An F/A18D Hornet crashed into a residential area in San Diego yesterday. The training flight accident destroyed two homes and damaged three others. Even more devastating than the loss of homes is the loss of three people: a mother, her baby, and the grandmother. Elliot Spagat with the Associated Press reports that rescue workers continue to search through the ruble for a fourth victim, a small child, who is missing.
The pilot, who was just a couple of miles away from his landing site, survived the crash. He was able to eject himself from the jet and parachuted down into a tree. The cause of the crash is not known at the moment.
In a city council meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Justin Shields placed an idea before his fellow council members: people should begin to pay an emergency local-option sales tax of 2 percent extra for the next two years. The money collected would go towards recoveryfor victims of the June 2008 flood.
”Shields said it’s clear that neither the federal nor the state government is going to provide the city with the disaster relief it needs. Shields, who represents sections of the southwest quadrant hit hard by the June flood, said he can’t keep telling flood victims to hold on, help is coming…School districts already have a 1 percent local-option sales tax in place in the county, and the state has a 5 percent tax. Most of the state’s largest cities have a 1 percent tax, too.”
The increase in sales tax for a couple of years is Shields’ answer to how the citizens of his community can be supported without having to take money out of the city or county’s budget, therefore, preventing more job losses. Some are looking at this idea as a way people in the community can help each other in this time of need.
Some are opposed to Shields’ idea with the current economic crisis in the United States. Read more here.
The Emergency Email & Wireless Network is a service that is provided free of charge that will notify a person of emergencies in their area of choice. Notices are sent via email, text message, or fax.
Notifications one can become aware of include weather notices, Homeland Security information, Amber Alerts, health alerts, etc. If one wishes, they can also sign up to receive notifications of school closings, emergencies, and special events through the K12Email service. This service is secure and quick.
To sign up to receive notifications, go to EmergencyEmail.org, click on a state/area from their list, and add your email address and/or cell phone/pager/fax number.
The time is now to prepare your home and business for the upcoming freezing weather. DisasterSafety.org offers ideas on how you can reduce your risk of flooding and water damage in and around buildings.
Check your plumbing and appliances. Plumbing supply lines should be inspected on a yearly basis. Refrigerators and freezers should have their hose lines inspected for damage. Washing machines, water heaters, and toilets should also be inspected about every six months. Shower stalls should have the pans inspected bi-annually and grout and tiles should be replaced if cracked or loose. Also make sure to inspect your sump pump.
In your building’s interior, there are many things that can help make sure you stay dry. Check windows, doors, drywall, and air conditioners for leaks. Also check for termite damage and ensure the humidity level in your home is between 30%-50%. It is a good idea, too, to have flood shields or barriers installed in basements.
Outside of a building, many things can be done to help ensure a dry building inside. Check the flashing where two building surfaces meet for areas that need to be replaced. Check the exterior siding and walls to ensure they are properly sealed and that natural, landscaping materials are not up against the building. Make sure the irrigation system is not sending too much water to the foundation of the building. Landscaping is also important in preventing water damage to a building or home. Make sure trees are properly trimmed and vines are not growing on the outside of the building. Have your roof inspected annually to see if any repairs need to be made.
October 8, 2008 started out like any other typical morning for Greg Sherwood of Portland, OR. He was preparing breakfast when he looked up and saw his neighbor, Kathy Hendrickson’s, home rushing towards him down the hillside. Greg was not the only one to notice this unfortunate event–evident by the rush of 9-1-1 phone calls that came into the local emergency dispatch office. Read the full story. See the video.
This and six other homes were destroyed by the event that started with just one house. These houses are now off limits to all seven families. It is speculated a leak in the first home’s water system led to the disastrous events. Preemptive measures have been taken to prevent more damage. At least six additional homes have also been evacuated and tarps were laid down over the exposed hillside in hopes to prevent more damage to the area. Temporary drainage systems were also built to re-route water to a more safe location to drain during the recent rainy weather.
Many community members in this area have open up their homes to their displaced neighbors and have provided meals, bought gift cards, and donated money to help with the unexpected costs of this disaster. The Portland Tribunereports the insurance companies have not yet paid for the claims and lawyers’ fees incurred are already astronomical. Click here for the complete story from this periodical and for information about how you can help these families.
