Staying safe in the heat

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

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

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

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

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

Experimental SKYWARN Basic Training Webinar

 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

"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                     

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

Practucal portion of fire safety module

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.

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.

  

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

"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

"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

     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?