Disaster Recovery News

The staff of the Surry County Chapter of the Red Cross in North Carolina found they were the ones needing help this weekend. Pipes in the ceiling burst and flooded the whole building. Frigid temperatures caused the break in the pipes.

The executive director of the Red Cross Chapter took measures to prevent the break in the pipes by turning up the heat in the building. She also left the lights in the attic of the building on in hopes that the heat produced would keep the pipes warm enough. Nevertheless, leaving lights on in a building is not enough to prevent pipes from bursting. This was made obvious from the ceiling tiles and insulation that were destroyed by the water.

Read the full story.

If you have a small business or run a small office, find out how one can prepare for flooding. One can also see tips about how to recover wet documents after a flood.

The news today is full of stories about natural disasters, virus outbreaks, acts of violence, and threats to public health. Everyone can do their part to prepare for the unthinkable, and doing so can help one deal with such situations in a more effective manner.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Red Cross have provided the following simple steps to help one prepare for an emergency. Click on an underlined phrase below to learn more information:

1. Make a kit and gather emergency supplies.
2. Make a disaster plan for your family.
3. Learn how to take immediate shelter where you are.
4. Understand quarantine and isolation, what they are, and how they work.
5. Learn coping tools to help you and those you care about can use during tough times.

In these uncertain times, it is important to be ready for any emergency event.

Learn more about disaster preparedness and disaster recovery.

Photo by e k p.

The Associated Press reported that the heavy 2008 hurricane season has reduced the American Red Cross’s funding to a staggering low. The organization is searching everywhere for funds to stabilize their finances as Hurricane Ike threatens to create a dramatic need for their assistance.

The Red Cross reported they raised $5 million for their costs associated of Hurricane Gustav – $35 million shy of the estimated final price tag.

On Monday, the NFL will be encouraging viewers to donate to the Red Cross on air and in the stadiums to help the recovery organization after what is estimated to be huge devastation from Hurricane Ike.

To make a donation, visit the Red Cross today.

The August edition of PC Magazine has a great article on how more and more people are using the internet to aid in speedy disaster recovery after events like Hurricane Katrina and the recent flooding in Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The article comes just as hurricane season seems to be intensifyng (read more on recent Tropical Storm Dolly) and more people are looking to the Red Cross and FEMA for answers and help.

Some of the sites highlighted are the American Red Cross Safe and Well List, an online database where families can check to see if their relatives are safe and Freecycle.org, an online forum for posting temporary housing, jobs, furniture and clothing available immediately after a disaster.

You can read the complte PC Magazine article, A Safety Net for Disaster Relief, online.