This is Hobo Week for South Dakota State University, and there will be a lot going on.
On Saturday, you will need to plan ahead of time if you need to be downtown between 9 and 11 a.m. because there will be a large parade with road closings. Enjoy the festivities just dont overdo it. This includes if you plan to drive somewhere, dont drink alcohol. Then, in the afternoon, there will be a football game. GO JACKS! As a side note, it will be warmer this year than some of the Hobo Day weekends in the past. At my first Hobo Day parade in 1993, it was snowing.
This year, so far, has been rather pleasant. Fall is here, but we still have our leaves on the trees. You may wonder where I get the materials that I discuss in my articles.
The majority of the material comes from two sources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oversees the National Weather Service, which provides access to excellent sources used in weather-related discussions. All of our weather-related advisories and warnings come from the weather service.
The other source that I utilize is the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and its website www.ready.gov. That website has articles that discuss more than 25 different disasters and emergencies. Some do not pertain to us, such as tsunamis and volcanoes, but the majority of the topics do. Take a look at it; you will be amazed at what it covers.
October is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is a topic that I do not know a lot about. Oct. 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week. A big thank you goes out to our area fire departments. I have not seen a better bunch of volunteers than our local fire firefighters. I have observed them in action in some of the worst conditions that can be imagined, and they always come through for us.
This is also a good time to check your smoke detectors in your residences. They are only good for 10 years. I would also recommend a carbon monoxide detector. They do save lives.
The following information comes from the National Fire Protection Association:
This years Fire Prevention Week campaign isCharge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home, and it works to educate everyone about using these batteries safely. The campaign stresses how important it is to buy, charge, and recycle safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.
Three steps to take
Buy only listed products: When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.
Charge devices safely: Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved.Charge your device on a hard surface. Dont overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when its fully charged.
Recycle batteries responsibly: Dont throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire.Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Check with your local landfill about how to dispose of your lithium-ion batteries.
Outdoor checklist
While the weather is nice, it is also time to determine if your grass needs to be cut one last time or not. While checking the grass, you also need to unhook your water hoses from the outdoor spigots. One year, I left my water hose hooked up. The following spring, after it warmed up, I had a gush of water coming into my basement. The water line running to the outdoor spigot had frozen and burst. Thank goodness I was home when it happened, and I was able to catch it fast.
Another outdoor function is if you have an outdoor sprinkling system, to have it serviced. Usually, someone comes around with an air compressor and blows all of the water out of the system for the winter.
Another thing that I do before it snows is try to clear a walkway through my backyard to my sheds. After it snows, and it will snow sooner or later, you do not need to be tripping over unseen snow-covered items on your way to your backyard shed.
It is also time to start digging out your equipment for the winter. Typically, people forget to put an ice scraper in their vehicle until after the first heavy frost. Now would be a good time to put it in. You also need to check your winter travel kit. If you travel anywhere in South Dakota in the winter, you know you need to have a winter survival kit. The most important thing on my mind is to have a sleeping bag in the vehicle. In case of a breakdown, it will keep you from getting too cold. We will discuss traveling in the winter as we get closer to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
By now you have probably seen the farm equipment out on the local roads. They have had some good weather this year, and a lot of them are finishing up already. That means that it is getting close to hunting season, and we will start discussing that next week.
Remember to always keep an eye on the sky when outdoors.
Bob the EM
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