Prepare
Every Family Needs an Emergency Plan
The following is taken from a Richmond Register article explaining how critical an emergency plan is. Most striking is the fact that you are 15 times more likely to recover from disaster if you have a plan ahead of time: “Hope is not a strategy.” Carl Richards, director... [Read more...]
Survive
Safe Drinking Water
In addition to having bad odor and taste, contaminated water can contain microorganisms that cause disease such as dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis. You should purify all water of uncertain purity before using it for drinking, food preparation or hygiene. There are many ways... [Read more...]
Recover
Moving Back Into the Home After Mold Removal
Natural disasters including floods can make our home unsafe due to extensive flood damage and mold removal. It is important to clean all the affected areas of the house thoroughly to make the place safe from any potential health hazards. We must exercise caution when moving back... [Read more...]
Financial
FEMA Aid – Hurricane Ike
This article about receiving government aid is a lesson in not taking no for an answer. There’s usually just too much at stake to walk away quietly:
Awaiting a decision about federal recovery assistance in the wake of Hurricane Ike can be excruciating, but authorities say if the first application is denied, a second attempt might prove fruitful. [Read more...]
Insurance
Is Disaster Insurance a Good Thing?
The following is a superb article by Liz Pulliam Weston for MSN Money covering the pros and cons of disaster insurance. The original can be found here. Links to Ms. Weston’s web site and newsletter can be found at the end of the article:
The costs and benefits of disaster coverage are tricky to analyze. Weigh these big pros and cons, plus the specifics of your home, your location and your finances. [Read more...]
Shelter
Elderly Shelters
Taken from the The Yomiuri Shimbun, this article illustrates the state of relocation shelters for the elderly and special needs communities in Japan:
Only 30 percent of municipalities around the country have designated facilities as shelters for the elderly and handicapped during natural disasters, according to a survey conducted by the Institute for Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness. [Read more...]
Legal
FEMA – Legal Services
As you might guess, the services of lawyers are in very high demand in the aftermath of nearly every natural disaster. People with damaged homes have questions about their insurance policies. Landlords and tenants want to know their rights when their properties become uninhabitable due to failures in water and gas lines. And sadly, scam artists prey on disaster victims who then seek out consumer protection advice in attempts to escape from unconscionable contract provisions.
Government
Financial Rescue Plan Signed by President
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343), a multibillion dollar financial rescue package passed by Congress and signed by the President on October 3, 2008, includes tax extender and disaster relief provisions which affect pensions and employee benefits. The Act also contains provisions designed to prevent the government from subsidizing excessive compensation to executives and includes new mental health parity rules. [Read more...]
Special Needs
FEMA Makes Special Effort for Those with Special Needs
AUSTIN, Texas — Disasters can be hard for anyone to deal with, but for those with disabilities, illnesses and other special needs, disasters present a real challenge. That is why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) waspreparing to help Texans who have special needs even before Hurricane Ike roared across the Gulf Coast on Sept. 13.
