Many of us have already heard of putting “ICE” in our cell phones, address books, PDA’s, etc. ICE stands for: In Case of Emergency. Next to “ICE”, one is to place the name and phone number of an emergency contact. This is useful for emergency service workers, doctors, civil servants, etc. should they need to call an emergency contact person and one is not able to communicate this information.
There is also a free tool that helps with this type of service; it’s the Next of Kin Registry(NOKR). NOKR’s website states:
“NOKR is the central depository for Emergency Contact information in the United States.
…NOKR provides the public a free proactive service to store your emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies. Stored information is only accessible via a secure area that is only accessible by emergency public trust agencies that have registered with NOKR.”
NOKR has registration forms that can be filled and submitted via fax, US mail, or online. They also provide free decals for ID cards, driver’s licenses, passports, etc. that let others know your emergency contact information can be found with NOKR.
Several areas in Kentucky have lost the use of major means of communications and electricity due to the severe winter storms the state experienced. A state of emergency was declared, allowing FEMA to step in and provide assistance to the state devastated by severe ice and snowstorms. Areas of the state have lost electricity, telephone and radio service, and water services.
61 counties are receiving federal assistance as emergency generators, prepared meals, water, and truckloads of fuel are being provided to the state of Kentucky. Find more information about Kentucky’s state of emergency on FEMA’s website.
A small church in Lawrence, Massachusetts was destroyed on Christmas morning by a fire that was caused by a small space heater. The popular Latino church, Iglesia Nueva Jerusalem, also had a small community thrift shop. The church did not have the heater turned on when the fire started, but the heater was left plugged in to the outlet. Officials, however, are still investigating the incident.
The three-alarm fire caused about $200,000 of damage. Fortunately, no one was injured in the event. However, restoring the building will be difficult as the owner did not have it insured.
The Boston Globe, who reported this story, states in the article:
“In 2005, heating equipment fires accounted for 16 percent of all reported home fires and 22 percent of home fire deaths. Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third of the home heating fires and three-fourths of home heating fire deaths, the association found.”
A man in Massachusetts with all the right intentions wanted to help his 80-year-old mother by quickly riding her back porch of ice so she would not fall.
The Boston Globe reports the man was hesitant to use salt since it could corrode the bricks on the building. However, sand and salts were used on the front porch. Using a snow shovel was a bit more work than the man was willing to do. The next best idea that came to mind was fire.
The man grabbed the blowtorch he used to light his grill and attempted to combat the ice:
“…The fire quickly jumped to the vinyl siding on the back of the house on Davis Street and shot up four stories, charring much of the rear of the house. Several windows were broken and, on other parts of the facade, the wood frame of the house was exposed.”
No one was injured in the fire. Read the full story.
The winter weather has not made any exceptions this year. States west to east have had massive amounts of snow dumped upon them as if a giant snow cone machine was shaving ice in the clouds above.
“The Weather Guys” with USA Today have stated the following for today for your area of the country and your neighbors:
“Northwest nightmare — A powerful winter storm is hammering the Northwest today. Gusty winds and heavy snow and rain are affecting Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Blizzard warnings have been issued for the Cascade and Olympic mountains today. Rain will spread south across California by later today. Dangerous cold in the center — Intense cold and howling winds are the main weather story in the central USA today. Dangerously cold wind chills values will bottom out well below zero across most of the Plains and Midwest. The winds will bring some lake-effect snow in the lee of the Great Lakes. More nastiness in the Northeast — Yet another in a series of winter storms is bringing snow and ice to the Northeast today. The heaviest snow should be in northern New York State and northern New England. Strong, bitterly cold winds will be the main story later today and tonight in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic areas.”
