Vince Davis Interview. EP 26 Preparing The Tribal Community

/http://www.emweekly.com/ep-26-preparing-tribal-community/

Listen or read the interview with BEMA International member
Vince Davis

"Every community has its own nuances. I’m creating right now with another group of folks that I’m working with a black family preparedness handbook. Very, very similar to the native book, but very nuanced in the way that African American communities get information, communicate with one another. Again, as you attested to earlier, less than 24%, according to some recent studies, of African American families have done anything to prepare for a disaster."

Hurricane Irma Related Resources & Information for Businesses

Pertinent information for all business communities after a disaster, and in future planning.

Business Continuity Planning (BCP) must be a key factor in your overall business planning not only during times of plenty, but during times of crisis.

CDS CEO.  BEMA International


FROM OUR NETWORK FRIEND AT
    Manchester Trade Limited Inc.  International Business Advisors

   1875 I Street NW - 5th floor.  Washington, DC  20006  Tel 202-624-3195      

    www.ManchesterTrade.com

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Hello Florida SBDC at FIU Clients and Partners:

We hope you, your family and your employees are safe.  Like you, we have been recovering from the impact of Hurricane Irma on Miami-Dade County.  For the benefit of our clients and partners, below please find updated information on Irma-related resources.

State of Florida Business Damage Assessment

• The State of Florida has initiated a survey which will help determine the physical and economic impact to businesses from Hurricane Irma.

 

• This survey is now live.  If your business has been impacted by Irma, we encourage you to fill out the survey.  This will assist State/Local authorities in determining the scope of impact and what type, if any, of additional financial assistance to provide to businesses. 

 

• The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.

 

• The English version is available online here:    http://www.flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda

 

• Si usted prefiere completar la encuesta en español, esta disponible aquí:  http://www.flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda&lang=sp

 

SBA Disaster Assistance

• Businesses in Miami-Dade County are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for damages from Hurricane Irma.

 

• Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

 

• Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes.

 

• Loans are also available for businesses that did not receive physical damage but were economically impacted due to the disaster.

 

• Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations, 1.75 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

 

• More information is available at:  https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance

 

• Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at  https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

 

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

• Businesses in Miami-Dade County are also eligible for assistance from the Florida bridge loan program for physical or economic impact from Hurricane Irma.

• These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims, or Federal disaster assistance.

• Loan amounts can be from $1,000 to $25,000.   The loan term is 90 or 180 days based on individual business circumstances.  Loans will be interest-free for the loan term but must be repaid in full by the end of the loan term or penalties apply.

• Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2017 contingent on the availability of funds.

 

• More information can be reviewed here:  http://www.floridadisasterloan.org/

 

Florida SBDC at FIU Resources

• Our team of experienced business consultants is available to offer confidential, no-cost advising to business owners impacted by Hurricane Irma. 

 

• More information on our program and the services that we offer can be viewed here:   http://sbdc.fiu.edu

Other Business Resources

• Miami-Dade County Emergency Information - You can view information on transit, curfews and other emergency information here:  http://www.miamidade.gov/emergency/

 

• Floridadisaster.org/info – This is the website for the State of Florida and the Office of Emergency Management.  Here you can view press releases, review activated programs, and receive other Irma-related emergency information.  The website is here:  http://www.floridadisaster.org/info/

 

• Disasterassistance.gov - This is the general disaster assistance website from the Federal Government.  You can view your eligibility based upon location and determine available programs.  The website is available here: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

 

• Florida Short-Term Compensation – The Short Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees.  More information here:  http://www.floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/short-time-compensation-program-for-employees

 

• CareerSource South Florida services – CareerSource South Florida administers programs to assist businesses with training needs and employees with re-employment. Contact CareerSource South Florida to learn more about its One-Stop services that may help you.  Their website is here:  http://www.careersourcesfl.com/

Stay safe,
 

Florida SBDC at FIU

(305) 779-9230

http://sbdc.fiu.edu

 

Warning Letter to Harvey and Irma Survivors from Katrina Survivor. Bill Quigley

This sums up our concerns within BEMA International.

Spread this message, not only for the survivors of these current disasters,
BUT CONSIDER THESE FACTORS in your individual, family, and community
   preparedness planning for a disaster that may strike your community.

BE SAFE, BE PREPARED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

Charles D. Sharp
CEO.  BEMA International

"We Stand As One"

Your Alternative Newsletter - News, Arts, Culture & Entertainment! Thursday, September 14, 2017                                         For Immediate Release

Warning Letter to Harvey and Irma Survivors from Katrina Survivor

Guest Commentary by Bill Quigley

Bill Quigley,Esq. Dear Fellow Hurricane Survivors: Our hearts go out to you as you try to return to and fix your homes and lives. Based on our experiences, here are a few things you should watch out for as you rebuild your communities. One. Rents are going to skyrocket and waves of evictions are likely. With so many houses damaged and so many highly paid contractors coming into your region whose companies will pay anything to house them, landlords are going to start evicting people to make way for higher paying occupants. Work with local organizations to enact a moratorium on evictions and a freeze on rents to allow working and low income people to come home and have a place to stay. Two. Rip off contractors and vulture businesses are probably already on the scene. Don't give money to anyone unless you know and trust them and do not pay for everything in advance! Three. Take pictures of everything that was damaged and hold onto all receipts for all your disaster expenses. Get a special binder and keep all your papers in it. Sadly, the process of getting assistance is going to last for years for many people and you will need to prove what damage you. Four. Right after a disaster there is an outpouring of compassion, support and solidarity. Take what you need for your community. But realize the window of compassion and support shuts much quicker than it should. Then people will start blaming the victims. Five. Insist on transparency, accountability and participation in all public and private funding sources for disaster relief. The government is yours and ours. We need them in times of disaster but they can also be the biggest obstacle to a just recovery. Demand they tell the public what is going on and consult with all parts of our communities, not just the rich and well connected usual suspects. Same problems arise when dealing with the private relief organizations from the biggest private disaster relief organization to many other smaller groups. Six. Insist on telling your own story. Your truth is a jewel that shines brightest in your own hands. If you are going to work with journalists or others make sure the real truth is told, not just the sensational or heart rending stories of poor, powerless victims. You may have been victimized by the hurricane but you are a powerful survivor! Seven. Unless you are rich enough to try to go this alone, you have to join together with others to make your voice heard. Many voices together are loud enough to force those in power to listen. Groups of people are far more effective than individual voices. Neighborhood organizations, church organizations, community organizations, join and work with others! Eight. Work in statewide coalitions. Statewide coalitions are very important because many disaster relief decisions are made on the state level. You have to be able to influence those decisions. Nine. Identify members of Congress who you can work with. Many decisions are being made on the federal level. You have to make sure your voice is heard. After Katrina, the best voice for poor people in New Orleans was Congresswoman Maxine Waters from California! Now well known nationally as Superwoman, she was terrific advocate for and with us. Ten. Prioritize the voices of women. Men push to the front when the cameras are on and when the resources are being handed out. But in the long run, it is usually the women who are the most reliable family anchors. Eleven. Don't allow those in power to forget about the people whose voices are never heard. People in nursing homes, people in hospitals, the elderly, the disabled, children, the working poor, renters, people of color, immigrants and prisoners. There is no need to be a voice for the voiceless, because all these people have voices, they are just not listened to. Help lift their voices and their stories up because the voices of business and industry and people with money and connections will do just fine. It is our other sisters and brothers who are always pushed to the back of the line. Stand with them as they struggle to reclaim their rightful place. Twelve. Consider the experiences of other disaster survivors. After Katrina a group of us went to India to connect with our sisters and brothers who survived a much more devastating tsunami. We met and formulated a list of Lessons Learned. The end of an article I wrote about this experience concluded with these thoughts. "Right, not charity is our common demand. Human rights, not bureaucratic eligibility criteria, must be the foundation for relief, recovery and rebuilding. People have human rights to food and shelter and the opportunity and assistance necessary to live a life of dignity. The government must respect and implement human rights. The degradations and delays and disrespect of eligibility applications for basic human necessities must cease. Human rights must be our shared basis for going forward. Internationally, if the bottom of the North can link up with the bottom of the South, human rights will be our shared language. The final and best piece of advice I received was from T. Peter, head of the Kerala Fish Workers Association. Their organization has struggled with elected officials, private companies, and the caste system in all phases of life. He leaned over, his dark face split by a broad smile, and told me what we in the U.S. should be doing to bring about justice for our gulf coast: "Less meeting, more fighting!" And so we will." Realize that you have human rights to return to your community and to be made whole. Protect your human rights and the human rights of others. ---- William P. Quigley is a law professor and Director of the Law Clinic and the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University New Orleans.  ###

Sept 2017. "We Stand As One" NOLA Fundraiser

Support our members in NOLA to provide relief for those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Louisiana, and the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Irma.

CDS  CEO BEMA International

Situation Outlook. Is Virgin Islands\Irma 2017's New Orleans\Katrina

It's beginning to appear that way that the
          U.S. Virgin Islands\Hurricane Irma is becoming 2017's New Orleans\Hurricane Katrina.

OVERVIEW:

The U.S. Virgin Islands are a group of Caribbean islands and islets. A U.S. territory, it's known for white-sand beaches, reefs and verdant hills. St. Thomas island is home to the capital, Charlotte Amalie. To the east is the island of St. John, most of which comprises Virgin Islands National Park. St. Croix island and its historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are to the south.

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

POPULATION:

    Population: 102,951 (2016) World Bank

DISASTER\EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY\OFFICE:

     Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA)
      Website:   http://www.vitema.gov/
      Status:      Website in 'Maintenance'
 
      Location:   8221 Estate Nisky.   Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands 00803

TERRITORY OF THE U.S. 

       Revised Organic of 1954 is our Constitution as handed down by Congress. 
       Official designation Virgin Islands of the United States: VI (U.S.).


ADDITIONAL OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW....