Are you interested in FREE disaster preparedness and response training? Of course you are. Cowlitz County DEM will be holding our next CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training the first three Saturdays in June at the fire station on 415 Todd Road in Kalama. This is very thorough, very intense training and when you’ve completed it, you will be trained in disaster first aid, terrorism awareness, fire suppression and much more, all at NO COST! After completion of the training, you can choose to become an emergency worker and help our community following a disaster.
The classes will be held in Kalama at the fire station at 415 Todd Rd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first 3 Saturdays in June. If you are interested in attending you MUST register with our office. Please call 577-3130 or email DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us to get signed up.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
DOTT Says...
This is DOTT. DOTT stands for Do One Thing Today. Every week or so DOTT will ask you to do one thing to get yourself prepared for emergencies, large and small. Unlike other robots, DOTT is not a power-hungry maniac bent on overthrowing civilization or attacking the elderly, nor is she snarky and sarcastic like Rosie from the Jetsons.She just politely suggests that you do a couple things every now and then, so you are in a better position to help yourself and others following a disaster. However, if you don't heed DOTT's advice, she will remember and when the robot revolution begins, will not put in a kind word for you with her overlords.
Anyway, so what does DOTT want you to do today? Get yourself a battery-operated emergency radio. Any radio will do, so long as it has battery backup (and batteries) for when the power is out. The radio pictured is only a handcrank powered one (which is better as a last resort) it also has a flashlight and cell phone charger. The rea
son I advocate having a battery-operated radio, as opposed to a handcrank radio is this: 1 minute of cranking gets you 30 minutes of flashlight and 10 minutes of radio, 3 minutes of cranking gets you less than 8 minutes of cell phone. That's fine in a dire emergency, but I just sat here and cranked the thing for a minute and I'm exhausted. Just food for thought.
son I advocate having a battery-operated radio, as opposed to a handcrank radio is this: 1 minute of cranking gets you 30 minutes of flashlight and 10 minutes of radio, 3 minutes of cranking gets you less than 8 minutes of cell phone. That's fine in a dire emergency, but I just sat here and cranked the thing for a minute and I'm exhausted. Just food for thought. Radios and batteries are pretty reasonably priced. If a radio is the only way that you are able to obtain emergency information and instructions, they can be priceless!
What's that Smell?
Strong odor of turpentine in the SW Longview area. Officials are investigating the source. More information as it develops.
UPDATE: Pulp smell came from an internal power problem at an industrial site. The problem is fixed, but the smell will probably linger due to low cloud cover and generally lame weather patterns.
UPDATE: Pulp smell came from an internal power problem at an industrial site. The problem is fixed, but the smell will probably linger due to low cloud cover and generally lame weather patterns.
Local volunteer helps out in Alabama
Check out this great article from The Daily News about local Red Cross volunteers responding to the devastating tornadoes in Alabama. One of the volunteers highlighted, Linda Coordes, is a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteer in addition to Red Cross. Way to go, Linda! If you are ever interested in making a HUGE difference following a major disaster, become a Red Cross volunteer. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to be a Red Cross volunteer, click here.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Post-Disaster Locator? There's an App for that.
Check out this news clip about a Smartphone app that can help you connect with loved ones immediately following a disaster, even when texts and calls won't go through.
from the article:
Deadly tornadoes and other disasters often leave many victims isolated, unable to reach families and friends. Scott Tatum was stuck on a Mississippi road when a killer twister barreled down on his truck last month.
"I tried to make a phone call, but could not get a signal through. I tried to send a text, but could not get a signal through," he said. "It was pretty frightening."
But using the Life360 application on his smart phone, Scott was able to check in, and communicate almost immediately -- with the touch of a button -- letting his loved ones know he was okay.
Thanks to Mark Wilson for the heads up about this useful technology!!
from the article:
Deadly tornadoes and other disasters often leave many victims isolated, unable to reach families and friends. Scott Tatum was stuck on a Mississippi road when a killer twister barreled down on his truck last month.
"I tried to make a phone call, but could not get a signal through. I tried to send a text, but could not get a signal through," he said. "It was pretty frightening."
But using the Life360 application on his smart phone, Scott was able to check in, and communicate almost immediately -- with the touch of a button -- letting his loved ones know he was okay.
Thanks to Mark Wilson for the heads up about this useful technology!!
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Receives Steel from Ground Zero
From www.tdn.com
A piece of steel from the World Trade Center has been added to the 9/11 memorial at the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue station in Kelso, and the public is invited to a ceremony Friday to help dedicate it.
The ceremony will start at noon at the headquarters station, 711 Vine St., Kelso.
A dense piece of steel removed from Ground Zero of the World Trade Center and released by the Port Authority of New Jersey completes a memorial unveiled during Cowlitz 2's most recent 9/11 ceremony in September. The jetliner attacks on the World Trade Center's twin towers took the lives of 2,752 people, including 411 emergency responders.
More than 1,000 steel pieces from Ground Zero have been requested for release by fire departments across the country, according to the Port Authority. The steel piece sent to Cowlitz 2 is 24 inches long, 13 inches wide, 9 inches tall and weighs 88 pounds.
The piece arrived Feb. 17 but Cowlitz 2 decided to hold the ceremony at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend, said Cowlitz 2 spokesman Brian Ditterick.
Firefighter Brad Yoder managed the project with high school fire science students preparing and building the memorial.
"To finally see and touch such an amazing piece of history is very surreal," Yoder said in a Cowlitz 2 news release. "When someone looks upon this artifact it is my hope that they take time to reflect on those that lost their lives and how that day changed this country...
"The piece is small compared to the enormity from which it came from, but means a great deal. We're very honored to have it here in our community to share with our citizens and visitors."
The memorial also includes a flagpole, plaque, benches, a firefighter's suit and boots. It is always open for the community to visit.
A piece of steel from the World Trade Center has been added to the 9/11 memorial at the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue station in Kelso, and the public is invited to a ceremony Friday to help dedicate it.
The ceremony will start at noon at the headquarters station, 711 Vine St., Kelso.
A dense piece of steel removed from Ground Zero of the World Trade Center and released by the Port Authority of New Jersey completes a memorial unveiled during Cowlitz 2's most recent 9/11 ceremony in September. The jetliner attacks on the World Trade Center's twin towers took the lives of 2,752 people, including 411 emergency responders.
More than 1,000 steel pieces from Ground Zero have been requested for release by fire departments across the country, according to the Port Authority. The steel piece sent to Cowlitz 2 is 24 inches long, 13 inches wide, 9 inches tall and weighs 88 pounds.
The piece arrived Feb. 17 but Cowlitz 2 decided to hold the ceremony at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend, said Cowlitz 2 spokesman Brian Ditterick.
Firefighter Brad Yoder managed the project with high school fire science students preparing and building the memorial.
"To finally see and touch such an amazing piece of history is very surreal," Yoder said in a Cowlitz 2 news release. "When someone looks upon this artifact it is my hope that they take time to reflect on those that lost their lives and how that day changed this country...
"The piece is small compared to the enormity from which it came from, but means a great deal. We're very honored to have it here in our community to share with our citizens and visitors."
The memorial also includes a flagpole, plaque, benches, a firefighter's suit and boots. It is always open for the community to visit.
Week 9 Shopping List
We are now at week 9 in our Preparedness Shopping Guide challenge. So, what do you need to toss in your cart this week? Well, you may not be able to find these items in a grocery store, so you'll have to shop around. If you don’t already have these items, take a trip to your local hardware store and check out your options. You need to make sure you have:
*A handsaw or chainsaw with fuel
*A tarp or large canvas
*A crowbar
*Hammer and nails
*Leather palm gloves
These items are handy to have following an earthquake. You may need to remove rubble or do a quick repair job to make an area safe. You just never know and these are all useful items to have in order to be prepared for any situation from a downed tree to a full-scale zombie attack (aim for the head). Now you know, and like G.I. Joe always said, “Knowing is half the battle.” I never knew what the other half of the battle was, but then again I rarely take action figures at their word.
*A handsaw or chainsaw with fuel
*A tarp or large canvas
*A crowbar
*Hammer and nails
*Leather palm gloves
These items are handy to have following an earthquake. You may need to remove rubble or do a quick repair job to make an area safe. You just never know and these are all useful items to have in order to be prepared for any situation from a downed tree to a full-scale zombie attack (aim for the head). Now you know, and like G.I. Joe always said, “Knowing is half the battle.” I never knew what the other half of the battle was, but then again I rarely take action figures at their word.
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