Register Your Cell Phone for a Reverse 911 Fire Alert

Especially during our high fire season, it is ever more important to be prepared.  As most of you are aware, all land line phones are now equipped with the ability to receive a “reverse 911” emergency fire alert in the event you are being advised by the fire authorities to evacuate your home.  But what if you are not home when that phone line rings or you no longer have a land line (only a cell phone)?

Please find below a link to register your cell phone with the reverse 911 alert system.  By registering your cell phone, you will be advised if a fire is approaching your home and the authorities are recommending an evacuation.  This alert can be invaluable if you are at work, on vacation, or no longer have a land line.

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/signup.html

Also, it is a good idea to review a Family Disaster Plan annually with your family. Here is a useful guide:  http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/docs/FamilyDisasterPlan.pdf

Four years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans still needs us

By ERROL LOUIS

Sunday, August 30th 2009, 12:10 AM

On this, the fourth anniversary of the destruction of New Orleans, let us resolve to replace the political heat of accusation with the penetrating light of reason.

The single most important thing to know is that the city remains vulnerable to another big hurricane strike. Its flood protection system must be completely re-engineered, a project that will cost billions.

It takes work to think the matter through. Like many who fell in love with pre-Katrina New Orleans, I find it hard to avoid getting carried away by sadness and rage.

My family in the city included an aunt who lost everything, a cousin on the police force and another who is a social worker.

In fact, my family held a reunion in the city a few weeks before the storm. The personal loss, for us outsiders, is only a shadow of what Gulf residents have suffered. Still, it hurts.

And for those remaining locked into the stale narrative of blame, there is more than enough to go around.

We all know there was poor preparation by local agencies (mostly Democrats) and a famously botched response by federal emergency officials (mostly Republicans).

We know that heroic media reporting, particularly by the Times-Picayune newspaper, was accompanied by wild, false rumors of cannibalism and vigilante violence.

Four years later, New Orleans has taken impressive steps toward recovery. Following a drastic reduction in population, the number of households in the city now stands at 77% of its pre-hurricane total.

While blight remains a problem – 31% of New Orleans’ residential housing stock remains unoccupied – the city issued 1,420 permits for new construction in May this year, nearly double the number issued in the same month last year.

That’s some of the good news. The bad news is that the city’s system of protective levees and canals remains inadequate.

The key to understanding the disaster is the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet – “Mr. Go” – a 75-mile commercial shipping channel created in 1968.

Mr. Go was a boondoggle: only about eight ships a month used the too-shallow canal, which eroded year after year. The deteriorating channel took wetlands and other natural flood barriers with it, as environmentalists had warned.

“It was not just a simple matter of a storm coming through and flooding a city. The fact is that a huge 30-foot wave came up a man-made canal and inundated the city with water,” says filmmaker Leslie Carde, a former science reporter at a New Orleans television station.

Mr. Go is now closed to boat traffic, but that’s not good enough. The billions it would cost to fill in the channel permanently would be money well spent.

The Army Corps of Engineers does not have sole responsibility for protecting the city. The federal body often clashes with local authorities like the Levee Board and the Water and Sewage Board, which exercise independent control over floodgates, levees, pumping stations and drainage canals.

An exhaustive 700-page study by the National Science Foundation concluded, in part, that “no one group or organization had a monopoly on responsibility for the catastrophic failure of this regional flood protection system.”

One step in the right direction is a fascinating study by New Orleans architects, engineers and urban planners who invited their Dutch counterparts to help design a whole new way of dealing with storms and floods.

The results, online at dutchdialogues.com, offer fresh thinking about how to integrate canals and wetlands into the fabric of the city.

Learning from the Dutch will, perhaps, help New Orleans – and America – break through the cycle of sadness and blame and speed the rebuilding of a city that remains in great peril from the next big storm.

elouis@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/08/30/2009-08-30_four_years_after_hurricane_katrina_new_orleans_still_needs_us.html#ixzz0RUkHRCSv

2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic Declared

Message from David & Orly Perez: The Swine Flu has been declared a pandemic today. Please take care when traveling and good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing is advised… be safe and take that any extra precautions whenever possible.

Article 1:

Influenza pandemic alert raised to phase 6

11 June 2009 — On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. “The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic,” she said at a press conference today.

WHO declares swine flu pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting.

It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

WHO chief Dr Margaret Chan said the move does not mean the virus is causing more severe illness or more deaths.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to 74 countries.

“ We have evidence to suggest we are seeing the first pandemic of the 21st century ”
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director-general

Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths with figures rising daily.

Hong Kong said it was closing all its nurseries and primary schools for two weeks following 12 school cases.

It is the first flu pandemic in 40 years – the last in 1968 killed about one million people.

However, the current pandemic seems to be moderate and causing mild illness in most people.

Most cases are occurring in young working age adults and a third to a half of complications are presenting in otherwise healthy people.

Dr Chan said: “We have evidence to suggest we are seeing the first pandemic of the 21st century.

“Moving to pandemic phase six does not imply we will see increased in deaths or serious cases.”

She added it was important to get the right balance between complacency and vigilance and that pandemic strategies would vary between countries depending on their specific situation.

“ It is global and fulfilling the requirements of a pandemic ”
Professor John Oxford, flu expert

And the WHO do do not recommend closure of borders or any restrictions on the movement of people, goods or services.

But the picture could change very quickly.

“No other pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely,” Dr Chan said.

One factor which has prompted the move to a level six pandemic was that in the southern hemisphere, the virus seems to be crowding out normal seasonal influenza.

The move was not prompted by the situation in any one country but the reports of several pockets of community spread, officials said.

The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes, in Geneva, says that while the number of cases has made the declaration inevitable, the WHO will have to manage the global anxiety the declaration of a pandemic will generate.

Experts have warned that poorer nations, especially those in the southern hemisphere now heading into their winter season, face the greatest risk from the flu pandemic.

Pandemic planning

There have been more than 800 cases in the UK with some areas of Scotland being particularly hard hit.

The government has been stockpiling antivirals such as Tamiflu and has ordered vaccine, some doses of which could be available by October.

SWINE FLU – THE BASICS
# Symptoms usually similar to seasonal flu – but deaths have been recorded
# It is a new version of the H1N1 strain which caused the 1918 flu pandemic
# Current treatments do work, but as yet there is no vaccine
# Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing advised

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said the WHO declaration of a pandemic would not significantly change the way the UK was dealing with swine flu at the moment.

But he added there could be some minor changes to who received antivirals.

“The declaration of a pandemic per se doesn’t make a big difference to the to the way we are handling the outbreaks we have.

“We are going to continue to investigate every case that occurs and treat their contacts with antivirals even though they may not be ill.

“The difference is that the Health Protection Agency has learnt a lot about approaching this question of antiviral prophylaxis and they are going to be treating the closer contacts of the cases, rather than the more far-flung contacts, because they feel that that is supported by what they know so far about how the disease is transmitting.

He added: “These flu viruses can change their pattern of attack, so when we come into the flu season in the autumn and winter in this country, when we expect a big surge of cases, we need to watch very carefully to see if the character of the virus is changing.”

“ There is concern that the virus might mutate in the southern hemisphere over its winter and become more virulent, but there’s no sign of that yet ”
Fergus Walsh BBC’s medical correspondent

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said a move to level six means that countries need to be ready to implement pandemic plans immediately but the UK was already operating at a “heightened state of readiness”.

But it could affect the speed at which the UK gets pandemic vaccine supplies but that had been factored into pandemic planning.

Flu expert Professor John Oxford said people should not panic as the outbreak was milder than others seen in the past century.

“It is global and fulfilling the requirements of a pandemic but I don’t think anyone should worry because nothing drastic has happened between yesterday and today.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8094655.stm

Published: 2009/06/11 16:11:35 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Print Sponsor

Article 2:

from: http://www.who.int/en/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html
World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic

Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization

Ladies and gentlemen,

In late April, WHO announced the emergence of a novel influenza A virus.

This particular H1N1 strain has not circulated previously in humans. The virus is entirely new.

The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries.

This is only part of the picture. With few exceptions, countries with large numbers of cases are those with good surveillance and testing procedures in place.

Spread in several countries can no longer be traced to clearly-defined chains of human-to-human transmission. Further spread is considered inevitable.

I have conferred with leading influenza experts, virologists, and public health officials. In line with procedures set out in the International Health Regulations, I have sought guidance and advice from an Emergency Committee established for this purpose.

On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met.

I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.

The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.

We are in the earliest days of the pandemic. The virus is spreading under a close and careful watch.

No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely, in real-time, right at the very beginning. The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic preparedness.

We have a head start. This places us in a strong position. But it also creates a demand for advice and reassurance in the midst of limited data and considerable scientific uncertainty.

Thanks to close monitoring, thorough investigations, and frank reporting from countries, we have some early snapshots depicting spread of the virus and the range of illness it can cause.

We know, too, that this early, patchy picture can change very quickly. The virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time.

Globally, we have good reason to believe that this pandemic, at least in its early days, will be of moderate severity. As we know from experience, severity can vary, depending on many factors, from one country to another.

On present evidence, the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.

Worldwide, the number of deaths is small. Each and every one of these deaths is tragic, and we have to brace ourselves to see more. However, we do not expect to see a sudden and dramatic jump in the number of severe or fatal infections.

We know that the novel H1N1 virus preferentially infects younger people. In nearly all areas with large and sustained outbreaks, the majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 25 years.

In some of these countries, around 2% of cases have developed severe illness, often with very rapid progression to life-threatening pneumonia.

Most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

This pattern is significantly different from that seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza, when most deaths occur in frail elderly people.

Many, though not all, severe cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions. Based on limited, preliminary data, conditions most frequently seen include respiratory diseases, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.

At the same time, it is important to note that around one third to half of the severe and fatal infections are occurring in previously healthy young and middle-aged people.

Without question, pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This heightened risk takes on added importance for a virus, like this one, that preferentially infects younger age groups.

Finally, and perhaps of greatest concern, we do not know how this virus will behave under conditions typically found in the developing world. To date, the vast majority of cases have been detected and investigated in comparatively well-off countries.

Let me underscore two of many reasons for this concern. First, more than 99% of maternal deaths, which are a marker of poor quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, occurs in the developing world.

Second, around 85% of the burden of chronic diseases is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.

Although the pandemic appears to have moderate severity in comparatively well-off countries, it is prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture as the virus spreads to areas with limited resources, poor health care, and a high prevalence of underlying medical problems.

Ladies and gentlemen,

A characteristic feature of pandemics is their rapid spread to all parts of the world. In the previous century, this spread has typically taken around 6 to 9 months, even during times when most international travel was by ship or rail.

Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection.

Guidance on specific protective and precautionary measures has been sent to ministries of health in all countries. Countries with no or only a few cases should remain vigilant.

Countries with widespread transmission should focus on the appropriate management of patients. The testing and investigation of patients should be limited, as such measures are resource intensive and can very quickly strain capacities.

WHO has been in close dialogue with influenza vaccine manufacturers. I understand that production of vaccines for seasonal influenza will be completed soon, and that full capacity will be available to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come.

Pending the availability of vaccines, several non-pharmaceutical interventions can confer some protection.

WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures.

Influenza pandemics, whether moderate or severe, are remarkable events because of the almost universal susceptibility of the world’s population to infection.

We are all in this together, and we will all get through this, together.

Thank you.

Article 3: from http://www.truthout.org/061109HA

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting, according to reports.

It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

The move does not necessarily mean the virus is causing more severe illness or more deaths.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April.

It has since spread to 74 countries.

Official reports say there have been 28,000 cases globally and 141 deaths and figures are rising daily

It is the first flu pandemic in 40 years – the last in 1968 with Hong Kong flu killed about one million people.

The current pandemic seems to be moderate and causing mild illness in most people.

One factor which may have prompted the move to a level six pandemic was that in the southern hemisphere, the virus seems to be crowding out normal seasonal influenza.

It is thought the move was not prompted by the situation in any one country, but the reports of several pockets of community spread.

Pandemic Planning

There have been almost 800 cases in the UK with some areas of Scotland being particularly hard hit.

The government has been stockpiling antivirals such as Tamiflu and has ordered vaccine, some doses of which could be available by October.

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said the WHO declaration of a pandemic would not significantly change the way the UK was dealing with swine flu at the moment.

But he added there could be some minor changes to who received antivirals.

“The declaration of a pandemic per se doesn’t make a big difference to the to the way we are handling the outbreaks we have.

“We are going to continue to investigate every case that occurs and treat their contacts with antivirals even though they may not be ill.

“The difference is that the Health Protection Agency has learnt a lot about approaching this question of antiviral prophylaxis and they are going to be treating the closer contacts of the cases, rather than the more far-flung contacts, because they feel that that is supported by what they know so far about how the disease is transmitting.

He added: “These flu viruses can change their pattern of attack, so when we come into the flu season in the autumn and winter in this country, when we expect a big surge of cases, we need to watch very carefully to see if the character of the virus is changing.”

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said a move to level six means that countries need to be ready to implement pandemic plans immediately but the UK was already operating at a “heightened state of readiness”.

But it could affect the speed at which the UK gets pandemic vaccine supplies but that had been factored into pandemic planning.

Flu expert Professor John Oxford, said people should not panic as the outbreak was milder than others seen in the past century.

“It is global and fulfilling the requirements of a pandemic but I don’t think anyone should worry because nothing drastic has happened between yesterday and today.”

————

Swine Flu – the Basics

• Symptoms usually similar to seasonal flu – but deaths have been recorded.
• It is a new version of the H1N1 strain which caused the 1918 flu pandemic.
• Current treatments do work, but as yet there is no vaccine.
• Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing advised.

H1N1 Flu: Letter from David and Orly Perez

In the few days that have passed since we wrote this letter below, we are relieved to hear that the H1N1 Flu may be less potent than first feared:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033298

Dear Family and Friends,

This is much more serious than we may all imagine. Today, April 29 2009 the County of San Diego declared a Health State of Emergency, this will help get needed medication here faster as a result.

The WHO has its pandemic alert at Stage 5, having raised it from phase 4 yesterday. Phase 5 is means that it is a substantial pandemic risk. Stage 6 is a is the final stage, a pandemic — a global epidemic of a new and deadly disease. You all need to understand that we went from Stage 1 to Stage 5 in less than one week. The Bird flu in 2005 only reached Stage 3 after 6 months.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/us_flu_133

According to WHO in 6 years the Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO was 421 cases with  257 deaths (about >60%) see link below:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_04_23/en/index.html

As of this morning Mexico’s Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said there are a suspected 2,500 cases of swine flu, and 1,300 of those have been hospitalized and about 159 deaths in Mexico alone. Another,  186 suspected and 66 confirmed in the USA with a first known death in Texas this morning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak

Since the common Flu kills between 250,000 to 500,000 people every year worldwide and in the US alone there was 36,00 deaths attributed to flu with over 220,000 hospitalized each year.

We really can’t get an accurate number on the swine flu until all the tests come back from the labs and are then reported to the State/CDC/WHO — we all know that can take weeks and at times months. I believe the numbers are extremely underestimated in order to not cause a panic, and to keep some supplies of Tamiflu available.

So my advice to my dear friends and family is to take this very seriously as if it were a stage 6 pandemic and try and stay away from public places and limit your travel and stay close to home. 

Its better to be safe than sorry. In the event that President Obama declares the USA in a State of Emergency (like CA) then you can expect all of our borders sealed off and no air travel permitted whatsoever. I am hoping this won’t happen, but based on the numbers and the rapid pace of infection (compared to the Bird Flu and SARS) it might be a possibility. 

I suggest everyone get a Twitter account  for two reasons:
To communicate with all of family and friends in case of a State of Emergency and to subscribe to the 3 following: 1) CDCemergency 2) whonews  3) BarackObama 

With Twitter it does not matter what computer or IM client they have its universal.

Also, make sure your cell phones are charged and you have plenty of bottled water (at least a 90 day supply and canned foods at home).

If anyone has any comments or feedback please post comments to this blog. Orly and I want to make sure that everyone is safe. Feel free to forward, cut and paste any part or all of this email to anyone.

All our best and God Bless, 

 

David and Orly Perez
Www.2life18.org

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Relevant Links and More Information:

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/apr2809briefings.html

 Apr 28, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – As the official count of US swine influenza cases rose to 64 today, top federal health officials said it’s becoming increasingly clear that the virus is spreading beyond people who recently traveled to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak.

“The information we’re seeing from states and locals . . . is that this appears to be acting like a normal flu virus, which has a fairly high rate of transmission in families,” Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a news briefing this afternoon. He said investigators are finding respiratory and flu-like illnesses in family members of case-patients. 

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/us_flu_101

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/deadly-strain-of-flu-arrives-in-britain-1675172.html

http://www.ktsm.com/news/tamiflu-shortage-expected

Tamiflu is now sold-out in most pharmacies across CA –make sure you get yours from a licensed pharmacy and not online where many are counterfeits and people are being charged over $100 for sugar pills. If you have problems please let me know and I’ll try and help you secure some.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has a scale it uses to describe infectious disease risk, much like the Saffir/Simpson scale we all know so well for tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Stages of a Pandemic

Interpandemic period

Phase 1: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low.

Phase 2: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.

Pandemic alert period

Phase 3: Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Phase 4: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.

Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).

Pandemic period

Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

    * Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
    * Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
    * Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

    * Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
    * If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

====================================================================================================

Jewish Family Service of San Diego Katrina Aid

JFS
Hurricane Katrina

On August 1, 2007, we closed our official Hurricane Katrina program after two years of serving clients in the wake of this disaster. Please contact our intake line at (877) 537-1818 for existing programs that can still assist clients affected by Hurricane Katrina.

A phone call from David Perez, a Carmel Valley Businessman, pleading for help for one family who were victims of Hurricane Katrina, ignited Jewish Family Service of San Diego. The subsequent meeting between Perez, Jill Spitzer, Chief Executive Officer of JFSSD and Linda Hutkin-Slade, Senior Director of Counseling and Case Management Services, began the quest to help all 1,209 evacuees to San Diego. An alliance created during the San Diego October Wildfires of 2003 spearheaded by District 4 Councilman Tony Young and the Reverend Eric Miller of St. Stephen Interdenominational Alliance, turned into the Unmet Needs committee. Together with the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Episcopal Community Services, Interfaith Community Services, JFS, the Salvation Army, Neighborhood House and the Urban League, the committee reconvened to facilitate the effort. Over one million people were displaced as the result of Katrina and later Hurricane Rita and as of November 10, 2005, there were 2,378 evacuees in San Diego.

The Unmet Needs Committee accepted large donations including one from Barona Casino raised by employees, Barona Valley Ranch, and Barona Band of Mission Indians. Boulder Oaks Elementary School in Alpine, themselves victims of the 2003 Wildfires, mounted a fundraiser called “Coins for Katrina” successfully collecting over $2,700 in cash and $660 in gift cards.

The Chatman family from Baton Rouge is one of the many success stories. The couple and their two children left New Orleans the day before Katrina hit with just the clothes on their backs and a small bag of belongings. JFS helped the family to relocate to an apartment in Poway, register the kids in new schools and helped the parents find new jobs. They were one of the families that benefited from the Boulder Oaks School Fundraiser and were invited to attend the school’s Spirit Assembly where they thanked the kids for their generosity.

JFS specifically provided case management services to 170 individuals, reunited 51 people with their relatives outside of San Diego, provided ongoing assistance to 70 individuals who relocated to San Diego, facilitated car donations and transportation for evacuees, and continued to receive and help 8-12 new evacuee families for months after the initial arrival.

After the initial crisis passed, San Diego’s social service agencies struggled with problems created by the culture shock and the cost of living that these refugees were unaccustomed to. In addition, most evacuees expected to be able to return home, were not skilled workers, and were experiencing post traumatic stress.

We aid and monitor the families that we have helped and will continue to do so for at least a full year. United Jewish Federation has generously funded our case manager for the first six months and we will need to find funding for the additional six months.

These hurricane disasters have been a wake up call to our community for creating working disaster preparedness plans for all service organizations. The nationwide rollout of “2-1-1″ telephone referral service created by United Way of America and its affiliates which links callers to social services and volunteers in their communities is just the beginning. JFS is working on our own disaster recovery plan that will unite our nine offices and prepare us to be able to respond to local and regional disasters.

For more information, call (877) 537-1818 or e-mail webmaster@jfssd.org

From: http://jfs.ujcweb.org/page.aspx?ID=122173

National Alliance on Mental Illness – After Disasters

NAMI Hurricane Relief Resource Guide A resource guide of supports, information, and referrals targeted for people living with mental illness and their families in the wake of the Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. With the assistance of concerned grassroots leaders, NAMI has prepared this resource to aspire to provide support to our state organizations, local affiliates, individuals, family members, and citizens affected by the recent hurricanes. Many resources are available to assist with connecting need with resource. However, NAMI recognizes that the needs of families, individuals, and friends of people living with mental illness are often unique. We also recognize the culture of the NAMI network of families across the country who identify with these special circumstances that fellow NAMI members and others may encounter. To that end, with this resource NAMI will aspire to serve as a conduit of information, both for those who need help and for those who would like to help. For information on articles and studies providing insight and information into the results of trauma and disaster on people living with mental illness, visit http://www.disasterpsych.org/.

Our Mission 

Disaster Psychiatry Outreach (DPO) mission is to alleviate suffering in the aftermath of disaster through the expertise and good will of psychiatrists. To fulfill this mission, DPO responds to catastrophes and provides education and training in disaster mental health to a range of professionals in the healthcare, public health and emergency management sectors.

We:

• Organize volunteer psychiatrists who provide immediate mental health services in the aftermath of disasters in conjunction with government and private charitable organizations;
• Develop and implement educational programs, training, and referral mechanisms, and;
• Develop research and policy in the field of disaster mental health.

DPO’s activities are guided by its vision to prevent the development of mental illness after disaster.

Death toll reaches nine from Oklahoma tornadoes

Thursday, February 12, 2009 Reported by: Justin Myers The death toll from Tuesday’s tornadoes in Oklahoma now stands at nine. Search teams are still combing through rubble as survivors try and get their lives back on track. Story continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here Recovery efforts entered their second day today in parts of Oklahoma that were hit by the twisters. The twisters destroyed hundreds of homes and snapped trees and power lines alike. “The devastation in the path of this tornado is just incredible. It takes your breath away. The damage is extensive,” described Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma. “It felt like a train, the house was shaking up and down like a locomotive coming through it,” said resident Harrell Kennedy. The tornado was classified as an F4 tornado with winds reaching up to 170 miles per hour. It cut a path of destruction four miles long and a half mile wide. Tornadoes of this magnitude are rare this time of year in this region. Weather on KSBY.com
 (This article from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29172918/)

Australian Fires

Fires, Floods Pressure Australian Government on Climate Monday 09 February 2009 » by: James Grubel, Reuters Forest fires raged across southeastern Australia last weekend, amounting to the country’s worst wildfires in 25 years. In this Saturday photo, a fire truck retreats from a blaze 80 miles west of Melbourne. (Photo: AP) Canberra, Australia – Australia’s deadliest wildfires increased pressure on the national government to take firm action on climate change on Monday as scientists said global warming likely contributed to conditions that fuelled the disaster. At least 130 people were killed in wildfires, set off by a record heatwave in southern Victoria state over the past week days, while large areas of Queensland state remain flooded by tropical downpours. Scientists said Australia needed to prepare for more extreme weather events due to global warming, while the Greens and environmentalists said the fires and floods proved the government needed to toughen its targets to curb Greenhouse emissions. “It’s very clear, both globally and in Australia, there has been a warming trend since about 1950,” leading Australian climate scientist Kevin Hennessy told Reuters. “In a nutshell we can say the heatwaves and the fires we’ve seen in Victoria recently may be partly due to climate change through the contribution of increased temperature. “Going forward, we anticipate there will be continued increases in greenhouse gases and that locks in a certain amount of warming, and in the case of southern Australia further drying, and this will increase the fire weather risk.” Australia is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change because of its hot, dry climate, with the nation’s south in prolonged drought and temperatures tipped to rise by 3 degrees Celsius by 2050 across the tropical north and desert interiors. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has set a target to cut overall greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent by 2020, and will only cut further, to about 15 percent, if there is widespread international agreement on tougher action. But Green groups want Australia, which creates about 1.5 percent of global emissions, to cut emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 as an example to the developing world, particularly India and China, about the need to take firm action. Greens climate spokeswoman Christine Milne said all Australians had been deeply touched by the fire tragedy and the increased risk of fires from global warming. Staring at the Future “As the community comes together to heal, we also will need to grapple with the fact that climate change is with us and is dramatically increasing Australia’s bushfire risk,” Senator Milne said in a statement to Reuters. “Over the last few days, we Australians have looked our own future in the face.” Rudd, elected to power in late 2007, promised voters to take firm action on climate change. He has also promised to introduce carbon trading from July 2010 to help curb greenhouse gas emissions, with the laws to hit parliament in May. Brian Fisher, a leading climate policy analyst and economist, said it was crucial for Australia to try to influence the world’s top emitters to rein in greenhouse gas pollution. “The key issue is what we can persuade others to do in concert with Australia. That determines what will happen to the world’s climate,” said Fisher, an author for the UN Climate Panel’s Second, Third and Fourth Assessment Reports. Bushfires and tropical floods are a normal part of Australian life, and can be crucial to help natural ecology. More than 250 people have died from bushfires in the past 40 years, making fires the most dangerous natural hazards in Australia. But after years of drought, and with record high temperatures in Victoria over the weekend, fuelled by hot north winds blowing down from Australia’s arid centre, the conditions were set for a major disaster. “I have never seen weather and other conditions as extreme as they were on Saturday. The fire weather was unprecedented,” said Sydney University bushfire analyst Professor Mark Adams. “We do not have all the evidence yet to fully explain this day in terms of climate change. However, all the science to date shows that we can expect more extreme weather in the years to come — that includes hotter days and drier landscapes across southern Australia.” ——– (Additional reporting by David Fogarty; Editing by Jeremy Laurence) From: http://www.truthout.org/020909EA

Disaster Preparedness Summits Across the Nation

Preparing The World… One Business At A Time**  http://www.nationaldisastersummit.org/

Did you know that one in four businesses experiencing a major emergency fails? According to a study by The Advertising Council, less than half of America’s business owners have an established, comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in place. As the number of declared emergencies has more than doubled in the past few years, being prepared is more important than ever.

Knowing exactly what to do in the event of an emergency will ensure that your business remains alive and intact. Either for a major natural disaster or a localized emergency, it is crucial to prepare your business for an interruption of any size. Investing in a disaster preparedness plan now will save you time and money later. Furthermore, establishing a thorough emergency plan will increase your credibility with your clients, vendors, and community.

Whether you are just starting to think about creating a disaster plan for your business or looking to update your current plan, our educational seminar will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to create a complete and efficient plan. More importantly, the information you receive will give you confidence that your business, employees and property will survive and recover in the event of a disaster.

JOIN US AS WE DISCUSS

* Business continuity plans, procedures and project management tools
* Business risk analysis and impact of potential disasters
* Developing business unit management plans and procedures
* Implementing disaster plans through detailed testing and employee training
* Environmental issues and air quality control following a disaster
* Deploying emergency response and recovery teams to ground zero
* Insurance claims management to ensure maximum benefits under a policy
* Procedures to follow in reconstructing and restoring your structure and operations
* Life/safety techniques and proper triage training
* Effective communication systems during emergencies
* Pandemic, avian flu and other dangerous viruses
* Private/Public partnerships and government funding
* County fire department planning and resources available
* Federal, State and Local Government disaster planning and preparations

http://www.nationaldisastersummit.org/

2009 Venue Schedule:
January 15 – Los Angeles, CA
February 19 – San Francisco, CA
March 19 – Nashville, TN
April 16 – Miami, FL
May 7 – Chicago, IL
July 16 – Houston, TX
September 17 – Seattle, WA
October 22 – Philadelphia, PA

**2 Life 18 Help and Rescue is bringing your attention to the work of the National Disaster Summit and is not formally affiliated with this group. Much valuable disaster preparedness information is available for free from local fire stations, our website, the internet and other sources.

Five Bailout Lessons From Katrina

Wednesday 24 December 2008

by: Bill Quigley, t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Hurricane Katrina victim, Lewis Reddick, stands in the FEMA Diamond travel trailer park in May of 2008. (Photo: Getty Images)

    The US has committed nearly three trillion dollars to the financial bailout so far. The Federal Reserve has made more than $2 trillion in emergency loans and another $700 billion has been pledged through Congressional action. Much more money is coming.

    Things better for your community? I didn’t think so.

    Welcome to Katrina world. Despite pledges of a hundred billion dollars, we are still in deep pain along the Gulf Coast. What happened?

    Unless citizens are vigilant and demanding, the entire US will be subjected to the same forces that swept through the Gulf Coast after Katrina – spending huge amounts of money and leaving a second disaster behind.

    Despite promises of buckets of bucks, New Orleans still has 60,000 abandoned homes. Media reports say that 75 percent of the abandoned buildings have homeless people sleeping in them. Public health care, public education and public housing are all less available and being thoroughly privatized. Crime is sky high, though we still have 100 National Guard members patrolling our streets.

    So, what lessons can be learned from Katrina world that apply to the financial bailout?

    First, demand transparency. Insist on knowing how much money is being spent, by whom it is being spent, who is receiving it and for what reasons. Bloomberg News sued the Federal Reserve in November to find out who received money from the more than $2 trillion dollars in emergency loans they have given out. The government refuses to release that basic information. Such an outrage cannot be permitted.

    Second, keep a constant watch out for predators. Many interests feast on the suffering of others. When disaster hits, some see opportunity for their own private interests. What Naomi Klein calls disaster capitalism kicks in and the big bucks start flowing out and away from real needs. Those who are not already picking the bones are circling. It is up to us to force them away.

    Third, people have to participate in the decisions. During and after a disaster, there is a vacuum of leadership, and those with the most resources usually rush in, declare an emergency and then go on to make decisions about what has to be done. Not surprisingly, these folks are focused on taking care of their own interests first, and often second and third. We cannot let emergencies be the excuse to avoid democratic decision-making.

    Fourth, the human rights of the least powerful must be made a conscious priority. This is the exact opposite of what happens. The human right to housing, land, livelihood and freedom from discrimination must guide the response to the emergency. Liberation theology calls this the preferential option for the poor. Year-end bonuses continue while foreclosures increase? The needs of the poor must take priority over the wants of the rich.

    Fifth, insist on gender equity. Experiences show a systematic violation of the rights of women in every phase of disasters. The presence, participation and value of the role of women have been seriously inadequate. Women bear a disproportionate burden of the effects of poverty. The human rights of women must be immediately respected, as their suffering and disrespect continues today.

    If our citizens and organizations demand these five principles be respected and followed, there is a chance that the post-bailout environment will not end up like the post-Katrina landscape of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Because there is one iron rule in responding to disaster – once that money is gone, it is not coming back.