Just what is a hazard?

If you’re a golfer, you know!

 

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines it as “A possible source of danger.”

 

Well, we’ve found out here in Franklin County that Mother Nature can be the source of many hazards.  We endured Hurricane Dennis in 2005, The Apalachicola Tornado in Oct. 2006, and the ‘Box R’ Wildfires in the western part of our county in the spring of 2007.

 

Looking forward to 2008 we are already in a Local State of Emergency in Franklin County due to the ongoing drought conditions found in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, which threaten not only our local ecology, but also our local economy and an entire way of life.

 

Hazards can also be man made.

Hazardous material spills such as motor oil , cleaning solutions and lubricants spilled on our sandy soil, eventually make it back into our wells, where, if not treated properly, will be used for washing, bathing and drinking… putting your health at risk.

 

Improperly or untreated sewage discharged into our rivers and bays contributed to the posting of many area beaches as being ‘unsafe’ for swimmers this past summer and most assuredly impacted Franklin County’s tourism and the money it brings with it.

 

Man also lives with and relies heavily on technology which he has created.  A simple breakdown in a computer system, for example, can create hazards for drivers on the road who need traffic lights to control flow, or for pumps at a sewer treatment plants, which need an uninterrupted supply of power.  The results of these types of failures can be life threatening.

 

How can we plan for these types of hazards?  Please refer to our Preparedness section of this website or use one of our many links to get specific information from other informative sites.