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In The
News
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1. Researchers test firewise landscaping
Article published May 19, 2006 in the Gainesville Sun
By MARINA
BLOMBERG, Sun staff writer
James Perry with Ordway Preserve-UF monitors a
pine straw bed to
ensure that the fire does not spread to the neighboring
field.
(Special to The Sun)
Local research on the flammability of
common garden mulches is a
key ingredient in a national study on how
wildfires can impact
homes.
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2. Amateur radio fans ham it up for national Field Day
exercises
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, June 24, 2006
By WES WOODS II
The
Press-Enterprise
The Coachella Valley Amateur Radio Club and Riverside
County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services participated in Field Day in
Cherry Valley on Saturday.
The annual field day for amateur radio, or ham radio, users provides an
opportunity to practice emergency-preparedness skills as they communicate across
the nation with other users.
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3. 'Pensacola wall' leaves legacy
PENSACOLA, Fla. (July
1, 2006) —
For hundreds of volunteers across the country, the legacy of the
"Pensacola Wall" lives on.
The Pensacola Wall, where hundreds of
volunteers signed their names after helping to repair hurricane-damaged homes.
(Photo by Glenn Riegel)
When McPherson College student Nick Anderson traveled to the Florida
Panhandle city to repair hurricane-damaged homes, he was housed in an apartment
set up for volunteers by Church of the Brethren Disaster Response.
On the apartment wall, Anderson created an illustration of a pickup
truck with the simple words "Disaster Response Pensacola." Volunteers were
invited to sign their names.
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4. Retirees to visit disaster sites
BALTIMORE (July 3,
2006) —
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is creating a new program for
retirees who want to help disaster survivors and who own or have access to
self-contained Recreational Vehicles.
The "RV Program," or Recreational Vehicle Program, is open to retired and
semi-retired people who are willing to travel to disaster sites and live in
their own vehicles while they help people rebuild their homes, said Don Buller,
who will direct the program with his wife, Marilyn.
"They can offer their service in rebuilding or building homes in areas
where disasters have destroyed people's residences," he said.
RV Program volunteers will commit to work for a specific time with a
minimum of four weeks. In exchange for volunteer work, they will receive RV
parking at no expense, with full hookups including a minimum of thirty AMP
electrical services, a water hookup and a means of black and gray water
disposal.
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5. American Red Cross awards SB County for relief
efforts
Yazmin Alvarez, SB Sun Staff Writer
07/14/2006
Each year, the American Red Cross awards a group or an organization
with the Humanitarian Award based on their efforts and contributions in aiding
with disastrous incidents.
This year, that high honor went to the County of San Bernardino for their
efforts in assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina. Many county employees took on
volunteer positions for the Red Cross and other relief agencies in the wake of
the disaster.
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6.Nature not always a good neighbor
Most in
foothills wouldn't leave, but there's a price
07/16/2006
By Caroline An, SB Sun Staff Writer
With the sweeping view of the mountains and privacy from neighbors, Ken
McNeil has called San Antonio Heights home since he was a child.
Like so many who live in the neighborhoods along the base of the San
Gabriel Mountains, he knows fire season has arrived when the mercury climbs
north of 100 degrees and the green brush of spring turns a dusty summer brown.
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7. Difficult Times Just Beginning
Victims of 2003 fires
offer advice to new set of homeless
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, July 16,
2006
By SHARON McNARY
The Press-Enterprise
Survivors of the October 2003 fires, which consumed more than 1,000 San
Bernardino County homes, know what the future holds for dozens of newly homeless
families from Pioneertown and other High Desert communities.
They face the drudgery of documenting losses for insurance companies, the
indecision of whether to relocate or rebuild, and constant queries from
reporters, charities, government, businesses, friends, relatives and
strangers.
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8. Cooking for disaster
Press-Telegram Staff reports
07/25/2006
LONG BEACH CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) a division of
the Long Beach Fire Department is looking for the community's participation in
compiling a state of emergency cookbook in time for Disaster Relief month in
September. CERT is asking for modified family favorites or creative recipes made
entirely from pantry staples, such as convenience foods, canned items, and dry
goods.
Recipe ingredients should require no refrigeration, not be too unfamiliar,
not make you too thirsty and have nutritional value. Dessert or treat recipes
are welcome, however. The recipes should serve four to six people.
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On The
Web
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1. ProtectingCalifornia.ORG
[Lila] One major problem I see with the following site is that one of the
major funding sources is the insurance industry. Of course they would love to
drop catastrophe coverage and let the government take care of that just like
they do flood and earthquake insurance. Problem is... have you ever read your
earthquake policy? 15% deductible, $5,000 limit for personal property, $1,500
for ALE and everything settled at ACV. Personally, I don't think it's
real coverage, but I still pay the premiums because it's better than
nothing. Flood insurance has similar limitations. I wouldn't want all
catastrophes to be settled in that same manner... but the insurance companies
sure would!!!]
Our mission is to raise awareness, educate the public and policymakers, and
offer solutions that will better prepare and protect California from major
catastrophe in a sensible, cost-effective fashion.
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2. California Fire Weather Web page
The California Fire Weather web page is an interagency effort designed to
make access to important fire weather information easier. This page contains
fire weather forecasts for Emergency Command Center Dispatch Areas (ECCDA) and
by National Weather Service Fire Weather Zones (FWZ) along with National Weather
Service Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches for California. This
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3. Cost of Homeowner's Insurance
The average expenditure on homeowners insurance
increased by 12 percent from $593 in 2002 to $668 in 2003, according to the
latest data available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Expenditures vary widely by state.
[Lila: I found the chart on the above link very interesting. Scroll about
1/2 way down the page and look for the chart labeled "HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
LOSSES BY CAUSE, 2000-2004". Notice that losses due to fire were 32.29% which is
almost exactly the same as the previous three years. So much for the
2003 firestorms costing the insurance industry "so much money".]
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4. Effective Fire Protection, A National Concern
Most communities consider it a good thing. Development brings prosperity to
rural areas, suburbs, and cities everywhere. And many parts of our country are
experiencing extraordinary residential and commercial growth.