THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508180171
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Matthew Bowers and Susan Smith
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Not all hurricane advice has to do with taping windows and tying down lawn chairs.
An anxious woman called Chesapeake's Emergency Medical Services office Wednesday. ``I'm almost nine-months pregnant,'' she said. ``It's my eighth child. If I go into labor during this storm, will an ambulance be able to reach me?''
Well, came the answer, they'd sure try, but it depends on the winds, the roads, how busy we are - all sorts of things. No guarantees.
The mother-to-be wasn't comforted. A paramedic who happened to be in the office took the phone and, to calm the woman, talked her step-by-step through the entire birthing process, from controlled breathing to how to care for the newborn until help arrives.
``I would think, if this is her eighth, she'd be well-versed,'' laughed Chief Kenneth R. Murphy, who heads the city's EMS. ``I think she just wanted a little assurance.''
No word on whether ``Felix'' was in the running for the unborn baby's name. Generating fun
If any major storm hits the area and blacks out power, you can bet that Deep Creek homeowner Tom Wisenbaker will still be able to play Nintendo.
Wisenbaker's savior? A gasoline-powered generator.
``Every family should have a generator,'' Wisenbaker said. ``It's a one-time buy, and it only takes one emergency situation to make it well worth the purchase.''
If a hurricane or storm knocks out the power, it only takes five gallons of gas and a few minutes to hook up the generator before the lights, refrigerator, television or microwave are back on at the Wisenbaker home.
Wisenbaker said a generator will power any electrical item that normally runs on 110 volts. Generators cost from $300 to $1,000.
``A $600 generator will last and power any electrical item in most homes,'' said Wisenbaker. ``It will certainly keep you out of the dark.'' Don't drink the water
Michelle and Robert Kirby of Great Bridge planned a family reunion week at Nags Head with family from Maryland, Northern Virginia and the Richmond area.
But with Hurricane Felix crashing the party, the Kirbys and about 17 relatives had to flee back to the Kirby home.
Michelle had batteries, candles, plenty of food and accommodations for her guests. But when asked about her water supply, she was surprised. She always has ``good'' water in the house.
``If you live in Chesapeake, why wouldn't you always have extra water on hand?'' she asked.
Iris and David Matous and Iris' 97-year old mother, America Arias, left their Riverwalk home early Wednesday afternoon to settle into the Oscar F. Smith High School shelter.
They brought along everything they could think of, including quilts, blankets, pillows, suitcases, medical supplies, snacks and their file box of important documents. Priority item
Iris Matous, a former Girl Scout leader, scurried around taking care of mom, settling her in at their spot in the cafeteria camp.
But soon they found out they hadn't brought all essential items, forcing David Matous to leave on one last emergency errand.
He had to return home for his wife's forgotten purse. No ``Pulp Fiction'' here
Even though it was ``PG'' for ``Pretty Gusty'' outside, it was ``G'' all the way inside the Crestwood Middle School Shelter.
But before anyone could settle down to watch family-oriented videos in the shelter, they had to heed the rules.
``Everyone who enters the shelter must follow our normal school rules and regulations,'' said Linda Bird, school principal and shelter manager.
Bird posted rules in the hallways for everyone to see: no drugs, alcohol, weapons, animals in the building, running in the hallways and no eating except in the cafeteria area.
And no ``R'' rated movies, either.
For entertainment, Bird brought some videos from home.
Since the shelter would house families she brought along a slew of Disney flicks including ``The Lion King,'' ``The Little Mermaid,'' ``The Fox and the Hound'' and ``Aladdin.'' by CNB