Missoula wind safety: What fire officials want residents to do

Missoula, Mont. — Strong winds in Missoula had residents thinking about how to stay safe during dangerous gusts.

The conditions came nearly two years after the historic storm that tore through Missoula, and local residents were already familiar with high winds in the area.

Isaiah Ruiz reported from Missoula after speaking with Assistant Fire Chief Philip Keating of the Missoula Fire Department about steps people could take to protect themselves and others.

Keating urged people to think ahead before conditions got worse.

“Uh keep flashlights available. Avoid parking under large trees or near power lines. Uh, in uh, I think it was July of 24, we had that big wind event. Numerous cars were taken out by trees within the valley, so. Those are some just general, general guidelines of the things, people should keep in mind to prepare for these wind events,” said Philip Keating.

Keating also advised people to stay aware as conditions changed. He said residents should secure loose outdoor items such as trampolines, garbage cans and outdoor furniture.

He also emphasized avoiding places where falling trees or power lines could be a danger.

Officials said people should keep water, medications and food ready in case a power outage happened.

People who wanted alerts on updates could sign up through the Missoula County 9-1-1 website.