SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH By Fay Wood, NW Chief Don’t Let Scammers Put Your Generosity at Risk! Unfortunately, anyone can get scammed. Here are some red flags to watch out for before giving money to a cause: • When fundraisers are more pushy than you’d expect, asking for account or SS numbers, that’s a good indication something is wrong. • Make all donations through mail or the charity’s website. • They’re so vague there’s no way to tell if they’re legit or calling from their parent’s basement. • Trying to create history by thanking you for a donation you’re not certain you made is a trick to make you feel like you already checked them out. Don’t fall for it. A Better Way — Choose Your Own Charity. To prevent high-pressure tactics getting you to part with your money, just say no to random calls! Do your own research. With this approach, you can protect your money from bogus charities and make a choice you know will give directly to the cause. PEAK STORM SEASON Hurricane season ends November 30, but the peak storm season runs from mid-August to late October. All residents should be prepared for severe weather. A list of storm season tips can be found at lakeashtoncdd.com or at the Clubhouse Information Wall. Pay attention to the lightning detection devices throughout the community and seek shelter when the sirens sound. Go to alertpolk.com to register your contact information for the telephone and email notification system that Polk County officials use to inform county residents of situations that may affect their health, safety, and welfare, including severe weather alerts. CITIZENS ASSISTED PATROL (CAP) By Mike Weissberg Citizens Assisted Patrol (CAP) is always looking for more volunteers to patrol the streets. Come help be the eyes, ears, and presence for the Sheriff’s department. Patrols are once a week for two hours. Applications are available in the Clubhouse and HFC. For more information contact Mike Weissberg at 863-324-3541 (please leave a message). C RT CERTainly Safe COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM Home Safey Tips from Your Lake Ashton Community Emergancy Response Team EXTENSION CORD SAFETY TIPS Avoid trip hazards Replace frayed cords Don’t overload cords Don’t cover cords with a rug https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5032.pdf 18
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