Saturday, October 22, 2011

Disaster Assistance. Water damage to furnaces from flooding.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=58935

Disaster assistance may help prepare flood-damaged furnaces for winter 

Release Date: October 22, 2011
Release Number: 4021-060

» More Information on New Jersey Hurricane Irene


NEPTUNE, N.J. — With this week’s seasonal winds and rain and the impending arrival of winter, New Jersey homeowners should ensure that their home-heating systems are in good working order. 

This is especially true of systems that may have been damaged by Hurricane Irene and the resulting floods.
Federal disaster assistance may cover furnace repairs that are related to severe storms and flooding that happened from Aug. 27 through Sep. 5, according to disaster officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Federal help may be available for cleaning and testing a flood-damaged furnace for repairs, or for replacement if the furnace is destroyed.  New Jersey residents who had flood damage to their furnaces should register for assistance from FEMA by the Nov. 30 deadline.

If the need for repair or replacement is discovered after a homeowner receives federal aid to cover cleaning and testing expenses, the resident has the option of filing an appeal for additional disaster funds. 

The appeal must be made within 60 days of the date of the award or determination letter.

Registering with FEMA is the first step.  There are three ways to register for assistance – go to www.disasterassistance.gov, to m.fema.gov or call FEMA toll-free, 800-621-3362 (FEMA). 

Those with access or functional needs and who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 or use 711 or Video Relay Service to call 800-621-3362. Telephone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; multilingual operators are available.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Trauma: Stress. Disaster Recovery

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=58932

Disasters Touch Everyone - Look Out for Signs of Stress 

Release Date: October 21, 2011
Release Number: 4025-077

» More Information on Pennsylvania Tropical Storm Lee
» More Information on Pennsylvania Hurricane Irene


HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The initial trauma from Pennsylvania's two late-summer disasters - Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee - has passed, but the psychological effects can linger.

Stress caused by loss or a traumatic experience can sneak up on people and influence behavior and emotions. The elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to stress after a disaster and may require special considerations.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have developed a list of things to look for and tips for helping yourself and others get through this difficult time. Some common signs of stress are:
  • Trouble concentrating or remembering things.
  • Difficulty making decisions.
  • Replaying the events and circumstances of the disaster over and over in your mind.
  • Anxiety or fear, especially when things remind you of the traumatic experience.
  • Feeling depressed, sad or down much of the time.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Nightmares.
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs.
  • Feeling overwhelmed.
Stress isn't just emotional. It can manifest in physical sensations like fatigue, stomachaches or diarrhea, headaches, sweating or chills, chest pain, or a rapid heartbeat. Changes in behavior also can signal that you are under stress. Do you withdraw or isolate yourself, even from family and friends? Are you restless or prone to emotional outbursts? Do you startle easily?

Here are some common-sense measures to help you overcome stress and get you back to yourself again.
  • Friends and family are good medicine. Talk with them about your feelings. Sharing common experiences helps you deal with and overcome anxiety and feelings of helplessness.
  • Get back into your daily routines as soon as you can.
  • Maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep.
  • Find ways to relax. Do a fun thing after a difficult or stressful task.
  • Get some physical exercise every day. Walking is a great stress reliever and you can do it with a friend or relative.
Know that feeling stressed, depressed, guilty or angry is common after a traumatic event. Watch out for problems that are more than you can handle. If signs of stress are serious or if they persist, you should see a counselor or other mental health professional.

For more information about behavioral health services available in your area, please contact your county crisis hotline or mental health office. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Additional information about this disaster is available at www.fema.gov, and www.readypa.org.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Snow Emergency Plans: Washington, D.C.

http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/On+Your+Street/Traffic+Management/Snow/District+of+Columbia+Winter+Snow+and+Ice+Plan

District of Columbia Winter Snow and Ice Plan 


Ready for Action
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) works closely with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to clear snow and ice from District roadways and bridges. Together, DDOT and DPW clear and make safe approximately 2,295 lane miles, bridges, overpasses and ramps.
DDOT and DPW also work closely with the Mayor and other District agencies when deciding to declare and enforce snow emergencies. If a snow emergency is declared residents must immediately relocate any vehicles parked on snow emergency routes.
The District of Columbia begins planning for winter weather months in advance. Equipment must be serviced, vehicles inspected, personnel trained, supplies ordered and snow removal routes evaluated to ensure readiness for the first flake, or the first icy downpour of freezing rain.
As in other jurisdictions, public safety determines the priority for snow removal in the District. Clearing and salting efforts focus first on major roads, commuter thoroughfares and designated Snow Emergency Routes. Streets that are narrow, steep, or shaded, receive special attention, as do those streets scheduled for next-day trash collection.
The District has 330 pieces of equipment and 750 personnel available for any given storm. This includes additional contract plows, if necessary, for major weather events. In addition, the District Snow Team is now using improved route plans - first implemented in 2008 - which divide the city's neighborhoods into 82 smaller, more manageable routes.
The District's Snow Team is committed to faster completion of plowing and salting along major roads and residential streets, which in turn means more rapid return of normal traffic flow and earlier resumption of trash collection and other city services. Residents are reminded to please be patient and allow sufficient time for snow operations to be implemented. If their streets still have not been treated or plowed in a reasonable amount of time they should call the Mayor's Call Center at 311.
Keep up to date on the latest inclement weather reports and advisories with our Snow Alerts.
DDOT and DPW remind commuters and residents to:
  • Not drive distracted.
  • Remember that driving on ice is significantly different than driving on snow.
  • Use extreme caution and maintain safe speeds and distances from other vehicles.
  • Remember even a 4-wheel drive SUV does not perform well in ice and additional safety measures should be followed.
  • Be aware of road conditions, particularly black ice which can be deceptive in its appearance giving the driver a false sense of security on the road.
  • Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
  • Remember to keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles and please use caution when attempting to pass a snowplow. Give the drivers plenty of room to safely do their jobs.
  • Clear all the snow and ice from your vehicle's windows and lights — even the hood and roof — before driving.
  • Help your elderly or disabled neighbors remove snow from steps and sidewalks.
  • Clear catch basins and fire hydrants.
  • Please do not put snow in the street. Put all cleared snow, from parked cars and sidewalks, in the "tree box," front yard, or between the curb and sidewalk.
For more information on the District of Columbia Snow Removal and Treatment Plan, please select below from the Related Documents links.
 

Goals

To clear snow and ice from District roadways and bridges.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

International Sector: Hiati Missions

www.lottcarey.org

Lott Carey Mission Alert - Short-Term Missions Assignments to Haiti

13 October 2011 
Dear Lott Carey Partner:
We continue to work to keep the people of Haiti on the minds of the world and in the hearts of God's people.  One way of doing so is to create opportunities for people who feel called to do so, to participate in short-term missions assignments.  The following opportunities still have opportunities for service, and we as you to share them in your circles of influence.
Men's Only Short-Term Missions Assignment

Missionary men will share in construction projects and a men's conference in partnership with Hosean International a service-based ministry, has been receiving teams and coordinating outreaches in Haiti since 1981.

Dates: December 1 -9, 2011

Medical Service Short-Term Missions Assignment Medical professionals are invited to serve with a Mobile Medical clinic at Siloe. The clinic is in need of medical teams to participate in ‘mobile clinics’ to the villages in the mountain region of Grand Goave. Significant time will be spent seeing patients and addressing both emergency treatment, and providing ongoing care. Medical personnel such as: Doctors, nurses, dentists, technicians, EMTs, and more are needed.

Dates: February 8 - 15, 2012; May 9 - 16, 2012
If you hear God calling you to serve in Haiti to be a blessing, please contact Kathi L. Reid, Program Manager, at kreid@lottcarey.org.
 
Remember our sisters and brothers who continue to struggle, and see other short-term missions assignments on our home page at www.lottcarey.org.
 
On mission,
 
David
____________________________
Rev. David Emmanuel Goatley, Ph.D.
Lott Carey
220 Eye Street, NE, Suite 220
Washington, DC 20002
202.543.3200 (office)
202.276.2920 (cell)
degoatley@aol.com (email)
degoatley (skype)
lottcarey (twitter)
www.lottcarey.org (web)

Monday, October 17, 2011

Trauma: Crisis Counseling for Texas Wildfire Survivors

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=58814

Free Crisis Counseling Can Help Texas Wildfire Survivors Cope 

Release Date: October 17, 2011
Release Number: 4029-051

» More Information on Texas Wildfires


AUSTIN, Texas -- Texans who survived the recent wildfires -- or saw neighbors or family experience loss -- can be experiencing post-disaster stress that is as real as the destruction itself.

Because of this, free crisis counseling is available to Texans in the 23 counties designated for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration. The program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), is open to any child or adult who is experiencing disaster-related stress.

“FEMA funds this program after major disasters because counseling can help people understand that their emotional reactions to the disaster, such as grief, frustration, anger and fear, are normal,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “We know that the right support and coping skills can help most survivors pick up the pieces and go on with their lives.”

Trained counselors are provided by the network of state Community Mental Health Centers. Calls to the crisis lines are free of charge, as are face-to-face follow-up sessions for adults and children whose needs cannot be fully served through phone counseling.

   Central Texas
  • Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Williamson Counties: Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, crisis line 800 -841-1255
  • Colorado County, Texana Center, crisis line 800-633-5686
  • Hill County, Heart of Texas Region Mental Health Mental Retardation (MHMR) Center, crisis line 866-572-3451
  • Travis County,  Austin Travis County Integral Care, crisis line 512-472-4357
Southeast Texas
  • Grimes and Leon Counties, MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley, crisis line 888-522-8262
  • Houston County, Burke Center, crisis line 800-392-8343
  • Montgomery and Walker Counties, Tri-County Services, crisis line 800-659-6994
Northeast Texas
  • Anderson County, ACCESS Anderson Cherokee Community Enrichment Services, crisis line 800-621-1693
  • Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Rusk  and Upshur Counties, Community Healthcore, crisis line 800-832-1009
  • Henderson and Smith Counties,  Andrews Center Behavioral Healthcare System, crisis line 877-934-2131
  • Navarro County, Lakes Regional MHMR Center, crisis line 877-466-0660
  • Waller County, Texana Center, crisis line 800-633-5686
Residents of other Texas counties may call 2-1-1, the central point of contact for health and human services throughout the state.

The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Bastrop is staffed with crisis counselors, and appointments are not necessary. Registered survivors from any of the designated counties can drop by the Bastrop center to speak with a counselor.

The Bastrop recovery center is at the Bastrop High School 9th Grade Academy, 1602 Hill Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Another resource is the TDSHS website addressing post-disaster mental health. It lists frequent reactions to catastrophic events and methods of coping specifically for families, children and older adults.

Texans can register online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by telephone via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Operators are available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Follow FEMA tweets about the Texas disaster at http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.twitter.com/femaregion6. Other online resources are blog.fema.gov, http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Monday, 17-Oct-2011 14:41:59

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