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Tips for Preparedness in Hazardous Weather Conditions

Emergency management coordinators, whose job is to make sure their area, city or county is prepared for emergencies, are offering tips to residents for emergency preparedness. The Cleburne Times-Review reports on one coordinator’s preparations for hazardous weather conditions:

The city of Cleburne constantly prepares for hazardous weather conditions this time of year, said emergency management coordinator Randy Jenkins.

“We think ahead,” he said. “The National Weather Service lets us know when bad weather is on the way. For instance, we’ll have snow chains ready for our fire vehicles. We check the antifreeze in the vehicles in really cold weather. Public works takes care of sanding and things like water main breaks. Day to day, we have minimum staffing 24-7. We have minimal staffing at fire stations and at the police station on holidays. A lot of public works employees are on call.”

“People should keep blankets and flashlights in their vehicles in case they get stranded. People with medical conditions who lose power in their homes should call [the police department] and let us know. We can find the person shelter.”

This is a good start, but you’ll need to go beyond that to keep you and your family safe. Food and water would be a top priority, as well as a well stocked first aid kit. These are already assembled in car and home survival kits, as well as other light and communications supplies.

Source:
http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/johnsoncounty/local_story_347203041.html?keyword=topstory

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Government Disaster Relief More than $1 Billion

People may take for granted just how much it costs for the government to help people in disasters. Take the state of Iowa. It cost more than $1 billion for that state to recover from tornadoes, flooding and other disasters that destroyed several communities last year. That’s just a fraction of the total amount that will ultimately go to the state for disaster aid, $3.6 billion at the end of the day.

“Disaster recoveries are very difficult, and they don’t necessarily move in a very timely manner. So I always say that disaster recoveries are marathons, not sprints,” said Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis, executive director of the Rebuild Iowa Office in Des Moines.

The largest category is $299 million spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide grants to the state, local governments and certain nonprofit agencies to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters.

Although the article doesn’t make the connection, you can be sure that part of that response includes providing stranded residents with basic supplies, such as food, water and medicine.  If every home was prepared, a good chunk of that $299 million would be reduced, and the costs to taxpayers would be far less. You can help your community by preparing yourself for emergencies, and being ready and willing to help those around you with extra supplies, and it costs a lot less than government aid.

Source:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091208/NEWS10/912080374/-1/NEWS04/-1-billion-spent-on-disaster-relief

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Government Gives “Preparedness Kits” to Students

Students attending public school may receive more than an education these days. They may receive survival kits direct from the government. In Florence and Lauderdale Counties, they’re handing out 300 kits to students, administered by the Emergency Management Agency.

However, as a parent who is concerned about emergency preparedness, you won’t want to rely on these kits. Here’s what’s in a kit:

“Notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, dictionaries and three ring binders,” said Lauderdale County EMA Planner Mark Senf.

What makes this a preparedness kit? Well, the kits contain information from the Department of Public Health about cleanliness and the flu, plus pamphlets on how to prepare for emergencies, disasters and severe weather.

It’s interesting that the Emergency Management Agency has dubbed these “preparedness kits” because of the addition of the pamphlets. If you rely on these for your children, or if you’re a teacher and rely on these for your students, you won’t be prepared. It’s great to get informed about what to do in case of emergencies, but you need more than information in a time of crisis.

Instead of brochures and pamphlets, make sure you give your kids a children’s survival kit, which contains supplies that are geared toward children. If you’re a teacher, making the investment in a classroom survival kit for students ensures that students without kits will have the supplies they need.

Source:

http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-ema-gives-preparedness-kits-to-students,0,7000254.story

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Disastrous State of Disaster Planning

Are states prepared to deal with major catastrophes? This issue is tackled by James Carafano in his Washington Examiner Column. He writes:

Few states have even begun to address their requirements for catastrophic planning. Most lack the expertise and resources to undertake large-scale disaster planning. Most focus available resources on “everyday” disaster response: Vermont must plan for snowstorms, Hawaii for volcanic eruptions and California for earthquakes. They’re far less motivated to think about the wider menu of disasters, from biological plagues to dirty bombs.

Are things any better at the federal level? Carafano continues:

Even the federal effort has ground to a halt. The cats don’t like being herded. To make the job easier, the Department of Homeland Security tried grouping the 15 scenarios into a group of eight “scenario sets,” but other federal agencies still complained there were too many planning requirements.

In response to the disastrous state of disaster planning, the Obama White House has put the whole effort on hold while it “rethinks” the presidential directives requiring the agencies to do anything. That’s not good news.

If your emergency preparedness plan is to wait for your local and federal government to come and rescue you, this report on the state of things should change your thinking. Preparedness is your individual and family responsibility, and you should buy the kits you need and take the right steps to ensure you and your family’s safety.

Source:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Preparation-means-planning-ahead-of-time-8655242-79171502.html