The conservation effort limits the use of automatic irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers to no more than twice per week, although hand watering, soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems can be used more often. Dallas residents and businesses are reminded that as in years past, the conservation ordinance prohibits watering with hose-end sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 1 through October 31. Residents are asked to program and maintain their automatic sprinkler systems to use water as efficiently as possible and reminded that automatic systems are required to have working rain and freeze sensors.

Landscaping experts say the average lawn in north Texas only needs about one inch of water per week, even during the summer. Watering deeply and infrequently is the best for a healthy landscape with deep roots. The City of Dallas will allow variances for additional watering periods for new landscaping and special circumstances.

Mayors of Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving held a regional water conservation press conference on April 11 to publicly support a move to make twice weekly watering guidelines the standard for the region following one of the worst droughts since the 1950s. For Dallas customers, current water supplies are anticipated to meet demand through 2035. Moving to a twice weekly effort is expected to extend water supplies to 2045.

For more information on water conservation efforts in Dallas visit www.SaveDallasWater.com or call (214)-670-3155.

Spring is a good time to have a fresh look at your home, and make sure it is safe and sound.  Here is a list to help you get started:

General

Outdoor Areas

Extracted from "A Housing Safety Checklist", by Sarah D. Kirby, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

by Josh Roberts

The City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announces the implementation and deployment of a new reverse emergency phone notification system, called GeoCast®Web. This is replacing the previous system called REVERSE 911®.

Like its predecessor, GeoCast®Web™ is an emergency warning tool that will be used to provide rapid phone notifications to people in situations when public safety may be at risk. It will only be used during emergencies, such as chemical spills or hazardous materials incidents, fire or flooding evacuation scenarios, and drinking water contamination.

“Ensuring timely and adequate warning to the public during times of potential or imminent danger is one of the more important jobs we have as emergency managers,” said Kenny Shaw Director of Dallas OEM. “We are always looking for ways to improve risk communications to Dallas residents and businesses,” added Shaw, “and GeoCast provides us with enhanced warning capability…in an efficient, reputable and effective manner.”

Used by hundreds of public safety agencies nationwide, the GeoCast®Web™ system combines highly advanced digital mapping technologies with phone databases to automatically call people in precisely targeted locations. All landline phone numbers within Dallas city limits are already included in the GeoCast®Web™ system however, cell phones are not. Registration is required to receive GeoCast®Web™ notifications on cell phones.

Individuals may register for these notifications via the City of Dallas OEM’s website, www.dallascityhall.com/oem, or directly through the system’s self-registration web portal, located at https://cityofdallas.onthealert.com. Also, hard copy registration forms can be found at City libraries, City Park & Recreation facilities and at City police and fire stations. It is important to note that people who have already registered with the previous system (REVERSE 911®) are already included in this new system (GeoCast®Web™).

While the City of Dallas offers this emergency notification service free of charge, minutes may be deducted from individual cell phone plans. Calls will typically be less than two minutes.

“Even though we have the new GeoCast®Web™ emergency phone notification system, we still want to remind everyone that no single tool will provide enough warning to all people in all situations,” added Shaw. “While this new system may give us emergency officials greater capabilities, it is only one component of the overall public safety communications strategy. During emergencies, people should always seek out information from as many reliable sources as possible.”

More information about the GeoCast®Web™ emergency notification system, including an informational flyer and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), are available for download from Dallas OEM’s website, located at www.dallascityhall.com/oem.

SHOPPING SAFETY TIPS

Be alert while driving to and from shopping/stores. Women should try to avoid carrying a purse if at all possible.

Be observant. Avoid dark areas, short-cuts, cul-de-sacs, and suspicious persons. Stay near light and people.

Be prepared to flee potential problems - If apprehensive about any location for any reason, leave.

Carry a whistle – It is a quick and simple way to alert anyone nearby that there is a problem, and many thieves will run away immediately once you sound the alarm.

Use the buddy system.  It is always a good idea to shop in pairs as theives are less likely to target two or more individuals.

Lock your gifts in the trunk.  An electronics store bag filled with goodies sitting on the back seat in plain view is tempting for a smash-and-grab burglar.

If shopping at an outdoor mall or outlet stores, consider moving your car when you drop off presents.  No one likes to lug around too many items from store to store, so most people return to their cars several times to drop off purchases and resume shopping.  When you do this, consider moving your car a few lanes away.  Thieves like to stake out parking lots for people leaving purchases in their car and returning to stores.  If they see you get in and drive away they will likely assume your shopping trip is over and look for another target.

Ask for a security guard escort.  If you approach your car and see an unsavory character staked out nearby, return to the store and ask for someone to walk you to your car.  Most store security personnel are used to this, so there is no need to feel embarrassed.  Besides, better to be safe than sorry!

Have keys ready, and don’t take your time getting in your car.  There is nothing I hate to see more than a single woman approaching her car while digging through a purse for her keys.  With her head down and her attention diverted she is such an easy target.  Find your keys before you leave the store and have them in hand.  Walk quickly and confidently to your vehicle, and unlock, enter and lock the doors in quick fashion.  Once safely inside you can verify receipts, store away purses, etc.

Park in well-lit areas.  If you know you will be shopping for a long time, anticipate coming out into a dark parking lot and look for light poles to park under.  Besides providing light, light poles also serve as a reference point in a crowded parking lot to remind you where you parked your car.

Parents, park next to the shopping cart return area.  When you are finished shopping it is nice to put Junior in the car seat and return the shopping cart one lane away, rather than walking fifty feet away with Junior alone in the car, or you toting him and three bags of groceries.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS

*Before traveling, contact your local law enforcement agency and ask to have your home placed on “vacation watch.” Most municipalities offer this service.  The nearest patrol officer will ride by your home for a safety check once during their shift.  Be sure to notify authorities when you have returned.  Note, please do not call 911 to discuss this service.  A non-emergency number should be listed in your phone book.

Try to make your house look lived in while you are away.  Consider picking up some inexpensive timers for lights and radios, and have them come on at times when you are normally home.  I even suggest staggering the timers so that living room lights come on and off early in the evening and bedroom lights come on later.  This is consistent with most schedules, but adapt it to fit your family’s routine.

Do not broadcast your plans to everyone.  You may be proud that you are taking your family on a week-long cruise over the holidays, but don’t brag too much.  You never know who might be taking note of your travel plans.

Leave a spare key and emergency telephone number with a trusted neighbor or friend.  In an emergency it may be necessary for someone to enter your home (water heater busted, etc.), so it is a good idea to leave a key with someone local.

Pay someone to rake up leaves and/or blow off your drive way.  Leaves diwb in the winter are a sure sign of an unoccupied house.

Silence the ringer on your home telephone.  One trick of the criminal trade is to stake out a house and call the phone number.  If the phone rings and rings with no answer it is a safe bet no one is home. If the phone doesn’t ring at all, crooks may suspect they are dialing the wrong number, or someone is home and using the phone.  Do not mention your travel plans on voicemail or answering machines.

Remove garage door openers from cars parked in the driveway.  It is a good idea to leave a second car parked in the driveway, but be sure to remove the garage door opener.  Burglars can easily bust out a window and open your garage with the click of a button.

Lock garage entry doors.  If you live in a home with an attached garage, lock the door from the garage to the home when leaving for Christmas vacation.  Garage doors have been known to malfunction, or be manually forced up, allowing access to your home.

Trim shrubbery and trees close to your home.  Overgrown shrubs provide the perfect cover for a burglar working to pry open a window.

FINAL HOLIDAY SAFETY TIP

Do not leave remnants of Christmas morning by the curb.  Large appliance boxes and containers are a sign Santa was really good to someone in the neighborhood!  They are also a sign to theives that the house just got a new plasma television for Christmas.  Break down boxes and put them in cans or black garbage bags to conceal the products that were inside them.

*Crime Watch members should also leave a message for the officers on patrol - they will keep a watch on your property as well.

by Nancy Wilson

I received a call from a concerned neighbor regarding some recent incidences in their pocket of Lakewood.  This individual took it upon himself to gather his neighbors, call the police department to get an officer to attend the meeting and he conducted a crime watch meeting.  What an incredible resident who is truly concerned for his neighbors.  Here are the minutes he took from his meeting with Officer Gordon from the Dallas Police Department.

“The group told Officer Gordon we had a lot of door-to-door sales people
come through the neighborhood. He reported that a call for a "suspicious 
person" used to be a priority 3 call, below priority 2 (calls like
domestic disturbances) and priority 1 (calls with weapons), but that now
 calls on suspicious persons have been elevated to priority 2. This
 results in reduced response time and is a result of DPD's commitment to 
cracking down on the crimes that neighborhoods like ours are experiencing. He
then encouraged us to CALL 911 for anything we think is suspicious.
 Examples were door to door solicitors who seemed to be checking things 
out, were rude or engaging in any type of confrontational behavior,
 delivery men knocking on doors with wrong addresses, or random people
 who were unknown and lurking/loitering about the neighborhood - "any 
suspicious behavior". He said that having a "No Solicitation" sign on
your door allows you to call if they knock on your door at all, but said
 that anything odd or concerning about a door-to-door person should be
called into 911. He mentioned that knocking on someone's door to sell 
something if they have a "no solicitation" sign is a Class C 
misdemeanor. The Dallas city website has information on solicitation 
rules, such as solicitation can only happen from "30 minutes before
sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset".

Officer Gordon told us that typically the criminals aren't watching us
for long periods of time, other than to knock on the door of homes where
 people seem to not be home and not have alarms a few times before trying 
to get in. He said it is amazing how much stuff they'll get from homes 
that do not have alarms because they have so much time. If trying for a
 house with an alarm they likely have one or 2 items in mind that they 
will grab and go with while the alarm is going off. They know when
 people are likely to be gone (Thanksgiving weekend for example). Officer 
Gordon recommended that when at home during the day, if someone knocks
 to not just ignore it. You should let them know you are home to prevent 
them from coming back in a few hours and trying to break in, thinking 
you aren't there. He said it's perfectly fine to talk through the door,
 not opening it, and let them know you are busy and can not engage with 
them. He said, "Be suspicious"! Don't buy stuff from door-to-door people
 unless it's Girl Scout cookies!



He emphasized - Call 911, it's OK if it's not an emergency! It's THE
 only way to access police, fire, medical and it is totally appropriate 
to call. Officers and 911 are there for us and we should not be
afraid to use it. To report minor incidences (like car break-ins, even 
if doors unlocked) you simply call 911 and they send a patrol officer
out to take your report. He said that the more reports we make, the
 higher it will elevate the need to increase patrols to this area and 
encouraged everyone to call in all incidents or suspicious activity.

Officer Gordon then mentioned I-Watch program, which has a free application for 
smart phones, and numbers to call or text to report suspicious
 non-emergency activity (go to iwatchdallas.net). He said it allows DPD 
to cross reference certain activity, such as a particular vehicle you've
seen multiple times, with other areas where that vehicle may be involved
 in other suspicious activity. There is also a Facebook page where people 
share incidents. He wasn't entirely sure how useful this method of 
prevention really is.



One thing Officer Gordon really emphasized for effective "target 
hardening" (making targets - our homes and cars - harder to successfully 
hit) was for all of us to go home and record all of the serial numbers
 on anything that has them (and if you put them in a spreadsheet or 
something similar on your computer - print them out in case your 
computer gets taken!) because serial numbers are the only thing that
 goes into a database. He said that pawnshop items have a 30 day hold 
where the serial numbers are run by DPD. If there is a match with a 
report you've filed you have a chance at getting your item back,
 although you may have to go to court to do so. Also, if you drop 
something off at a pawnshop, you have to give a picture ID, so it is 
possible to track down thieves that way because DPD monitors this
 activity. For example, if there are people who keep pawning 30 TV's at
 one time, they get targeted by DPD. For jewelry he recommended taking a 
very detailed picture, which can be tricky and you may need a jeweler to
 do so. GPS and lo-jack were also discussed as options for tracking
 high-end electronics.

Officer Gordon told us about "Volunteers in Patrol" (VIP), a class he 
teaches every other month where citizens receive 6 hours of training to 
learn how to be better observers. Volunteers will tour the 911 Call
 Center (not open to the public) during the training. Once completed, VIP 
members are given a card and allowed to officially "patrol" their 
neighborhoods in 2 person teams (with magnetic signs on their car),
which increases visibility in the neighborhood - one 2-hour patrol a
 month can really make a difference. The next class is February 11 from 
10-4 at City Hall. The application and full schedule for the class can
 be found online at www.dallaspolice.net (northeast).



Officer Gordon also filled us in on reductions in homeowner insurance 
premiums that may be available, according to the Texas Insurance Code, 
if we have alarm systems with certain features. Visit
 www.dallaspolice.net or www.northeastcrimewatch.org for more info on
 this. He can do the inspections for insurance companies, so call him if
 interested.



Officer Gordon's overall recommendations for reducing crime in our
 neighborhood are as follows:

• Know your neighbors, watch out for each other, communicate
• Lock doors and windows in homes
• Have alarms with loud, external sound
• Signage about alarms
• Signage in neighborhood about crime watch area, monitoring
 signage, etc.
• Call 911 consistently for ALL suspicious activity. If the
 operator says they aren't sending someone out, ask to speak to a 
supervisor - they are committed to coming out.
• Good lighting - moon lights, walkway lighting, porch lights,
 motion sensors
• Alley lights - motion sensor lights recommended
• No solicitation signs (get at Home Depot or through HOA - the
 more of us that have them, the harder it will be to walk the 
neighborhood, and the more likely they'll move elsewhere)
• If someone at door or trying to break in - MAKE NOISE. This is a
 deterrent as most burglars are cowards and do not want to be seen. Don't
 pretend you aren't home (don't have to open door).
• Lock vehicles

 and  Follow LOCK vehicle, TAKE keys, HIDE belongings.
• Have neighbors go through DPD Volunteers in Patrol (VIP) class
 and work out a patrol schedule
• Join HOA Crime Watch - dues will help DPD ability to increase
 patrols and will help everyone stay on top of current events
• Record your serial numbers and keep in a safe place
• Cameras may be a deterrent, but can be costly and need to be 
monitored consistently to be effective. Many cameras, unless very high
end, do not record well enough to accurately determine the identity of 
the suspect. It is also hard to prosecute from camera footage unless an
officer actually sees the suspect in action or you have a good 
fingerprint.  The first case was just prosecuted in Dallas county utilizing home video surveillance.

Personally, I would like to thank the neighbors at Pasadena, Shook and Wildgrove for being good neighbors and for watching out for each other.