Through partnership with the Red Cross, Levelland Fire Department and the Levelland Hockley County Emergency Management, a Sound the Alarm Smoke Alarm Installation Event was held Saturday.
The event was located at the Levelland Fire Department located at 603 5th Street. The event was open to all Levelland community members and signups are still available through the City of Levelland Facebook page or a QR code can be scanned which will take the individual to the signup location and will also sign-up community members for the emergency management notification system events.
Volunteers are still needed for future events and individuals can contact Mike Posey at 806241-9448 or can reach out via email at mike.posey3@redcross.org.
American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager (DPM) Laura Davis explained that when a residence is signed up for the event, a home will receive a smoke alarm in every sleeping space and one alarm in a kitchen, living area. Signups are encouraged through the event day as Davis has the goal of ensuring families and homes will be taken care of as smoke alarms are vital to save lives.
“In the past, these events were held to a certain cutoff number, but what is important is the number of lives we can save, so we will continue to leave signups open,” explained Davis. “We have had people contact us and say that the installation of the alarms saved them from danger.”
Davis also explained that the alarms are unique because they do not have to be wired in and they do not require battery changes. The alarms contain a 10year ion battery and once they are clicked into the ceiling, they residence has 10 years of life for the smoke alarms. They will melt if introduced to extreme heat, but will sound off if that is the case.
Davis encourages all community members to test their alarms every month to ensure maximum safety. If the alarms installed do not work, Davis encourages any community member to feel free to contact her and the alarms will be handled.
Breakfast and lunch were provided to volunteers and breaks were also given. Once the event based volunteers are done, Davis and team reached out to those individuals to see if they would like to expand their volunteer capabilities for future disaster relief events.
“Smoke alarms are expensive, but this is something that we give for free,” said Davis. “We will replace it and we will help anyone that is in need.”
Davis and her office service an 18-county area which include the six above Lubbock and Levelland, the six across Lubbock and Levelland and the six under Levelland and Lubbock.
“DPM’s in the past have not reached every county. We have a lot of counties that do not have smoke alarms or do not have volunteers there to help,” said Davis. “When they hired me, my goal is to come in make a difference. I want to make a change.”
For individuals who are interested in volunteering their time or would like to hear options about volunteering in different capacities, they can reach out to Davis by calling at 806-549-8574.