IT’S A DISASTER! e-news Mar 2011
This month's topics:
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mother Nature's Fury
ON THE FRONT LINES
Chasing4Life new ICE app
Depiction webinars (Apps & Tech + Situational Awareness)
Formidable Footprint 3/26 Tabletop Exercise (Wildfires)
+ Depiction 3/24 pre-exercise webinar link
NE Texas PHD's Accessible Emergency Info (ASL videos, etc)
IN THE NEWS
DID YOU KNOW…
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mother Nature's Fury
Spring normally brings all kinds of wild weather – from tornadoes to flooding to thunderstorms - but Mother Nature has unleashed her fury big-time this March all across the globe.
Japan’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused a 30-foot (9m) wall of water to slam into parts of the island washing away complete towns in some places. As of a few days ago, more than 260 aftershocks magnitude 5 or greater were logged since the massive 11-March quake with many more sure to follow. As the damage, fires and flooding ensued across the nation it also created states of emergency at multiple nuclear power plants.
The situation in Japan is still evolving and our hearts go out all the victims, their families and those still suffering and working through the devastation, but incidents like these should make everyone stop and analyze how prepared they are for various types of disaster situations.
Our 268-page book helps families and businesses prepare for and respond to many types of disasters and emergencies and can be customized for giveaways or resell. We're also providing some stats and free resources below that could help you and your communities prepare for the unexpected.
EARTHQUAKES
Did you know...
...the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is April 28, 2011 at 10:15a Central?! Entire communities across twelve states (AR, AL, GA, IL, IN*, KY, MO, MS, OK, SC and TN) are participating in this Drill to better prepare themselves and to practice what to do in the event of an earthquake. (*IN drill is on 4/19/2011.)
...the worst earthquake in Japanese history was the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake near Tokyo killing over 100,000 people?!
...according to Lowell S. Whiteside of the National Geophysical Data Center normally there is a magnitude 8 earthquake every 1.5 to 2 years but in 1906 there were 10 of them?!
...in 1931, there were about 350 seismograph stations operating in the world; and today, there are more that 4,000 stations and the data now comes in rapidly from these stations by telex, computer and satellite?! This increase in the number of stations and the more timely receipt of data has allowed USGS and other seismological centers to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier years.
Additional resources...
Earthquake Safety Tips (4-pg PDF from our IT’S A DISASTER! book) - click here
Great Central U.S. ShakeOut www.shakeout.org/centralus/
Arkansas Center for Earthquake Education and Technology Transfer http://quake.ualr.edu/
Central United States Earthquake Consortium www.cusec.org
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Earthquake page www.disastersafety.org/risk?riskId=1
National Earthquake Information Center http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/neic/
QuakeSmart.org (mitigation tips for businesses) www.quakesmart.org/
Southern California Earthquake Center www.scec.org/education/
St Louis Univ Earthquake Center www.eas.slu.edu/Earthquake_Center/
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/
FLOODING:
Did you know...
...according to FEMA, everyone lives in a flood zone - it's just a question of whether you live in a low, moderate or high risk area.?!
...more than 90% of declared disasters include flooding?!
...NOAA’s outlook predicts 2011 spring flooding will affect almost half the country from the North Central U.S. through the Midwest and the Northeast?!
Additional resources
Flood Safety Tips (3-pg PDF from our book) - click here
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Flood page www.disastersafety.org/risk?riskId=2
NOAA’s Flood Safety page at www.floodsafety.noaa.gov
Ready Campaign flood safety awareness page www.ready.gov/floodawareness
also in Spanish at www.listo.gov/floodawareness
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENTS:
Did you know...
...apart from Chernobyl, no nuclear workers or members of the public have ever died as a result of exposure to radiation due to a commercial nuclear reactor incident according to the World Nuclear Association?! Most of the serious radiological injuries and deaths that occur each year (2-4 deaths and many more exposures above regulatory limits) are the result of large uncontrolled radiation sources, such as abandoned medical or industrial equipment.
…the average American is exposed to an effective dose equivalent of approximately 620 mrem (whole-body exposure) per year from all sources according to the EPA...?! You can calculate your personal radiation dose estimate at www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/understand/calculate.html
Additional resources…
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Tips (5-pg PDF from our book) - click here
CDC’s Radiation site www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/
Radiation Network www.radiationnetwork.com
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s blog http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov/
World Nuclear Association Nuclear power in the USA www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.html
TORNADOES:
Did you know...
...the U.S. has more tornadoes than any other place in the world and averages 1,200 tornado sightings each year?!
...the force of a tornado can strip asphalt chunks off roads, rip clothes off people and pluck feathers off chickens.... ?!
Additional Resources:
Tornado Safety Tips (3-pg PDF from our book) - click here
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety www.disastersafety.org/risk?riskId=7
NOAA Tornado safety tips www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html
More NOAA tips www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html
The Tornado Project Online! www.tornadoproject.com
TSUNAMIS:
Did you know...
...a tsunami is not a tidal wave - it has nothing to do with the tide?!
...tsunamis can travel up streams and rivers that lead to the ocean?!
Additional resources…
Tsunami Safety Tips (3-pg PDF from our book) - click here
CDC's Tsunami page www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tsunamis/
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC - for international authorities, HI and all U.S. territories within Pacific basin) www.weather.gov/ptwc/
TsunamiReady www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov
West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC - for AK, BC, CA, OR, and WA) http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/
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It may take years for Japan to recover from this trifecta mega disaster and again, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and the brave Responders. Some informational links to stay current on events there include (hat tip to SF CARD):
US Chamber BCLC has information, situation report, and donation links for businesses:
http://bclc.uschamber.com/Programs/disaster/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami
Help Desk for businesses 1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP (888-692-4943)
Google Person Finder link http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
Relief organizations via Interaction www.interaction.org/crisis-list/interaction-members-support-japan-earthquake-response
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Chasing4Life recently introduced a new smart ICE (In Case of Emergency) iPhone / iPod app that talks to EMS officials when you can’t! Chasing4LifeICE applications give you the ability to store all of that data on your smart-phone and share it by e-mail with a loved one or family physician. It's available as a single user app ($1.99) or Multi-user Family app ($4.99). Visit the Chasing4LifeICE page to learn about all the features and to order visit www.ems-options.com/Chasing4Life_Products.html
Depiction has 2 webinars that could be very beneficial for First Responders next week. Peter Lamb (Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director of the Town of North Attleboro) will discuss software applications and other tools that can be used by fire service incident commanders, whether on the fireground or in the office, on Tue, March 29, 2011 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT www.depiction.com/webinars/app-for-that
And Michael Craig (owner of Professional Emergency Management Services Training and Resources or PEMSTAR) will be discussing Situational Awareness with Depiction and PEMSTAR on Wed, March 30, 2011 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT. www.depiction.com/webinars/pemstar
Formidable Footprint - A National Neighborhood Exercise Series - Members of CERTs, Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based groups and local Citizen Corps can join the Formidable Footprint tabletop exercise on Wildfires on Sat Mar 26 2011 from 9:00AM - 4:00PM EST. For more information and to register for the 2011 exercises visit www.drc-group.com/project/footprint.html
Also... join Depiction on Thu, Mar 24, for the required pre-exercise webinar where valuable information and guidelines regarding exercise participation will be provided. The webinar is being hosted by Chris Floyd of the Disaster Resistant Communities Group and Ric Skinner, GISP, of The Stoneybrook Group LLC, who will be facilitating the mapping portion of the Formidable Footprint exercises. http://depiction.com/webinars/formidable-footprint-mar
And … check out the Formidable Footprint Floods Feb 2011 exercise After Action Report at www.drc-group.com/project/footprint.html#aar
The Northeast Texas Public Health District has compiled 18 Emergency Preparedness Topics in ASL video and downloadable document format (including Braille and Large Print) for public use. There is no charge for use of the materials. www.accessibleemergencyinfo.com
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Bill and Janet Liebsch will be appearing on Complete Survivalist Radio with Ed Corcoran this Wed 3/23 at 8p Eastern on the Prepper Podcast Radio Network
Janet will be appearing on Your Preparation Station with Donna Millier Thu 3/24 at 7p Eastern on Preparedness Radio Network
And Janet appeared in the April 2011 issue of Popular Mechanics in a piece about nuclear disasters. (We haven’t found the article online yet, but magazine is in stores!)
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...there’s a new method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using two devices that improve long-term survival rates with good brain function by 50 percent?! In the new method, one device (ResQPump) consists of a suction cup that attaches to the patient's chest. It includes a handle to manually lift the chest after each compression, stimulating blood flow. A second device (ResQPOD) connects to the patient's airway with a facemask or breathing tube and prevents air from rushing into the lungs while the first device raises the chest. Combined, the two create a greater vacuum in the chest, pumping blood to the heart and brain more effectively. Source: ScienceDaily
...there are now more than two dozen presidentially appointed individuals with some responsibility for biodefense, however, there is no individual or entity with responsibility, authority, and accountability for overseeing the entire biodefense enterprise," a GAO report finds. Source: CIDRAP
...for the first time, the White House will take over the nation’s airwaves to speak to the American public through the Emergency Alert System (EAS)?! The FCC recently ordered all participants in the EAS to take part in a national test later this year. While state and local officials throughout the nation regularly use the EAS, a president has never used it — not even for a test. Source: Emergency Management
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
Depiction has a great blog post and depiction of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant showing the scale of devastation to that impacted area. http://blog.depiction.com/w/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-depiction/
Fire Rescue TV is a web based private television network for First Responders updated 24/7 and a digital signage, private television network in fire facilities. Fire Rescue TV provides viewers with an extensive library of videos, breaking news throughout the day and an in-depth look at the latest firefighting tools and trends affecting our nation’s First Responders. www.firerescuetv.com
Med Sled
is an evacuation device that allows a 150-pound person during an
emergency to drag victims who weigh 250 pounds to safety. It holds over
800lbs vertical and is compact since it rolls to 8 inches to fit in
over-the-should carrying bag. www.medsled.com/med-sled-evacuation-ms36-P12.html
Got a cool link or idea? Email it to Janet at info@itsadisaster.net
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Stay safe out there, j & B
Bill & Janet Liebsch
Fedhealth
7739 E Broadway Blvd # 416
Tucson, AZ 85710-3947 USA
1-888-999-4325 7a-4p Pacific M-F
http://www.itsadisaster.net
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