MLIVE: At-home caregivers prepare for emergency situations

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Nobody's happy when the lights go out. But for those who depend on home medical equipment, power failures can be deadly. Tammy and Roger Rudi's nine adopted children all have special needs, many requiring life support equipment.

When the power goes out -- as it has three times this year -- the Rudis have to move fast.

"We have a little backup generator, but we can only plug in two things at a time. So we have to decide what we need most," said Tammy Rudi.

General Motors retiree Wayne Nelson, 75, had more on his mind than wet feet during the February melt that flooded his Burton home.

Nelson depends on a portable oxygen machine. His backup generator was out in the garage -- shin-deep under water.

WHITE PAPER: Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

BHARAT BHASHA: Emergency Preparedness Should Not Be A Disaster

Natural disasters (or acts of nature) are considered to be the consequence of a natural hazard which affects human activities. They are termed a disaster if they cause financial, environmental or human loss due to lack of planning or lack of appropriate emergency management.

Acts of nature come in many varied forms. Land movement disasters include avalanches, earthquakes, lahars, landslides, mudflows and volcanic eruptions. Blizzards, droughts, hailstorms, heat waves and cyclonic storms (incuding hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons) are all considered to be water disasters. Other disaster situations include fire, health and disease (including epidemics and famine), and space (impact events and solar flares).

Natural disasters are often related. Drought can lead to famine and disease, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes under the ocean, and volcanic eruptions can result in lahars and fires ravaging the land. All of these natural disasters can cause environmental emergencies. They can strike quickly and without warning. They can force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services--water, gas, electricity or telephones--were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.

Emergency management or disaster management involves preparing for a disaster before it happens. You cannot put an emergency on hold. Effective emergency preparation relies on a well thought out plan of action that will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency situation. Every household, school and business needs an Emergency Plan.

COLLEGIATE TIMES: Tech drafts disaster document

Virginia Tech's Office of Emergency Management has partnered with the Tech Police Department to create a one-page instructional document on classroom emergency preparedness.

When released, the emergency preparedness document was meant as a consideration for instructors to supplement to their syllabi and discuss at the beginning of the semester.

DESERT SUN: Emergency panel to change tactics

Members of the Rancho Mirage Emergency Preparedness Commission say they need to change how they reach out to residents to prepare for a disaster.

JAVMA NEWS: Disaster training part of Foundation's mission

Emergency preparedness is on many people's minds, as spring and early summer can be some of the worst times for natural disasters. Peak tornado activity occurs from April to July, and hurricane season officially begins June 1.

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is once again sponsoring disaster-related training sessions this year to help veterinarians and emergency officials anticipate for the worst.

HOMELAND 1: 'Cautious optimism' surrounds new administration's plans for emergency preparedness

On the campaign trail throughout most of 2008, President-elect Obama hinted at the largest expansion of government programs since the New Deal. But a catastrophic financial crisis and unprecedented mounting national debt seem to be casting doubt on the viability of some government programs. In the face of an economy in crisis and pressing unattended issues such as a crumbling national infrastructure, could funding for critical programs such as emergency preparedness be in peril?

With less than a week till the first U.S. presidential transition since Sept. 11, current events have many wondering what the future holds for homeland security, as well as the incoming administration’s priorities for funding emergency preparedness programs in 2009 and beyond.

Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Chronic Disease

FROM THE WEBSITE: If you are currently managing life with a chronic disease or if you know someone who is, you know how difficult it can be under the best of circumstances. Now, imagine what it would be like if your community was struck with misfortune and disaster. What would you eat? What would you drink? What would happen if you were without your medications?

With a little bit of preparation, you could manage, or teach someone to manage, a chronic disease in a crisis situation. You just need to know how to prepare.

If you are currently managing a chronic disease and would like to learn how to prepare for a disaster, please order or download our Patient Resource Manual.

If you wish to help people in your community prepare, please order on “kit” or download our Participant Manual and our Patient Resource Manual.

NOTE: The website has been added to the "Emergency Management on the Internet" section on the right side of this blog.

DisasterPrepped.com

FROM THE WEBSITE: DisasterPrepped.com is a new website that focuses exclusively on emergency preparedness and disaster solutions for organizations, families, municipalities, companies, etc. The site consists of two sections:

(1) Articles (below) specifically addressing topics relating to disasters, preparedness, and emergencies; and
(2) Links (at left) to preparedness & disaster solutions in 15 subcategories such as Rescue, Kids & Schools, Evacuations, Biohazards & Terrorism, Floods, Fires, etc.

New articles will be added in the future on a monthly basis. New preparedness solutions will be included based on both reader suggestions and the ongoing research of the DisasterPrepped.com staff. If you would like to make any comments or suggestions, please see the Contact Us section below. We seek to make DisasterPrepped.com the most valuable resource for your preparedness needs & questions.

NOTE: The website has been added to the "Emergency Management Information on the Internet" section on the right side of this blog. WFTND has no financial interest in this website.

VANCOUVER SUN: Risk planning should be priority for entrepreneurs

Risk is always a factor in launching a business, although not all entrepreneurs recognize the potential for peril that could bring operations to a grinding halt.

Extreme weather, a mass power grid failure or even an incident of gunfire unleashed amid an urban centre can paralyze a small business for days, or even longer.

Such risks coupled with the increased dependency on technology render up-to-date contingency planning and emergency preparedness an integral New Year's resolution for business sustainability.

FRIDAY FLYER: City Connection: Don't forget to include pets in disaster planning

The Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee (CLEPC) has spent a great deal of time and effort over the past few years to make sure that residents know what to do and where to go in the case of a natural disaster or other emergency, but what about pets? The committee, through the work of long-standing member Mayor Mary Craton, now has prepared a plan for pets in the event of a disaster.

In addition, residents are asked to assist CLEPC by completing a Canyon Lake Animal Census Survey. The survey, which will also be made available within the next few weeks on the City’s website, www.cityofcanyonlake.com, will help volunteers protect pets during an emergency and assist the committee in determining emergency shelter needs.

Residents completing the survey will receive the brochure, “Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies,” as well as a sign to place in their front window to alert rescue personnel and volunteers as to the number and types of pets in the home.

REUTERS: "Death map" shows heat a big hazard to Americans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Heat is more likely to kill an American than an earthquake, and thunderstorms kill more than hurricanes do, according to a "death map" published on Tuesday.

Researchers who compiled the county-by-county look at what natural disasters kill Americans said they hope their study will help emergency preparedness officials plan better.