NDResponse

State Emergency Comms Center would like to remind you to please not be a silly goose this Fourth of July:

Reserve 911 for life-threatening emergencies. Loud fireworks, startled pets, and general noise complaints are not emergencies and can tie up critical lines.

When to call 911:
-There is a fire
-Someone is injured or burned
-Threat to life or property
-Suspected gunfire

When not to call 911:
-Your dog is nervous
-You are grumpy about fireworks

Now, let's all come out of this birthday party with the same amount of fingers, toes, and eyeballs we went into this party with.

Keep the wildfires down when fireworks go up this year - our first responders thank you!

-Keep a ready source of water nearby
-Soak spent and unused fireworks—and duds—in water
-Never use fireworks near dry vegetation
-Start one firework at a time

Fireworks started over 32,000 fires in 2023 and twice as many wildfires are started on July 4th than any other day.

Check what laws may apply in your area; many cities do not allow fireworks to be put off within city limits. Fireworks are never permitted on federal grasslands, federal forests, national parks, or North Dakota state parks. And fireworks are always subject to burn restrictions based on current local conditions.

Learn before you burn at NDResponse.gov/burn

Stay weather aware and follow the US National Weather Service for the incoming storms this evening.

Let’s talk software updates. Annoying sometimes? Yes. Important? Absolutely!

This week, we’re breaking down each letter of North Dakota’s Stay Cyber SMART acronym with simple ways to better protect yourself online. Today, we’re talking about R—Regularly update software and devices.

Those update notifications aren’t just there to move buttons around and test your patience. 😉 Software updates play a huge role in fixing security flaws, patching vulnerabilities, and keeping your devices running safely and smoothly.

Here are a few easy ways to stay protected:

⚙️ Turn on automatic updates whenever possible. Most devices can update themselves overnight while you sleep.
📅 Prefer manual updates? Set a reminder so they don’t get forgotten.
📱 Update ALL your devices—not just your computer and phone. Smart TVs, gaming systems, security cameras, routers, and even smart thermostats need updates too.

Cybercriminals love outdated software because it’s often the easiest way in. Keeping devices updated is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself, your information, and your home network. 🔐

Stay aware. Stay safe. And as always—

S – Set strong, unique passwords.
M – Make multifactor authentication a habit.
A – Avoid risky links, attachments, and senders.
R – Regularly update software and devices.
T – Take care with personal information.