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Helping Our Friends in Louisiana

Do you want to help the victims of the severe flooding in Louisiana but don’t know how? We have a few tips to help anyone who wants to donate to the victims of this severe flooding.

Volunteer

· Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Connecting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.

· In a community struggling to respond to and recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process even more difficult. The best way to volunteer if you are not affiliated with an organization is http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/volunteering/blog/. Discuss with volunteer organizers how your needs for food, water and shelter will be met while you are volunteering.

· Be safe. Do not self-deploy. Wait until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.

· Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.

Donations

· Financial Contributions are Preferred. This allows relief organizations to purchase exactly what items are needed to assist in the response and recovery efforts. Funds will also provide direct victim assistance. Consider taking the items that you would like to donate and sell them in a yard sale and send them to South Carolina.

· Confirm the Need Before Collecting. Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything is needed.” Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated. A community hit by disaster, however, does not have the time, manpower or money to sort and dispose of unneeded donations. Get precise information and confirm the need before collecting any donated goods or clothing.

Prepare for the Potential of Flooding Rains

There is a potential that heavy rains could hit our state and possibly cause flooding. It is important to take this time to prepare.

Turn around, don’t drown. It is a phrase that can seem cliché but it is an important one. If the road looks flooded. It is best not to try to drive one it. Listen to your local TV and radio stations for any road closings. It is also important to stay out of the water. Do not let your children play in the water. Water could be moving faster than you realize and sweep them up. Six inches of swift moving water can knock an adult off their feet plus the water could be contaminated.

A Flood Preparedness kit is similar to you basic Emergency Preparedness Kit. Here is what it should include:

· Water – 1 gallon per person in your household per day for three days

· Food – A three day supply of non-perishable food

· Flashlight

· Weather Radio

· Extra Batteries

· First Aid Kit

· Medications – A seven day supply

· Copies of personal documents in a water proof case

· A cellphone with charger and battery back up

· Pet supplies

· Sanitation and personal hygiene items

Be prepared to evacuate at a moments notice. If you have a pet make sure they are prepared at well. Your pet should never be left home alone to weather a storm alone. Remember that if shelters are set up not all shelters will allow you to have your pets. You can call 211 to find out shelter information.

June is National Pet Preparedness Month

Preparing Pets for Emergencies

Your family is prepared for a disaster but your family pet? June is National Pet Preparedness Month and an excellent time to get your pet prepared for a natural disaster. The best way to start is to make a plan. Your pet should have an ID tag that includes their name and your contact information. The tag should be securely attached to your pet’s collar and the collar should be fastened securely to your pet. This is also a good time to consider having your pet microchipped. The microchip is important should your pet ever be lost or stolen but can also help if you are separated during a natural disaster. Also, make sure you have a current photo of your pet.

Now that your pet can be identified next you need to make sure you have a kit to take care of all their needs. It is important to have an Emergency Preparedness Kit for your family , in the same way it is important to have a Pet Preparedness Kit. Some of the important things to have in the kit are:

· Food

· Water

· Medication

· Veterinary Records

· Cat Litter/ Pan

· Manual Can Opener

· Food Dishes

· First Aid Kit

· Secure Pet carrier

· Leash or Harness

For a full list and more details click here.

If you have to evacuate your home, it is important to know that not all evacuee shelters will allow you to bring your pets. If you are asked to evacuate in the State of Alabama, the best way to determine which shelter will allow you and your pet is to call 211. Also, listen to your local radio and TV stations they will also be broadcasting this information. You may also choose to board your pet during a disaster. Call your veterinarian, the animal shelter in your area and animal control office for the best advice. Some animal shelters will provide temporary foster care for owned pets during times of disaster but this is something you should use as a last resort and get information about this possible option prior to a disaster. Do not leave your pet at home to weather the storm. You may not be able be able to return to the affected area immediately and they will not have what they need to survive. It is also a good idea to create a buddy system with your friends and neighbors in case of an emergency. This back up plan will make sure that someone is able to care for your pets if you are not able to do so yourself.

Protecting Your Pet During a Disaster

If you are at home with your pet during the disaster bring them in immediately. It is important to have plenty of newspaper on hand for sanitary purposes. Since animals have instincts about severe weather changes it is important to move them indoors prior to the storm to reduce the chance that they will run away because of fear. This fear could also lead to anxiety. If you have multiple pets you might want to separate them even if they normally get along, the stress of an emergency situation could cause some pets to behave irrationally.

You can visit ready.gov/animals for more information about caring for your pets before, during and after a storm.

2016 Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

The time to prepare is now, take advantage of this weekend’s Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. The sales tax holiday starts at 12:01 am Friday February 26, 2016 and goes until midnight on Sunday February 28, 2016. Shoppers will be able to buy certain severe weather preparedness items free of the state sales tax. Local sales tax may still apply to the purchases.

Here is a list, from the Alabama Department of Revenue, of items you can get during the sales tax holiday. This is a great time to stock up on items from your emergency kit and to shop as a family.

Severe Weather Possible Feb. 23-Fe. 24, 2016

Severe Weather Awareness Week wrapped up last week and we are looking at the potential for more severe weather this week. Will you use what you learned last week to prepare for the possibility of severe weather this week?

The National Weather Service in Birmingham says there is an elevated risk for severe weather in central and south Alabama Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. This is the best time to discuss your families plan and make sure you have your emergency kit together. Remember to bring your child’s bike helmet inside and place it in your safe space as well as everyone’s tennis shoes. Also, remember that the safest spot for your baby during a storm is in their car seat.

Be weather aware over the next 36 to 48 hours. Be sure you have downloaded a weather alert app and that your weather radio has new batteries, is programmed for your county and is turned on.

Donate to Help Alabama Storm Survivors

THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (GERF) IS AVAILABLE AS A “FUND OF LAST RESORT” FOR UNMET NEEDS AFTER ALABAMA DISASTERS.

THE FUND: GERF was created after Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and continues today to support unmet needs for individuals and families recovering from severe weather in Alabama. Over 4 million dollars was donated and awarded to Alabama families with unmet needs after the April 2011 tornado outbreaks.

DONATE: Administered by Serve Alabama in partnership with The United Ways of Alabama (fiscal agent), the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund is a primary source of recovery funding for families post disaster in Alabama.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE STORM RECOVERY PROCESS IN ALABAMA, SEND YOUR MONETARY DONATION TO:

Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund

PO Box 1523

Montgomery, AL 36102

DONATE SECURELY ONLINE THROUGH THE UNITED WAYS OF ALABAMA:

http://www.unitedwaysofalabama.org/give/

*When donating online, please indicate “Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund” in the “PURPOSE” section of the online donation form.

HOW FAMILIES RECEIVE GERF FUNDING : As communities begin the long term recovery process post-disaster, local cities and counties often form “Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC)” made up of local non-profit agencies and community partners. LTRCs are responsible for assessing and vetting the unmet needs of individuals and families in recovery counties. This assessment is typically completed through a disaster case management process for families in need. After LTRCs recognize and confirm unmet needs, the recovery committee can submit funding requests to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. The GERF committee then reviews the application and makes a decision based on available funds and scope of the event statewide. GERF funding is not available through individual requests. Funding applications must be through an area Long Term Recovery Committee.

*Photo credit National Weather Service Birmingham. Pickens County Tornado - February 2, 2016

Severe Weather Potential in Alabama Tuesday, February 2: Stay Weather Aware

The National Weather Service is forecasting the potential for severe weather in Central Alabama Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening. Now is the time to prepare.

While your children are home this weekend take the time to talk to the about your families plan and have them evaluate or build an emergency kit (link).

It is important to watch your local weather station and sign up for their severe weather alerts. You should also check the batteries in your weather radio, in case the power goes out, be sure it is plugged in and turned on.

Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund

RELIEF FUND FOR LONG TERM DISASTER RECOVERY FOR CHRISTMAS 2015 FLOODING/TORNADOES

The Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) is a “fund of last resort” for unmet needs of families and individuals working to recover from disasters in our state. There is a specific process for application through local Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs). LTRCs are set up in counties/regions to locate recovery resources, assess and confirm needs, and grant funding for rebuild and recovery. LTRCs request funding from a variety of sources, including Community Foundations and GERF. The GERF has provided funding for Hurricane Katrina, April 2011 and a various disaster recovery efforts in our state. Serve Alabama is administrator for the GERF with The United Ways of Alabama serving as fiscal partner.

To donate to the Alabama Governor’s Relief Fund, please mail donations to:

Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund PO Box 1523 Montgomery, AL 36102

Serve Alabama administers the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF). This fund is designed to help Alabama residents recover from severe weather as a fund of last resort. The funds are requested through local long term recovery committees. LTRC requests are voted on/approved by the GERF committee members. For the April 2011 Alabama tornadoes, the GERF committee has distributed over $5.8 million dollars to date, including over $4 million for individual and family recovery and over $1 million in matching funds for community storm shelters across Alabama. The relief fund has also awarded funding for individual and family recovery unmet needs after the April 2014 severe weather and flooding event in the state.

Stay Weather Aware and Prepare

Tornadoes are rare in December for the state of Alabama but that doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t happen. Eight tornadoes touched down in Mobile on Christmas Day 2012. There is a potential for severe weather in the state tomorrow through Christmas Eve.

It is important for families to prepare for the potential of severe weather. Know this difference between a watch and a warning. A watch suggest that conditions are favorable for a tornado and you should be prepared. This is the time to discuss your families plan for taking shelter and to grab your emergency kit, tennis shoes and helmets and place them in your safe spot. A warning means a tornado has been spotted and you should take action immediately.

All tornadoes, no matter their strength, should be taken seriously. Straight line winds can also cause damage during a severe thunderstorm. Be sure that your weather radio is programs for your area and turned on. Sign up for weather alerts from the National Weather Service or a local TV station.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winterizing Your Home

Is your home ready for the cold temperatures to come? An important step in winterizing your home is to make sure your heater is working properly before the cold temperatures come, as well as making sure your fire place is cleaned out and inspected. You should keep a fire extinguisher on hand and make sure everyone in the house knows how to use it.

Each year, more than 400 Americans die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide-related deaths are most common during winter months and are likely due to gas powered furnaces or gas powered appliances. Some things to remember when it comes to carbon monoxide are:

· Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside your home

· Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home on all levels

Now is the time to begin insolating your pipes. You can use insolation or newspaper. Also, allow your faucets to drip a little to avoid freezing of the pipes. Everyone in the house should know where the water shut off valve is in case the pipes burst.

Winter Weather Awareness Week: Car Kits

November 17- 22 is Winter Weather Awareness Week. It might seem strange to think about winter weather when we’re just feeling the cooling air of fall but NOW is the time to prepare.

What would happen if you were stranded on the side of the road or stuck in a traffic jam in freezing temperatures? We talk about Emergency Preparedness Kits for your home but you should make one for your car as well. Your car kit should include:

· Windshield scraper and a small broom

· Flashlight

· Battery Powered Radio

· Water

· Snack food

· Matches

· Extra hat, socks and mittens

· First air kit with a pocket knife

· Medication

· Blankets

· Booster cables

· Emergency Flares

· Fluorescent distress flag

n

Helping South Carolina Flood Victims

Do you want to help the victims of the severe flooding in South Carolina but don’t know how? We have a few tips to help anyone who wants to donate to the victims of this severe flooding.

Volunteer

· Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Connecting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.

· In a community struggling to respond to and recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process even more difficult. The best way to volunteer if you are not affiliated with an organization is to call 1-888-585-9643 in South Carolina or visit http://www.scemd.org/recovery-section/donations-and-volunteers. Discuss with volunteer organizers how your needs for food, water and shelter will be met while you are volunteering.

· Be safe. Do not self-deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.

· Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.

Donations

· Financial Contributions are Preferred. This allows relief organizations to purchase exactly what items are needed to assist in the response and recovery efforts. Funds will also provide direct victim assistance. Consider taking the items that you would like to donate and sell them in a yard sale and send them to South Carolina.

· Confirm the Need Before Collecting. Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything is needed.” Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated. A community hit by disaster, however, does not have the time, manpower or money to sort and dispose of unneeded donations. Get precise information and confirm the need before collecting any donated goods or used clothing. Get precise information and confirm the need before collecting any donated goods or used clothing. Here is a link to the goods that can be donated to help the residents of South Carolina.

Baron Brings “Beat the Traffic” System to TV Stations Nationwide

ORLANDO, Fla., September 18, 2015 — Working together in an expanded relationship, Baron and The Weather Network will bring “Beat the Traffic” data and display software to the U.S. television marketplace. This new offering will provide U.S. broadcasters with a price competitive option for high quality traffic information. As a solution, Baron’s critical weather intelligence and Beat the Traffic’s real-time traffic data provide vital information for station audiences during the most critical day parts—morning and evening.

Baron first worked with Pelmorex Media in April of this year to provide a weather graphics system. The system, which was customized for their brands, The Weather Network & MétéoMedia, enabled on-air presenters to share more comprehensive and engaging weather stories, with elements including weather in 3D and hour-by-hour storm evolution.

“We at Pelmorex Media are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Baron Weather. This is an ideal collaboration for us since the synergies between traffic and weather information are undeniable,” said Marc Morrissette, VP Market Development, Pelmorex Media (Owner and Operator of Beat the Traffic and The Weather Network). “Our Beat the Traffic broadcast solutions are a perfect complement to Baron’s powerful weather graphic tools and together we provide our broadcasting clients with enhanced time-sensitive, accurate traffic and weather information that viewers can rely on.”

Through this relationship, Baron is now bringing a best-in-class traffic service to broadcast stations all over the United States. Beat the Traffic provides real-time viewing of traffic flow, travel times and incident detail combined with terrain and 3D city models to keep viewers informed of the latest traffic conditions. Baron’s powerful weather graphics system incorporates the Beat the Traffic signal as a video source for easy display, and allows stations to tell a unified weather and traffic story during the key times audiences are planning their daily activities.

“Audience viewing trends consistently rank weather and traffic reports as the most important elements of a weathercast,” said Mike Mougey, Vice President of Broadcast sales. “We were very impressed with the accuracy of the data, the graphics and the ease of use of the Beat the Traffic system. Combined with Baron’s powerful critical weather intelligence, the solution makes for a powerful storytelling tool.”

Training Announcement: MGT 405 Mobilizing Faith-Based Community Organizations (FBCO) in Preparing for Disaster

This eight-hour management-level course covers emergency planning, and brings together emergency managers and first responders with FBCO leaders in a shared learning environment. This course facilitates effective communication in order to develop comprehensive local emergency plans.

Topics covered include but are not limited to:

•the significant role FBCOs have played during and after major disasters.

•understanding the responsibilities and authority of each level of government and non-governmental organizations as well as the four phases of emergency management and other significant emergency-related terminology.

•the role leadership plays in FBCO preparedness, apply social networking techniques to prepare members for disaster, and complete an emergency plan checklist that can be utilized by FBCOs during the planning process.

•the process for developing a local emergency plan, list the elements of a comprehensive county emergency plan, and evaluate a plan for FBCO engagement.

*Please note all foreign nationals need to complete a Department of Homeland Security Foreign National Visitor Request Form in order to attend this course.

Please sign-up no later than January 7, 2016, as a minimum of 20 registrations must be received by this date to confirm the class will be held. Should you have any questions regarding the local jurisdiction or directions to the facility please contact Michael Harter at [email protected] or (205) 254-2039.

Prerequisites: Students must be a U.S. citizen. Foreign nationals may apply to DHS to attend the course on a case-by-case basis. ICS 100 course is strongly recommended for FBCO leaders.

To register click on the below link:

https://www.ruraltraining.org/training/schedule/2016-01-21-MGT405-BIRMINGHAM-AL-001/

Are You Prepared for Severe Weather Season?

HealthMart Pharmacy and TV stations across the state are partnering to get you prepared for the fall severe weather season. Below is a list of dates and locations across the state where you can bring your weather radio to be programmed or purchase a weather radio and have it programmed on site. You can also get information on what to put inside an emergency preparedness kit as well as tips on keeping your family and pets safe during a storm.

Wednesday 9/23-- Home Town Pharmacy / Brookwood, AL

Wednesday 9/30-- Cahaba Pharmacy / Birmingham, AL

Thursday 10/1 – Argo Pharmacy & Gifts / Argo, AL

Monday 10/5-- J&J Drugs - Gardendale ,AL

Wednesday 10/7-- Gregerson’s Pharmacy / Gadsden, AL

Monday 10/12-- Cowart Drug Company / Calera, AL

Wednesday 10/14—Fort Williams Pharmacy / Sylacauga, AL

Thursday 10/15 – Mills Discount Pharmacy / Woodlawn, AL

Monday 10/26 - Sure Save Pharmacy / Madison, AL

Tuesday 10/27 - Gilchrist Pharmacy / Hartselle, AL

Wednesday 10/28 – Limestone Drug / Athens, AL

Thursday 10/29 – Pharmacy First / Huntsville, AL

Friday 10/30 – Bunch Pharmacy / Guntersville, AL

Be Ready Camp Wins National Award

Be Ready Camp, a partnership between The Governor’s Officer of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service (Serve Alabama), the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville and Madison County EMA, has received one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. Be Ready Camp was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness Award for it’s innovative contributions that have made the community safer and better prepared.

Be Ready Camp started in 2006. Over the last 9 years, more than 1000 sixth graders from across the state have attended Be Ready Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Be Ready Camp is designed to teach the students about being prepared for and how to respond to a disaster.

Serve Alabama will accept the award in Washington D.C. on September 8, 2015.

Ready Sunday

Dear Faith-Based Leaders:

On behalf of ReadyAlabama, Alabama’s emergency preparedness campaign funded by Homeland Security Grant Program, we would like to invite your church family to participate in the tenth annual ReadySunday initiative on September 27, 2015. ReadyAlabama makes it simple and easy for your organization to participate.

ReadySunday is a collaborative effort geared to encourage Alabama’s faith-based organizations and their families to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and churches.

Organizations like yours play an integral role in our community during disasters. Not only will congregation members turn to their faith in times of crisis, but community members will seek out your organization for comfort and support. With the collaboration of faith-based groups and government agencies, we can work together to educate and empower our communities to prepare before disasters strike.

When you participate in ReadySunday, ReadyAlabama will do the work for you! ReadyAlabama offers a free program with resources customized to your organization’s needs, including:

· Registering your church as a ReadySunday participant at www.ReadyAlabama.gov/ReadySunday and providing you with downloadable resources.

· Promoting ReadySunday to your congregation by providing pre-written information for your newsletter, website, e-blasts, bulletin board, and other communication vehicles.

· Offering church attendees free family emergency plans and more.

· Providing you with ReadySunday handouts for a table display with emergency preparedness materials and a sample disaster kit on display.

We know that the next emergency is coming, but we just don’t know when or what kind it will be. We can prepare now for the next emergency. Our family, friends, church, and community depend on it, and ReadySunday provides a compelling reminder to get prepared today!

To get your ReadySunday event started, please visit www.ReadyAlabama.gov/ReadySunday or contact ReadyAlabama at (334) 954-7440.

We look forward to your participation.

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