_1. Warren County Health Services and the Warren County Administrator’s Office have received numerous complaints in recent weeks about local taxi cab companies not enforcing state mask requirements with their drivers or passengers. This is particularly concerning in light of the fact that cabs are frequently used for transportation to and from health care facilities, including nursing homes. Warren County is working with city of Glens Falls officials to ensure that these cab companies are aware of the requirements for both drivers and passengers, and enforcement will be undertaken if needed. New York State has unveiled two new online portals to track COVID-19 infections and other data at K-12 schools and SUNY colleges statewide. For data on all State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, go to www.suny.edu/covid19-tracker/. The new portal for K-12 school districts can be found through this link: forward.ny.gov/dashboard-covid-19-data-schools. For the Capital Region’s current COVID-19 metrics, which include Warren County, go to: forward.ny.gov/early-warning-monitoring-dashboard as well as forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-region-dashboard and forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard. NEW YORK, VERMONT TRAVEL ADVISORIES New York State’s travel advisory for visitors from COVID hot-spot states includes travelers from 38 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. The states included in New York State’s travel restrictions are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Visitors from these states must quarantine for 14 days when arriving in New York, and those who are quarantining in New York when a state is removed from the advisory list are required to continue their quarantine until 14 days have passed. New York state is also strongly discouraging non-essential travel to the states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania until further notice as those states deal with burgeoning COVID case numbers as well. Those who arrive from one of these states are directed to contact Warren County Health Services at 518-761-6580 to go over local protocols, and the state travel advisory form can be found here: forms.ny.gov//Welcome-to-New-York-State-Traveler-Health-Fo. Warren County Health Services is currently monitoring 95 precautionary traveler quarantines related to this advisory, an increase of 13 from Wednesday. For Warren County’s local Travel Advisory guidelines, go to: warren-county-ny-covid-19-warrencountyny.hub.arcgis.com//t. More New York State Travel Advisory information can be found at: coronavirus.health.ny.gov//interimguidance_traveladvisory.. Please also note that Vermont has also instituted a policy that requires those coming from areas with certain COVID caseloads quarantine upon entry to the state for leisure travel, if they have not quarantined and/or been tested for COVID-19 beforehand. Those from Warren County who travel to Vermont for non-work purposes are required to quarantine if staying in the state, should they not meet quarantine criteria beforehand. Find the advisory and details of requirements here: accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel. COVID-19 DATA Warren County Health Services had three (3) additional cases of COVID-19 among Warren County residents to report as of Thursday morning. Warren County Health Services is monitoring nine (9) active cases. All have mild illness, and none are hospitalized. Warren County Health Services has confirmed a total of 387 coronavirus cases among county residents since the outbreak began, of which 118 involved residents in nursing homes, 13 in assisted living and 256 in the community. Of the community cases, 24 involve individuals who were in K-12 school district buildings in Warren County. Warren County Health Services has documented 369 recoveries among Warren County residents, including 26 presumed positive cases from initial days of the outbreak when testing was not available. All of the presumed positive cases have recovered. Additional statistics are found in the daily chart that is attached to this email. Warren County has had 35 residents pass away from COVID-19 infections. Twenty-two (22) of those deaths have occurred at a nursing home, nine (9) in the hospital, one (1) at an assisted living facility and three (3) in private residences. Expressed in terms of their residence before they contracted the coronavirus, 27 of those who passed away lived in nursing homes, five (5) resided in assisted living, and three (3) lived at home. COVID TESTING The Warren County Health Services COVID-19 testing site at Warren County Municipal Center is in operation weekdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It is open, by appointment only, to residents of Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex and Hamilton counties. 10 tests were administered Thursday. A total of 3,288 people have been tested since the facility began operation April 9. Results from 3,233 of those tests have come back. Of those tests, there were 68 positive Warren County residents and 93 positive residents of other counties. That’s 5% positive and 95% negative. Of those 3,233 test results, 58% were for Warren County residents. In addition to the Warren County clinic, tests are also being performed by medical providers in the county. Anyone who believes they should have a test at the Warren County Municipal Center site needs to contact a doctor, urgent care center or the New York State COVID helpline at 1-888-364-3065 to arrange a test. Those with questions can call Warren County Health Services at 518-761-6580. Please be advised of an apparent COVID testing phone scam that was circulating. You will never be asked for payment or a credit card number over the phone for testing, and if potentially exposed to the coronavirus in Warren County, you will be contacted by Warren County Public Health. For information on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 as well as Warren County’s response to the pandemic, check Warren County’s COVID-19 resource pages, warrencountyny.gov/covid and warrencountyny.gov/covidhub.

National Cybersecurity Month: Essentials of Community Cybersecurity Interested in learning more in cybersecurity and safety. Take the Essentials of Community Cybersecurity Course Certified by Texas DIR. The link is below. https://cyberready.org/essentials-of-community-cybersecuri/

National Cybersecurity Month: Zoom Bombing Now that you are familiar with Cyber Hygiene, how do you stop unwanted visitors in your Zoom meetings or groups? Watch this informative video that shares tips and tricks to secure up your Zoom session. https://cyberready.org/cyber-hygiene-zoom-bombing/... #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #CyberSafe