2008 IT'S A DISASTER! e-news archives
Scroll down to read 2008 e-newsletters... IT’S A DISASTER! e-news 12/19/2008 Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stay tuned for more e-news and updates and please let us know if you have any feedback, story ideas or suggestions for our readers and us. Bill & Janet Liebsch
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We want to take a moment to say we hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays … and a fun, safe New Year!
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HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY
(Extracted from USFA’s site 12/18/2008)
With the onset of the holiday season, it is important to focus on fire safety and prevention. The celebration of the season brings with it increased usage of electric lights, decorations, candles, and the ever popular Christmas tree, all of which can be potential fire hazards. Additionally, cooking fires increase during the holidays as families and friends gather to celebrate. By following general fire safety precautions, potential holiday fires, deaths, and injuries remain preventable.
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be.
Selecting a Tree for the Holidays
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long and, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of Your Tree
Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.
Some additional tips from USFA:
-- Inspect holiday lights for frayed wires, gaps in insulation, broken or cracked sockets, etc.
-- Do not overload electrical outlets
-- Do not leave holiday lights on unattended
-- Use only nonflammable decorations
-- Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace
-- Never put lit candles on a tree
-- Never leave the house with candles burning
Learn more and download USFA videos at www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/holiday.shtm
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NEED YOUR FEEDBACK PLEASE…
We’ve had numerous requests over the years for a Spanish version of IT’S A DISASTER! so we are planning to release one sometime in 2009.
It will be a larger book due to the translation (about a 7-1/2" x 9-1/8" versus current 5-3/8" x 8-3/8") so will cost a little more to produce, but our goal is to offer it for $5.00 US (i.e. 75% off $20 projected list price).
We’d like to hear from you to know if 1) this is something you’d be interested in purchasing in the future for your local communities … and 2) any estimates on the volume you’d consider getting.
Customization will still be available at no charge ~ either in the print process on 1,000 units and up or with peel & stick labels on smaller volume and rush orders.
Also … let us know if there are any new topics or things that should be added or changed in the book!
Please email Janet at info@itsadisaster.net with any feedback, updates or needs!
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GOT YEAR-END DOLLARS?
Just a reminder, a great way to clean out leftover dollars is to purchase IT’S A DISASTER! books for staff, volunteers and local citizens. We can individually receipt various buckets in $3.50 increments (or rounded to any dollar figure) to commit the funds so groups won’t be required to return unused funds. Plus it provides minimum $4-to-$1 match and we customize books (or CDs) at no charge! To learn more call 1-888-999-4325 or visit www.itsadisaster.net
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DID YOU KNOW…
... extreme heat and cold, flooding and tornadoes are the deadliest natural hazards researchers reported in the International Journal of Health Geographics?! Heat and drought together were the greatest hazard, accounting for 19.6% of the total deaths, followed by severe summer weather at 18.8% and winter weather at 18.1%. Earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes combined accounted for less than 5%. Source: LA Times and Abstract and Full paper available at International Journal of Health Geographics
... Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released the sixth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report, which finds that progress made to better protect the country from disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and bioterrorism is now at risk, due to budget cuts and the economic crisis. In addition, the report concludes that major gaps remain in many critical areas of preparedness, including surge capacity, rapid disease detection and food safety. Source: Government Technology and Entire 124-page report [in PDF] available at TFAH
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
The Flu Wiki helps local communities prepare for and perhaps cope with a possible influenza pandemic. (A Wiki is a type of online collaboration that allows anyone [including you] to edit any page on a website.) www.fluwikie.com
The National SOS Radio Network is an entirely volunteer operation, coordinated by amateur ham radio and GMRS radio operators nationwide. The goal is simple: To help create an easy, accessible-by-all communications system freely shared by the public and emergency resources. The National SOS Radio Network fully endorses the "Family / Neighborhood Emergency Communications" protocols as described by EMCOM. www.nationalsos.com
Got a cool link, idea or story? Email it to info@itsadisaster.net
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Please help us spread the word about our collaborative fundraisers and deeply discounted products by sharing this email with others.
And, if you have any news or ideas you’d like to share … or have suggestions or comments for us and/or our IT’S A DISASTER! book, please email info@itsadisaster.net
Again … we hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and all the best in 2009!
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news 11/26/2008
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A special note to all our American readers: we hope you and yours have a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving holiday!
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IDEA TO USE UP THOSE YEAR-END DOLLARS
As a reminder, a great way to clean out leftover budgeted dollars and/or grants is to purchase IT’S A DISASTER! books for staff, volunteers and local citizens.
Fedhealth products qualify as community education and provide a minimum $4-to-$1 return on match giving agencies and nonprofits access to future grant monies.
We can individually receipt the various buckets in $3.50 increments (or rounded to your dollar figure) to commit the funds so groups won’t be required to return unused funds back to the state or Fed.
And we keep thousands of standard books in stock so could ship within a 24-hour notice. Plus we customize books (or CDs) at NO charge and help with freight in many cases.
Please share this idea with Emergency Management, Health, and Fire officials or nonprofits in your area in case this can help them clean out year-end dollars! Call 1-888-999-4325 or visit www.itsadisaster.net for more information.
p.s. Books also make great gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, etc!
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CHILDREN-IN-DISASTERS INITIATIVE
Earlier this month, FEMA Launched a "Children-In-Disasters Initiative" with IAEM, Save The Children and the American Red Cross.
Per FEMA’s 11/17/2008 press release, the first action involves the development of a training course for state and local emergency managers by the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate, Emergency Management Institute in collaboration with IAEM and Save the Children.
The course will be designed to help state and local emergency managers incorporate the needs of children into the emergency planning process and standard Emergency Operations Plans. It will be based on Save the Children Foundation’s emergency management guide, The Unique Needs of Children in Emergencies, a Guide for the Inclusion of Children in Emergency Operations Plan.
Save the Children’s 32-page how-to guide helps emergency management professionals nationwide plan for the needs of children in times of disaster. The document is available at no charge on Save the Children's website and provides an important first step toward standardizing and institutionalizing child safety measures in domestic emergencies.
Learn more at http://www.savethechildren.org/usemergency
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DID YOU KNOW…
... last month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff joined all the other group of experts and named cyber risks one of the nation’s top 4 priority security issues?! A Congressional Research Service study estimated the annual economic impact of cyber attacks on businesses at more than $226 billion. Source: TMCnet.com
... an adversary of the U.S. wouldn't have to have long-range ballistic missile capability to deliver an EMP attack?! According to the "Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack", such an attack could be launched from a freighter off the coast of the United States, using a short- or medium-range missile loaded with a nuclear warhead. Source: GovExec.com (Note: article has a link to the 210-page report by Critical National Infrastructures)
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
Google Flu Trends uses aggregated Google search data to estimate flu activity in your state up to two weeks faster than traditional systems. www.google.org/flutrends/
e-Justice blog’s list of Top 50 Homeland Security Blogs represents government, researchers, professionals in the field, and every-day citizens and their offerings on the ever-evolving and important topic of homeland security.
www.criminaljusticeusa.com/blog/2008/top-50-homeland-security-blogs/
Got a cool link, idea or story? Email it to info@itsadisaster.net
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news 10/27/2008
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GIVE THE GIFT OF PREPAREDNESS
With the economic turmoil right now it's really hard to think about Christmas and holiday gifts, but this year consider the gift of preparedness.
Our customizable IT'S A DISASTER! books make great giveaways that show you care about your employees', customers', family's and friends' health and well-being. And they're only $3.50 U.S. each (over 75% off list) plus we'll customize them at no charge!
And you can complement our book by adding in some other preparedness items like a Weather Radio, first aid kit, or a donation to a disaster relief organization on your recipients' behalf.
To learn more about our book and to find links to some great nonprofit organizations please visit www.itsadisaster.net
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DOING ANOTHER CUSTOM PRINT SOON ... WITH 4-COLOR COVERS!
As some of you may know, we allow businesses, agencies and groups to customize our IT'S A DISASTER! book either in the print process (1,000 units and up) or with peel & stick labels (any quantity) at no extra charge.
We have to print a minimum of 25,000 books each time to support our 75% off list price so we bundle small jobs together. We normally print 2 to 4 times a year and hope to commit to the print queue in the next several weeks.
Once we have all artwork ready for a 25,000 unit job, it usually takes about 25-30 days for books to be printed, bound and boxed for shipment. Then another week to be delivered via motor freight ... but sometimes that timeline can be shorter.
Keep in mind on a custom book, the entire outside cover can be modified ... you can even change the title of our book to fit your needs (e.g. call it your agency's / company's safety manual, etc.) And we are offering 4-color covers now! Plus the first 9 or 10 pages can be customized with your local contact information, maps, shelter locations, marketing data, etc. The rest of the book (from the Title page on) is the same on all versions.
As fyi, some agencies and groups have combined funds to do a custom print. For example, if your CERT, Chamber or Fire Dept has some budgeted dollars and a few local businesses want to help sponsor a purchase to make up the difference, we can individually receipt each group to keep everyone's records clean. Then groups can use the book cover or a few pages to acknowledge local sponsors. (p.s. We can do the same thing with peel & stick labels too!)
Learn more at www.itsadisaster.net/Customization.html or call 1-888-999-4325 or email info@itsadisaster.net !
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DID YOU KNOW...
... at 10 a.m. on November 13, over 4.2 million Californians will participate in the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history?! Source: The Great Southern California ShakeOut
... a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association of more than 400 nursing homes showed just 23% had a specific pandemic influenza plan, 25% had a pandemic response incorporated into an overall disaster response plan, and 52% did not have any pandemic plan?! Source: TherapyTimes
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) = Train-the-Trainer Program for American Colleges and Universities is open to academic institutions of higher learning of all types and sizes, from small private or community colleges to major state research universities and Ivy League schools. www.c-cert.msu.edu
Aidmatrix Network = FEMA, the Aidmatrix Foundation and Corporate Sponsors have partnered to launch a virtual portal to allow companies or individuals to offer their support on-line to leading organizations in humanitarian relief. The portal is designed to make it as easy to offer financial support, product donations, or to donate one's skills and time to nonprofit organizations active in disaster relief. www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/
Got a cool link, idea or story? Email it to info@itsadisaster.net
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 9/21/2008
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GENERATOR SAFETY TIPS
Disasters can force families and businesses to live and work in primitive conditions while agencies and utilities scramble to get aid and services to the masses. For example, initial estimates indicate Hurricane Ike's trek from Texas to New York caused almost 8 million people to be without power. And over 10 million Americans and Canadians lost power during the 1993 Blizzard.
But weather isn't always the culprit ... a massive power fluctuation caused the 2003 Northeast Blackout that forced 50 million people to go without power for a few days.
One way to prepare for a power outage is to have a portable generator on-hand, but be aware of the potential hazards that come with it and learn how to use it properly!
The U.S. Fire Administration has two excellent fact sheets about generator safety and the dangers of carbon monoxide. Some key tips include:
- NEVER use generators in homes/offices, garages, basements or partially enclosed places. Keep them outdoors and away from windows, doors and vents.
- NEVER plug a generator into a wall outlet or main electrical supply coming into a building since it could backfeed and kill utility workers repairing the lines!
- Keep the generator dry and always dry your hands before touching it.
- Shut off generator and let it cool before refueling, and store fuel outside of living areas.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home and office and test them often.
Download USFA's "Portable Generator Hazards" and "Exposing an Invisible Killer: The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide" at www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/co/index.shtm
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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IS OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2008
The National Fire Protection Association's theme of Fire Prevention Week 2008 is "It's Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!" From October 5-11, 2008, fire safety advocates will spread the word to their communities that, with a little extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires - cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials - is within their power.
NFPA has all kinds of guides, lesson plans, tips and tools for agencies, educators, parents and kids at www.firepreventionweek.org
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DID YOU KNOW...
... there are 2 basic types of smoke alarms: ionization and photoelectric?! Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. There are also combination smoke alarms that combine ionization and photoelectric into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with either (a) both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke alarms. Source: USFA
... the Department of Homeland Security designated September as National Preparedness Month to increase awareness as well as encourage Americans to take action, make a plan and prepare for emergencies. Learn more at www.ready.gov ... and ... get copies of IT'S A DISASTER! for your employees, customers, family and friends at www.itsadisaster.net
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
Check out this 9/16/2008 article from the San Antonio Express News called Twitter's serious side during disaster . And see how disaster relief groups like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are using Twitter at http://twitter.com/redcross and http://twitter.com/salvationarmy
Got a cool link, idea or story? Email it to info@itsadisaster.net
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 8/15/2008
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ASKING BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH PREPAREDNESS
September marks the start of National Preparedness Month 2008 sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign. Fedhealth is once again an NPM Coalition member and we are asking business owners, management, Chambers and Associations to please join us in helping prepare our nation for the unexpected.
Some interesting statistics from HP and SCORE and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce show:
- 25% of businesses do not reopen following a major disaster such as a flood, tornado, or building fire ... and over 40% who experience a catastrophic data loss never reopen;
- 2,000 laptops are stolen or lost every day;
- health experts warn a pandemic flu could kill over a half of a million Americans, hospitalize 2 million more, and cost the U.S. economy an estimated $160 - $675 billion.
Planning for something that may never happen is hard, especially when money is tight or you run a small operation. And it can be overwhelming, but it's critical if you want your business to survive.
Start off with some simple things: get your employees involved and discuss plans and meeting places; learn how to evacuate and shelter-in-place; make disaster kits; secure and protect equipment (for both physical and cyber damage); store archived data off-site; and encourage preparedness at home.
And don't shove plans into a binder and forget about them. Integrate business continuity into your normal routines by sending tips in emails or newsletters, get feedback and suggestions from staff, and tweak plans continuously.
Some helpful links for business owners (and citizens) include:
- Visit Ready America and Ready Business www.ready.gov (En Espanol www.listo.gov )
- Learn about pandemic flu planning www.pandemicflu.gov
- Join your local Citizen Corps www.citizencorps.gov
- Get customized copies of IT'S A DISASTER! for employees, members, customers, family and friends www.itsadisaster.net
A commitment to planning today will help support employees, customers, the local economy and our country.
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WHAT IS CITIZEN CORPS?
The Ready Campaign and its DHS partner, Citizen Corps, are encouraging Americans to take steps to prepare themselves and their families for the unexpected and get involved in their local communities.
Citizen Corps is comprised of five different but equally important programs:
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
www.citizencorps.gov/cert/index.shtm (Teen CERT http://teencert.org/ )
Fire Corps www.firecorps.org
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) www.medicalreservecorps.gov
USAonWatch www.usaonwatch.org
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) www.policevolunteers.org
Learn more about these and other programs at www.citizencorps.gov/programs
And check out our funding ideas that can help your CERT, MRC, RACES, Explorers and other volunteer groups at www.itsadisaster.net/Programs.html
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DID YOU KNOW...
... a 2008 Natural Disaster Business Risk Study, commissioned by FM Global reveals while 80% of respondents have operations located in regions exposed to earthquakes, more than 70% indicated they are not well-prepared for an earthquake?! Source: Market Watch.com
... 40% of small and medium sized businesses do not back up their data at all?! Source: HP and SCORE [a PDF document]
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COOL LINKS / IDEAS
Check out Rick Tobin's Road to Ready Internet Radio show that streams live (no charge) every Friday at 3p Eastern (noon Pacific) and replays again 12 hours later. And, if you miss it, Rick provides past shows in MP3 files.
http://ricktobin.com/roadtoready/index.html
Got a cool link, idea or story? Email it to info@itsadisaster.net
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 7/31/2008
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SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
September marks the start of National Preparedness Month 2008 sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign.
Fedhealth is once again a NPM Coalition Member and will be including tips and links in our e-news and on our site encouraging businesses, Chambers, civic clubs, schools, youth groups and citizens to get involved and prepare for the unexpected.
Some helpful links include:
- Join your local Citizen Corps www.citizencorps.gov
- Share kid-friendly data with schools and youth groups www.ready.gov/kids
- Visit Ready Business www.ready.gov/business/
- Earn 10% - 30% or more for your CERT, MRC, nonprofit, etc www.itsadisaster.net/Programs.html
- Get customized copies of our 284-page IT’S A DISASTER! book (discounted 75% off list so only $3.50 each) for employees, customers, family and friends www.itsadisaster.net
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NEW SCHOOL LINKS
We added a long list of School Links for Educators, parents, school officials and K-12 students. These resources (and many others) are also included in our IT'S A DISASTER! paperback and eBook.
Please share our Fundraising Programs with area schools, youth groups and volunteers … or have them call 1-888-999-4325 or visit www.itsadisaster.net for more information.
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DID YOU KNOW…
We’ve added some interesting statistics and links on our new Did you know… page. For example, did you know a recent 2008 poll shows 67% of Atlantic and Gulf Coast residents do not have any kind of a hurricane survival kit and 54% said they do not believe they are vulnerable to a hurricane or any related tornadoes or flooding..?! Source: Disaster News Network
We are asking readers and visitors to tell us what YOU think! Email us questions, articles, links and rants and we’ll share them online and in future e-news issues.
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And remember… we have all kinds of programs to help fund and support First Responders, volunteers, faith-based organizations, civic clubs, nonprofits, youth groups, schools and others … including some ideas not posted online!
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 6/18/2008
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ASKING MEDIA TO COLLABORATE AND HELP FUND DISASTER RELIEF
Fedhealth is contacting newspapers and media around the country (esp in the midwest) and offering to setup a unique web link for each of them so we can donate a portion of every order to the charity / nonprofit(s) of their choice for disaster relief. (Or we could split donations up however they want!)
Our 284-page reference book called "IT'S A DISASTER! ...and what are YOU gonna do about it?" helps families and businesses prepare for and respond to most types of emergencies, first aid needs, and natural or man-made disasters. And we customize our book (and CDs and eBooks) at no charge so agencies and businesses can convey their special messages to local recipients. (Plus citizens can now order any quantity too at our deeply discounted Govt/Biz price.)
Due to our deeply discounted prices (i.e. 75% - 83% off list) we are offering to donate $0.35 per paperback and $0.50 per eBook on small orders ... plus we have some very lucrative donation amounts on large volume orders (i.e. tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars) that could make a major impact in helping local volunteers!
We hope this collaborative idea with the media will get our book or eBook in the hands of their readers where it’ll do some good … plus help local responders with their relief efforts.
If your volunteer group, nonprofit or faith-based organization could benefit from this and/or you know of any media contacts, please have them call us toll-free 1-888-999-4325 or email info@itsadisaster.net for more information. And please ~ help us spread the word!
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CLEAN OUT YEAR-END BUDGETS
Some fiscal year-end budgets are coming soon and a great way to clean out any left over dollars is to purchase IT’S A DISASTER! books for employees, volunteers and local citizens. Fedhealth products qualify as community education and provide minimum $4-to-$1 return on match giving agencies and nonprofits access to future grant monies.
We can individually receipt the various buckets in $3.50 increments to commit the funds so groups won’t be required to return unused grant or budgeted funds back to the state or Fed. Plus we can customize books (or CDs) at NO charge and help a little bit with freight in many cases.
Please share this idea with Emergency Management, Health, and Fire officials in your area in case this can help local agencies clean out year-end dollars! Call 1-888-999-4325 or visit www.itsadisaster.net for more information.
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 6/2/2008
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IDEA FOR LOCAL CHAMBERS (& VOLUNTEERS)
Recently we’ve started working with Chamber of Commerce groups around the country since our funding ideas are an easy way for their nonprofits to raise money while helping their local communities prepare for the unexpected.
Chambers (just like CERTs, Ham radio clubs and others) can share the customizable book idea, our website and phone number with local businesses / members through newsletters, web links and at meetings. Then, if any of those members contact us, we’ll do all the work and donate a minimum of 10% back to the referring entity! (And there are some big $$available for large volume opportunities ~ call for details!)
Learn more about this and ALL our funding ideas and please spread the word to Chambers and volunteers in your community!
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DISASTERS HAPPEN. ARE YOU READY…?
It seems like disasters are in the news every single day. Is it because there are more disasters or are they just being covered more often now due to the 24-hour news cycle? Current statistics can be overwhelming, but let’s put some numbers in perspective.
According to NOAA the United States averages 1,200 tornado sightings per year. Tornado season typically runs from March through July and, through the end of May [the most active month of the season], there have been over 1,200 tornadoes sighted. But 2004 still holds the record with 1,717 tornado reports per the National Weather Service.
And some reports indicate 2008 is on track for being one of the deadliest tornado seasons with over 100 deaths so far, however the record was in 1953 with 519 tornado-related deaths. Another statistic from 1974 shows 148 tornadoes ripped through 13 states and 1 province during a 21-hour period killing 315 people.
The recent quake in China has taken almost 70,000 lives by initial estimates and the aftershocks may continue for weeks or months potentially causing more casualties. But the deadliest earthquake on record was also in central China back in 1557 killing an estimated 830,000 people.
And finally, nearly 1,800 thunderstorms can be in progress over the face of the earth at any given moment according to NOAA.
The point is … disasters happen ~ period. No matter where you live there is a chance some type of natural or man-made disaster or emergency can (or at some time will) occur.
The question is … what are YOU gonna do about it?
According to a 2006 study by The Ad Council … "although 91 percent of Americans said it is important to be prepared for emergencies, only 55 percent have actually taken steps to prepare". Most citizens and small businesses argue why should I prepare for something that might not happen. But if more people would learn what to do before, during and after many types of scenarios (esp. children and young adults), it could alleviate a lot of problems, fear and anxiety. Plus it could lessen the burden on our nation’s Emergency Services during a crisis.
So next time a disaster happens and you’re asking "what can I do to help" … look in the mirror and ask yourself if you, your family and community are ready for the unexpected. Then ask your neighbors, churches, Scouts, civic clubs, schools and volunteers to pool orders together to save on freight and get copies of IT’S A DISASTER! in everyone’s hands. Or better yet … have groups use our fundraising programs to get books out to local citizens and earn money for their efforts.
To learn more about our products and programs please visit www.itsadisaster.net or call Fedhealth toll-free 1-888-999-4325 (7a-4p Pacific Mon – Fri).
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 5/1/2008
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APPEARING ON "ROAD TO READY" INTERNET RADIO SHOW
Our President and CEO Bill Liebsch will be appearing on Rick Tobin’s new "Road to Ready" Internet Radio show this Friday 5/2/08 at 3p Eastern (noon Pacific).
Rick Tobin has an extensive 31 year professional history in the emergency management field including 21 years as President / CEO of TAO Emergency Management Consulting. His new radio show called "Road to Ready" streams live on the Internet so listeners can click on a link and hear the weekly show through an Internet browser window.
The topics this Friday are "Personal Responsibility" and "Go Kits" and Bill will discuss our customizable "It’s A Disaster!" book and programs along with some interesting personal tidbits.
Again, the Road to Ready show streams live this Friday, May 2nd at 3p Eastern (12 noon Pacific) and replays again 12 hours later. And, if you miss it, Rick provides show archives in MP3 files.
Please check out the Road to Ready at http://ricktobin.com/roadtoready/index.html
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ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD FINALIST
Our "It’s A Disaster!" book was a finalist for the 2008 Eric Hoffer Book Award. While our title did not win the Legacy category distinction, less than 50 books each year are dubbed with the title of "Finalist". Over 150,000 books are published in the U.S. each year, and about half of them are published by small presses and independent publishers. The Hoffer Award (formerly the Writers’ Notes Award) exists as a platform to honor independent books of exceptional merit produced by self-published, micro, small and Academic publishers and presses.
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IT’S A DISASTER! e-news and updates 4/11/2008
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NEW LARGE VOLUME PRICING
As you may know, we currently discount our IT'S A DISASTER books, CDs and eBooks 75% - 83% off the $14.99 list price on ANY quantity. A few weeks ago we announced even deeper discounts for large volume purchases starting at 25,000 units.
Many banks, utility companies, major corporations and entire communities already spend money on community education and customized giveaways. Here's a unique way for those same groups to personalize our products for very low dollars and help their customers, employees and citizens prepare for the unexpected. Learn more...
And remember, we set aside a minimum 10% referral $$just for helping us spread the word ~ check out our funding ideas or call 1-888-999-4325 (7a-4p Pacific M-F) to learn more.
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NEW FAQs ONLINE
We just added a new page on our site with some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Please feel free to email or call with any comments, suggestions or other questions we may have left off.
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RELIABILITY ISSUES WITH SMALLER CDs
Recently we learned both the business card and mini-round CDs have reliability issues when trying to use them in notebooks and laptops. The CDs seem to work fine in tower systems, however about 25% don't work in notebook and laptop drives (esp the business card CDs).
As of 4/8/2008, we no longer offer the business card CD option and suggest customers consider the regular size CD-Rs instead of mini-rounds on small orders (100 - 999 units). Read more ...
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DELAWARE CITIZEN CORPS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS VIDEOS
Delaware Citizen Corps has produced a five part video series on disaster preparedness for the State of Delaware. They have been giving out copies of our IT'S A DISASTER! books for years and our book briefly appears in the 5th video called "Overview"..!
The short videos contain some powerful photos, good reminders and tips for all citizens. Check out http://www.delawarecitizencorps.org/videos ... and learn more about Citizen Corps at http://www.citizencorps.gov
And remember ... be aware... be prepared... and have a plan! Please ~ spread the word...
Stay safe out there, j & B
Fedhealth
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