Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Disaster Preparedness Videos

We have received a number of requests for disaster preparedness videos. Here is a list of online and free videos covering general preparedness, special needs, pets, safety, hurricanes, and pandemics.

http://www.ready.gov/america/about/instructional.html (general)

http://www.soph.uab.edu/scphp/default.aspx?ID=724 (general)

http://www.utbtsc.edu/safety/video/welcome.html (hurricanes)

http://floridadisaster.org/index.asp and click on the "Media Center" near the top righthand corner (hurricanes)

http://wsfltv.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/wsfl-hurricane-tips,0,3896722.htmlstory?coll=wbzl-home-nav (hurricanes, general)

http://www.cepintdi.org/default.aspx?pageid=174 (Click on "Being Prepared" and then scroll to "Emergency Preparedness Video") for the deaf and hard of hearing.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa.asp (hurricanes, general)

http://www.sanmiguelcounty.org/portal/page?_pageid=118,148583&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL (pandemics)

http://a1881.g.akamai.net/7/1881/26640/v0001/redcross.download.akamai.com/26640/psa/movie/PandemicFlu/PF_Video1.html (pandemics)

http://readymontco.montcopa.org/readymontco/cwp/view,A,1553,Q,64828.asp (pandemics)

http://www.emd.wa.gov/publications/pub_index.shtml * There are PDF documents of a family emergency plan in English, Amharic, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, Ilocano, Korean, Laotian, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somaly, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrigna, Ukranian, and Vietnamese.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Florida Wildfires

The Florida ESRD Network is currently monitoring the wildfire situation in Florida. If you are in the impacted area, it is vital to listen and obey your local officials' emergency orders. Most importantly, evacuate if you are told to do so.

For individuals with kidney failure, remember to take your medicines, medical records, supplies, food, and insurance information. Call your dialysis clinic and tell them that you had to evacuate and tell them where you are staying.

Wildfires can also cause problems even if you are not in the impacted area. Smoke can reduce visibility on roads which can cause traffic accidents or close important roads. Make sure you know alternate routes to reach your dialysis facility, pharmacy, or family member's home.

The wildfire smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your nose/throat/lungs, and can worsen illness. If you have respiratory problems, try to stay indoors away from the smoke.

For more information, visit the Wildfire Smoke Health and Safety page from the Arkansas Division of Air Quality.

For information about wildfire safety, visit the American Red Cross site http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_594_,00.html

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo 2008

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County are pleased to announce the Hurricane Expo 2008: Are You Ready Tampa Bay? Know your Zone, Make a Plan on May 31, 2008 at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The purpose of the Expo is to educate our residents on the importance of knowing their evacuation zone and making an effective plan in the event of a hurricane. The Expo will be a family-friendly, multi-cultural event featuring vendors, live entertainment, educational seminars, and giveaways.

It is important that our community is educated and prepared. In the past both the City and County have hosted similar events that have attracted a wide cross-section of residents from our community. In 2006, the City’s Neighborhood Fair and Expo attracted over 5,000 visitors. It is our goal to expand on that success with this year’s expo. We hope to see you there to learn your zone and how to make a plan to be safe during this hurricane season.

For more information, visit http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/hurricaneexpo/