MDEM Newsroom - Page 50 MDEM Newsroom
Cooling Centers
July 21st, 2011Anne Arundel
Listed are the cooling centers, police community rooms, and addresses that will be available tomorrow and Friday:
Cooling Centers – These centers will be available from 0800-1630 hours
• Annapolis Senior Center 119 South Villa Avenue, Annapolis
• O’Malley Senior Center 1275 Odenton Road, Odenton
• Pasadena Senior Center 4103 Mountain Road, Pasadena
• Pascal Senior Center 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie
• South County Senior Center 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater
Police Community Rooms – These rooms will be available from 1630-2300 hours
• Northern District, 939 Hammonds Lane, Baltimore, MD, 21225
• Eastern District, 3700 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD 21122
• Western District, 8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton, MD 21113
• Southern District, 35 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037
Annapolis City
The Pip Moyer Community Center is open through the weekend
Baltimore City
The Community Action Program will operate five centers around the city. These centers will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today through Friday, and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday:
• Northern Community Action Center — 5225 York Road
• Southern Community Action Center — 606 Cherry Hill Road (inside the shopping center 2nd floor)
• Northwest Community Action Center — 3939 Reisterstown Road
• Southeastern Community Action Center — 3411 Bank Street
• Eastern Community Action Center – 1400 E. Federal Street
The Health Department’s Office of Aging and CARE Services will operate six cooling centers. These centers will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday:
• Waxter Center — 1000 Cathedral Street
• Oliver Center — 1700 Gay Street
• Sandtown-Winchester Center — 1601 Baker Street
• Hatton Center — 2825 Fait Avenue
• John Booth — 229 1/2 S. Eaton Street
• Zeta Center — 4501 Reisterstown Road
Due to the prolonged nature of the heat event, the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks is opening 12 additional cooling centers Thursday, Friday and Saturday:
• Brooklyn O’Malley, 3560 3rd Street, 21225 – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Chick Webb, 623 N. Eden Street, 21205 – 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Ella Bailey, 100 E. Heath Street, 21230 – 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Furley, 4633 Furley Avenue, 21206 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• James McHenry, 911 Hollins Street, 21223 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Leith Walk, 1235 Sherwood Avenue, 21212 – 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Locust Point, 1627 E. Fort Avenue, 21230 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Mary Rodman, 3600 W. Mulberry Street, 21229 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Mt. Royal, 120 W. Mosher Street, 21217 – 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Oliver, 1600 N. Spring Street 21213 – 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Robert C. Marshall, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, 21202 – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Central Rosemont, 2621 Winchester Street, 21216 – 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Calvert County
• Mount Hope Community Center
o Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
o Sunday, 12– 6 p.m.
o 100 Pushaw Station Road, Sunderland, MD
• North Beach Community Center
o Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, 1– 7 p.m.
o 4025 Fourth Street, North Beach, MD
• Northeast Community Center
o Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
o Sunday, 8:30 a.m. –10 p.m.
o 4075 Gordon Stinnett Avenue, Chesapeake Beach, MD
• Southern Community Center
o Thursday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
o 20 Appeal Lane, Lusby, MD
• Calvert Pines Senior Center
o Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
o 420 West Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD
Caroline County
Caroline County is opening a Cooling Center on Thursday (today) thru Sunday the 24th due to the area being under an extreme heat emergency. The Cooling Center will be located in Room 104 of the Denton Armory at 107 South 4th Street in Denton. The Cooling Center will be open from 1 PM till 5PM.
Please bring any food, medications and resources you will need. Pets will not be allowed. For additional information, contact the Department of Emergency Services at 410-479-2622.
Charles County
Libraries, Senior Centers, Community Centers, and the Capital Clubhouse have been press released as open for public cooling centers.
The following locations are open to the public as cooling centers:
• Capital Clubhouse (3033 Waldorf Market Place, Waldorf) Business Hours: Sunday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Charles County Department of Community Services Building (8190 Port Tobacco Road, Port Tobacco) Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata) Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Charles County Public Libraries
o La Plata Branch (2 Garrett Avenue, LaPlata) o P.D. Brown Memorial Branch (50 Village Street, Waldorf) o Potomac Branch (3225 Ruth B. Swann Drive, Indian Head) Business Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday, 1 p.m. –5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Richard R. Clark Senior Cent er (1210 Charles Street, La Plata) Summer Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• St. Charles Town Center Mall (1110 Mall Circle, Waldorf) Business Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Frederick County
City of Frederick has opened 2 cooling centers Talley Recreation Center – 121 North Bentz Street 7:00 A.M. – 9:30 P.M. on Thursday and 7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M on Friday.
Frederick Community Action Agency – 100 South Market Street 8:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M. on Thursday and Friday.
County is posting the hours of our libraries and senior centers for citizens who need a place to get cool.
Harford County
The designated cooling centers will be open Thursday, July 21 – Saturday, July 23, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Citizens are welcome to enter the following centers:
• Aberdeen Senior Activity Center, located on Franklin Street in Aberdeen (Thursday and Friday only)
• Churchville Recreation Center- 111 Glenville Road, Churchville
• Edgewood Senior Activity Center, located on Gateway Drive in Edgewood
• Norrisville Library and Recreation Center – 5310 Norrisville Road in White Hall (Open until 5:00 p.m.)
• Havre de Grace Activities Center, located on Lewis Lane in Havre de Grace
• McFaul Activities Center, located on MacPhail Road in Bel Air
• Veronica “Roni” Chenowith Activity Center, located on Fallston Road in Fallston
Queen Anne’s County
The Department of Community Services has opened their Kent Island Senior Center, Grasonville Senior Center, Kramer Center (Centreville) and Sudlersville Senior Center as general public cooling centers from 0730-1630 Thursday 7/21 and Friday 7/22.
Prince George’s County
The following facilities will be available during normal business hours. Cooling Centers open for seniors at the following locations:
• New Carrollton Nutrition Center, 6016 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.•
• Camp Springs Senior Activity Center, 6420 Allentown Road, Camp Springs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.·
• Cooling Centers open for the General Public at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.:•
• Fairland Sports and Aquatics Center, 13820 and 13950 Old Gunpowder Road, Laurel, 301-362-6060•
• Rollingcrest-Chillum Community Center, 6120 Sargent Road, Chillum, 301-853-2005•
• Palmer Park Community Center, 7720 Barlowe Road, Landover, 301-773-5665•
• Hillcrest Heights Community Center, 2300 Oxon Run Drive, Hillcrest Heights, 301-505-0896
Somerset County
The following locations are Cooling Stations for Somerset County, currently open:
The Library’s hours of operation are; 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Princess Anne Library – 11767 Beechwood Street, Princess Anne, Maryland Corbin Library – 4 E. Main Street, Crisfield, Maryland Woodrow Wilson Community Center – 115 S. Seventh Street, Crisfield, Maryland
Friday – July 22 & Saturday – July 23 & Sunday – July 24 from 0700 to 1900 or longer if needed Crisfield Fire Department – 600 W. Main Street, Crisfield, Maryland Lower Somerset County Ambulance & Rescue Squad – 26344 Mill Lane, Crisfield, Maryland Marion Volunteer Fire Department – 28390 Crisfield Marion Road, Marion Station, Maryland Mt. Vernon Fire Department – 27440 Mt. Vernon Road, Princess Anne, Maryland Ewell (Smith Island) Volunteer Fire Department – 3994 Smith Island Road, Well, Maryland (If Needed)
St. Mary’s County
• Lexington Park Library 21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park, MD
• Leonardtown Library 23250 Hollywood Rd, Leonardtown, MD
• Charlotte Hall 37600 New Market Rd, Charlotte Hall, MD
Thursday: 9am – 8pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Seniors
Senior are welcome to come to the centers and we can help keep them hydrated as well. We do not have plans to have the senior centers open after 5:00.
All Department of Aging Offices and Senior Activity Centers are open on regular schedules, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Loffler Senior Activity Center programs are being held at SAYSF Church located 1 mile down Rue Purchase Road, on the left. This is the Interim Loffler Center
• Garvey Senior Center – 41780 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown
• Northern Senior Center – 29665 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall
Talbot County
Talbot County the following facilities have agreed to remain available for cooling:
Talbot Senior Center, 400 Brooklets Ave., Easton, Wed-Fri, 8AM to 3:30 PM
St. Michaels Community Center, 103 Railroad Ave., St. Michaels, Wed-Fri, 10AM to 3:30PM
Trinity Church Miller Hall, 315 Goldsborough St., Easton, Sat 10AM to 6PM Talbot County Free Library, 28712 Glebe Road, Easton, Md. Thurs-Fri 9AM to 5PM Sat 9AM to 1PM Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels Branch Thurs 10Am-7PM, Fri 10AM to 5PM Sat 10AM to 1PM Talbot County Free Library Tilghman Branch Thurs 3PM-8PM, Friday 10AM to 6PM Talbot County Health Department, 100 South Hanson Street, Easton, Md. Thurs-Fri 5-8PM, and (Sunday 10 -8PM)
Wicomico County
Wicomico County DSS has a tentative plan to open a cooling center in the Wicomico County Civic Center starting tomorrow, Thursday, July 21st through Saturday, July 30th. Volunteers are already being requested and affirmative responses have already begun to be received.
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More helpful heat warnings and tips athttp://www.governor.maryland.gov/blog/?p=1461
Summer Heat Precautions
July 12th, 2011People suffer heat-related illness when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded and the body can no longer cool itself. As long as blood is flowing properly to the skin, extra heat from the body is pumped to the skin and removed by sweat evaporation. If fluids are not replaced soon enough, heat stroke can result, potentially leading to brain damage or death.
Symptoms of heat illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse and headaches. People with these symptoms should find shade, drink water slowly and make sure there is good ventilation.
Staying in an air-conditioned area, either at home or in a public place such as a mall, library or recreation center is the most effective way to fight heat. If air conditioning is not available, pull the shades over the windows and use cross-ventilation and fans to cool rooms. A cool shower or bath also is an effective way to cool off. Limit use of stoves and ovens to keep home temperatures lower. More >
Special Research Flight Notification
June 23rd, 2011Next week NASA, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, begins a month-long air quality study over northeast Maryland. The project, called DISCOVER-AQ, includes one low-flying aircraft sampling air pollution over Interstate 95, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and other major roadways from June 27 through July 31.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/discover-aq/overview/index.html
FEMA, Red Cross and Ad Council Launch New Ready Business PSAs to Urge Small Businesses to Prepare in Advance of an Emergency
June 13th, 2011Up to forty percent of businesses affected by a natural or man-made major disaster never reopen
Washington, D.C., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Up to 40% of businesses affected by a natural or man-made disaster never reopen, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In a nationwide effort to raise the business community’s awareness about how to prepare their businesses and employees in the event of an emergency, the Advertising Council, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross, announced today the launch of new public service advertisements (PSAs) on behalf of Ready Business.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers. Unfortunately, small to medium-sized businesses are also the most vulnerable in the event of an emergency. An Ad Council survey reported that nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents said they do not have an emergency plan in place for their business. By taking steps ahead of time, many of these businesses can be better prepared to survive and recover after an emergency.
“Businesses small and large make up the backbone of economies in communities across our country,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Putting a disaster plan in motion now will improve the likelihood that businesses and organizations will not only survive and recover themselves, but also help their neighbors and communities recover more quickly.”
Produced pro bono by advertising agency Brunner, the new television, radio, print, outdoor and Web banners encourage owners of small- to medium-sized businesses to take steps to prepare and plan in advance of an emergency in order to reduce the risk of losing their business in the event of a disaster. All of the PSAs direct audiences to visit www.ready.gov/business for online resources, including the Red Cross Ready Rating business preparedness assessment tool. This free, interactive tool provides business owners with a clear picture of the preparedness level of their business and what further steps they need to take to get their business ready.
“We never know when or where disaster may strike, but we all want to be ready to protect our employees, families, and our communities,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the Red Cross. “Everyone needs to play a role in emergency preparedness, and Ready Rating™ helps businesses and organizations understand if they are ready for an emergency.”
“We are proud to partner with the Red Cross and FEMA to provide small business owners nationwide with the vital tools they need to take precautionary actions in advance of emergencies,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “I strongly believe that these new PSAs will engage and motivate the business community to take the proper steps towards preparedness to protect their employees, operations and assets.”
“We are proud to be associated with the important work FEMA is doing to educate Americans about being smart when it comes to preparing for disaster, especially at a time when many areas of the country are experiencing such dangerous and unpredictable weather,” said Brunner President Scott Morgan. “The creative dramatizes the aftereffects of a disaster in order to give small business owners a sense of the potential magnitude of the destruction. Our goal is to get them to be preemptive and develop a contingency plan well before disaster strikes.”
Launched in 2004, Ready Business is an extension of FEMA and the Ad Council’s Ready campaign. Since its launch, media outlets have donated more than $129 million in advertising time and space for the PSAs. The new PSAs will air in advertising time that will be entirely donated by the media.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
The Advertising Council
The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies. The Ad Council addresses issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.
(Ads can be viewed at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/50292/)
Maryland Deadline to Apply for SBA Working Capital Disaster Loans Due to Drought is July 5
June 7th, 2011ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses that July 5 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Somerset and Worcester counties in Maryland. The SBA declared a disaster because of drought and excessive heat that began on April 1, 2010.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Except for aquaculture enterprises, agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate for eligible small businesses and 3 percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ET or by sending an e-mail to[email protected]. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may apply for loans from SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than July 5, 2011.
Traffic Advisory: Viewing and Funeral for Trooper First Class Shaft Hunter
May 26th, 2011(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police, and State Highway Administration personnel are coordinating traffic operations plans, but motorists should be aware of potentially heavy traffic and traffic delays associated with the viewing, funeral, and funeral procession for Maryland State Police TFC Shaft Hunter.
VIEWING: Beginning Thursday afternoon and lasting until 9:00 p.m., motorists should be aware of heavier than normal vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area of the Vaughn Green Funeral Home, in the 8700-block of Liberty Road at Brenbrook Drive in Randallstown. Pedestrians will be crossing Brenbrook Drive and Liberty Road. Baltimore County Police and Maryland State Police will be on-scene to assist.
FUNERAL: On Friday beginning at 8:00 a.m., motorists should be aware of heavier than normal vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Old Court Road from Liberty Road to the New Antioch Baptist Church in the 5600-block of Old Court Road. At about 9:00 a.m. on Friday, police will close northbound Old Court Road from Windsor Mill Road to Liberty Road. The northbound roadway is expected to remain closed until 2:00 p.m. Southbound Old Court Road will remain open.
The funeral of TFC Hunter will begin at 11:00 a.m. and is expected to conclude at about 1:00 p.m., although a longer service is possible. It will take about 30 minutes for those attending to return to their vehicles and the procession to be ready to begin.
PROCESSION: The funeral procession is expected to begin leaving the 5600-block of Old Court Road between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The procession will head northbound on Old Court Road to Liberty Road. It will proceed east on Liberty Road to I-695. Upon entering I-695 west, the procession will head toward I-83.
The procession will take I-83 north and turn east on Padonia Road. The procession will end at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Police will be closing intersections and ramps momentarily as the procession moves along the route to the cemetery.
The interment at Dulaney Valley is expected to end sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Motorists in the Timonium area should expect heavier than normal traffic through rush hour Friday.
Governor Conducts Hurricane Preparedness Exercise
May 25th, 2011
Cabinet Level Secretaries Participate and Discuss Maryland’s Response
BALTIMORE, MD (May 24, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley hosted a Cabinet level exercise yesterday designed to ready all State agencies and test preparedness for
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| Governor Martin O’Malley, Chief of Staff Matt Gallagher and MEMA’s Executive Director Richard Muth listen intently as Hurricane Preparations are discussed with The Governor’s Cabinet. |
Maryland’s hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA),which oversees all-hazards disaster planning for the state, designed the exercise, which involved a Category 3 hurricaneimpacting Maryland’s coastline and then moving inland. “We designed the scenario to be as real as possible where each
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| Meteorologist Chris Strong of the national Weather Service provides the 2011 Hurricane Prediction briefing to members of the Governor’s Cabinet during the 2011 Hurricane Preparedness exercise. |
player has an active role,” said MEMA’s Executive Director, Richard Muth, a former local emergency manager with first-hand experience during 2003 when Tropical Storm Isabel wreaked havoc in Baltimore County. “It is important we test our response to what we could see in a real world event so our senior leaders know what to expect and how to respond, and that we interact and meet key leaders who will be making decisions during a critical event.”
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| Joshua Sharfstein, Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stresses a point during the Governor’s Cabinet Level Hurricane Preparedness Exercise. |
Muth explained that when conducting these exercises, there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer and not everything is absolute. “Each storm is different and we have to respond according to the path of the storm and the challenges it presents,” Muth said. “Adapting our plans, being flexible, thinking outside of the box are all steps we must be willing to take to effectively manage any disaster,”
Muth said, adding, “Most importantly, too, is whether it is the state, a specific agency or a family – you must have a plan.”
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| Members of the Governor’s Cabinet met in Annapolis on May 23, 2011 to discuss hurricane preparedness and response. |
Plans give you guidance, Muth said, and can be scalable and flexible to any event. But if you are going to be successful, Muth explained, then not only must you have a plan but you should test it.
Today, he noted, was all about testing those plans and meeting key decision makers. “You do not want the day an event like this occurs to be the first day you see the plan or have interacted with other state agencies”, Muth said.
Maryland’s Hurricane season begins June 1 and the National Weather Service is predicting an active season with potentially 12-18 named storms impacting the Atlantic. For more information about preparedness for hurricanes and other disasters go to www.mema.state.md.us. Follow MEMA on TWITTER at www.twitter.com/mema_feeds.
How To Help Tornado Survivors in Joplin, Mo. or Other States
May 25th, 2011To help manage the generous outpouring of support for Joplin, Mo., tornado survivors, disaster recovery experts have established some simple ways to help, whether volunteering or making donations.
Along with our partners at the Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, here are some specific ways to help those impacted by the recent storms and tornadoes.
Donate or Volunteer
- The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency hasestablished a web portal to coordinate donations and volunteers. Keep in mind that cash is the preferred method because it offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover as well.
- Those in Missouri can also call 2-1-1 in most areas for information on volunteering their time or making a donation. This 2-1-1 service, operated by the United Way, is available through much of Missouri. For those who are out of state or unable to get through on 2-1-1, call 1-800-427-4626. Those with medical skills interested in volunteering can go online at www.showmeresponse.org
Remember, unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable foodstuffs require helping agencies to redirect valuable resources away from providing services to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
Sheltering
- Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information or referrals are urged to call 2-1-1, or 800-427-4626, or go towww.redcross.orgfor a list of open shelters. For individuals with a hearing loss, call 7-1-1 or use Video Relay Service to reach 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.
Helping survivors in other states
- For those who have been affected in Minnesota or other states outside Missouri or those who want to help can visitwww.fema.gov/howtohelp.
Other Resources
If you or someone you know is looking for a friend or relative who may have been affected the storms, visit www.Redcross.org/safeandwell.
MEMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Summer Storms as Annual Hurricane Season Begins on June 1
May 23rd, 2011REISTERSTOWN, MD (May 19, 2011) – Hurricane season begins June 1, and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency is urging residents to take steps now to prepare for severe summer weather. Preparations for hurricanes will also serve residents well in the case of tornadoes, flooding, severe thunderstorms and other events that could impact the state.
Now is the time to make sure you have properly stocked disaster supply kits, a good family disaster plan and consider purchasing flood insurance. Also consider purchasing a weather
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| Richard Muth and WMAR ABC 2News Morning Show host Charley Crowson discuss Hurricane Preparedness Week and have on display several items citizens should consider when making a disaster preparedness kit. |
radio or regularly monitor radio and television news and weather forecasts to be alert to potential severe conditions. Already this spring, Maryland has experienced an unusual number of tornadoes (fortunately none with serious damage) and rain.
“It’s been more than seven years since we experienced major damage from a tropical weather system,” said MEMA Executive Director Richard Muth, referring to the remnants of Hurricane Isabel that struck Maryland in 2003. “Even though you may think we are not likely to get hit with another hurricane in the near future, it’s important to remember that many of the same steps you should take to protect your family from a major event like a hurricane could be helpful for dealing with more common emergencies like flash floods, tornadoes, even things as common as extended power outages.”
National Hurricane Preparedness Week runs from May 22-28, and the National Weather Service just released their 2011 Atlantic Season Hurricane Outlook. For information about National Hurricane Preparedness Week, please visit the National Hurricane Center website athttp://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/prepared_week.shtml.
For more information about preparedness in Maryland, visit MEMA’s website at http://www.mema.state.md.us. On that page you will find preparedness information for hurricanes and other hazards that can affect Maryland. You also can download a copy of our Maryland Natural Hazards Preparedness Guide. If you do not have internet access or would like to order additional copies of our preparedness guide, please contact Ed McDonough at 410-517-3632.
The web site includes detailed information about putting together a family emergency plan and what to put in a disaster supply kit.
Residents also should consider purchasing flood insurance now in case of summer storms. Homeowners and renters insurance typically does not include flood damage, and claims cannot be filed until 30 days after the premiums are paid. For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program, please visit www.floodsmart.gov.
Drivers also are reminded not to drive through standing or running water on a roadway. As little as 6-12 inches of running water can move a vehicle downstream.
For more information about severe summer weather, please contact Eddie Hopkins at 410-517-3615 or 410-422-7561 or Ed McDonough at 410-517-3632 or 410-446-3333.
New York City Unveils First in the Nation Public Safety System; Enabled Mobile Devices Will Receive Emergency Alerts at Critical Moments with Potentially Life Saving Messages
May 11th, 2011NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and top executives from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile & Verizon announce PLAN at World Trade Center site in New York City
New York, N.Y. — Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, top executives from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon and others convened at the World Trade Center site to announce PLAN–the Personal Localized Alerting Network. PLAN is a free service that will allow customers with an enabled mobile device to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. This service will be available in New York City by the end of 2011, at least two calendar quarters before the rest of the nation.
PLAN ensures that emergency alerts will not get stalled by user congestion, which can happen with standard mobile voice and texting services. Authorized government officials can send messages, which participating wireless providers then push using their cell towers to enabled mobile devices in a targeted geographic area.
“In both the public and private sectors, I’ve always believed in the need to harness technology in new ways, including ways that its designers hadn’t anticipated. The City’s opt-in Notify NYC system is a great example of that: it alerts people to dangers and delays via email and mobile devices, and it has become a national model of emergency communication,” said New York City Michael Bloomberg.
“But given the kinds of threats made against New York City at the World Trade Center, Times Square, and other places popular with visitors and tourists, we’ll be even safer when authorities can broadcast warnings to everyone in a geographic area regardless of where they came from or bought their phone,” Mayor Bloomberg continued. “I want to congratulate FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for this quantum leap forward in using technology to help keep people safe.”
“Following the devastating tornadoes in the Southeast, we are witnessing yet again the critical role the public plays as part of our nation’s emergency management team. Making sure that they get useful and life-saving information, quickly and easily, right on their mobile phones, will help more people get out of harm’s way when a threat exists,” said FEMA Administrator Fugate. “This new technology could become a lifeline for millions of Americans and is another tool that will strengthen our nation’s resilience against all hazards.”
“Communications technology – and in particular mobile broadband – has the potential to revolutionize emergency response,” said FCC Chairman Genachowski. “Our communications networks need to be reliable and resilient in times of emergency. The FCC is working with carriers to ensure that they are.”
When PLAN is operational, customers in an area affected by an emergency who have a PLAN-capable mobile device will receive an alert of ninety characters or less. Consumers will receive three types of alerts from PLAN: (1) alerts issued by the President; (2) alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life; and (3) Amber Alerts. Participating carriers may allow subscribers to block all but Presidential alerts.
In 2006, Congress passed the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act, requiring carriers that choose to participate to activate PLAN technology by a deadline determined by the FCC, which is April 2012. Participants that will offer PLAN at least two calendar quarters ahead of schedule in New York City are AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Ninety percent of New York subscribers who have a PLAN-capable mobile device in these cities will be able to receive PLAN alerts by the end of 2011.
For more information on PLAN visit blog.fema.gov/2011/05/plan-another-part-of-publics-emergency.html