New Castle County Citizen Corps

Staying safe in the heat

2012-06-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

The National Weather Service has placed New Castle County under an extended excessive heat warning in effect from 1pm Wednesday to 6am Friday, warning of temperatures nearing 100 degrees and heat index values from 103 to 108 degrees during those times.

"High heat, particularly over an extended two-day period, can be as dangerious for our residents as a sudden storm," stated Dave Carpenter, Jr., Coordinator for the Office of Emergency Managment. "Residents are urged to take all possible precautions during this heat wave and seek out air conditioned public spaces, such as county libraries and senior centers for relief."

The Office of Emergency Managment also recommends drinking plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, wearing loose-fitting, light colored, lightweight clothing, scheduling outdoor tasks during the early morning or evening hours and otherwise lightening midday workloads.

If residents need general assistance during the heat wave, please contact the Delaware Help Line at 1-800-464-HELP (4357) or 211. For assistance with electrical service problems, contact Delmarva Power's customer service line at 1-800-898-8042.

As always, if you have an emergency, please call 911.

For more heat realated tips from the CDC or the Red Cross

Flash Flood Watch

2012-05-29T17:20:00.000-04:00

The Mount Holly National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for portions of Delaware to include New Castle county that is in effect though late tonight.

Summer like conditions with an approaching cold front will produce several bands of very heavy rain in eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, mainly between 5pm and midnight.

If 1 to 2 inches of rain occurs in an hour on urban surfaces from Wilmington to Philadelphia as well as in portions of Monroe, Carbon, Bucks, Lehigh and Berks counties that recieved 2 to 6 inches of rain this past weekend flash flooding would result.

Prcautionary/preparedness actions

A flash flood watch means that conditions my develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.

New Castle County Platinum Picnic Volunteer Opportunities

2012-05-25T10:41:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, June 6th at Banning Park

Banning Park at Maryland Avenue and Middleboro Road. Entrance to the park is on Middleboro Road. Follow the park road around and park toward the rear of main lot on the right.

Event Description: The Platinum Picnic is a day full of entertainment, fun activities, and useful information for Seniors in New Castle County. For the last 61 years the Picnic has been an affordable way for hundreds of Seniors to enjoy each other’s company, visit vendor booths in the expo tent, and even kick up their heels on an open-air dance floor. Volunteers are needed to help make the day a relaxing and enjoyable one for attendees. This year’s theme is “A Night at the Oscars” so we encourage volunteers to join in the spirit and dress or accessorize accordingly. The event begins at 10 am and concludes at 2:00 pm. Volunteers can choose an opportunity that fits their schedule or stay the whole day and assist in a variety of ways. Call or e-mail Susan Eggert to get signed up - seggert@nccde.org, (302) 395-5651.
THANK YOU for being the YOU in CommUnity!

Volunteer Opportunities

Parking – Must be at least 18 years old. Direct cars and buses to appropriate parking and off-loading areas. 9:00 am to 10:30 am. Many participants will be driving their own cars and will need guidance to the parking lot. Buses will need to be directed to the off-loading areas, too. This is a good opportunity for CERT, VIPS member or Citizen Corps members. Volunteers will be provided with a bright vest so drivers can identify them. Six volunteers needed from 9-10:30 am. Two volunteers needed to direct buses from 1:30-2:30 pm.
Registration – Help at the registration desk with sign-ins, payment, and other information. Two volunteers needed from 8:30 to 11am.
Greeters and Guiders – Friendly help is needed to assist Seniors as they descend from the buses and find their seats under the tent and again to assist with getting back on the bus at the end of the day. This is also a good opportunity for CERT, VIPS member or Citizen Corps members. Five volunteers needed from 9-11:00 am. Three volunteers needed from 1-2:30 pm.
Liaisons – These volunteers will make sure the participants hear announcements of door prize winners, assists any Seniors who are called up to the stage, encourages picnickers to join the dancing and visit the information tent. Could include helping with 50/50 sales and delivering door prizes to winners. Eight volunteers are needed from 11-1:30 am.
Distributing boxed lunches and refreshments- Serving hundreds of attendees by handing out boxed lunches and refreshments is a simple yet important task. We don’t want any attendees to be hungry or thirsty! Four volunteers are needed from 11:30 am to 12 pm.
Morning Set-up – 8-10 am This is a bit physical as it requires setting up and arranging tables and chairs throughout and for the agencies participating in the information tent. 10 volunteers are needed.
Afternoon Take-Down – This is physical work and a good workout as all chairs and tables need to be taken down and stacked. 10 volunteers are needed from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.

Other details:
Volunteers will be welcomed and given a brief training at the information table. As assigned tasks are completed feel free to mingle with the Seniors. Line dancing anyone?

Contact Information: Any questions contact Susan Eggert at seggert@nccde.org, 395-5651 or on the day of the event 379-2452.

Location: Banning Park at Maryland Avenue and Middleboro Road. Entrance to the park is on Middleboro Road. Follow the park road around and park toward the rear of main lot.

Volunteer’s Benefits:

Be happy in the knowledge that you are helping provide an enjoyable and affordable day for hundreds of Seniors who may not be able or comfortable enough to venturing out on their own.
Have fun volunteering with co-workers or team members.
Meet new people.
If you are in high school your hours will be documented and can count toward service hours.
Learn more about New Castle County’s programs and services.
Find out about the many ways you can continue to make a difference in our community by volunteering with New Castle County.

FREE CERT class this July 13th & 14th

2012-05-09T14:48:00.000-04:00

Community emergency Response Team (CERT) training educates people about disaster preparedness for a variety of hazards. This is a two day (approximately 13 hours) program divided between class room and practical applications that educates people about disaster preparedness for a variety of hazards and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team cohesion, and disaster medical operations including a CPR/AED certification.

Medical Operations/Triage practical portion

Using the training provided CERT members can assist others in their community or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Once someone has taken a CERT class and ops in to our mailing list we keep them informed of upcoming volunteer and training opportunities within the area.

This is a great class for individuals, civic associations, clubs or businesses. Meals will be provided and all calss participants will recieve a FREE CERT bag filled with the basics every CERT team member should have!

The next Class is:

Friday July13th, 5-9pm
Saturday July 14th, 8am-5pm

Location: Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety building in New Castle, DE

FEMA, NOAA launches first National Severe Weather Preparedness Week April 22 – 28

2012-04-25T10:54:00.000-04:00

As the nation marks the first anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are teaming up this week to save lives from severe weather.

The two agencies encourage the public to "know your risk, take action, and be a force of nature" by taking proactive preparedness measures and inspiring others to do the same.

Last April, tornadoes raked the central and southern United States, spawning more than 300 tornadoes and claiming hundreds of lives. That devastating, historic outbreak was only one of many weather-related tragedies in 2011, which now holds the record for the greatest number of multi-billion dollar weather disasters in the nation's history.

The country has already experienced early and destructive tornado outbreaks in the Midwest and South this year over the last two months, including a significant number of tornadoes last weekend. May is the peak season for tornadoes, so it is important to take action now.

"The damaging tornadoes that struck this year, causing widespread devastation as well as loss of life, also spurred many amazing and heroic survival stories," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. "In every one of these stories, people heard the warning, understood a weather hazard was imminent and took immediate action. We can build a Weather-Ready Nation by empowering people with the information they need to take preparedness actions across the country."

"One of the lessons we can take away from the recent tornado outbreaks is that severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "While we can't control where or when it might hit, we can take steps in advance to prepare and that's why we are asking people to pledge to prepare, and share with others so they will do the same."

To "be a force of nature," FEMA and NOAA encourage citizens to prepare for extreme weather by following these guidelines:

Know your risk: The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for alerts from you local emergency managment officials. Sever weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.
Take action: Pledge to develope an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards and practice how and where to take shelter. Create or refresh an emergency kit for needed food, supplies and medication. Post your plan where visitors can see it. Learn what you can do to strengthen your home or business against severe weather. Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio. Download FEMA's mobile app so you can access important safety tips on what to do before and during severe weather. Understnat the weather warning system and become a certified storm spotter through the National Weather Service.
Be a force of nature: Once you have taken action, tell your family, friends, school staff and co-workers about how they can prepare. Share the resources and alret systems you discobered with your social media network. Studies show individuals need to recieve messages a number of ways before acting- and you can be one of those sources. When you go to shelter during a warning, send a text, tweet or post a status update so your friends and family know. You might just save their lives, too. for more information on how you can participate, visit www.ready.gov/severeweather

About FEMA
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Take the pledge and learn more information at www.ready.gov/severeweather-- and encourage the rest of your community to join.

About NOAANOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels

2012-04-13T15:36:00.000-04:00

Experimental SKYWARN Basic Training Webinar

2012-03-09T10:13:00.000-05:00

The Experimental Training is designed for only those living in the Mt. Holly Forecast Area

On March 22nd from 7pm-9pm the NWS will be conducting an experimental SKYWARN Basic Training Webinar. SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer weather spotters. Since the program started in the 1970's, the information provided by SKYWARN spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warning for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Preparing The Whole Community

2012-03-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

"At every level of government there is recognition, there is no single entity of any ilk who has sufficient resources to meet every need during disasters…. The challenge is, all of this planning that I've talked about at every level, depends on individual resiliency, individual capability. The recognition of the fact that we need to drive towards a culture that has survivorship, not victimhood as its primary target. Recognizing that there are only one responder per 350 people in urban areas, and when you go beyond the urban areas the numbers are even less and less…"

-W. Russ Webster
Federal Preparedness Coordinator FEMA Region 1

2012-03-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

Disaster volunteers, please curb your enthusiasm!

"In the wake of every U.S. disaster there is an influx of people who want to help, and the situation in the Midwest and Southeast after last week's deadly tornadoes is no exception. But to many of the early arrivals who parachute in to help, disaster relief experts have a message: yes please, but not so fast."

In this msnbc.com article by Kari Huus the problem of unaffiliated volunteers rushing to a disaster scene with the intention of helping, but who may in fact create additional problems for emergency responders is accurately addressed . This is why CERT training is so valuable for a community. It eliminates the all the paper work required for registration and form filling because CERT volunteers are already trained, should have a pre-established plan, and know how to organize within their community ensuring an effective response and recovery.

John Sommers Ii / Reuters

Volunteers from the Henryville United Methodist Church collect and distribute food and supplies
to tornado victims on Monday, days after tornados ripped through the small community of Henryville, Indiana.

Free CERT Class offering in May

2012-03-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Practucal portion of fire safety module

Medical Operations/Triage practical portion

This is a great class for individuals, civic associations, clubs or businesses. Meals will be provided and all calss participants will recieve a FREE CERT bag filled with the basics every CERT team member should have!

CERT members practicing their seach and rescue skills

The next Class is:
Friday May 11th, 5-9pm
Sat. May 12th, 8am-5pm
Location: Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety building in New Castle, DE

To register email citizencorps@nccde.org
or call (302) 395-2700

Opprotunity to help the chairty organization Supporting Kidds

2012-01-11T14:36:00.002-05:00

"Founded in 1989, Supporting Kidds is one of the first organizations in the country to address the unique needs of bereaved children.

The mission of Supporting Kidds is to provide a compassionate pathway to healing for grieving children and their families, and to empower the community to support them in the grieving process.

We believe that when provided support and information, grieving children and their families can mobilize their inner capacities to heal. A knowledgeable and caring community is an essential aid in this process."

On March 4, 2012, the J.Christian hair studio is putting on the 5th annual Crazy Catwalk for Kidds which is aimed at helping the Supporting Kidds orginazation. Last year 1,400 people attended and over $15,000 was raised for the organization. As in past years the event will be held at the Hockessin Memorial Hall, due to the size of the event the orginizers are looking for 20-25 volunteers to help with parking.

If you or someone you know is interested in helping out with this event please contact Bryan Bordon at BGordon@nccde.org

MLK Blood Drive

2012-01-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

"What type of hero are you?"Is the question being asked by Delaware sate AmeriCorps programs and the Blood Bank of Delmarva during their blood drive to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event which started Monday the 9th and will end on Dr. Kings birthday and national holiday on the following Monday the 16th is a weeklong event in tribute to his legacy or service.

According to the DHSS press release:

Every donor will receive a button and the great feeling of having helped up to three hospital patients with a portion of their blood. In addition, all donors are asked to fill out a special Hero Card, available at reception and to designate the name of their child's school (or any school they wish to designate). At the end of the drive, the top school in each county with the most hero cards will be treated to a pizza party by Grotto Pizza.

To make an appointment today to give blood during the MLK Day Blood Drive, call (888) 8-BLOOD-8 or visit http://www.delmarvablood.org/. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows. Donors must be 17 years of age, no tattoos or body-piercings within the last 12 months, have no cold or flu symptoms or recent major surgery. A photo ID (or two other forms of identification) is required.

For more information about the MLK Day Blood Drive, go to typemlkde.com/

Survival app for winter storm weather

2012-01-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

Is a cell phone part of your emergency preparedness kit? Maybe this survival app app should be too. In this day and age of smart phones and never ending technological advances there seems to be an app for everything. Recently added to the list is the Winter Survival smartphone application developed by Myriad Devices. According to Apple itunes, this free app,

"will help you find your current location, call 911, notify your friends and family, calculate how long you can run your engine to keep warm and stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.You can use the Winter Survival Kit app to store important phone and policy numbers for insurance or roadside assistance. You also can designate emergency contacts you want to alert when you become stranded."

Does anyone else have any preparedness application suggestions?

Volunteers needed for Rockwood Holiday Open House

2011-11-17T13:45:00.001-05:00

To sign up contact Susan Eggert: seggert@ncced.org or (302) 395-5651

ENJOY FAMILY FUN AT GLASGOW REGIONAL PARK COMMUNITY DAY

2011-10-27T14:25:00.000-04:00

Bring the family, enjoy the fresh fall air and have fun at the First Annual Glasgow Regional Park Community Day. The event takes place this Saturday, October 29, from 10 am to 4 pm at the park located at Route 40 and Route 896 in Glasgow.

Come see Emergency Services demonstrations and entertainment from local venues. Enjoy the excitement of the Children’s Costume Parade and “Once Upon a Trail,” a children’s storybook event. Feel fit after taking part in the 5K Run/Walk.

Other highlights include health and wellness screenings, pet services, a community yard sale, contests, raffles and giveaways. Net proceeds from the event will benefit Glasgow Regional Park. For more information contact Valerie George at (302) 395-8351.
Glasgow Regional Park is located at Route 40 & 896

Salem-Hope Creek Siren test Schedule

2011-10-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

CERT Class in October!

2011-09-29T14:15:00.000-04:00

This program is a FREE 2 day class which educates people about disaster preparedness, the hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills. Subjects such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster medical operations, and American Heart Association CPR/AED certification are provided through classroom and exercise instruction.

The next 2 DAY CLASS will be held:

Friday October 7th

4:30 pm - 9 pm
and

Saturday October 8th

8 am - 5 pm
both days.

(Note: Dinner will be provided on Friday night and breakfast and lunch will be provided on Saturday)

CERT is…

 Ordinary citizens

 Neighbor helping neighbor

 Community-based

 Safety focused

 basic life saving skills

 preventing further property loss

How Can You Help in a Disaster?

To sign up for this training, or to be put on the contact list for

future trainings, please email: citizencorps@nccde.org

or call 302-395-2700

Come Join Us at the Bear Library!

2011-09-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

Come join the Office of Emergency Management at the Bear Public Library for a discussion on how to prepare for disasters. We will be at the Bear Library on Sept.17th at 1pm.

9/11 Day of Service

2011-09-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

Volunteer Service Fair

Blue Ball Barn

Alapocas Run State Park

1914 West Park Drive, Wilmington, DE 19803

Saturday, September 10th

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Learn about service opportunities

Give time to a project Refreshments

FREE T-shirts

Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service

Stay Informed How the Public will be alerted of a Major Emergency or Disaster:

2011-08-25T16:49:00.000-04:00

If a situation or event becomes a potential threat to our residents and visitors, the public will be alerted by one (or several) of the following methods, as appropriate:

Delaware Emergency Notification System - The primary system for public warning and emergency protective action information will be the Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS). DENS serves the entire state and is fully operational for residents and businesses that have listed telephone numbers. The DENS allows emergency voice messages to be delivered to a person answering the phone or to an answering machine. It also bypasses "zapper" type phone devices that stop incoming computer-generated calls often used by telemarketers. In addition to the State Emergency Operations Center and the Delaware State Police Communications Center in Smyrna, activating points for the DENS include the primary emergency 911 Centers in each county and Wilmington and the Division of Public Health. When the DENS system is activated, only 300 phone numbers can be dialed within one minute. DENS can provide emergency notification to the entire state or to an area as specifically defined as 10 houses on one street. Calls will include the name of the agency that activates the system, type of emergency, recommended protective actions, if any, and resources for obtaining additional information. Appropriate Emergency Alert System radio stations and television stations will also be provided.
IMPORTANT: If your phone number is unlisted or if you use a cell phone as your primary phone, you MUST contact First Call Interactive Network at 1-866-484-3264 or visit the First Call website (https://alertregistration.com/dema/) to register for the DENS list. The registration line prompts callers through the registration process. There is no cost to register. A street address is necessary for cell phone users, and only one phone number per address is permitted. The State of Delaware DOES NOT offer an official text message based alerting system.

Hurricane Irene Prompts Precautions in Delaware

2011-08-24T19:43:00.001-04:00

With the first hurricane of the season predicted to track up the Atlantic Coast, Delaware emergency management officials are urging the public to take this storm very seriously. Even though it is too early to accurately predict the strength and exact path of Irene by the time it reaches the Delmarva area, everyone is encouraged to be prepared for disruptive weather.

Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director Jamie Turner urges everyone to use this time to review their household emergency plan and to check emergency supplies. He said it is very important for the public to also monitor the weather and be aware of pending effects of a storm well in advance in order to plan and act safely.

“Have a plan, get a kit and stay informed,” Turner said. “We want everyone to have food and water for at least three days, batteries for lights and radios and a means of charging cell phones. Remember that part of your emergency plan is to have a destination in mind if you have to evacuate. If officials instruct you to evacuate, please do it.”

Additional things to consider in planning for an emergency include food and medications for those that might have special dietary or pharmaceutical needs and/or appropriate equipment for family members who might use assistive technology. Families also need to remember the needs of pets and stock adequate food and supplies as well as appropriate carriers or restraints should evacuation be required.

The DEMA Director said a very important component of each household emergency plan is to have important documents like medical records, deeds or leases, insurance records and birth certificates copied and stored where they can be easily accessed and packed in case of evacuation.

Turner reminds people that they can best cooperate and partner with emergency management officials and responders by staying informed and following recommendations and instructions.

DEMA and relevant partners statewide are in communication with the National Weather Service and will continue to regularly monitor conditions, keep the public informed and be ready to take appropriate actions as Irene draws nearer.

FEMA also encourages everyone, regardless of whether they live in a hurricane-prone area, to take steps to ensure their family, homes and businesses are prepared for a possible emergency.

"FEMA, along with the entire federal family, is closely monitoring Hurricane Irene, and is coordinating with all of our state and territorial partners that have or could potentially be impacted by this storm. We encourage residents to continue listening to the instructions of their local officials," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "For residents in states that may be affected later this week, it's critical that you take this storm seriously and take steps now to prepare your families, homes and businesses.”

For more infromation on making a household emergency plan and building a supply kit, visit prepareDE.org, Ready.gov or Listo.gov

For regional wether updates, visit http://www.erh.noaa.gov/phi/

Hurricane Preparedness from Ready.gov

2011-08-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. People who live in hurricane prone communities should know their vulnerability, and what actions should be taken to reduce the effects of these devastating storms. The information on this page can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.

Steps you can take to protect your family, property or business

Step 1: Build A Kit / "To-Go Bag"

Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car in case you are told to evacuate.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Prepare your family

Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency. You should also consider:

Evacuation plans

Family communications

Utility shut-off and safety

Safety skills

Prepare Your Business

Businesses have a critical role in preparedness. Putting a disaster plan in motion now will improve the likelihood that your company will survive and recover. Ready Business outlines commonsense measures business owners and managers can take to start getting ready.

Plan to Protect Property

Hurricanes cause heavy rains that can cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage. To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the NFIP Web site, www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

For more detailed information on how you can protect your property, view the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration's printer-friendly handout Avoiding Hurricane Damage

In addition to insurance, you can also:

Cover all of your home's windows with pre-cut ply wood or hurricane shutters to protect your windows from high winds.

Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.

Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.

Secure your home by closing shutters, and securing outdoor objects or bringing them inside.

Turn off utilities as instructed. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.

Turn off propane tanks.

Install a generator for emergencies

Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.

Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting www.FoodSafety.gov.

Step 3: Be Informed

Hurricane hazards come in many forms: lightning, tornadoes, flooding, storm surge, high winds, even landslides or mudslides can be triggered in mountainous regions. Look carefully at the safety actions associated with each type of hurricane hazard and prepare your family disaster plan accordingly. But remember this is only a guide. The first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense.

Learn about damaging and potentially deadly hurricane hazards

What to do during a hurricane

Get your children involved (kids site)

People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs

Care for pets

Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a hurricane.

A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. Be prepared to evacuate. Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.

A hurricane warning is when a hurricane is expected in your area. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately.

Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential. Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes, though Categories One and Two are still extremely dangerous and warrant your full attention.

Recommended Training

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) has developed a training program to encourage community hurricane preparedness. This computer-based course provides basic information about dealing with tropical cyclones and hurricanes. Visit www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is324a.asp and select the ‘take this course’ option at the top of the right hand column to take the interactive web-based course.

Federal and National Resources

Find additional information on how to plan and prepare for a hurricane by visiting the following resources:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

NOAA Hurricane Center

American Red Cross

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control

Encourage Electronic Payments for Federal Benefit Recipients

Keep in mind a disaster can disrupt mail service for days or even weeks. For those who depend on the mail for their Social Security benefits, a difficult situation can become worse if they are evacuated or lose their mail service – as 85,000 check recipients learned after Hurricane Katrina. Switching to electronic payments is one simple, significant way people can protect themselves financially before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends two safer ways to get federal benefits:

Direct deposit to a checking or savings account is the best option for people with bank accounts. The Direct Express ® prepaid debit card is also available for people who don’t have a bank account. Federal benefit recipients can sign up by calling (800) 333-1795 or at www.GoDirect.org.

2011-06-30T15:58:00.004-04:00

Have you taken a CERT class and would like to supplement that training? The Texas Engineering Extension Service now offers a variety of awareness level courses online for CERT responders.

Here's another link for a webinar that will be covering introduction to disaster behavioral health on July 14th.

https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=dc0xxykw6ak1

You must pre-register for the webinar and it will last approximatly 1 hour.

2011-06-23T18:09:00.003-04:00

Cool News
The 2011 Summer Cooling Program Has Started &
If You Live In New Castle County Your Household MAY Qualify For A
Free Window Air Conditioner
Applications will be taken:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
{June 21th thru August 31st}
7:00am to 10:00am OR 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Interfaith Community Housing of DE, Inc.,
613 N Washington Street ~ Wilmington DE 19801

Guidelines:
Have not received an air conditioner within the last 3 ~ years
from any of the following agencies:
Catholic Charities,
Delaware State Health and Social Services / Div. of State Service Centers…
Delaware Community Foundation’s Operation Cool Air / Agencies...
First State Community Action Agency..,
Interfaith Community Housing of De, Inc..,
Neighborhood House, Inc..,

ALL HOUSEHOLDS MUST MEET THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF 200% OF POVERTY FFY’11

SIZE OF FAMILY ANNUAL INCOME MONTHLY INCOME

ONE $21,780.00$1,815.00

TWO $29,420.00 $2,451.00

THREE $37,060.00 $3,088.00
FOUR $44,700.00 $3,725.00
FIVE $52,340.00 $4,361.00
SIX $59,980.00 $4,998.00
SEVEN $67,620.00 $5,635.00
EIGHT $75,260.00 $6,271.00
FOR EACH ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLD MEMBER ADD $636.00 PER MONTH OR $7,640.00 ANNUALLY.

EACH APPLICANT MUST BRING:
1. Copies of all income for everyone in the household…
2. Copy of current electric bill…
3. Birth certificates & social security cards for everyone in the household
4. Photo ID…

Program Funded By:
Delaware Energy Assistance Program (DEAP)
Summer Cooling Assistance Program (SCAP)
State of Delaware U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Program Administered By:
Interfaith Community Housing of DE. Inc.,

Floods

2011-06-20T10:50:00.002-04:00

According to FEMA, flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster and can happen in every U.S. state and terrritory. It's important to be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, particularly if you live in low-lying areas such as those found in Delawar, new water or downstream from a dam.

Three Steps To Prepare For A Flood

1. Get A Kit

Your kit should contain essential food, water and supplies for each person in your household for at least three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. Include important documents, identification and proof of residency, etc. You may also want to prepare a protable kit and keep it in your car.

2. Make A Plan

Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes so it is important toknow how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
Have prearranged meeting places both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
Because local phone lines might be jammed have a out-of-town contact family members can call and check-in with who can relay the messages if you should be separated.
Familiarize yourself with emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare, school, etc. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one or contact the NCC Citizen Corps for help or advice.
Tailor your plan to the specific needs of your family

If needed make special considerations for small children, elderly or disabled members of your family.
Make a plan for your pets.

Take a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class such as the one being offered by the New Castle County Citizen Corps this weekend!
Purchase a flood insurance policy if you don't already have one or review your current insurance policy to ensure you're properly covered.

3. Be Informed

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard:

Flood Watch: Flooding is possible, Tune into NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for infromation.
Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.
Flood Warning: Flooding is occuring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate do so immediately.
Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occuring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

For more infromation on:
River Conditions
Flood preparedness
National Flood Insurance Program
Disaster Assistance

Some infromation for this post was taken from ready.gov

Some of The Most Frequent Or Possible Causes of Flooding in New Castle County

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes: Hurricanes pack a triple punch: high winds, soaking rain, and flying debris. They can cause storm surges to coastal areas, as well as create heavy rainfall which in turn causes flooding hundreds of miles inland. While all coastal areas are at risk, certain cities are particularly vulnerable and could have losses similar to or even greater than those caused by the 2005 hurricane, Katrina, in New Orleans and Mississippi.

When hurricanes weaken into tropical storms, they generate rainfall and flooding that can be especially damaging since the rain collects in one place. In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison produced more than 30 inches of rainfall in Houston in just a few days, flooding over 70,000 houses and destroying 2,744 homes.

Heavy Rains: Several areas of the country are at heightened risk for flooding due to heavy rains. The Northwest is at high risk due to La Niña conditions, which include: snow melts, heavy rains, and recent wildfires. And the Northeast is at high risk due to heavy rains produced from Nor'easters.

This excessive amount of rainfall can happen throughout the year, putting your property at risk.

Levees & Dams: Levees are designed to protect against a certain level of flooding. However, levees can and do decay over time, making maintenance a serious challenge. Levees can also be overtopped, or even fail during large floods, creating more damage than if the levee wasn't even there. Because of the escalating flood risks in areas with levees, especially in the mid-west, FEMA strongly recommends flood insurance for all homeowners in these areas.

Flash Floods: Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. since they can roll boulders, tear out trees, and destroy buildings and bridges. A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms. Flash floods can also occur from the collapse of a man-made structure or ice dam.

New Development: Construction and development can change the natural drainage and create brand new flood risks. That's because new buildings, parking lots, and roads mean less land to absorb excess precipitation from heavy rains, hurricanes, and tropical storms.