National Preparedness Month - September 2009

This September is the sixth annual National Preparedness Month.  NPM 2009 will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and will help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready and how preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, and extra food in the pantry.

Visit www.ready.gov for help on making a disaster supply kit, making a family emergency plan, staying informed and how you can get involved!

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Updates on H1N1 Influenza

The Department of Homeland Security held a press conference July 9th and Secretary Napolitano made comments on the H1N1 Flu. The thoughts on preparation are especially relevant. Here is an excerpt.

 "One point I'd like to emphasize for all of us is that the work we do now on H1N1 is not wasted because it has applications and other scenarios as well. So even though we cannot—and science cannot predict what kind of flu or flu epidemic we are going to experience, and how serious its lethality will be—whether we're in a 1918 situation or a 1968 situation—that remains to be seen. But, what we do know, however, is that the preparations we do now would apply to many other scenarios as well—so the time, the efforts and the monies are put to good use."

Secretary Napolitano closed by saying that preparation is key. And it certainly is.

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Icela Reets - Emergency Response Program Coordinator

August 20th Fayette Chamber After Hours

Be Prepard, Plan Ahead

Join Us As We Kick Off  National Preparedness Month

Fayette Chamber After Hours

August 20th, 2009

The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Hosted By Champion Construction Systems, Inc.

Check back for more details

RSVP to icelar@championcsi.com

Summertime Grilling Safety

p>It's Summertime and that means grilling time for most families! However, according to one study gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 3,400 structure fires and 4,900 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 2005, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $137 million.  So before you fire up that grill, take a few minutes to check out these safety tips so your cookout doesn't turn into a fire damage claim or a trip to the emergency room.

• Follow manufacturer's directions.


• Make sure the grill is stable and can’t be tipped over.



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Georgia Lightning Awareness Week is June 21-27, 2009

Lightning is a deadly "by-product" of thunderstorms which are very common in Georgia, particularly in the spring and summer. Lightning kills an average of 100 people a year throughout the United States. Statistics show that on the average, lightning kills more people in the United States every year than tornadoes, floods, or hurricanes. It occurs mostly during the warmer months of June through September.

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Preparing For the Swine Influenza

We are all concerned about the spread of the swine influenze and nervously await its arrival in Georgia. Below is an excerpt of Dr. Richard Besser's, Acting Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remarks from the press briefing held April 26 on what we can do to prepare ourselves. 

"It's important that people understand that there's a role for everyone to play when there's an outbreak going on. There are things that individuals do, there's things that families do, communities do to try and reduce the impact. At the individual level, it's important people understand how they can prevent respiratory infections. Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease. If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact.

So it's time for people to be thinking — forward-thinking about, well, if it were my child's school, what would I do, how would I be prepared for that kind of an event. We view the public as partners in the efforts to try and control what's going on.

There are a number of sources of information. I want people to know that the CDC web site — www.cdc.gov — has our latest information on swine flu. There's a link from there to very current information and there's a link there to a Spanish language site as well."

Read the entire transcript of the press briefing

Icela Reets - Emergency Response Program Coordinator

"What's the plan, boss?"

Do you know the emergency preparedness plan for your workplace? If you don't, make a point to ask.

Know multiple ways to exit your office building, participate in workplace evacuation drills and consider keeping some emergency supplies at the office. Visit Ready Business to learn more about how to prepare your business.  www.ready.gov

Prepare your business by preparing your building. Visit our Disaster Planning Center to enroll in our Emergency Response Program today. It's free and easy!

Icela Reets - Emergency Response Program Coordinator

A Proactive Solution to Disaster

There are so many things to think about when you have a disaster.  You've barely had time to process the fact that you've had a loss and now you're being asked to try and remember everything  you own in detail in order to be compensated.  Naturally your stress levels increase and your patience decreases as you long for everything to just be over with.

Fortunately, there is something you can do right now in order to save your sanity later should you have a fire, water or storm loss.  Take a disposable, digital or video camera as well as  a notebook and create a detailed record of your belongings.    Be as specific as possible by jotting down model numbers, serial numbers, sizes, quantities, dates and other descriptive or important details.  When you are finished, place the developed photos, memory card or videotape and the notebook in a fire-proof, air tight container.  Safes usually provide the best protection.

Now, if you become the unfortunate victim of fire, water or storm loss, you have everything you need to fill out the necessary paperwork.  No, it won't make all of your stress levels disappear but it will help you overcome feelings of helplessness and will expedite the restoration process.  With a little time and effort you will have peace of mind.

Chloe L. Hudson - Senior Contents Technician

Five Fire Damage Prevention Tips

Fire damage can cripple small businesses, a fact that many business owners don't consider until disaster strikes. According to the popular cliché, hindsight is always 20/20. After a disaster, it's easy to see where careful planning and preparation could have prevented damage. To help you prepare for the worst, here are ten tips to help improve your fire prevention foresight.

1. Damage Due to Flames and Smoke.
The damage fire causes is typically two-fold.

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Hail Storms - How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

On Wednesday, February 18th, fierce thunderstorms swept Georgia with tornadoes, hail and lightning.  The National Weather Service confirmed at least nine tornadoes touched down during the storms. In addition to the tornadoes, extremely large hail was reported across the state. Widespread reports of golfball to baseball sized hail were received.  Below are a couple of links to some YouTube videos of the hail storms in Coweta and Fayette counties that you might want to check out.

Hail Storm in Coweta County

Hail Storm in Fayette County

Hail might not seem like a big deal, but it can shatter windows, leave pockmarks in siding and destroy or damage roof coverings. Hail causes $1 billion in damage to crops and property each year.  In light of these facts, I wanted to share some helpful information I came across on www.flash.org. 

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