2009 Hurricane Season Ends Quietly

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate has some sound reminders for us. I thought I would pass them on.

“I can never remind people enough to stay prepared for potential disasters.  We must never let our guard down.  I am thankful for a quieter than usual hurricane season, but the fact remains disasters may occur at any time and without warning, said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “As we head into the winter season, we must all remain vigilant and remember to take the time to prepare ourselves and our families.  Assemble a kit, have a family disaster plan and stay informed during disasters.”   

Visit: www.ready.gov or www.fema.gov for more preparedness information

A LETTER FROM A HAPPY CUSTOMER

We recently received this letter from a very happy client.  She and her three young girls were at home when a fire started.  Needless to say she was under a lot of stress when Champion arrived to handle the repairs.  Fortunately, we were able to have her home repaired and her family moved back in their home in less than seven months.  She was very happy with the level of service she received and this is what she had to say:

To Whom It May Concern:

My “normal family life was changed by a fire that almost devoured our home on January 19, 2009.  I had no real way of knowing the far reaching effects of losing my home and the displacement of what I took for granted was our way of life for my three girls and me. On that night we were horrified as the fire engulfed our home and there was nothing we could to stop it. It was a wonderful blessing that the four of us were not injured in the fire.

I had no way of knowing what to do next. I am happy that I purchased USAA homeowner insurance. I went to the house wearing the pain from the fire in my soul the day following the fire.

Click to read more ...

Wintertime Trivia

1. How big was the largest snowflake ever recorded?
A. 5 inches in diameter
B. 8 inches in diameter
C. 15 inches in diameter
D. 21 inches in diameter

Click to read more ...

Spotlight on Me (Summer)

I'm really not vain - it's just that no one else is responding to my interview requests and it's my turn to blog.  So here we go...

My name is Summer Bishop and I've been with Champion since 2002. I work in the marketing department and handle all of Champion's graphic design needs including newsletters, vehicle wraps, postcards, ads, websites, brochures, etc.  I also am responsible the "Spotlight" segment on our blog which leads me to my interview:

What is your favorite snack(s)?
Banana chips - especially chocolate covered ones
LifeSavers Wild Berry Sherbert
Blackberries & raspberries
Cupcakes

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

Click to read more ...

Georgia Winter Weather Awareness Week November 16th - 20th, 2009

Winter storms are considered “deceptive killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Seventy percent of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and approximately twenty-five percent of all winter-related fatalities are people caught off-guard in the storm. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia. Powerful winter storms can also have thunderstorms associated with them. These storms can dump as much as three inches of snow or one inch of ice in an hour.  So how can you prepare for winter weather?

- Monitor radio/TV or NOAA Weather Radio.

Click to read more ...

Winter Fire Safety Quiz

1. Where do most fires start in the home?

A. The bedroom
B. The living room
C. The kitchen
D. The bathroom

The answer is C: 30% of house fires start in the kitchen.

2. In the United States, a home fire claims a life every _________.

A. 2 hours
B. 3 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours

The answer is B: In the United States, a home fire claims a life every 3 hours.

3. TRUE OR FALSE: Use a fire extinguisher if you have a grease fire on your stove.

The answer is FALSE: Never pour water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire.

Click to read more ...

Would YOU know what to do if you had a cooking fire in your home?

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in the United States.

Would YOU know what to do if you had a cooking fire in your home?

• IMMEDIATELY CALL 911


• GREASE OR OIL FIRES: Slide a pan lid over the flames to smother the fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside.


• OTHER FOOD FIRES: Extinguish the fire with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.


• BROILER OR OVEN FIRES: Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother the fire.
  
  Visit our new INFORMATION CENTER on our website for more fire safety tips and other tips and information!
  
  http://drying911.com/information-center.php

BE SAFE THIS WINTER: Home Heating and Winter Fire Safety Tips

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and man made logs. All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in residential fires.

Many of these fires can be prevented. You can prevent the loss of life and property resulting from heating fires by being able to identify potential hazards and following these safety tips.

Wood Stoves

- Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions.
- Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal.
- Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams.
- Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash.

Click to read more ...

SECRETARY NAPOLITANO AND ADMINISTRATOR FUGATE MARK THE BEGINNING OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today marked the beginning of the sixth annual National Preparedness Month—focusing on becoming better prepared for and more resilient in the face of emergencies of all kinds.

“National Preparedness Month is about building a culture of personal preparedness and shared responsibility across our country,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This month, we ask all Americans to visit Ready.gov to learn what they can do to help their families, businesses and communities stay safe during an emergency—whether it be hurricanes like Katrina, the fires we are fighting in California or pandemic influenza.”

“Every American is a critical member of our nation’s emergency response team,” said FEMA Administrator Fugate. “By taking a few simple steps now, each of us can make sure we are better prepared for the next emergency or disaster.”

For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov—or call 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO for more emergency preparedness information.

Planning Ahead for H1N1...

Now that the kids are back in school many people are worried that the

H1N1 swine flu will spread even further than it already has. The virus has already defied public-health officials' predictions of a lull in the warm summer months. More than two million people are believed to have contracted the new flu in the U.S. and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of August 13th, 7,511 people have been hospitalized and 477 have died.

Click to read more ...