The Centers for Disease Control have a link with information on health issues related to the drought. Information included on this web page is water, air quality, food and nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, recreational risks, infectious disease, chronic disease, and diseases transmitted by animals and insects.
Kim Cassel
I don’t know how much Martha and the Vandellas really loved the guy in the 1963 hit song, Heat Wave, but I am almost certain they would not love these temps that we are seeing so far this summer.
So far, Summer 2012 has brought extreme and record breaking temps across the US. Take a look at this map from yesterday! Can you believe those temps? And all before July 1.
Did you know that on average there are more heat related deaths than deaths related to any other natural disaster per year. In 2011, 206 individuals died as a result of extreme heat. So what are you doing to prepare your family for the heat?
- Listen to local forecasts. Being aware is being prepared.
- Discuss heat safety with your family. Make a plan for possible power outages.
- Revamp your emergency preparedness kit.Make sure your kit is fully stocked.
- Know those in your neighborhood that are more likely to be victims of extreme heat; like elderly, young, sick, or those without air conditioning.
- Verify that your pets’ needs for shelter and water are met.
- Listen to your NOAA Weather Radio for updates.
- Never leave children or pets in vehicles.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid extreme temperature changes.
- Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
- Stay indoors and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
- Take frequent breaks if working outside.
- Check on family, friends, neighbors, and pets.
Courtesy of American Red Cross
Stay safe, and have a great holiday next week!
Are you a planner? Are you an “organized” (that is such a relative word) person? I like to think that I am both.
For example, this is my office.
Pardon the dark picture, in my area we choose to work without the overhead lights turned on.
I would say that my desk looks organized. Remember how I said that was a relative term? Here is what I compare my office against; the boss-man, Steve’s desk.
Please note those bookshelves! Oh my!!
Now, I am not saying Steve isn’t organized or a planner, because he really is. I’m just saying we work in the disaster realm; therefore, our offices tend to look like disasters. And maybe after two years of working in our new offices and publishing this on a very public forum Steve might be motivated to fix those bookshelves. 
Now we may have two very different ways of organizing our offices, but we do agree on one thing and that is how to organize a family disaster plan.
A family disaster plan tells everyone in the household what they will do during an emergency. It helps everyone get organized. Having a plan reduces the stress of coping with a disaster in the aftermath.
EDEN delegates from the University of Missouri Extension system have created a disaster plan template to guide you and your family through the process of developing your family’s disaster plan. Creating this plan should be a whole family collaboration, that way everyone knows their role and responsibility in times of emergency.
Click here to go to the University of Missouri’s Family Disaster Plan electronic template. The template allots for two adult family members, two child family members, and six pet family members. If you need templates for additional family members don’t worry; click here for adults, here for children, and here for pets.
While we know this is an electronic document, remember to have a hard copy of this document as well.
Organize your family disaster plan now, to help reduce the effects of disasters later. Now I’m off to see if I can get Steve motivated to organize his office.
This week’s post comes to you from my remote location in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ve had meetings here all week; which means I have been away from my family all week. I sadly had to leave my husband and children at home. Not let me clarify, the children in our household are fur-babies.
Holden, the chocolate lab, and Arie, the pug
Please meet, Holden the slightly chubby overly-lovable, chocolate lab and Arie the often completely wild and insane rambunctious, pug. I know that I am the same as many other animal owners when I say that my pets are part of my family.
The likelihood that you and your animals will survive emergencies or disasters such as a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning.
If possible, if an emergencies or disasters force you to evacuate your home, take your pets with you. However, if you are going to a public shelter, understand that animals may not be allowed inside. For example, Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets due to health and safety regulations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only exception. Make plans for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets.
Be prepared for an emergency or disaster. Assemble animal emergency supply kits and develop a pet-care plan that will work whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location. Keep in mind that what is best for you is typically best for your animals. Create kits for each pet for at least three days, and store the supplies in a pet carrier that’s ready to go.
In the event of evacuation, do not leave pets behind. However, if it’s impossible to take them, make sure plenty of dry food and water are available.
For more information look at the EDEN Family Preparedness Course or FEMA’s Information for Pet Owners page.
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