Saturday, September 2, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
Hurricane Irma. Sit Awareness. Sept 2017 Prepare NOW for future weather events in September
To our members and friends in the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Seaboard Region.
Situation:
Hurricane
Irma is currently a Category 3 Hurricane located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean
with forecast to become a Category 4 Hurricane by Tuesday, September 5th. While
the forecast is uncertain, current projected timeframes for a Tropical Storm
force winds affecting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as early as
Wednesday, September 6th 2017.
Review individual, family, and community emergency plans.\
Ensure emergency kits are stocked, and as recommended include a
personal water purification kit.
Follow instructions of local emergency management office\agency,
If you have family members in the regions that may be instructed
establish a communications\contact system NOW
For additional information on storm tracking review you local MASS NOTIFICATION SYSEM in place in your jurisdiction, and review National Weather Service reports.
BEMA International
Sept 2017. Rumors, Misinformation, Fraud
Main Content
FEMA Advises Disaster Applicants to Beware of Rumors, Misinformation, and Fraud
Release date:
August 31, 2017
Release Number:
HQ-17-076
WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is raising awareness that Hurricane Harvey disaster survivors, and their friends and family, must be alert for false rumors, scams, identity theft, and fraud. Although many Americans are working hard to help their neighbors now, during chaotic times, some will always try to take advantage of the most vulnerable.
To dispel some of the false rumors circulating on the internet and social media, FEMA created a dedicated website to address some of the most common themes. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Visit https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-rumor-control to get the most accurate information from trusted sources.
Here is how to protect yourself, or someone you care about, from disaster fraud:
|
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
FEMA Official Emergency and Disaster Declaration information.
Please refer to the following FEMA website for initial information on the current Disaster Declaration in Texas, and the Emergency Declaration for Louisiana.
Additional information on FEMA, State, County websites and information to follow on response, recovery, and mitigation for both significant events.
Due to the nature and severity of these events of 'national significance' the Department of Homeland Security are constantly review the effects of these events on the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors listed below. the national critical infrastructure protection.
Separately, daily conference calls are held with DHS Critical Infrastructure Sectors members, and FEMA on status response and recovery.
Additional information to be forwarded when received.
BEMA International
Incident period: August 23, 2017
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 25, 2017
|
Incident period: August 27, 2017
Emergency Declaration declared on August 28, 2017
|
Department of Homeland Security. Critical Infrastructure Security
-16 Critical Infrastructures....16 critical infrastructure sectors
-
Scholarship opportunity for asylum seekers. Immigrant CERT awareness, education & training.
Our link to the West Coast Los Angeles Immigrant Community.
Additionally we are promoting with all BEMA International members with a large immigrant community CERT (community emergency response team) awareness, education & training to prepare our 'whole community' to address planning, preparing, responding, and recovery from disasters.
BEMA International
Additionally we are promoting with all BEMA International members with a large immigrant community CERT (community emergency response team) awareness, education & training to prepare our 'whole community' to address planning, preparing, responding, and recovery from disasters.
BEMA International
The African Coalition is collaborating with Hearts of Mercy ( a non-profit ) organization, in bringing
education opportunity for refugees and asylum seekers. Hearts of Mercy is
working hard advocating and supporting asylum seekers' education
dream.
Currently, Hearts of Mercy at UCI is launching a
scholarship fund to provide financial grants to asylum seekers who are
incoming or continuing students admitted at a University of California
campus.
If you are / or know an
asylum seeker looking to complete your higher education at a UC campus please
contact Senait Admassu (sadmassu@africancoalition.org) or Iman
Siddiqi (ihsiddiq@uci.edu).
Please visit Hearts of Mercy's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/heartsofmercyUCI/ Sincerely,
Senait Admassu
President
African Communities
Public Health Coalition
3731 Stocker St. Suite
211
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Office : (213) 909-0885
|
Our Communties Globally. HOW TO HELP DISASTER SURVIVORS IN TEXAS
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency Private Sector Division/National Business Operations Center
Private Sector Advisory
HOW TO HELP DISASTER SURVIVORS IN TEXAS
August 29, 2017
The compassion and generosity of the
American people is never more evident than during and after a disaster. It is
individuals, non-profits, faith- and community-based organizations, private
sector partners, and governmental agencies working together that will most
effectively and efficiently help survivors cope with the impacts of Tropical
Storm Harvey.
Please
follow a few important guidelines below to ensure your support can be the
most helpful for Tropical Storm Harvey disaster survivors.
TO DONATE TO RELIEF EFFORTS
The
most effective way to support disaster survivors in their recovery is to
donate money and time to trusted, reputable, voluntary or charitable
organizations.
Cash
donations offer voluntary agencies and faith-based organizations the most
flexibility to address urgently developing needs. With cash in hand, these
organizations can obtain needed resources nearer to the disaster location.
This inflow of cash also pumps money back into the local economy and helps
local businesses recover faster.
Please
do not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous
household items, medicine, or perishable foodstuffs at this time. When used
personal items are donated, the helping agencies must redirect their staff
away from providing direct services to survivors in order to sort, package,
transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of
disaster survivors.
Donate
through a trusted organization. At the national level, many voluntary-,
faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are
trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. Individuals, corporations, and
volunteers, can learn more about how to help on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)
website.
In
addition to the national members, The Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster (Texas VOAD) has a list of vetted disaster relief organizations providing
services to survivors. Texas VOAD represents more than three dozen
faith-based, community, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.
TO PERSONALLY VOLUNTEER IN THE DISASTER AREAS
The
State of Texas is asking volunteers to not self-deploy, as unexpectedly
showing up to any of the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane
Harvey will create an additional burden for first responders.
The
National VOAD has also noted the situation may not be conducive to volunteers
entering the impacted zone and individuals may find themselves turned away by
law enforcement.
To
ensure volunteer safety, as well as the safety of disaster survivors,
volunteers should only go into affected areas with a specific volunteer assignment,
proper safety gear, and valid identification.
At
this time, potential volunteers are asked to register with a voluntary or
charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in Texas
and supporting survivors on the ground.
The National and Texas VOAD websites are offering links to those who
wish to register to volunteer with community- and faith-based organizations
working in the field.
Most
importantly, please be patient. Although the need is great, and desire to
help strong, it is important to avoid donating material goods or
self-deploying to help until communities are safe and public officials and
disaster relief organizations have had an opportunity to assess the damage
and identify what the specific unmet needs are.
Volunteer
generosity helps impacted communities heal from the tragic consequences of
disasters, but recovery lasts much longer than today. There will be volunteer
needs for many months, and years, after the disaster, so sign up now.
Tropical
Storm Harvey is still dangerous, with the potential to impact additional
areas of Texas and Louisiana. As the situation changes, needs may also change
in these areas. Continue monitoring traditional and social media channels to
learn more.
Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.twitter.com/femaspox, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.
Also, follow Administrator Brock Long’s activities at www.twitter.com/fema_brock.
|
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
August 2017. Vulnerable Population and Exemption from Immigration Enforcement
Thank you Direct Relief for outstanding product.
https://www.citylab.com/environment/2017/08/the-vulnerable-populations-in-harveys-path-mapped/538071/?utm_source=nl__link3_082817
https://www.citylab.com/environment/2017/08/the-vulnerable-populations-in-harveys-path-mapped/538071/?utm_source=nl__link3_082817
The Vulnerable Communities in Harvey's Path, Mapped
AUG 26, 2017
Aid organization Direct Relief has created maps using ESRI that show the poor, immigrant, elderly and disabled communities in harm’s way.
Updated on August 27 at 3:30 p.m.
At least five deaths and dozens of injuries have been attributed to Hurricane Harvey, as it pummeled parts of the Houston region with 24 inches of rain and swirling winds. The storm has been downgraded to a tropical storm, from a Category 4 at its height, but catastrophic flooding is expected to intensify as rains continue, according to the National Weather Service.
Like in the case of previous disasters like Katrina and Sandy, the heaviest cost of Harvey’s destruction is likely going to be borne by the most vulnerable communities in its path. Here’s what disaster historian Jacob Remes tweeted out about Harvey:
6. We will hear claims about how disasters don't discriminate by race or class. This is a lie. Because disasters are social, they do.
Humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief has created interactive ESRI maps that show exactly where these communities are. The mapmakers have used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) social vulnerability index to show the geographic distribution of households with elderly or disabled members (in orange), immigrant and limited English-speaking populations (in purple), and pockets of poverty (in green). The darker the color, the higher the concentration of these factors in each region:
Click through for a closer look.
While many South Texans evacuated north per the recommendation of Governor Greg Abbott, poorer or disabled residents may not have had the resources or the capability to follow that advice. Many undocumented immigrants, as well, may have chosen to stay behind because Border Patrol refused to suspend its checkpoints during the storm. (The governor did affirm, however, that shelters will be exempt from immigration enforcement.) Some inmates were evacuated, while others are weathering the storm in place.
Within cities, poor communities of color often live in segregated neighborhoods that are most vulnerable to flooding, or near petrochemical plants and Superfund sites that can overflow during the storm. This is especially true for Houston—a sprawling metropolis, where new development has long been spreading thinly across prairie lands that help absorb excess rainwater. And it’s long been understood that the city is unprepared to handle the effects of a storm as unprecedented as this one.