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Memorial Day weekend signals the official start of summer, one of the most popular times to fire-up the grill to make backyard cuisines. However, the beginning of summer also signals the beginning of wildfire season. Help keep your home and neighborhood safe by keeping the following tips from the HPBA (Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association) and the Propane Education & Research Council in mind.

City Hall in the City of New Rochelle, NY experienced the devastation a burst pipe can bring when this very event happened during the 2010 Easter weekend. According to “Sound Shore,” city government workers tried to do the clean up on their own for a few weeks before realizing professional help was the only way to salvage their building and restore damaged, wet documents that belonged to the Development and Parks & Recreation Departments. The City of New Rochelle called in Rapid Refile help save essential documents.

Rescuers began the morning of Saturday, June 12, 2010 in search of survivors after a devastating flash flood took the lives of at least 19 people on Friday in a western Arkansas. CBS News reports that at least 200 rescuers trekked the terrain of the Albert Pike Campgrounds in search of signs of life.

The beginning of summer for residents in areas frequented by natural disasters means it is time to start preparing for what may come. Summertime marks the beginning of wildfires and hurricane season. The National Disaster Education Coalition states every person, no matter where they live, should learn what disasters could impact their area (natural and man-made), make an emergency disaster plan, create a list of emergency contacts, make sure they are properly insured and have a pre-made disaster kit.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confessed on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 that it does not have an emergency plan in place for those who have special needs, including those who are elderly, disabled and institutionalized. In their defense, officials stated it too difficult for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination to create a rescue plan effectively with a $150,000 budget and four people on staff.