Tag Archives: emergency preparedness

Are U.S. public schools prepared for an emergency?

School bus

By Lisa Rapaport

(Reuters Health) – More than a fifth U.S. school districts lack comprehensive plans to respond to natural disasters, epidemic diseases or other emergencies, a new report finds.

While almost 80 percent of school districts nationwide have plans to help students and staff with special needs during an emergency situation, only about 68 percent have protocols to reunite children with their families after disaster strikes, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Roughly 69 percent of school districts have procedures set up to cope with pandemic influenza or other infectious disease outbreaks and to offer mental health support to students, faculty and staff after a crisis, the report also found.

“Schools have direct contact with approximately 95 percent of America’s children between 5 and 17 years of age, for about six hours a day, and are active partners in infectious disease prevention and control and in the unfolding of any emergency event such as floods or hurricanes,” said lead report author Brenda Silverman of the CDC.

“Because children are separated from their caregivers while attending school, school preparedness plans need to reflect children’s unique needs with an emphasis on family reunification,” Silverman added by email.

To assess emergency preparedness, CDC researchers examined 2012 survey data on health policies and practices at about 700 school districts nationwide.

Respondents were asked whether the school district required schools to have a comprehensive plan in place to address four specific topics: family reunification, infectious disease outbreaks, provisions for people with special needs and mental health care after a crisis.

On all fronts, urban school districts were more likely to require plans than their rural counterparts.

Overall, districts in the Midwest were less likely to require schools to include specific topics in their crisis preparedness plans than districts in the Northeast and South.

Districts were less likely to coordinate emergency plans with families than with local law enforcement and emergency service providers, the report found.

About 43 percent of districts nationwide collaborated with families to develop preparedness, response and recovery plans.

Almost 95 percent of districts partnered with law enforcement, however, and 92 percent coordinated with fire officials.

While about 83 percent of districts coordinated with local emergency medical service providers, just 41 percent collaborated with a local hospital and 66 percent partnered with the local health department.

One limitation of the report is that the survey included “yes or no” responses that didn’t leave room for districts to explain the relevance of certain topics in their preparedness plans or identify areas for improvement, the authors note.

In addition, because the survey is only done every six years, it’s possible that the data from 2012 doesn’t reflect current practices or policies.

Still, the findings suggest that at least some school children may be vulnerable in an emergency, said Dr. Laura Faherty, a pediatrics researcher at RAND Corporation in Boston who wasn’t involved in the report.

“Schools are where kids spend the majority of their day, but they don’t exist in isolation,” Faherty said by email. “Coordination among health departments, healthcare settings, law enforcement, first responders, mental health and social services agencies, as well as families, is critical to making sure children are as safe as possible.”

The results of poor planning can be dire, said Dr. Daniel B. Fagbuyi, a researcher at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., who wasn’t involved in the report.

“When schools aren’t fully prepared for a disaster life altering consequences may occur including increased morbidity and mortality,” Fagbuyi said by email. “Conversely, disaster preparedness activities at the school and in collaboration with community and parents fosters confidence, community resilience and can save lives.”

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2cmM426 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, online September 16, 2016.

I Am Somebody!

I wondered why somebody didn’t do something. Then I realized, I am somebody. ~Author Unknown

I’ve heard so many people say that this task of getting prepared for disasters is just too much for them. Some have no support or backing whatsoever from anyone in their family, and consider it a daunting task to go it alone. Some have made a gallant start and then run into resistance by financial circumstances or other situations beyond their control. Some wouldn’t be caught dead (pun unintended) prepping, afraid that others would think they were really “out there.” And others have good intentions to do it someday.

But recently, those who have never been preppers before are starting to get prepared now. There’s something going on in people’s hearts that tells them it’s time and no more procrastinating!   Continue reading →

The Strong Prepare

Lori has always been a preparer.  She always has something in her purse to treat a burn, etc.  Now when she married me, she got to go full tilt with preparing!  You may laugh at Lori, but when it’s falling apart, you’ll wish for someone like her around you.

My Grandma Irwin was a preparer too.  She always had food – she always had something tucked away.  But if you’re going to tuck money away under your mattress or something, make sure it’s in dollar bills because they won’t be making change someday soon. If you have to buy a loaf of bread, you don’t want to have to give a hundred dollar bill.

This is in the first part of what’s coming.  So, if you have dollar bills, you can go buy a loaf of bread and they’ll take whatever you have. You’re going to barter for things in the next state (situation).  When the power goes out and the machines don’t work… the atms will not work!  Continue reading →

Power Outages Increase in 2013

A new report shows that power outages in the United States increased 15% in 2013.

The Eaton Blackout Tracker Annual Report showed that for the 5th straight year California lead the nation in power outages.  Texas finished second followed by Michigan.  The average length of a power outage last year was 86 minutes leading to an average cost per blackout of $690,200.

“The Blackout Tracker Annual Report illustrates the scope and severity of power outages across the country and the serious consequences that can arise for businesses when the lights go out,” said Mike DeCamp, senior marketing communications manager for Eaton’s Power Quality Division. “With electrical power outages, surges and spikes estimated to cost the U.S. economy $150 billion, it’s more important than ever for companies of all sizes to invest in reliable power backup solutions.”

The White House weighed in on the impact of the 2013 blackouts as a way to encourage people to have a backup power source.  The White House said the blackouts caused by harsh weather cost the economy up to $33 billion a year.

The report also included some of the wackiest reasons for blackouts.  In Redondo Beach, Caliifornia, wild parrots who roosted on an overhead line knocked out power to 6,100 customers for over three hours.  A man who went on a rampage with a bulldozer in Clallam County, Washington took out a 70 foot electric pole and left thousands in the dark for hours.

Who Ya Gonna Call? (Pt. 5)

The automatic sliding doors were stuck in the open position and the flow of the people going in and out of the store seemed perpetual as Stan waited politely to slip inside. After waiting a few moments, he realized that most shoppers had long since discarded their manners as they made for the rapidly vanishing food supplies.

The large grocery store was dimly lit, as the juice dwindled and the battery-powered emergency lights dotting the walls. This store, like most modern grocery stores, drug stores, and department, had been built largely without windows to help prevent burglaries. It depended almost entirely on artificial interior lighting to brighten it’s aisles. Without electricity, the store became a huge, dark cave, with only the emergency spots providing any light at all. Continue reading →

Who Ya Gonna Call? (Pt. 2)

Stan noted with concern that his gas gauge still worked accurately, as the indicator tilted far to the left, hovering precariously close to “E.”  He had planned to get gas anyhow, but he didn’t realize they were so low. This is no time to be out of gas, Stan fumed, frustrated that Christine apparently hadn’t filled up the last time she was out. Why can’t that woman get it through her head—gas isn’t always available these days! We have to get it when we can. Stan whipped the car out of the apartment area and headed toward his usual service station. Even at this hour, the roads leading toward L.A. were congested. Continue reading →

The Proverbs 31 Woman Prepares!

Not many people think of the Proverbs 31 woman with a characteristic of being prepared for emergencies or natural disasters.  But, the Bible does bear out that this woman, the example of a virtuous woman for all generations,  does indeed prepare ahead of time for any situation.

The society we live in doesn’t really assign much value to a virtuous woman – but God does.  That’s why we have a context in the 31st chapter of Proverbs to help us understand what real virtue looks like.

First, this woman is a thinker.  She has her priorities in order and  she pays attention to the things she knows are right – those things which are beneficial for herself and her family.  And I’m going to add here, since we’re 21st century Christians, she also knows her Bible and she bases her life on its precepts.

When I’ve done all I can do, then I will rest in the Lord.    I have always said “faith without works is dead.”  While others say they will just trust in the Lord – I believe we should act on our faith.

James 2:17,18 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

While television, movies and magazines will try to convince today’s woman that her priorities lie in looking good and a variety of other petty issues – the Proverbs 31 woman knows that beauty fades and charm is deceiving, but her strength is in her virtuous character.

Oh, I know what you’re thinking…. but Lori, you always look so ‘put together.’  Ladies, when you see me on television, that’s not really me.  The real me has her hair in a pony tail with a baseball cap on, and no makeup!  And I know you’ve heard Jim tell on the air that my favorite thing to do is clean the house!  It’s true!

But one thing that is constantly on my mind is emergency preparedness.  Why?  Because I believe we’re living in the Days of Revelation and it’s only a matter of time before some catastrophe or event challenges our status quo lifestyle.  I’m not afraid of what’s ahead, but I do respect the warnings in the Bible that there will be Times of Trouble.

I don’t know exactly what this ‘trouble’ may be, but I’m not going to take chances with the lives of the ones I love.  It’s my responsibility to see to it that my family has their best chance of survival when a catastrophe hits.  If I can alleviate any of their suffering, why wouldn’t I?  I believe that’s why the Bible tells us ahead of time that these things are coming…. so that we can prepare!

“She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27

“She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.” Proverbs 31:21

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.”
Proverbs 31:25

God Save Me!

You only have to look around you to see that things are coming apart in today’s world, quickly!  Every day we read and hear things that are pointing to dire days ahead.  Sometimes I don’t even recognize this country in which we live.  One news article I read today said that the ‘new’ American dream was renting a home.  Remember when the American dream was actually owning a home?

But that issue is minor compared to what’s happening in our world at large.  Governments are being overturned.  Israel is fighting for her life.  People are calling good things evil, and calling evil things good.  In the midst of all that, we are see another thing happening which, unfortunately, we sometimes become complacent about.   We’re seeing a rise in natural disasters, freaky weather, terrorist attacks – any of these things could put us in a life-threatening situation in a matter of minutes.

You may say, “well Jim, hasn’t it always been that way?”  The answer of course, is “yes.”  But keep in mind that these things are increasing in frequency and intensity, just like the Bible says in Matthew 24.  When you see the increase… that’s the time to act.  When you see the ‘birth pains’ getting closer and closer, you can be sure that the baby is coming.  You better get to the hospital!
Keep in mind that the people who were watching Noah build the Ark were scoffers.  Why did they scoff?  Why didn’t they act on the warning?  They were busy with life as usual… building, marrying, partying.  It’s a sad thing when people hear the warning sound, but decide to ignore it.  It’s sadder still, when Christians disregard the Bible’s warnings.

Yet, these same people will be calling out to God for help when Times of Trouble come.  Bill Whaley, a recent show guest that specializes in self-sufficiency and survival techniques using everyday ‘junk’ , said that the people who snub survival warnings are the same people who scream “God save me!” when things come apart.

Perhaps He will.

But God sent His Word ahead of these things so that those who are wise will prepare.  I’m not the only one crying out with the warning.  Many others are warning people as well.  Even secular sources are warning people – so much so that the suppliers of emergency food and survival equipment can’t even begin to keep up with the demand.

Will you be one who prepares ahead of time when you see disaster coming?  Or will you be the one praying “God save me!”  If you’re prepared, you can help others.  If you’re not prepared, you’re the one needing help.  Don’t be a victim.

Love,

It’s Later Than You Think

The week after the Japanese earthquake, many people world-wide began to take emergency preparedness seriously, at least for a little while.  The same seriousness fell like a blanket on this country after ‘911’.  People went back to church – at least for a few weeks.  Then, after the initial shock wore off, they were back to business as usual.  I don’t know why, but it seems like it always takes a major calamity to jolt people into action.     

This Spring and Summer, we have seen weather extremes like never before.  Record-breaking floods, droughts, temperatures and storms have battered the country and left much of our farmlands barren.  What do you think this is going to mean to food prices?  Well, I’ll tell you – food prices are going to skyrocket – and sooner than you think!

This past week, we have seen the stock market go up and down like a roller coaster.  What we don’t readily understand is what all that means to the economic situation in this country and the entire world.  What it means is that our money is very soon going to be worth almost nothing!

In Matthew 24:8 Jesus said the signs of nature will be like “birth pangs.”  The closer a pregnant woman gets to the time her baby is born, the birth pangs increase in two ways. They increase in frequency and intensity.  That is exactly what Jesus meant here. The closer we get to His coming, the more frequently we will see natural calamities like weather extremes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, plagues, famine, wars and the like. 

Why does Jesus tell us about the signs of His coming?  Jesus didn’t say that He would take us out of this world before we would experience any of these things.  If that were true, we would already be gone, wouldn’t we?!  No, Jesus told us about the signs because He didn’t want us to be taken by surprise and be unprepared! 

Why then do we yawn when we hear these things in our newscasts and act as if we are not going to be affected?  It’s time now to ‘read and heed’ Matthew 24! 

A recent article I read said we can count on three things very soon:

  1. Food supplies becoming scarce
  2. Food prices doubling in 2-3 years and then doubling again in the next 2-3 years
  3. Growing food will be more valuable than gold

Today, you may only hear about the world’s violence and economic woes, or see the faces of famine in another country on the news, or watch as natural disasters effect other parts of the nation and the world. But rest assured, we will not always be exempt from all these things. The world you see around you today may be very different tomorrow.  Don’t wait until it comes to you – you need to be ready today for what may come tomorrow.

The prophetic dreams, visions and revelation that the Lord gives his people are for a reason! We are not to ignore them! Everywhere, the Prophets are warning to get ready!  Of course, that means spiritually FIRST – but it also means get ready with food, water and other necessities! 

“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”  (Proverbs 22:3 NLT)

“A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences.” (Proverbs 27:12 TLB)

As we see the events of Revelation escalating at a phenomenal rate, let’s make sure we are prepared – spiritually and physically. We still have time but we need to act NOW. The economic situation in this country and all over the world is going to make it very difficult, very soon to gather things we need for Times of Trouble. The stock market is on a roller coaster and it’s not going to end well.  The drought and extreme weather we are having is going to make food prices unaffordable rapidly!  It’s all coming together, or maybe we should say it’s all coming apart.

For now, we have a good supply of emergency food that we can hold the line on the pricing.  But in the very near future, you won’t be able to get this food at any price!  It’s fast coming to that and we know it to be true by the economic forecasts.  Don’t wait on this – your family is counting on you to provide the basic necessities of life for them when calamity strikes.

Do what you can today for your family and then rest in the fact that we are in the hands of a loving God.  Get your plan going! Do something today to prepare for tomorrow!

I don’t want anyone I love to have to suffer unnecessarily, and I want to have something left over to give to others.

Love,

Jim