TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.46 DATE: November 15, 2009
SUBJECT: REMOVING ROAD DEBRIS
It's been a few years since I first wrote this bulletin, but seeing a piece of debris on the highway this week reminded me of it.
I know it's not our responsibility to be cleaning up debris on the road, but it could save someone's life if you do. What I'm talking about is large objects that may have fallen from a vehicle and lying in the middle of the road. Items like blown out tires from those Big Rigs, mufflers and tailpipes from cars, or something out of the back of a truck.
If a car was to approach any of these items without warning, they may try to swerve to miss them and run into another vehicle or run off the road. If they aren't able to miss the item they may tear up their vehicle or blow a tire, causing them to have an accident.
If you happen upon something like this, and are lucky enough to miss the item, you should stop in a safe area far enough away so that if a vehicle, trying to miss the item doesn't run into you. If it's possible for you to move the item safely, move it out of the roadway.
If you're unable to move the item, you should report it as soon as possible so the authorities can take appropriate action. In any case, by doing something, you may prevent someone from being hurt or getting killed.
(Reprint, with modification, of ARES Zone 3 Bulletin 03.31)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator