Flash Flood Possible for Lawrenceville, North Georgia

Read the National Weather Service's forecast - plus learn what to do in case there is a flash flood in your area.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the metro area including Lawrenceville. The forecast calls for periods of heavy rain this weekend with rainfall amounts as much as two inches. More from the National Weather Service: What to do in case of a flash flood: If you have to drive where there is a potential for flash flooding, please keep the following in mind. • Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. • A foot of water will float many vehicles. • Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups. • Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious. The …

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Video: Fireworks Safety Tips From Gwinnett Fire

Stay safe this New Years when handling sparklers.

The Gwinnett County Fire Department held a demo to show how to safely use fireworks and sparklers this season. According to the department, statistics show that in 2010 there were an estimated 8,600 injuries caused by fireworks treated in the U.S. hospital emergency rooms. While the only type of fireworks legal in Georgia are sparklers, the National Fire Protection Association reports that sparklers can cause serious burn injuries. They burn at about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and are typically viewed by parents as relatively harmless fireworks for children, according to Gwinnett Fire. Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, Gwinnett Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief Steve Hrustich and Georgia State Fire Marshal Dwayne Garriss demonstrated …

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Halloween Safety Tips from Safe Kids Gwinnett & Fire Dept.

Here are some ways to make sure your kids have a fun and safe Halloween.

Safe Kids Gwinnett and the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services has some tips to keep your little ghouls and goblins safe this Halloween. They are asking parents to prepare their children to act safely ahead of time. reminding drivers to be vigilant on the road.  “Parents need to talk to kids about safety before they go out trick-or-treating,” said Tania Diaz of Safe Kids Gwinnett in a release. "Many kids will be out trick-or-treating while it is dark when it is more difficult for drivers to see them. There are several easy and effective behaviors that parents can share with kids to help reduce their risk of injury." They're also reminding drivers to be vigilant on the road. "Safe Kids and GCFES urge drivers to slow …

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Gwinnett Police Demonstrate Two New Robots

The devices will help police in SWAT callouts and dangerous situations where there may be a bomb or unknown chemicals.

  Gwinnett County Police Department recently purchased two new tools to help fight crime without having to put their officers in harm's way. They demonstrated the Hazardous Devices Unit's two newly acquired bomb robots. GCPD now has a total of four robots, allowing the HDU to respond to two different situations at the same time. The new robots are smaller and easier to maneuver than the older ones. "The robots we currently have are 10 years old or older," said GCPD Cpl. Edwin Ritter. "These robots were big and bulky. They were getting caught up inside the home or confined spaces." The money to purchase the robots, which totaled $206,000 for both units, came from a grant through State Homeland Security. They come equipped with cameras, …

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Are There Sex Offenders on Your Trick-or-Treat Route?

Find out if there are sex offenders living in your neighborhood before your kids start ringing doorbells.

Halloween is supposed to be a fun time, but it should also be a safe time.  Before going out trick or treating, check the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department's Sex Offender registry. We searched and found 172 registered sex offenders who list Lawrenceville as their place of residence. You can enter your address, or the address where your kids will be trick-or-treating, and find out if there are any sex offenders on your route.

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When Decorating for Halloween - Think Safety

The Better Business Bureau out of Athens has some safety tips for decorating homes for the Halloween season.

If you're thinking of decorating for the upcoming Halloween season, the Better Business Bureau out of Athens has a few safety issues for you to take into consideration. The BBB asks that you take heed of the following advice for both inside and outside when decorating: 

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Coolray Field Hosts Public Safety Fall Festival

Residents had a chance to get up close and personal with the tools and people that help keep us safe.

Everything from a baseball game to a blood drive, auto exhibits, motorcycle demonstrations, free Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches and jump zones were available to attendees of the Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field Saturday. “I didn’t know that police motor cycles could turn in such a short circle,” one person observed as the Gwinnett Police Department demonstrated ride techniques. It was a truly amazing thing to witness, and right in the middle of it all a distress call came in to the Fire Department and firemen and trucks were immediately dispatched to the scene. This was truly a live demonstration! 

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Drownings Have Marred A Day At The Lake For Many This Summer

The Center For Disease Control offers tips to cut down the risk.

Almost weekly, there is a report of a drowning in one of the local lakes. Many of the cases have been in Lake Lanier. A 17-year-old Archer High School student drowned in Lake Lanier at the start of the Memorial Day weekend, in June a man drowned following a baptism at the lake and July 5 two men drowned in Lake Lanier on the same day. Tuesday a 49-year-old Lawrenceville man drowned when he went into the lake to retrieve a ball for his children. So far this summer, most drowning victims have been adult males. According to the Center For Disease Control website, statistically that is not surprising. Eighty percent of drowning victims are male. Also, natural water drownings, such as in lakes, rivers or the ocean, tend to involve people over …

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Have Fun, But Be Safe at the Pool This Summer

After a Gwinnett County girl got stuck in a pool's vacuum system, here are some tips to keep everyone safe while still having a good time.

It may not officially be here yet, but the summer heat is in full swing with day 12 of temperatures in the 90s. So parents are looking for ways to help their children to beat the heat, and that includes taking a dip in the pool. While swimming is always fun, it also poses a number of dangers. Just this week, an eight-year-old girl in unincorporated Gwinnett County got her arm stuck in a pool’s vacuum line. The Gwinnett County Fire Department had to come to her rescue.  “Our responding personnel did a really good job. They jumped into the pool because it was in the six foot deep section, so she couldn’t really stand there,” said Gwinnett County Fire Lt. Eric Eberly. Crews ended up needing to use jackhammers to free the girl. Safety is …

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