Latest news with #TommyHouse
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How to keep your pet safe during tick season
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As we continue to enter tick season in Central Texas, it's important to keep up to date with medications for your pet to keep them safe. KXAN Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Angela Laws, who is the Head of Community at TrustedHousesitters to learn more. Meteorologist Tommy House: My first question for you today is, what should pet owners avoid when it comes to over-the-counter parasite prevention products, specifically for ticks? Angela Laws: Okay, so the best advice is always, prevention is better than cure. Not all over-the-counter products are equal. The very best place to get tick prevention medication or products is from your veterinarian, because they know the dog, and they know the ticks in the area. That is the best way to ensure proper prevention. House: What specific dog breeds require extra caution during tick season? Laws: All dog breeds and cats as well. You should be watching all of them. But the ones we focus on more than anything else are those with long coats. And that's for the simple reason that ticks burrow into the skin. So, if you've got a long-coated dog breed, the ticks can get hidden and easily missed. Those are the breeds you really need to watch. You need to treat them, and every time they come back from a walk or have been out in the yard, check them. The way to do that is by grooming regularly, but also making sure to look in all those hidden spots, like underneath the legs and in areas where the hair is really long. House: A lot of people think home remedies are a good solution, matches or I've even heard of petroleum jelly, when dealing with ticks during tick season. What are the risks of using these at-home remedies? Laws: Okay, we like to call those old wives' tales. You know, those things like, 'Oh, why don't you try this?' And someone's going to suggest it. The problem is, they don't work. Full stop. And they can actually do far more harm than good. What often happens is, you leave the tick embedded in the skin. You might break it, or leave the head in, and all of those things can contribute to infection. And the one thing we want to prevent above all is Lyme disease. So, if you have any concern that your animal has picked up a tick and maybe you've missed it, or if their health or behavior changes, always, always consult your veterinarian. House: And for pet owners who are going on a trip and they need a pet sitter to watch their pet, what is some advice and ways that owners can communicate to the pet sitter to take care of that animal, and also for the peace of mind of the owners? Laws: We've got over 4,000 members in Texas, that's a lot of pets being kept happy at home. And especially during tick season, it's important to give your sitter all the information you've got: what product is being used, where ticks are likely to be, anything specific about your pet that helps keep them safe and happy. And again, always tell your sitter that if there's any concern at all, they should consult the veterinarian. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin's Homeland Security & EM host pop-up event
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's Homeland Security and Emergency Management is hosting a pop-up event on May 21st at the Menchaca Road Branch Library at 3 p.m. Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with David Wiechmann, who is with HSEM, to learn more. Read an edited version of the conversation below or use the video player above to listen. Meteorologist Tommy House: I want to talk about how Austin's Homeland Security and Emergency Management has emergency pop-ups around Central Texas. Walk viewers through what exactly that is. David Wiechmann: The monthly 'Emergency Preparedness Pop-Ups' are one way our office gets out into the community to engage people with information, supplies, and resources to help them prepare for emergencies ahead of time. We want to make sure folks know what to do before a storm rolls in, before a flood happens, before winter storms hit, anything of that nature, because you are the help until help can arrive. If you have materials or a plan in place before something happens, you'll be more prepared and better able to take care of yourself until assistance arrives. We rotate these events throughout the year. Our 'Emergency Preparedness Pop-Ups' are held on the third Wednesday of each month, except in September and December. In September, we host a larger version, a big preparedness fair with about 25 vendors and departments tabling. That's because September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Each month, we rotate through different City Council districts so we can reach neighborhoods all over the city. We bring in partners like public safety agencies and other organizations involved in emergency preparedness or response. They hand out useful supplies, and our table offers information on what to do in an emergency. We also give out a basic emergency supplies starter kit to the first 25 people who come through. People line up early to get them, they really want those backpacks with essential supplies. The basic starter kit includes things like a flashlight, a glow stick, a blanket, a small first aid kit with bandages, and a few other items. It's a simple kit to get you started. At our booth, you'll also get more detailed information on how to build a full supply kit so you're ready for three to seven days, whether you need to shelter in place or evacuate your home. We provide guidance on what to do before, during, and after an emergency, covering many different types of scenarios. House: When would the next one be in the Austin area? Wiechmann: Our next one is coming up on May 21 at the Manchaca Branch Library on Manchaca Road, from 3 to 6 p.m. We've actually moved our event times this year in 2025, we've shifted to an hour earlier than last year. So if folks are used to coming, they should know the events now start at 3 o'clock instead of 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How to find a tornado shelter near you
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new tornado shelter map is helping aid community safety by helping people locate their nearest shelter. Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Craig Ceecee, Ph.D., who is the founder of Find Your Tornado Shelter LLC, to learn more. Read an edited version of the conversation below or use the video player above to listen. Meteorologist Tommy House: We want to talk about the website you've created. It has a map of different tornado shelters across the country. What inspired you to do this? Craig Ceecee: It actually started a few years ago when I was in a tornado shelter here in Starkville, Mississippi, during the 'Easter 2020 tornado outbreak', which was also during the peak of the pandemic. I realized, what can we do to protect ourselves from tornadoes during the pandemic? From there, the idea expanded into a broader project on tornado shelters in general. I worked on my dissertation for my Ph.D. on this, and one of the questions in my survey was whether people would use tornado shelter maps and mobile apps. The answer was, most people would. So, about three years ago, I began working on it, initially for educational purposes, but it eventually became more of a commercial venture. It started gaining media attention, especially around two years ago, with the Rolling Fork tornado in Mississippi, along with several other tornado outbreaks that spring. It began to get national attention and became the main voice for tornado shelters. One of my goals is to move it to a more secure platform once enough revenue and resources become available. Right now, it's hosted on a 'Google Map', which has some issues, but it's still very useful. This past weekend, it received extensive use and media mentions, and the discussion about tornado shelters in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas was unprecedented. Many shelters even had to deal with overflow. House: How has your background as a meteorologist helped you not only come up with this idea but also in finding the resources needed for it? Ceecee: It helped me because I already had a solid understanding of tornadoes and severe weather. But also, just knowing the destructive power of tornadoes and how much more we need to do to protect people from them played a big role in motivating me. Additionally, having that knowledge of how tornadoes form, where they're likely to occur, and the best ways to protect people was important. This information helped in creating a resource like this and getting the word out. Meteorologists often have a strong connection to their community, and this can be really useful when spreading the word about the need for tornado shelters. House: What's one key piece of advice you'd give to someone looking for a tornado shelter during severe weather? Ceecee: My first word of advice is to research in advance. You don't want to be scrambling around when a tornado is coming. Although sometimes it's impossible, especially if you're driving through an unfamiliar area and a tornado warning comes in. But if at all possible, know in advance whether it's a day or just a few hours ahead. And if you're going to a shelter, make sure you have enough time. That's the most important thing. You don't want to be driving with a tornado bearing down on you. Make sure you know where you're going and the shelter's open because they may not always be available during every event, depending on the situation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin HSEM talks about how to prepare for any natural disaster
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recommends everyone have a plan to stay prepared in case of a natural disaster. Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with David Wiechmann, Acting Public Information and Marketing Manager for Austin's HSEM, to learn more about the resources HSEM offers. House: What items should viewers gather for a go-bag in case of a natural disaster? Wiechmann: Well, thank you for having me, and thank you for the question. A lot of people worry about preparedness and what they need to have in case they need to evacuate their home or hunker down during a natural disaster. Some of the key things to have in your kit include a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food for everyone in your household, blankets, and hand tools, like a multi-tool. You also want to include personal documents that are irreplaceable, such as your marriage license, birth certificate, and social security cards. Make sure these are stored in a waterproof bag in case of flooding. And don't forget about your pets – make sure you have their leash, collar, a collapsible bowl for water, and their food. We have great information on our website, where you can find guidance on what you need in your kit. We also offer downloadable checklists, which you can print and keep handy. You can grab a copy of these checklists at our monthly emergency preparedness pop-up events, held on the third Wednesday of every month. We even have magnetic versions that you can stick on the side of your fridge to easily check what you have in your kit. As far as your non-perishable food goes, be sure to check the expiration dates regularly. Keep track of when they expire, and when the expiration date is approaching, use it for dinner. On your next grocery run, replace it so your emergency kit stays fresh and ready. We don't want you to find yourself in an emergency with expired food. House: Is there a website, app, or specific page people can visit to learn more about all of this? Wiechmann: Yes! On our website, you can click on the 'Get Prepared' tab. There, we have the four steps of emergency preparedness: Make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbor, and stay informed. If you click on the 'Build a Kit' section, it'll give you all the information you need to create your kit. You can download checklists, as I mentioned. We also give out basic supply kits to the first 25 people who attend our monthly pop-up events. These events are held at public libraries across the city. Our next event will be on February 19 at the Pleasant Hill Branch in District 2. We rotate locations every month so we can visit all 10 city council districts and share important preparedness information and tips with people all around our community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
