Are You Weather Ready?

We have seen quite a few new Ready websites over the past year.

But are you...

Weather Ready?

http://www.weather.com/ready/?from=article

If you cant trust the internet for information where can we go?

In the last blog entry, we questioned the accuracy of some of the information on the internet. So where can we go to get validated up to date information.

The following US Government website:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

"One-stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information."

American Red Cross of The National Capital Area Assists With The 2009 56th Presidential Inauguration

The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area has a very unique role in this community and country in that we partner with government agencies, non-profit partners and private organizations in supporting major events such as the inauguration. The DC Government requested the Red Cross' assistance to serve in a public safety capacity for the 2009 56th Presidential Inauguration. The Red Cross does not endorse political parties or candidates, however we maintain our mission in helping people regardless of their political, religious or cultural background. American Red Cross has a long-standing history partnering with public safety officials during large-scale events, and has been supporting presidential inaugurations since 1909.

For the Presidential Inauguration activities, the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area is leading and coordinating the involvement of the four other Red Cross chapters in the National Capital Region.

The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area serves as the Regional Chapter for the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region, which consists of five Red Cross chapters in Alexandria, Arlington County, Loudoun County, Prince William and the National Capital Area, which includes District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince George's County and cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

Visit our website for the latest news, visitor resources and learn more about how the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region is assisting with the 2009 56th Presidential Inauguration: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.redcrossnca.org%2FEvents%2FInauguration.php

A Nation of Change

There have been several organizations that Neighbors Helping Neighbors has been working with.

This week we will highlight some of those organizations and coalition partnerships.

Including an organization that as part of their vision is to "...devote ourselves to the idea of a common interest and a common destiny, then perhaps as a nation we can move past bitter partisan gridlock and the sense that ordinary citizens have no real voice in our democracy. And if we can do that we can begin the important work of addressing together our greatest challenges as a nation."

Sounds simple enough.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors will also feature some ways you can get involved on these national initiatives to take volunteerism to the next level. Helping you make a difference, "Locally, Nationally and Around the World!"

Religious Best Practices - Where Do We Go From Here?

One of the focuses of Neighbors Helping Neighbors during National Preparedness Month 2008, has been around children awareness and readiness.

From discussions on Landline, Cellphone, Email to providing a Crisis Management Plan Template from a local school district.

These suggestions apply to pre-schools, K-12, and universities. They also can be leveraged in religious organizations and the workplace.

As we look at religious organizations, there is the concept of

Ready Interfaith TM

There are quite a few religious based websites that provide additional guidance on preparedness, grant/funding options, and best practices/checklists from other organizations.

One organization is the Secure Community Network (SCN). And while this website focuses on one religion, there are best practices that can be leveraged across faiths.

http://www.scnus.org/

Another resource is the Christian Emergency Network.

Red Cross Volunteers Recognized for Hurricane Response

The American Red Cross was recognized this morning by the Chairman at the local Board of Supervisors meeting during Emergency Preparedness Month Proclamation for their efforts during recent Hurricane Response.

Several articles of local Red Cross volunteer teams responding in our community and other areas across the United States can be found on the American Red Cross of the National Capital Region website. These are just some of the many volunteers that responded across the nation.

If you are interested in making a difference in your community, consider volunteering with the American Red Cross.

You never know when you may need their services.

Another Virginia Group Responds to Hurricane Gustav

CONTACTS:

Gordon Hickey, Governor's Office (804) 225-4260; (804) 291-8977 (cell); http://www.governor.virginia.gov/

Laura Southard, VDEM (804) 674-2400; http://www.vaemergency.com/

For Immediate Release

Aug. 30, 2008

VIRGINIA RESPONDS TO HURRICANE GUSTAV
-- DGIF team will deploy to Louisiana --

RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that resources from the Commonwealth of Virginia will be dispatched to Louisiana in response to the threat of Hurricane Gustav, a major storm aiming for the Gulf Coast.

A Task Force team of 30 law enforcement officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will leave Sunday, Aug. 31, to arrive at a staging area in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries by Monday morning. They are trained to work in law enforcement as well as search, rescue and evacuation operations in high water areas. The team is equipped with chainsaws, axes, extra fuel, parts and equipment designed for self-sufficiency in the bayou areas of south Louisiana. It is expected that the team will work for about a week before returning to Virginia.

"We have been working for several days with other states to be ready to respond as soon as requests come in from affected areas," Governor Kaine said. "We will share our resources and help in any way we can."

Governor Kaine activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Friday, Aug. 29, to help states on the Gulf Coast prepare for and respond to the potential impacts of Hurricane Gustav. EMAC is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during times of disaster.

As a result of EMAC activation, many Virginia state agencies, localities and organizations identified and readied resources that can be deployed and are standing by to respond to additional requests as they are received.

Governor Kaine asks any volunteers or first responders to refrain from self-deploying to the area. Those who wish to help should contact a volunteer organization with a response mission, such as those listed on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web site, http://www.nvoad.org/.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blog Joins National Preparedness Month Coalition For Second Year

For additional information on National Preparedness Month in the United States, please visit:

http://www.ready.gov/

It is hard to believe that this website was launched almost a year ago, as part of National Preparedness Month.

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