Author: Paul Faust

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Wildfire Preparedness for Homeowners

Homeowners living in wildfire prone area are at risk of fire damaging their homes. This is obvious, and yet many of those homeowners are not prepared for wildfires, according to ACE Private Risk Services. The group launched a Wildfire Safety and Preparedness program for its ACE Platinum Portfolio ® policyholders, which outlines 12 critical issues that homeowners fail to address, leaving their homes at risk of fire damage.

The program contains guidelines for homeowners to follow to strengthen weak areas and to stop putting their families and homes at risk. Fire safety experts visited California homes in high-risk locations, and used their research to formulate a plan. Gary Raphael, Senior Vice President of Claims and Risk Consulting at ACE Private Risk Services said,

“We are very conscious of family safety in addition to property protection for our clients. That is why we have designed the Wildfire Safety and Preparedness program to include the development of a thorough evacuation plan for the family. We’ll even help them rehearse fire drills.” 

ACE claims that homes that follow the ACE Private Risk Services guidelines are less prone to be damaged in wildfires. They do not recommend spraying and other last-minute measures. A complete list of the guidelines can be found here.

Source:

http://losangeles.dbusinessnews.com/viewnews.php?article=bwire/20091203006172r1.xml

http://www.aceprivateriskservices.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PL-606_WildfireSafety-12Guidelines_120209.pdf

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Cold Snaps Means Winter Preparedness

Some regions of the country may receive colder than normal weather, including snow storms. Emergency Management Agencies are doing what they can to educate the public on winter preparedness.

George Grabryan, director of the Florence-Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency in Tennessee, said the anticipated cold snap presents a good opportunity for Tennessee residents to review their winter weather preparedness plans:

“Everyone needs to take a few minutes to think about what they would do if we do have a snow or ice storm this winter. Everyone needs a plan for how they would take care of their family during a winter storm.”

Food and water needs to be high on any winter preparedness list. Grabryan advises:

“I know things are tight and people don’t have a lot of extra money, but if they could buy a little nonperishable food each time they go to the grocery store – preferably food that doesn’t have to be cooked, they will have a supply on hand if a winter storm shuts down travel or knocks out power for a few days.”

Even more of a priority than food is water. You could live for three days without food, but you could not live without water.

Source:

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20091203/ARTICLES/912035025/1011/NEWS?Title=Cold-weather-chance-of-snow-in-forecast

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FEMA’s Mock Nuclear Bomb Drill in Vegas Stopped

FEMA wanted to conduct an emergency preparedness drill on the Las Vegas Strip or nearby, which would simulate terrorists detonating a nuclear bomb. That didn’t go over well with local leaders, such as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Nevada Development Authority (NDA), both of which agreed that FEMA’s timing for the exercise was wrong. Senator Harry Reid and local business leaders called the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, and pressured FEMA to cancel the drill by sending opposition letters.

The general concern posed by area business leaders is the timing of the drill during tough economic times. They think that having a mock nuclear bomb in Vegas with the way the economy is going is not smart. The NDA president was also concerned about the negative publicity that the FEMA drill would generate:

” We wrote a letter in opposition to that exercise…The last thing we need to do is to be on national TV and no matter what happens here they are gonna put us on national TV and it’s gonna be a mock nuclear bomb.”

The desire for FEMA to conduct a nuclear bomb drill should cause all of us to take note of our emergency preparedness plans as it relates to a nuclear attack. Are you prepared?

Source:

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11617817

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FEMA Warns Us to Prepare for Storms

Every area of the United States will get storms. The type and strength of the storm varies from state to state, but everyone needs to consider what they’re vulnerable to based on where they live.

Craig Fugate was appointed by President Obama as the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Fugate addressed students at Savannah State University on the issue of storm preparedness:

“We saw this just north of Atlanta in the recent floods, when many people asked, ‘I didn’t know I lived in an area that floods. Why was I allowed to build here?'”

Storm preparedness is a hot topic for FEMA because of the criticisms it received for its response to victims of Hurricane Katrina. It should be an important topic for you as well.

Can you imagine not being ready for a flood when you live in a flood zone? How about earthquakes or hurricanes? Take the time to learn what storms affect your area the most and what you need to do to protect yourself. At the very least, make sure you have home, car and office survival kits for everyone in your family containing the supplies you need to “weather out” a storm.

Source:

http://www.gpb.org/news/2009/11/17/fema-chief-urges-storm-preparedness

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Community gets Preparedness Advice at Open House

There’s a push this winter by local governments to educate residents on winter preparedness and safety. For example, officials in Ameren, Illinois hosted an open house recently for the purpose of letting area residents know what supplies they need if a storm causes a power outage for a few days. Officials recommend the Ameren’s family safety emergency supply list which includes the following: 

  • Flashlight
  • Battery-powered radio
  • Battery-powered clock
  • Extra batteries
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape
  • Screwdriver and other hand tools
  • Work gloves
  • Safety goggles
  • Blankets
  • First-aid kit
  • Cash and important phone numbers
  • Extra car keys
  • Cell phones along with car chargers

Spokesperson Victoria Busch said, “The number one thing that customers need to understand is family safety comes first.  Being prepared will help customers to be safe.” She went on to state that residents should make sure they have enough food and water for 72 hours.  

This is a first step, but most families should aspire to go beyond a 72 hour preparedness level, and have more supplies than listed above. A home, car and office survival kit will include more light, communication and shelter supplies that you’ll need to stay safe during a prolonged power outage.

Source:

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=11618811

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Avian Flu Still a Threat

Avian Influenza or A-H5N1 is a virus that is first contracted when someone gets in contact with a bird carrying the strain. Often farmers and rural workers are at risk of catching the flu if they work with birds. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned recently that A-H5N1 is still a threat and that new cases are being reported all around the world.

The concern now is that A-H5N1 may combine with the Swine Flu to produce a new, deadlier strain:

 “The most obvious risk is of H5N1 combining with the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus, producing a flu virus that is as deadly as the former and as contagious as the latter.”

However, while WHO warns that this is a risk, it has not confirmed that the two strains combining is actually possible. Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific said,

“We don’t know if this is possible, but we are certainly aware of the risk. We are on alert for this development…Influenza viruses are unpredictable. In areas where A(H1N1) is endemic, we and our partners and national governments are working to build surveillance systems to identify changes in the behavior of the virus. We are also focusing on early-response capacity to reduce the potential threats to human health.”

Having N95 masks on hand will protect you from breathing in harmful contaminants in the air when you travel or have to go to public areas.

Source:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=526599&publicationSubCategoryId=63

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Leadership Summit for Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is a concern not only for families, but for businesses and local governments. All communities could improve communications and plans to work together in a crisis. Business leaders and government officials in Minneapolis hope to do that with the Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness.

Rocco Forte is the director of Minneapolis Emergency Preparedness. He hopes that the summit will help ensure effective response to future emergencies. The presenters of the day long summit include expert presenters from across the country. One presenter, Leonard Marcus, co-director of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard, will replicate a Madrid-type bombing, and present strategies to respond if something similar happened in Minneapolis.

While it would be nice to hear Marcus or other experts speak in person, you may not get that kind of opportunity. However, you can take simple steps to make sure that you have your own plans in place to respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Knowing what to do can be a life saver for you and others in your community.

Leading your own community summit is also an option. Start with friends and neighbors you trust, and discuss ways to help one another in the event of an emergency.

Source:

http://www.kttc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11543243

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Terrorism Attacks Still Haunts the United States

The United States still faces the real threat of terrorist attacks. State and Federal law enforcement worked together to arrest Najibullah Zazi, who allegedly traveled to New York on September 10, 2009 to carry out an attack using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

In a speech to the Interagency Council for Applied Homeland Security Technology’s Counter-IED Symposium, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said this:

“The recent arrest and indictment of Najibullah Zazi on a charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction… against persons or property in the U.S. serves as a vivid example of the threat we continue to face…[O]ur success will hinge on our ability to work with our partners across the board at all levels of government and the private sector to monitor, protect against, and ultimately reduce the threat of an IED being used successfully.”

Napolitano is concerned that IEDs used in Afghanistan and Iraq will migrate to the United States and that there will be more IED attacks on American soil. Part of her recommendation is for families to strengthen their emergency preparedness, as well as to make sure that businesses and communities are prepared.

That begs the question, how prepared are you and your family for terrorist attacks? How can you strengthen your emergency plans?

Source:

http://www.securitymanagement.com/news/napolitano-outlines-homeland-security-measures-combat-ieds-006520

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Red Cross on Winter Preparedness

There’s a push from many government and non-profit agencies to educate the public on winter preparedness issues. It’s vital for families to make plans and purchase supplies to survive winter storms and related power outages. Unfortunately, many homes don’t even have a basic home survival kit and enough food and water to last them for three days.

The Red Cross, through its local chapters, is warning local residents to prepare. For example, El Paso, Texas is bracing for snowfall and the Chapter of the American Red Cross is urging residents in the area to take extra steps to prepare. Executive Director Mark Matthys said in a news release:

“Winter storm-specific supplies should include a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat and water-resistant boots for each member of the family… It’s also a good idea to have extra blankets, extra warm clothing, and cat litter or sand for traction. Fill your gas tank and be sure phone batteries are charged.”

If you’re already prepared, that’s great. Consider getting extra supplies for extended family members and neighbors who might need your help. Also, make plans for how you would travel on foot to help them or with limited gas. Water, food, light and warmth should be your priorities.

Source:

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=11594474

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Travel Preparedness and Swine Flu

The last thing you want to worry about while you travel during the holiday season is getting swine flu. The risk of getting ill due to close contact with others in planes, on ships and on trains increases during the winter season, which is flu season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that since April 2009, H1N1 has killed at least 4,000 people and 22 million others got sick from the flu.

The CDC is concerned about the swine flu this season, although there has been a drop in numbers recently. A spokesperson stated that the numbers “are still very high nation-wide compared to what is expected for this time of year.”

Before you plan your travel, find out if the airlines, rental car company or passenger train company will allow you to change your travel dates and what fees are associated with making those changes if you get sick.

If traveling by ship, car or train, take your car survival kit with you and make sure it’s stocked with a couple of N95 masks, extra water and food, and basic first aid supplies. You won’t have much flexibility if traveling by plane, because of the restrictions on liquids and other fluids. However, you can take your mask on board with you. Also, you can pack your survival kit with your checked bags, but be sure to remove all flammables, such as matches and liquid candles.

Source:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34244436/ns/travel-tips/