Safety Tips for returning to flood zones
Wednesday Posted Oct 12, 2016 at 4:02 PM Updated Oct 12, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Flood waters may contain sewage. Children and pets should be kept away from any affected areas until cleanup has been completed. By Hannah DelaCourt StarNews Staff
SOUTHEASTERN N.C. -- On Tuesday the NC Department of Public Safety warned homeowners who might have had to evacuate due to flooding to take precautions when they are able to re-enter their homes.
Flood waters may contain sewage and so children and pets should be kept away from any affected areas until cleanup has been completed.
Rubber gloves, boots and googles should be worn during cleanup, and homeowners should remove and discard all items that cannot be washed and disinfected.
All hard surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned throughout the home, and all clothes worn during cleanup washed in hot water with detergent.
Those who use well water should not drink from their wells until they know the water is safe.
A release from the department stated that anyone who becomes injured or ill during cleanup should seek immediate medical attention.
Standing water is breeding ground for mosquitoes
Public health officials are advising people to “tip and toss” outdoor water containers after heavy rains from Hurricane Matthew.
Disposing of standing water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes near houses, according to a release from the N.C. State Emergency Response Team.
But state officials warn that even with people dumping water from possibly breeding sites, they are likely to see an increase in nuisance mosquitoes.
“Based on experience with prior hurricanes there is a high probability that populations of nuisance mosquitoes, which often breed in floodplains, will increase,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Carl Williams. "These mosquitoes lay eggs on moist surfaces at sites where standing water occurs occasionally. The eggs remain dormant through a dry period and then hatch when covered with water. In this circumstance very large 'broods' of mosquitoes may emerge simultaneously.”
The release stated that nuisance mosquitoes rarely transmit disease and do not transmit the Zika virus. The mosquito that typically carries Zika has not yet been found in the state.
Fire ants pose danger during flooding
When a colony of fire ants is flooded during a high water event, the ants will cling to each other and form a living raft to float.
The ants will remain a “raft” until they come into contact with something they can adhere to, which could include debris piles or items from flooded homes.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises anyone conducting storm clean up to wear protective clothing such as rubber boots, rain gear and cuffed gloves that can prevent the ants from reaching skin and to use insect repellants, such as DEET.
If attacked, consult a pharmacist for treatment of minor bites and irritation, but seek immediate medical attention especially if a person feels short of breath or has lots of swelling near bites.
The contractor that tore down the landmark Wollaston Theatre must pay the federal government $24,000 in workplace-safety fines after the theater's last-remaining wall collapsed in July, seriously injuring two workers. By Patrick Ronan
The Patriot Ledger
QUINCY, MASS. - The contractor that tore down the landmark Wollaston Theatre must pay the federal government $24,000 in workplace-safety fines after the theater’s last remaining wall collapsed in July, seriously injuring two workers.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has issued five citations against Jamie McGuinness & Sons, the Quincy company that knocked down the 90-year-old theater on Beale Street, known locally as The Wolly.
The citations – accompanied by fines totaling $24,301 – stem from an OSHA investigation into the July 12 incident in which a 20-foot-high brick wall collapsed and injured two demolition workers, trapping one of them under a steel beam and a pile of bricks. Both workers were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
On Wednesday, James Lally, a spokesman for OSHA, said via email that McGuinness & Sons had until this past Tuesday to appeal the citations or request a hearing, but the company did not respond.
Jamie McGuinness, the owner of the demolition company, declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday. He couldn’t be reached Wednesday.
OSHA cited McGuinness & Sons for the following violations:
- Employees were struck by a steel-supported masonry wall while working where the employees did not recognize and avoid the unsafe condition and were allowed to work inside a fall zone by an employer.
- Employees were exposed to explosion and fire-related hazards, while using a torch for cutting, where a flashback arrestor was not in use.
- Employees were exposed to fall hazards of up to 25 feet, while working on a boom lift, where body belts or harnesses were not used.
- Employees were struck by a steel-supported masonry wall being demolished where the columns were overstressed and were not adequately supported.
- Employees were struck by a steel-supported masonry wall where the competent person allowed employees to continue to work in a fall zone where hazards existed without being corrected by shoring, bracing or other effective means.
McGuinness’ company was hired by theater owner Miao Kun “Michael” Fang to knock down The Wolly, which had been closed since 2003 due to concerns over the building’s structural integrity. The beloved landmark was completely torn done in July, and McGuinness & Sons finished clearing the site last month.
Stephen Crawford, Fang’s spokesman, emailed a prepared statement when asked about Fang’s reaction to his contractor being fined by OSHA.
“We appreciate the diligent work of the OSHA inspectors and the speed in which they concluded their investigation,” the statement said. “We are particularly thankful that the two workers were not seriously injured.”
Prior to the most-recent OSHA violations, which were issued on Sept. 1, McGuinness & Sons had already agreed to pay a fine for an earlier violation on the theater-demolition project. On Aug. 5, OSHA signed a settlement with McGuinness & Sons in which the contractor agreed to pay $1,960 for operating an excavator with a back-up alarm that was not working properly during a June 13 inspection.
Initially, OSHA had fined the company $5,600 for a pair of violations from the June 13 inspection. However, one of the violations was later dismissed and the fine relating to the back-up alarm was reduced.
Coast Guard and local agencies rescue 3 from boat fire near Rancho Palos Verdes
Oct 14th, 2016
The Coast Guard, along with several local agencies rescued three individuals after their boat caught fire Friday, near Rancho Palos Verdes. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty officer 2nd Class Philip Gilbert, Station Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — The Coast Guard, along with several local agencies rescued three individuals after their boat caught fire Friday, near Rancho Palos Verdes.
The Coast Guard received a may day call via VHF radio ch 16 from the 44-foot sailing vessel, Laetitia, reporting that the vessel’s engine had caught fire and began to spread with three people aboard. All passengers were directed to put on life jackets while resources were en route and move to the bow of the boat to keep away from the fire.
The Coast Guard immediately launched a 45-foot Response Boat —Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach and the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip, an 87-foot patrol boat, homeported in Channel Islands Harbor to assist in the rescue. A Los Angeles City Fire Department boat crew, a Los Angeles County Lifeguard boat crew, four Baywatch vessels and a Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter crew also assisted in the rescue.
At 3:30 p.m., one boater in distress jumped in the water and was quickly and safely picked up by the Los Angeles County Lifeguards. The Coast Guard small boat crew safely transferred the other two individuals to Blacktip. One passenger was reported to have minor burns on their hands, the other two boaters were reported to be in good condition. All three individuals will be taken to Marina Del Ray.
The Coast Guard urges mariners to always:
- Stay Informed – The public should be aware of weather conditions and monitor the progress and strength of currents through local television, radio and internet. Check the current and expected weather and water conditions before heading out, and be aware that weather conditions can quickly change.
- Wear life jackets while on the water.
- File a float plan with friends, family members and local marinas before heading out. The list should include the number of passengers aboard the vessel, vessel’s destination and expected time of return.
- Always have a working marine-band radio on board.
- Carry marine flares on board the vessel.
- Ensure bilge pumps are operational and vessels are secure for heavy winds and rain.
For more information on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.
Please visit the NOAA Website at www.noaa.gov for the most up to date information on weather broadcasts and current storm advisories.
Maggie Lynn Goloff of the 800 block of Cottman Avenue, and 19-year-old Osman Zeynulov, died in the T-bone crash
Police: Driver rushing to hospital crashes; 2 teens killed
By John Rawlins and Dann Cuellar
Saturday, October 15, 2016 05:57AM
FELTONVILLE (WPVI) -- Police say the driver of a car was rushing to the hospital to see his father when he ran a red light on the Roosevelt Boulevard, causing a crash that left his two friends dead.
According to investigators, the father of the 18-year-old driver had been robbed and assaulted while making a food delivery about 45 minutes before the wreck.
Those killed were identified as 16-year-old Maggie Lynn Goloff of the 800 block of Cottman Avenue, and 19-year-old Osman Zeynulov of the 400 block of Renard Street.
"He's my best friend actually, we worked together, too. He's a really hard worker. He just got back to school trying to get an education," said friend Hassan Yaghnam.
"Maggie was just Maggie. I mean when she came in, she brighten the room. I mean she was an awesome girl, an awesome little girl," said friend Danny O'Conner.
The driver has been identified as Ahmed Shahin.
Police say he was driving his 2002 Hyundai Sonata southbound on the Boulevard around 12:30 a.m. Friday when he ran the light and was struck by a Ford Explorer being driven westbound on Front Street.
The front-end of the Ford hit the driver's side of the Hyundai, causing the passenger's side to crash into a light pole.
Zeynulov was pronounced dead at the hospital. Goloff was pronounced dead at the scene.
"We know the female was sitting in the front seat when medics found her. It appears that where she was sitting was where the vehicle hit the light pole," said Chief Inspector Scott Small.
Shahin suffered only minor injuries. The driver of the Ford, a 55-year-old woman, also suffered minor injuries.
The Rev. Emile Stanton was traveling behind the teen's car, saying they also ran the light at Rising Sun.
"The red car ran the light. He ran Rising Sun light, and then he ran Front street light and he hit the lady at this light," said Stanton.
Sterling Scott heard the crash and rushed from his home, where a small group had already gathered. He says Shahin was trying to climb through the window.
"We helped him out of the vehicle. He was almost halfway out and he was saying 'give me a hand, give me a hand' so we helped him out," Scott said.
The two passengers were trapped. Scott called 911.
"There's two people trapped in the back of the vehicle, and both sides were crushed. There's no way they could get out," he said.
The SUV came up the embankment and rolled down the hill to a stop.
"She was screaming 'They hit me, they hit me!' I said 'you've got to calm down, that will be dealt with later on,'" said Scott.
And friends say the fact that the two people who were riding in the back seat are the ones ended up being killed is difficult to understand.
"She was gonna graduate, she couldn't wait to get a car, she couldn't wait to get her own place, she just got a new kitten from her friend Desiree and Darlene," said friend Hayley Visalli.
"He's a really good person, and he got a good heart, and his parents raised him right. That's the best person you could find, he's one in a million," said Yaghnam.
"And he used to, he used to be a very lovely person, like he's honest and everything," said friend Leo Hamwai..
"He's like family to me, he's like family. I wish it was me and not him," said Yaghnam.
Police are looking for surveillance video and are interviewing both drivers as this investigation continues.
As for the robbery of Shahin's father, police say he was held up in the 1900 block of Bristol Street around 11:45 p.m. Thursday while making a food delivery. He was flagged down by two men who claimed to have ordered the food.
One of the men had a gun and there was a struggle, police say, and the victim was struck repeatedly in the head. The suspects fled after seeing a marked police car drive by.
The descriptions released by police are:
Suspect #1 description: black male, 5 feet 8-9 inches tall, light skin, skinny build, wearing a grey, zip-up sweatshirt and white T-shirt.
Suspect #2 description: black male, 5 feet 8-9 inches tall, dark skin, wearing all black.
NOTE: Police previously reported that Osman Zeynulov and Ahmed Shahin are brothers. However, we later learned that the teens are not related.
=====
Police said Friday the victims of a fatal auto collision were two teenagers, who were on their way to a hospital to see about a different recent injury.
Maggie Lynn Goloff, 16, and Osman Zeylnov, 19, who were in the rear seat of a 2002 Hyundai Sonata driven by Ahmed Shahin, both perished after the car ran a red light, being struck by a Ford Explorer around 12:30 a.m. Friday.
Shahin, 18, was identified by 6ABC after police originally reported he was the brother of Zeylnov. He was driving them to the hospital, to Temple University Hospital, where his father was a patient, having just been the victim of a robbery.
Shahin's father was "robbed and physically assaulted while making a food delivery," a police report said, before Zeylnov's brother ran the red light at Roosevelt Boulevard and Front Street.
The father, 48, was allegedly robbed at 11:47 p.m. Thursday on the 1900 block of Bristol Street while delivering pizza by two unknown black males armed with a handgun. The father allegedly reached for one's gun and fought back, when a marked police car drove by, causing the two suspects to flee. That investigation is ongoing.
The driver of the Ford Explorer that struck the Sonata, a 55-year-old female, and were both treated for minor facial injuries.
No criminal charges against anyone were reported yet in connection with the crash as of Friday.
Yonkers detective Frank Fernandez killed after crashing his car into a fire truck was driving drunk and speeding, police say
The Yonkers Police Department said Detective Frank Fernandez had a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit in New York.
Friday, October 14, 2016 04:47PM
YONKERS, New York (WABC) -- Police said an off-duty Yonkers police detective who died after crashing his car into a fire truck was under the influence of alcohol.
The Yonkers Police Department said Detective Frank Fernandez had a blood alcohol content of .22 - which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in New York.
The investigation found Fernandez crossed the center line on Palmer Road at about 2:48 a.m. on February 14 and struck the fire truck head-on. He died at the scene.
Police said speed is also a possible contributing factor in the crash.
Four members of the Yonkers Fire Department who were in the fire truck involved in the crash were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police Commissioner Charles Gardner issued a statement along with the results of the investigation:
"We remain deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our Yonkers Police Department family. Detective Frank Fernandez was a valued member of the Yonkers Police Department with over 15 years of dedicated service to the department and the Yonkers Community. This unfortunate and tragic accident leaves behind a wife and two small children, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Fernandez, who was 45 years old, had been with the Yonkers Police Department for 15 years.
