Safety Tips for Hurricane Storms & Disaster Survival

 Here are some safety and survival tips to keep in mind
during serious disaster causing storms. Best policy is to plan ahead
and act
sooner rather than later. If one waits until the last minute, it can be
too late.

1. Put Aside Money.
Have some cash, and carry all your credit cards.
Also be sure to get a copy of your homeowner's insurance policy, take
all valuable documents
with you when you evacuate or seek safety shelter.

2. Plan Your Escape Routes.
Have multiple escape routes and know the proper government evacuation
route.
Make sure you car's fuel tank is filled and your mobile phone is
charged. Again, better to do this in advance
than wait until the last minute as fuel is often hard to get in areas
under immediate danger.

3. Plan Escape Trip.
Identify ahead of time where you could go if told to evacuate. Choose
several places,
like a friend's home in another town, a motel or a shelter.

4. Prepare An Emergency Supply Kit.
Assemble a disaster supplies kit including the following items:
• First-aid kit and any essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person.
• Protective clothing, rainwear and bedding or sleeping bags.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
• Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water
if authorities
advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn
them back on.)

5. Prepare Interiors Of Homes.
If evacuating, unplug all electrical devices. Shut off natural gas if
local officials advise it
and make sure to have a sufficient supply of batteries for
battery-powered equipment.

6. Prepare Exteriors Of Homes.
Secure your home by boarding over windows or putting up hurricane
shutters.
If you use boards, purchase precut one-half-inch outdoor plywood boards
for each window
of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and drill holes in the
plywood ahead of time,
so it can be installed quickly.

7. Clear Dead Trees Around Your Home & Property.
If you live in a wooded area, make trees more wind-resistant by taking
out diseased and
damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can
blow through.

8. Avoid Highest Danger Areas.
Move to safe shelters. Low-lying areas and mobile homes should be
evacuated.
Low Lying areas will flood, cutting off escape routes and emergency
help also.
Mobile Homes can not withstand high winds and flooding. If you live in
a mobile home, evacuate
and seek high ground and safe shelters.

9. Keep Informed.
Stay informed by monitoring weather advisories on radio and television.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Don not play hero or
stupidly ignore safety advisories,
most deaths from tropical storms & hurricanes are incurred by such
people.

10. Clean Up & Prepare Your Home's Yard & Property.
If a hurricane watch is issued, prepare to bring inside any lawn
furniture, outdoor decorations or
ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be
picked up by the wind. In a strong
hurricane's winds, any object can become a flying and deadly object and
can cause incredible amounts
of damage to even strong structures.

Always think safety first, above all else.

Native Arts Culture:

Oh yes, we can believe this!!!

Updated: 05:26 PM EDT Ophelia Upgraded to a Hurricane Storm Is Stationary; Where It Will Go Is Unclear By TRAVIS REED, AP

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 8) - Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthened into a hurricane as it stalled 70 miles off the northeast Florida coast Thursday, churning waves that caused beach erosion and drenching Kennedy Space Center.

 

NOAAOphelia brushes the Florida coast on Thursday, but forecasters say the tropical storm's next move isn't clear.

Talk About It: Post Thoughts

Thursday evening, Ophelia had top sustained winds of 75 mph, just over the threshold to be classified as a hurricane, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.

But forecasters said it was still unclear where Ophelia was headed.

Want loved ones to know where you are ? Heres another place to look!

Red Cross now also has a site... a number

1  877  LOVED  1s

How you can help
Send your dollar or train to help

Red Cross:1-800-HELP-NOW   News Updates:   http://www.cnn.com/  <This link

NCAI creates fund to help Indian tribes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

Wednesday, 07 September 2005 Dear Friends and Family,

I work as the Director of Development for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).  NCAI the oldest and largest Indian organization in the U.S. and we represent more than half of the country's American Indian tribes.

Immediately after we received word of the disaster left by Hurricane Katrina, NCAI created a fund to help the Indian tribes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who were affected.  Let me tell you that American Indian tribes are consistently overlooked and always the last to receive any assistance, if any.  On Friday, we talked with a representative from one Indian tribe who said the homes and land of every tribal member in their community was completely demolished, it was very sad.

Read more...

 

Hurricane Katrina Update Tuesday, 06 September 2005

PHOENIX - The Red Cross has been working with the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and the Arizona Department of Health Services to transport 1,000 evacuees to Phoenix. Planes began arriving at Sky Harbor International Airport yesterday. While not confirmed, an additional 2,000 evacuees may be transported in the coming days. The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association has contacted the Governor's Office toask if other Arizona communities will receive evacuees...
Additional evacuees may be transported to Tucson. Evacuees are being triaged at the airport by Emergency Medical Service providers. Those in immediate distress will continue to be transported directly to area hospitals. Those in satisfactory medical condition will be transported directly to Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 17th Ave. and McDowell in Phoenix. Last night, two medical crews from Banner Desert and Banner Good Samaritan medical centers visited the Coliseum to care for evacuees needing care. Originally it was to be Banner Desert alone, but the numbers expected at the Coliseum had risen beyond the expected. An emergency medical team from Banner Estrella and each of our other Valley Banner facilities have been assembled and remain on stand-by in case additional medical  personnel are needed.

Volunteering
We've had some associates ask about volunteer opportunities outside of work to help Katrina victims. The Arizona Division of Emergency Management has established an online form at

 http://www.dem.state.az.us/katrinahelp.html

to submit your name and contact information. Those with medical expertise who wish to volunteer their services can contact Doug Wilkey at 602-263-9736, e-mail doug.wilkey@volunteerphoenix.org     This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

 

Indian Country responds to victims of Katrina Tuesday, 06 September 2005 Tribal nations across the UnitedStates are sending their support to the victims of Hurricane Katrina as federal officials pledged to help tribes affected by a disaster that battered the Gulf Coast.

The National Congress of American Indians has set up a relief fund to assist tribes and their membersin Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Six federally recognized tribes are located in the three states, which were hit by wind, rain and flooding.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Indian Nations located in the region effected by Hurricane Katrina," said NCAI President Tex G. Hall. "It is times like this when it is important for Native people to come together to help one another out." Read more...

Thank you! Over 150,000 beds offered to hurricane victims.

THANK YOU!

MoveOn members and others have offered over 150,000 beds to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. But with more than a million displaced, those spots will be snapped up. If you have space available, even if you're nowhere near New Orleans, you can still help as survivors are relocated. If you have an extra bed or even a couch to offer, click here:



Even if you can't offer housing, you can still help by supporting the NAACP's efforts to match survivors to housing, and provide emergency supplies to and transportation from the devastated areas. Click here to donate:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=864&t=5 Dear MoveOn member,

In the face of the enormous tragedy unfolding in the Southeast, the response from MoveOn members and the general public to our volunteer housing efforts has been amazing and heartwarming. Since last Thursday, offers of over 150,000 beds have been posted at hurricanehousing.org, with over 50,000 of those spots in the Southeast.

The thanks that mean the most, of course, are those of the people who have found a place to stay. Here's what Mary, one of the Katrina survivors, had to say: "I bought a condo in Biloxi just 10 days before Katrina to be closer to family after my husband's death last Jan. No motels were taking reservations so I looked on the web...that is how I came across hurricanehousing.org. What a blessing in this time of need. I'll be staying with wonderful Susan and her cats for one week."

Over 1,500 people like Mary have responded to the postings, seeking housing for 11,000 hurricane victims—even as most relieforganizations are still focused primarily on saving everyone they can from the most immediate dangers. With over a million people displaced, as attention shifts to finding medium-term solutions for those crammed into churches and other makeshift shelters, we expect that the housing offered so far will be snapped up.

That's where you can help:

Offer housing: If you can shelter someone in need, even if you're nowhere near New Orleans, you may be able to make a difference for someone who has lost everything. The need is most urgent in the following locations: all of Texas and Louisiana; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Memphis and Greensboro, North Carolina. But victims are also being moved to cities further afield, including Boston, Chicago, and even St. Paul, Minnesota. Post your offer of a spare room, or a bed, or even a couch here:

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/?id=5959-5975235-nu8BCegeGKfQ7NwbanCLqw

Donate: We've also partnered with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). As part of their effort to help victims of Katrina, they're not only working to help their (mostly low-income) members to find housing, but also to organize to see that low income neighborhoods and families get the help they need. They're strapped for funds to do this important work, and need our help. You can donate online right now at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=868&t=7

We're doing everything we can to get these offers into the hands of those in need. We've set up a toll-free hotline so people without internet access can call in and get help finding housing. Celebrities—from Rosie Perez to Moby to Tim Robbins to the Beastie Boys—are helping us publicize the website and hotline through public service announcements and other outreach.

Meanwhile, MoveOn.org Political Action is readying plans to hold the Bush Administration to account for its failures in preventing and then responding to this disaster, and make sure that Congress provides the aid that's needed.

Here are a couple more stories from the victims and their families:

I went out of town for the weekend. When I found out about the hurricane, the airline wouldn't let me return home to get my things or my dog. So I had to sit and watch in horror as the waters came in and see everything from the television. I'm distraught not only because I want my dog, I want to be home, but because I only had three classes left to graduate. [Through your site] I found a place. It was a miracle. The guy renting his apt was moving and I have 30 days to stay here and that gives me time to find a job and more permanent housing. He also hooked me up with a job. I will be attending the University of Houston Monday. I can't tell you how grateful I am to people like him and others who responded and opened their homes to me.–Dara

We moved to New Orleans in 2003 and bought a house which was under 12 feet of water following Hurricane Katrina. We evacuated safely but were at a loss as to where we would go while waiting for the endless water to drain from our city. We applied at hurricanehousing.org and got two responses within 24 hours.–Ann

Today's New York Times also includes a story of a family that was placed through hurricanehousing.org. The Mixons, from a New Orleans suburb, have plenty to worry about with the mortgages on their home and a now uninhabitable rental property adding up and the possibility that their business won't survive. The offer by Shannon O'Leary and Alex McKinney in Cummings, GA, provided not just shelter near family members, but a new friendship for both couples and their 4-year old daughters in a time of trouble. To read the article, click here:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=865&t=6

Together we're making a difference. Thank you.

–Noah T. Winer and the whole MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
  Tuesday, September 6th, 2005

Tell Bush: "Don't blame Hurricane victims, help them!"

President Bush and Republican leaders are trying to shift blame for the poor rescue and relief effort to the victims of Hurricane Katrina including state and local officials. Don't let them get away with that.

It has been a week since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, leveled New Orleans and left hundreds of thousands of Americans homeless. We saw the best of America during that time—millions of people stepped forward to offer help. Meanwhile, the Bush administration failed at their most important job: keeping America safe. The federal effort was too little, too late and it is now becoming obvious that hundreds or even thousands of people died as a result.

Then, starting Friday, in a Karl Rove-led campaign, the White House started to blame state and local officials and even the victims who were stranded without transportation when the Hurricane arrived. Sign our petition demanding that the Bush administration stop blaming victims, including state and local officials, and focus on helping them.

 Important way to demonstrate that the public wants more action to help hurricane victims and is getting angry about this blame-shifting game the Bush administration is playing.

It is important that the Bush administration not get away with shifting their responsibility to local officials. Here is what actually happened.

Timeline

Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.

Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared giving federal officials the authority to get involved.

Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. President Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be "uninhabitable" after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.

Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.

Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.

Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in "medieval" conditions. President Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.

Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a "Desperate SOS" to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.

Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials—despite their repeated requests for help. Bush stages a photo-op—diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for president's visit and White House press corps.

Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.

Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.

(Adapted from: Katrina Timeline, http://thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline/ )

Those are the facts. State and local officials BEGGED for help as people in their city suffered. The Bush administration didn't get the job done and when their failure became an embarrassment they attacked those asking for help.

The New York Times reported on Friday that Karl Rove and White House communications director Dan Bartlett "rolled out a plan...to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina." The core of the strategy is "to shift the blame away from the White House and toward officials of New Orleans and Louisiana."

This is the same pattern of smearing that the Bush political machine has used for a decade. John McCain and John Kerry had their war records smeared. The CIA cover of Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife was blown after he criticized the Bush Iraq policy. Now, Hurricane victims are attacked when the Bush administration failed to do their duty to help them.

It isn't just the Bush administration. Republican Senator Rick Santorum blamed victims in a TV interview and House Speaker Dennis Hastert suggested New Orleans should not be rebuilt.

 There will be a time to figure out who specifically to blame and what to change. In the meantime, the Bush administration needs to get to work helping those in need.

Thanks for all you do,

–Tom, Tanya, Joan, Jennifer

P.S. Check out these links for more on the Hurricane relief efforts.

Katrina Timeline, ThinkProgress.org
http://thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline/

Editorial: No time for turf wars. The Times-Picayune, September 7, 2005.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=869

Editorial blasts federal response. CNN, September 4, 2005.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=870

The big disconnect on New Orleans. CNN, September 2, 2005.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=871

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

FW: Re: We Can't Afford Our Gasoline

Hi..Little Running Deer,  see if the link works now... it was sent to me by a friend. I've just forwarded it to you...

ej

A Film with singing and music:)