BEMA's March 12, 2014 Meet & Greet at Busboys & Poets. NEMA Policy and Leadership Forum

Enough of the snow already!

9 Days Left before our next meeting.   For those members needing an extra incentive Busboys & Poets will also be having the following event that evening:

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

ZAMI presents author Melinda Chateauvert to sign and discuss

"Sex Workers Unite: A History of the Movement from Stonewall to Slutwalk" 6:30pm @ 5th & K
Wed Night Open Mic Poetry 9pm @ 5th & K, $5

Before you really start to get into your pre-Spring workout come out to BEMA’s Wednesday, March 12, 2014 ‘Meet & Greet’ at Busboys and Poets 5^th & K-Street N.W. location to meet members visiting the area to attend the 2014 NEMA Mid-Year Policy & Leadership Forum March 9-14^th  by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).  See registration information listed below.

The Winter Season is just about over.  So come on out and enjoy.  Let’s talk about BEMA, the snow storm, laugh a little about your snow shoveling horror, or share a little pain. 

“Did your car really do a 360-degree spinout”?

Date:    Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Time:   5:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Location:

              Busboys & Poets

              5^th and K Street, N.W.

              Washington, D.C.

Parking:

a.      On Street

b.     Off Street Parking

  -Parking lot

  -Basement of neighboring Safeway Store

Public Transportation:

a.      Gallery Place\Chinatown

b.      Mt.Vernon Square\7^th Street Convention Center

See you there! 

Black Emergency Managers Association  

1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.

Washington, D.C.  20020

Office:   202-618-9097 

bEMA 

Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.   Tom Peters

…….The search is on.

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)

Registration is now open for the Registration is now open for the 2014 NEMA Mid-Year Policy & Leadership Forum March 9-14^th at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia. 

REGISTER NOW

Register on or before January 12^th, 2014 to receive a $50.00 discount

Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are still available.  Please contact Karen Cobuluis for additional information or to secure your space.

Please visit our website for additional information and conference materials.

at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia. 

b in BEMA is still non-negotiable.

BUSBOYS AND POETS TRIBAL STATEMENT...

Busboys and Poets is a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted...

a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul...a space for art, culture and

politics to intentionally collide...

we believe that by creating such a space we can inspire social change and begin to transform our community and the world.

Middle Eastern Virus More Widespread Than Thought 28 February 2014

http://news.sciencemag.org/africa/2014/02/middle-eastern-virus-more-widespread-thought

Middle Eastern Virus More Widespread Than Thought

28 February 2014 12:45 pm

Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons

Trail of infection. Scientists have found MERS virus in camels from Sudan and Ethiopia, suggesting the virus is more widespread than previously thought.

It's called Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, after the region where almost all the patients have been reported. But the name may turn out to be a misnomer. A new study has found the virus in camels from Sudan and Ethiopia, suggesting that Africa, too, harbors the pathogen. That means MERS may sicken more humans than previously thought—and perhaps be more likely to trigger a pandemic.

MERS has sickened 183 people and killed 80, most of them in Saudi Arabia. A couple of cases have occurred in countries outside the region, such as France and the United Kingdom, but those clusters all started with a patient who had traveled to the Middle East before falling ill.

Scientists have uncovered more and more evidence implicating camels in the spread of the disease. They found that a large percentage of camels in the Middle East have antibodies against MERS in their blood, while other animals, such as goats and sheep, do not. Researchers have also isolated MERS virus RNA from nose swabs of camels in Qatar, and earlier this week, they showed that the virus has circulated in Saudi Arabian camels for at least 2 decades.

Malik Peiris, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues expanded the search to Africa. In a paper published last year, they showed that camels in Egypt carried antibodies against MERS. For the new study, they took samples from four abattoirs around Egypt; again they found antibodies against MERS in the blood of 48 out of 52 camels they tested. But the most interesting results came from taking nose swabs from 110 camels: They foundMERS RNA in four animals that had been shipped in from Sudan and Ethiopia.

Peiris cautions that it is unclear whether the infected camels picked up the virus in Sudan and Ethiopia or on their final journey in Egypt. Abattoirs could help spread MERS just like live poultry markets do for influenza, he says. "You cannot point the finger exactly at where those viruses came from," he says. "But I would be very surprised if you do not find the virus in large parts of Africa."

If so, that changes the picture of MERS considerably. No human MERS cases have been reported from Egypt or anywhere else in Africa, but if camels are infected, they may well occur, says Marion Koopmans, an infectious disease researcher at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. "It would be important to look systematically into that," she writes in an e-mail. "Health authorities really need to test patients with severe pneumonia all across Africa for MERS," Peiris says.

The researchers were able to sequence the virus of one of the camels almost completely, and it is more than 99% identical with viruses found in people. "I would be very surprised if this virus cannot infect humans," says Christian Drosten, a virologist at the University of Bonn in Germany. But the virus also shows a few intriguing differences from known camel samples, he says. "We have to analyze this carefully in the next few days, but it looks like this sequence broadens the viral repertoire found in camels," he says. If the viruses found in camels show more genetic variation than those isolated from humans, that is further strong evidence that camels are infecting humans and not the other way around.

Anthony Mounts, the point person for MERS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, says that it is very likely that human MERS cases occur in Africa. "Wherever we find [infected] camels, there is a good chance we'll find [human] cases if we look closely," he says. And humans may be exposed to camels in Africa much more often than in the Middle East: There were about 260,000 camels in Saudi Arabia in 2012, but almost a million in Ethiopia and 4.8 million in Sudan, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The more human cases there are, the higher the risk that the virus will one day learn how to become easily transmissible between people, which could set off a pandemic.

The researchers also looked at the blood of 179 people working at the camel abattoirs for antibodies against MERS virus, but found none. That shows that the virus is only rarely successful in infecting human beings, Peiris says. "What we need to find out now is the reason for these rare transmissions."

Community Need to Know: LEPC and TRI Pollution Prevention Search Tool in your area.

Check your community emergency management office\agency for their Local Emergency Planning Committee or LEPC for hazards in your community.  If no LEPC in your jurisdiction, 'WHY NOT?'

Try the Enhanced TRI Pollution Prevention Search Tool!

Do you know what industrial facilities in your area are doing to reduce toxic chemical pollution?  Do you know how they measure up against other facilities across the country? We've expanded our TRI Pollution Prevention (P2) Search Tool, and its new interactive graphics show how facilities in your neighborhood compare to similar facilities across the country when it comes to pollution prevention progress. You can also use the TRI P2 Search Tool to: Track individual facility performance with respect to P2 and waste management; Identify facilities that reported the largest reductions in toxic chemical releases; Identify the P2 measures that were most effective for a given industry or chemical; Compare waste management practices and trends for facilities within a sector; and Overlay TRI charts with data from the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) to get a more holistic picture of sustainability. To learn more about TRI's P2 information, visit our P2 webpage.  TRI - it's your right to know. For more information about EPA's Toxics Release Inventory:  http://www.epa.gov/tri T

6 things home insurance won't cover

http://money.msn.com/insurance/6-things-home-insurance-wont-cover


By Chris Kissell, Bankrate.com

Your insurer won't take care of everything life throws at you and your house. If one of these happens to you, you're probably on your own.

Hazards home insurance doesn't cover

When disaster strikes your home, home insurance is supposed to be there to help you pick up the pieces. Most of the time, it does.

But the coverage does have limits, says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, an industry group based in Greenwood Village, Colo.

"Many people don't take the time to understand what is and isn't covered and mistakenly assume insurance will pay for any type of damage," Walker says.

A Bankrate survey found that 81 percent were aware flooding is not covered by regular homeowners insurance. You may have heard earthquakes also require special coverage. Yet you may not know that there are other types of damage that are excluded from most policies as well.

Walker says many policyholders learn about the exclusions the hard way.

"We often hear from people that the only time they think about what their insurance covers is when they go to file a claim," she says. "Of course, then it's too late."

Following are six hazards a standard home insurance policy may not cover.

Mold

At least 1,000 species of mold are common to the United States, according to the New York-based trade group the Insurance Information Institute. A breakout of splotchy mold on walls not only looks disgusting but also is a health risk that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can bring about symptoms similar to allergies or even breathing difficulties.

Despite the threat, a standard homeowners insurance policy generally either limits coverage for mold damage or outright excludes it, says Loretta Worters, an Insurance Information Institute vice president.

Some insurers offer an endorsement to expand coverage limits for mold claims but only if you are willing to pay more for your insurance, she says.

The best cure for mold is to prevent it from growing in the first place. If the basement floods after a rainstorm or a pipe is leaking, eliminate the moisture promptly, Worters says.

"Even a spill on the carpet should be dried within 24 to 48 hours," she says.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says homeowners generally can clean up mold themselves if the affected area is less than about 10 square feet. Otherwise, it is best to call in an expert.

Sewer backup

America's sewer lines are rapidly aging, with some more than 100 years old. As more homes have been connected to these out-of-date lines, sewage backups have followed.

Other sources of backups include pipelines that handle both stormwater and raw sewage -- and become overwhelmed in rainstorms -- and blockages from tree roots that work their way into sewer-line cracks.

When a sewer backs up into a home, it can damage floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems.

Walker says standard homeowners insurance does not cover sewer backups. If you are worried about being unprotected, she has some advice.

"Consider extra insurance that may be available as endorsements to your policy for risks such as sewer backups," she says.

The Insurance Information Institute says sewer-backup damage often can be covered for an additional premium of just $40 to $50 per year.

Sinkholes

Sinkholes can seem like something out of a horror movie. For example, there was the Florida man who was swallowed up in early 2013 when a sinkhole opened without warning beneath his bedroom.

Sinkholes are sudden gaps in the earth's surface that occur after groundwater gradually dissolves rock such as limestone and carries bits of it away, creating large pores and cracks in bedrock. Once large cavities form underground, the land above it may suddenly settle or collapse, creating the sinkhole.

In the United States, sinkholes tend to cause the most problems in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Most home insurance policies will not cover damage associated with "earth movement," such as an earthquake or sinkhole.

"Florida is the only state in which insurers are required to provide coverage for sinkhole damage," Worters says.

Florida insurers must include insurance for "catastrophic ground cover collapse" -- which refers to damage so severe, the home is uninhabitable -- as part of standard homeowners insurance.

Worters adds that in Tennessee, insurers must offer optional sinkhole coverage for an additional price.

"In every other state, earth movement is excluded from the insurance policy," she says.

Termite infestation

Colonies of anywhere from a few hundred to several million termites can quietly and methodically devastate your home.

Wood, paper and dead plant material that is in contact with soil near the house provides termites with a ready source of food and an entry. And moisture accumulated around foundations and in poorly ventilated crawl spaces gives termites a source of water they need to survive.

Over time, termites can damage or destroy support beams and other wood features in a house. The National Pest Management Association estimates that termites cause $5 billion in damage in the U.S. each year.

If these unwanted guests cause wear and tear to your home, do not expect your insurer to bail you out, says Janet Patrick, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Insurance Association, an industry lobbying organization in Springfield, Ill.

"Homeowners policies do not pay for termite damage," she says.

For that reason, Patrick recommends having a licensed pest control company take a look at your home to make sure it is termite-free.

"Homeowners can avoid structural damage with early intervention," she says.

Nuclear plant accidents

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, says nearly 3 million Americans live within 10 miles of an active nuclear power plant. If an accident at a nearby reactor leaves your home uninhabitable, standard homeowners insurance will not cover the claim. But that does not mean you will be unprotected.

A 1957 federal law called the Price-Anderson Act compensates people in the United States for any damage or injuries resulting from a commercial nuclear accident.

The law was called upon after the nation's worst nuclear accident, at the Three Mile Island plant near Harrisburg, Pa., in 1979.

"The insurance paid for the living expenses of families who decided to evacuate," Worters says.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says an insurance pool of more than $12 billion is available to pay out claims.

Claims covered under Price-Anderson include:

• Bodily injury.
• Sickness.
• Disease resulting in death.
• Property damage and loss.

In addition, individuals evacuated from an affected area can expect reimbursement for reasonable living expenses beyond what you ordinarily pay. "The coverage does not pay your mortgage, does not pay for your normal food bills," Worters explains.

Some acts of terrorism

The Boston Marathon bombings were a reminder that terror can strike at any moment.

The Insurance Information Institute says terrorist attacks using nuclear, biological, chemical or radioactive weapons are considered "acts of war" that are fundamentally uninsurable. Standard home insurance policies do not specifically reference terror attacks, Worters notes.

"However, the policy does cover the homeowner for damage due to explosion, fire and smoke," she says, adding that these are the most likely types of damage a home would suffer in a terrorist incident.

If you own a condominium or co-op, the policy you carry on your individual unit will protect your structure and possessions from damage related to a terrorist attack.

However, damage to common areas -- including the roof, basement, elevator, boiler and walkways -- is not covered unless your board purchases separate terrorism coverage, Worters says.

NIH Health Disparities Seminar: Sick and Tired (Because) of Racism. Thursday, February 20, 2014

GUEST SPEAKER

David H. Chae, ScD, MA

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology

University of Maryland School of Public Health College Park, MD

PRESENTATION TITLE

Sick and Tired (Because) of Racism: Socio-Psychobiological Pathways of Embodiment

DATE/TIME

Thursday, February 20, 2014

3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

LOCATION

NIH Campus

Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, Conference Rooms E1 and E2

45 Center Drive

Bethesda, MD

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

In his presentation, Dr. David H. Chae will describe social and psychobiological pathways of embodiment linking racism and health. He also will discuss his research on racism at the area-level and disparities in Black-White mortality, his findings on racial discrimination and cardiovascular disease, and his studies integrating the role of internalized racism as a risk factor for aging at the cellular level. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. David H. Chae is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. His research focuses on how dimensions of racism generate racial disparities in health. He also studies how racism at the area-level impacts health and mortality. Dr. Chae is currently the principal investigator of a K01 career development award from the National Institute on Aging to study links between racial minority stress and risk factors for accelerated biological aging. He was a W.K. Kellogg Pre-Doctoral Fellow in Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco. Dr. Chae earned a doctoral degree in Social Epidemiology at Harvard University and an MA in Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: There is limited parking on the NIH campus. The closest Metro is Medical Center. Please allow adequate time for security check. The seminar will be video cast for archive purposes only. It will be available in the NIH Video archives and on the NIMHD website after the seminar. Sign language interpreters will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate should contact Edgar Dews at 301-402-1366 or the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.