MDEM Newsroom - Page 50 MDEM Newsroom

Earthquake Information

A reported 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Mineral Springs, Virginia today at approximately 2pm .  MEMA is assessing damages. Do not call 911 nor tie up cell phone signals unnecessarily. Please physically inspect your buildings before re-entering them, be alert for potential aftershocks,  and account for colleagues, family members and friends.

Helpful Links:

MEMA Earthquake Information

National Geological Survey

Tags: earthquake

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Charity Ride from Somerset, Pennsylvania to Arlington, Virginia

(Pikesville, MD) –     Maryland State Police warn motorists who will be traveling through portions of Maryland this weekend, to plan ahead and be advised of the routes being traveled by a group of 2,500 motorcycles and other vehicles while on an organized charity ride from Somerset, Pennsylvania to Arlington, Virginia in remembrance of lives lost on September, 11, 2001.

On Friday, August 19, 2011, from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m., and on Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 6:45 a.m. until approximately 12:30 p.m., motorists are urged to plan ahead.  The group, called Americas 911 Ride, will travel a route that includes several major roads in Allegany,Washington and Frederick Counties.

The first day of the ride is Friday, August 19, and traffic on I-68, I-70 and on US 15 in Western Maryland  is expected to be affected.  Motorists traveling in Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties are urged to plan ahead.  For more than 85 miles heading east, participants in the America’s 911 Ride, will travel to their destination, Arlington, Virginia.

According to America’s 911 Foundation, Inc., on August 19, the group is expected to:

• Arrive in Cumberland between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.
• Travel approximately 35 miles on eastbound I-68 until it merges with I-70.
• Continue east on I-70 an additional 29 miles to Hagerstown and exit east of Hagerstown onto MD 632 toward the Premium Outlets, arriving between 10:30 and 11 a.m.
• Depart the outlets at 1:00 p.m. using MD 65, then travel east on I-70 toward Frederick and exit onto southbound US 15/US 340.
• Exit Maryland on US 15 in the Point of Rocks area heading toward LeesburgVirginia.

Motorists traveling on eastbound I-68 or eastbound I-70 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. should strongly consider avoiding those routes on Friday, August 19.  The entire group is likely to stretch up to 15 miles in length and with ramps blocked, access onto or off of I-68 or I-70 will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

State Highway Administration will also temporarily close the ramp from westbound I-70 onto US 15/US 340 to allow the group access from eastbound I-70 onto US 15/US 340.  Both eastbound and westbound I-70 share the same ramp.  Westbound I-70 motorists will be directed to the next exit, US 40 Alternate.

Additional perpendicular routes including US 220 in Allegany County,  I-81 in Washington County US 15 north of Frederick in Frederick County and US 522 in Hancock will experience major delays as the group travels along eastbound I-68, eastbound I-70 and southbound US 15.

On Saturday, August 20, 2011, at 6:45 a.m., the 2,500 motorcycles and other vehicles will depart Arlington, making their way north on theBaltimore/Washington Parkway to I-95 North toward New York.  Traffic is expected to be affected until approximately 12:30 p.m. until the group makes their way into Delaware, and north to New York

According to America’s 911 Foundation, Inc., on day number two, August 20, the group is expected to:

• Depart the Pentagon at 6:45 a.m. onto I-395 N towards Washington, DC
• Travel I-395 N into DC
• Take I-295 / Southeast Freeway toward Pennsylvania Avenue
• Right exit & right turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue
• Travel North on I-295 and merge onto the B/W Parkway
• Stay left to merge onto Baltimore Washington Parkway toward Baltimore
• Exit onto I-895 N toward Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thru-Way/ New York
• Merge onto I-95 N toward New York
• Stop at the Maryland House Rest Area (mile marker 83)
• Exit Maryland House onto I-95 N toward  Philadelphia / New York
•  Exit onto I-295 N toward New Jersey Turnpike / Delaware Memorial Bridge
• Right exit onto SR-9 S / New Castle Ave. for fuel around 1:00 p.m.

Motorists traveling northbound on the Baltimore/Washington Parkwayand on I-95 North from 6:45 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. should strongly consider avoiding those routes on Saturday, August 20.  The entire group of vehicles is likely to stretch up to 15 miles in length.  Traffic delays are anticipated along the entire route which may be extremely difficult for motorists.

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), the Maryland State Police, local police and numerous other agencies continue to work together, making preparations in advance of the ride and to ultimately support the safe movement of the large group.

Motorists are also encouraged to plan ahead and use the new Maryland 511 traveler information system.  Key travel information can be obtained before heading out by calling 511 or logging onto http://www.md511.org/

Tags: traffic

Virginia Wildland Fire: Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk, VA

Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk, VA: The US Forestry Service has advised there is 6,000 acre brush fire nine (9) miles southeast of Suffolk, VA that has been burning since the evening of Aug 04, 2011 due to a lightning strike. Crews currently only have 10% containment on the fire. It is currently the largest fire in the history of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Re-growth of brush and grasses along with large amount of dead and downed fuel from the 2008 fire is currently fueling this fire. The prevailing winds are blowing smoke into the central, southern and eastern shore regions of Maryland. The National Weather Service in Wakefield Virginia advises this condition will remain throughout today.

This information is for your situational awareness and to use as you deem appropriate when handling inquiries from the public. Additional information is available at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp.  I will continue to update you as information becomes available.

Recommendations…

• Although the smoke being detected in the State may be from this fire in Virginia, persons should make sure any smoke is not from a local fire when reporting.
• Those with known respiratory conditions should use caution regarding your outdoor exposure until the situation improves.

SBA Deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans in Maryland is September 9

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding businesses in Maryland that working capital loans are still available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations that were affected by the severe storms and a tornado that occurred on Nov. 17, 2010.

“Businesses that suffered economic losses as a result of the disaster and want to apply for low-interest loans from the SBA are urged to do so before the Sept. 9, 2011 deadline,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) up to $2 million are available at 4 percent for small businesses and 3 percent for private non-profit organizations of all sizes, with terms up to 30 years. The loans are intended to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.  To be considered for this assistance, disaster victims need to apply by the deadline.

These EIDLs are available to businesses and non-profit organizations in the Independent City of Baltimore; and the counties of Anne Arundel and Baltimore in Maryland.

To obtain disaster loan information and application forms, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, or send an e-mail to [email protected].  Loan application forms can also be downloaded from http://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 also apply for disaster loans electronically from the SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The deadline for economic injury applications is September 9, 2011.

Tags: business, disaster loan, eidls, sba

Highlights of the 2011 Maryland State Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Reisterstown, MD – The Draft 2011 Maryland State Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is ready for  public review.  The plan’s public outreach website is located at http://www.mema.state.md.us/MitigationOutreach. This site contains a summary of the hazards facing Maryland and includes maps that identify each Maryland jurisdictions’ potential vulnerability to a wide range of natural hazards. The site also contains a survey to solicit input from Maryland residents on the greatest dangers facing their region, and what they think can be done to mitigate against natural hazards. The plan update was led by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and enables the state to remain eligible for FEMA post-disaster and mitigation grant funds.

For more information, contact Rachael Herman at [email protected]

For more information on the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, please visit: www.mema.state.md.us

Tags: Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, Mitigation

Cooling Centers

Anne 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.

———————

More helpful heat warnings and tips athttp://www.governor.maryland.gov/blog/?p=1461

Tags: cooling center, heat

Summer Heat Precautions

People 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

Next 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

Tags: discover-aq, flight, nasa

FEMA, Red Cross and Ad Council Launch New Ready Business PSAs to Urge Small Businesses to Prepare in Advance of an Emergency

Up 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/)

Tags: ad councile, fema, preparedness, psa, red cross, small business

Maryland Deadline to Apply for SBA Working Capital Disaster Loans Due to Drought is July 5

ATLANTA – 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.

Tags: disaster loan, sba