Welcome to the Village of Altona's, Health & Safety Page. Here you will find a variety of articles and videos on various topics that will help make you and your family healthy and safe. This page is always being added to, so please return to see new information. After seeing something you like, you are more than welcome to copy and share anything on this page with your family and friends. Or better yet, send a link to this page to your family and friends. Thank you.
*** Any and all material contained in this communication is based on general health & safety information. It is not designed to replace either medical advice or medical treatment. Talk with a qualified health provider for medical diagnosis and treatment.***
*** Any and all material contained in this communication is based on general health & safety information. It is not designed to replace either medical advice or medical treatment. Talk with a qualified health provider for medical diagnosis and treatment.***
January 21, 2024
Attention Area Residents:
January is Radon Awareness Month. Did you know that Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, odorless gas that is considered the silent killer? Did you know that the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety ranks Knox County at a high potential risk for radon? Please read the following article form the Knox County Health Department for further information.
Attention Area Residents:
January is Radon Awareness Month. Did you know that Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive, odorless gas that is considered the silent killer? Did you know that the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety ranks Knox County at a high potential risk for radon? Please read the following article form the Knox County Health Department for further information.
October 21, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Just another reminder that October is National Fire Prevention Month. Winter months see an increased risk of house fires. Did you read the insert that came in your Ameren Illinois power bill this month. There is good safety information in there. If you didn't read it, the information is supplied in this posting. You may click on the following link to learn how to prevent house fires. Please consider volunteering for your local fire department.
www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/national-fire-prevention-month-october
“The wisest mind has something yet to learn.” - George Santayana
Attention Area Residents:
Just another reminder that October is National Fire Prevention Month. Winter months see an increased risk of house fires. Did you read the insert that came in your Ameren Illinois power bill this month. There is good safety information in there. If you didn't read it, the information is supplied in this posting. You may click on the following link to learn how to prevent house fires. Please consider volunteering for your local fire department.
www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/national-fire-prevention-month-october
“The wisest mind has something yet to learn.” - George Santayana
October 16, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Just another reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The following article from the Knox County Health Department is being republished from the Knox County Farm Bulletin. For those who are concerned about Breast Cancer, please consult with your personal doctor and/or the Knox County Health Department after reading this article. Hopefully you'll never have to experience this health issue. But early detection of any type of cancer or disease is always your best chance of survival.
“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” - Oprah Winfrey
Attention Area Residents:
Just another reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The following article from the Knox County Health Department is being republished from the Knox County Farm Bulletin. For those who are concerned about Breast Cancer, please consult with your personal doctor and/or the Knox County Health Department after reading this article. Hopefully you'll never have to experience this health issue. But early detection of any type of cancer or disease is always your best chance of survival.
“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” - Oprah Winfrey
October 12,. 2023
Attention Area Residents:
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This disease effects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1000 men in the United States. Click on the following links to learn more about Breast Cancer.
www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/breast-cancer-awareness-month-october
Susan G. Komen Foundation
“I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities.” - Whoopi Goldberg
Attention Area Residents:
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This disease effects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1000 men in the United States. Click on the following links to learn more about Breast Cancer.
www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/breast-cancer-awareness-month-october
Susan G. Komen Foundation
“I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities.” - Whoopi Goldberg
September 30, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
On Wednesday, October 4th at approximately 1:20 pm CT; FEMA and the FCC will be conducting a nationwide test of both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) System. If you would like to read about what these tests are about in order to not to be surprised when all wireless devices go off simultaneously, please click on the following link for complete details:
www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023
With this posting, this concludes National Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has presented you information from FEMA and other governmental agencies, as well as general information found on the internet to help you learn how to prepare for a disaster or an emergency. If you haven't viewed the month long series yet, nor if you have started building an emergency kit; you are encouraged to review this month long series. For your convenience, this series is listed by date on the Village's Health & Safety page on our website. Just click on the direct link in this posting. You may also find it through the following:
1) https://altonaillinois.weebly.com/
2) Hover your mouse over the homepage tab that says "Village Information"
3) From there, follow the drop down box to the bottom that says "Health & Safety" and click on it.
The purpose behind National Emergency Preparedness Month is to teach everyone in the country the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters. When disaster strikes, emergency services may not be able to come to your aid in a timely manner due to current conditions on the ground. You may be on your own for up to 72 hours. It is important to have an emergency kit for everyone in your family to be able to sustain yourself for a minimum of three days. Please review this series to give you some ideas on making a plan and building a kit that works for you and your family. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourage the opinions of these YouTubers. However, some of their opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
Attention Area Residents:
On Wednesday, October 4th at approximately 1:20 pm CT; FEMA and the FCC will be conducting a nationwide test of both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) System. If you would like to read about what these tests are about in order to not to be surprised when all wireless devices go off simultaneously, please click on the following link for complete details:
www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023
With this posting, this concludes National Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has presented you information from FEMA and other governmental agencies, as well as general information found on the internet to help you learn how to prepare for a disaster or an emergency. If you haven't viewed the month long series yet, nor if you have started building an emergency kit; you are encouraged to review this month long series. For your convenience, this series is listed by date on the Village's Health & Safety page on our website. Just click on the direct link in this posting. You may also find it through the following:
1) https://altonaillinois.weebly.com/
2) Hover your mouse over the homepage tab that says "Village Information"
3) From there, follow the drop down box to the bottom that says "Health & Safety" and click on it.
The purpose behind National Emergency Preparedness Month is to teach everyone in the country the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters. When disaster strikes, emergency services may not be able to come to your aid in a timely manner due to current conditions on the ground. You may be on your own for up to 72 hours. It is important to have an emergency kit for everyone in your family to be able to sustain yourself for a minimum of three days. Please review this series to give you some ideas on making a plan and building a kit that works for you and your family. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourage the opinions of these YouTubers. However, some of their opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
September 29, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering informational tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate the public on how to prepare for an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for those furry members of your family - your pets. Unfortunately during a disaster, some pets get left behind. Some survive, some get lost, some parish, and all of them probably get hungry, thirsty and scared. Like individual family members, your pets are an important part of your family and have special needs which need to be properly provided for.
The following videos are some examples of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for your pets. The views and opinions of these YouTubers and agencies are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed by nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but they are being shared to you for informational purposes only as a sample of the content that can be found. Please watch them (or others that you may find) and use your best judgement on what you think is best for your pets needs, and build a kit for them.
Pet Emergency Preparedness (UC Davis Veterinary Medicine): www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering informational tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate the public on how to prepare for an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for those furry members of your family - your pets. Unfortunately during a disaster, some pets get left behind. Some survive, some get lost, some parish, and all of them probably get hungry, thirsty and scared. Like individual family members, your pets are an important part of your family and have special needs which need to be properly provided for.
The following videos are some examples of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for your pets. The views and opinions of these YouTubers and agencies are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed by nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but they are being shared to you for informational purposes only as a sample of the content that can be found. Please watch them (or others that you may find) and use your best judgement on what you think is best for your pets needs, and build a kit for them.
Pet Emergency Preparedness (UC Davis Veterinary Medicine): www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
September 28, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today in National Preparedness Month, we will talk about fire safety. Your home is your most important investment. The home protects you from the eliminates, it is were you live, and create cherished memories with your family. The loss of your home due to a fire would surely qualify as a personal disaster to you. You have home owners insurance to help you rebuild should a catastrophe occur; but what are you doing to prevent a fire or at least get out if you can't stop it? Do you have smoke alarms? If so - GREAT! Smoke alarms save lives. But are you religiously changing the batteries in them every 6 months? How old are they? They need to be replaced every 10 years. The State of Illinois has a law requiring that all smoke detectors in Illinois be the type with the non-replaceable 10 year battery. No more remembering to change the batteries every 6 months. Now you just replace your detector every 10 years. The detector will chirp when it is time to replace it just like your current detector chirps when it is time to replace the batteries. You should have a smoke detector for every bedroom, kitchen, basement, and hallway. You can't have too many.
Do you have a rope ladder to help with the evacuation of the second floor? These are designed to evacuate the upstairs should you get trapped up there and can't get down the stairs. It is a good idea to have one in every bedroom.
Do you have a fire extinguisher? If not, it is a good idea to have one. A fire extinguisher is portable and you can take it with you anywhere. It is actually a good idea to have one in the house, the garage, in your boat, and in each vehicle. While the extinguisher will put out the fire, it will also create a mess afterwards. But choosing between putting out a fire and creating a mess with an extinguisher versus letting one's house burn up; it's a no brainer that everyone would rather clean up the fire extinguisher mess.
Since most fires start in the kitchen (such as grease fires), did you know that there are other products that can work as well? Did you know that Baking Soda will extinguish a grease fire, but only if they're a small fire. It will take a lot of baking soda to do the job, and you will want to store it in a metal container with a lid (and not glass as glass will shatter) on the counter for quick access. Have you ever heard of a fire blanket? PreparedHero has a product called a fire blanket. Depending on the size of fire (for example a stove or grill fire) you simply take the blanket out of the bag and smother the fire with it. It can also potentially be reusable.
Please click on the following link to learn more:
order.preparedhero.com/efb?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20534832613&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoIOMjvjDgQMVMiazAB2CNgoKEAAYASAAEgJOKfD_BwE
The Village neither endorses nor discourages the use of this product, nor does it get anything from the company mentioning its product. The link however is provided for you for informational purposes should you decide if you wish to learn more about it and have an extra layer of preparedness for your home. Can you think of other ways to prevent a fire in the home? Remember, should you have to evacuate your home to a fire, you'll want all of your important papers and emergency kits at the ready to grab on your way out the door.
Want to learn more about fires and prevention? Join your local volunteer fire department. They could use your help.
Attention Area Residents:
Today in National Preparedness Month, we will talk about fire safety. Your home is your most important investment. The home protects you from the eliminates, it is were you live, and create cherished memories with your family. The loss of your home due to a fire would surely qualify as a personal disaster to you. You have home owners insurance to help you rebuild should a catastrophe occur; but what are you doing to prevent a fire or at least get out if you can't stop it? Do you have smoke alarms? If so - GREAT! Smoke alarms save lives. But are you religiously changing the batteries in them every 6 months? How old are they? They need to be replaced every 10 years. The State of Illinois has a law requiring that all smoke detectors in Illinois be the type with the non-replaceable 10 year battery. No more remembering to change the batteries every 6 months. Now you just replace your detector every 10 years. The detector will chirp when it is time to replace it just like your current detector chirps when it is time to replace the batteries. You should have a smoke detector for every bedroom, kitchen, basement, and hallway. You can't have too many.
Do you have a rope ladder to help with the evacuation of the second floor? These are designed to evacuate the upstairs should you get trapped up there and can't get down the stairs. It is a good idea to have one in every bedroom.
Do you have a fire extinguisher? If not, it is a good idea to have one. A fire extinguisher is portable and you can take it with you anywhere. It is actually a good idea to have one in the house, the garage, in your boat, and in each vehicle. While the extinguisher will put out the fire, it will also create a mess afterwards. But choosing between putting out a fire and creating a mess with an extinguisher versus letting one's house burn up; it's a no brainer that everyone would rather clean up the fire extinguisher mess.
Since most fires start in the kitchen (such as grease fires), did you know that there are other products that can work as well? Did you know that Baking Soda will extinguish a grease fire, but only if they're a small fire. It will take a lot of baking soda to do the job, and you will want to store it in a metal container with a lid (and not glass as glass will shatter) on the counter for quick access. Have you ever heard of a fire blanket? PreparedHero has a product called a fire blanket. Depending on the size of fire (for example a stove or grill fire) you simply take the blanket out of the bag and smother the fire with it. It can also potentially be reusable.
Please click on the following link to learn more:
order.preparedhero.com/efb?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20534832613&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoIOMjvjDgQMVMiazAB2CNgoKEAAYASAAEgJOKfD_BwE
The Village neither endorses nor discourages the use of this product, nor does it get anything from the company mentioning its product. The link however is provided for you for informational purposes should you decide if you wish to learn more about it and have an extra layer of preparedness for your home. Can you think of other ways to prevent a fire in the home? Remember, should you have to evacuate your home to a fire, you'll want all of your important papers and emergency kits at the ready to grab on your way out the door.
Want to learn more about fires and prevention? Join your local volunteer fire department. They could use your help.
September 27, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday during National Preparedness Month, we looked at the scenario of what you would do if the nuclear reactor in Cordova had an incident where you had to evacuate your home. Today let's look at a different scenario. These scenario's are designed to get you to think about how you would prepare for a given disaster. Each disaster is different, but basic knowledge and supplies in an emergency kit should help in any given disaster. So what would you do in the following scenario?
Scenario: There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut - they are totally impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house natural gas or propane back up generator, you will run off generator power until power is restored. You will be able to run your furnace to stay warm, cook on your stove, as well as prevent your food in your refrigerators and freezers from spoiling. But what if you don't have a whole house generator? Do you have a smaller portable generator? If so you can at least run certain appliances one at a time *** be sure to follow ALL safety guidelines when doing so as this can be very dangerous. If you don't have any type of generators, do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks, or had purchased whatever fuel source your grill requires after the summer grilling season. Do you have a wood fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you have already stored wood to burn in it. Remember in this scenario, the roads are impassable, so getting these items when you need them is not an option.
There are numerous types of disaster situations that could occur. It is hard to plan for them all, but to survive any type of disaster or emergency starts with a plan, and any plan is better than no plan at all. Remember the saying that we learned earlier this month from the "prepper" world; "Two is one and one is none." This simply means that you must have a backup plan. Having no backup plan is the same as having no plan at all should your original plan fail. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
“Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still beat the pack.” - Gerald R. Ford
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday during National Preparedness Month, we looked at the scenario of what you would do if the nuclear reactor in Cordova had an incident where you had to evacuate your home. Today let's look at a different scenario. These scenario's are designed to get you to think about how you would prepare for a given disaster. Each disaster is different, but basic knowledge and supplies in an emergency kit should help in any given disaster. So what would you do in the following scenario?
Scenario: There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut - they are totally impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house natural gas or propane back up generator, you will run off generator power until power is restored. You will be able to run your furnace to stay warm, cook on your stove, as well as prevent your food in your refrigerators and freezers from spoiling. But what if you don't have a whole house generator? Do you have a smaller portable generator? If so you can at least run certain appliances one at a time *** be sure to follow ALL safety guidelines when doing so as this can be very dangerous. If you don't have any type of generators, do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks, or had purchased whatever fuel source your grill requires after the summer grilling season. Do you have a wood fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you have already stored wood to burn in it. Remember in this scenario, the roads are impassable, so getting these items when you need them is not an option.
There are numerous types of disaster situations that could occur. It is hard to plan for them all, but to survive any type of disaster or emergency starts with a plan, and any plan is better than no plan at all. Remember the saying that we learned earlier this month from the "prepper" world; "Two is one and one is none." This simply means that you must have a backup plan. Having no backup plan is the same as having no plan at all should your original plan fail. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
“Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still beat the pack.” - Gerald R. Ford
September 26, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
As September's National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have gained some knowledge to protect your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood or surrounding area.
To test that knowledge, let's spend a few days with some scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset on what you may do in various situations.....
Scenario: Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant which is approximately 50 miles away. There is a major nuclear accident, and the authorities have mandated an evacuation area of at least 100 miles in any given direction. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since you are already 50 miles away, you will only need to go a minimum of 50 miles away to be in the clear (compared to those who live closer who would need to travel further). Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating the entire area will have the same idea as well. Most likely everyone in your family has a smart phone; if so (and if it works), you can have everyone attempt to call for reservations somewhere to book your room while you are concentrating on driving during the evacuation. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a GM vehicle which is equipped with On Star? On Star may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further for your hotel room is more likely. Do you have a tent or some type of RV? If so, this could be a better option, and your RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as plenty of storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground or state park somewhere within the safe zone may be the better choice at it may be less crowded than a hotel. Did you know that some big box stores will even allow you to spend the night or two in your RV in their parking lots? This is called boon docking. Just get permission first. But evacuating any area will not happen unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the proper fuel for your RVs. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled for your vehicles or camping generators? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans that you have on hand may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Can you think of something else that you could or would do in the above scenario? When you start thinking about various scenarios, think about what could go wrong and what you would need to do to make the best of that situation.
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Andrew Jackson
Attention Area Residents:
As September's National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have gained some knowledge to protect your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood or surrounding area.
To test that knowledge, let's spend a few days with some scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset on what you may do in various situations.....
Scenario: Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant which is approximately 50 miles away. There is a major nuclear accident, and the authorities have mandated an evacuation area of at least 100 miles in any given direction. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since you are already 50 miles away, you will only need to go a minimum of 50 miles away to be in the clear (compared to those who live closer who would need to travel further). Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating the entire area will have the same idea as well. Most likely everyone in your family has a smart phone; if so (and if it works), you can have everyone attempt to call for reservations somewhere to book your room while you are concentrating on driving during the evacuation. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a GM vehicle which is equipped with On Star? On Star may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further for your hotel room is more likely. Do you have a tent or some type of RV? If so, this could be a better option, and your RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as plenty of storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground or state park somewhere within the safe zone may be the better choice at it may be less crowded than a hotel. Did you know that some big box stores will even allow you to spend the night or two in your RV in their parking lots? This is called boon docking. Just get permission first. But evacuating any area will not happen unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the proper fuel for your RVs. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled for your vehicles or camping generators? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans that you have on hand may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Can you think of something else that you could or would do in the above scenario? When you start thinking about various scenarios, think about what could go wrong and what you would need to do to make the best of that situation.
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Andrew Jackson
September 25, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
As we are winding down National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have started creating your emergency plans and building your kits to be prepared should the event of a disaster or other event occur and emergency services are not available to you. Let's recap some items that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you have in your home kits. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorses nor discourages his views. The video is designed to give you ideas. The only bad plan is not having a plan, nor being prepared at all. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
Attention Area Residents:
As we are winding down National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have started creating your emergency plans and building your kits to be prepared should the event of a disaster or other event occur and emergency services are not available to you. Let's recap some items that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you have in your home kits. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorses nor discourages his views. The video is designed to give you ideas. The only bad plan is not having a plan, nor being prepared at all. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
September 24, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, our video will address the needs for women. Let's face it, men and women are different, and women need certain things. We will once again view a video from our YouTuber Pam, and she will address those needs that women need to take into account when creating evacuation kits or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions of those YouTubers are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo. Please feel free to take any ideas shown from any of the videos this month and incorporate them when building your own preparedness kits should a disaster were too occur.
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, our video will address the needs for women. Let's face it, men and women are different, and women need certain things. We will once again view a video from our YouTuber Pam, and she will address those needs that women need to take into account when creating evacuation kits or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions of those YouTubers are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo. Please feel free to take any ideas shown from any of the videos this month and incorporate them when building your own preparedness kits should a disaster were too occur.
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
September 23, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout the month of September during National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has once again teamed up with the federal and state government to help share information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, we will show a video from a YouTuber who will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA. Pam lives in the western states, she is a professor, a homesteader, and one might also call her a "prepper" (or at least one who is preparedness minded).
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout the month of September during National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has once again teamed up with the federal and state government to help share information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, we will show a video from a YouTuber who will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA. Pam lives in the western states, she is a professor, a homesteader, and one might also call her a "prepper" (or at least one who is preparedness minded).
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
September 22, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
We are blessed to live in a rural area. We live a quality of life like no other. Unfortunately, living in a rural area has its challenges; such as, not having a full time fire or ambulance department, and having longer wait times for essential services to be restored during a storm or disaster. We are however very blessed to have dedicated volunteers that come to our aid when we call for help. In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we will show the fourth and final video in our series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled: Disaster Preparedness - Get Involved. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAjrn5Tze4.
It takes time and effort to become a good firefighter, or an EMT. THANK YOU to ALL of the volunteers who serve either on our fire departments or ambulance district. Without your dedication and sacrifice, we would really be in a hurtful situation with longer response times.
Please consider volunteering and getting involved in any of the following local or county organizations:
1) Altona Fire Department: Contact Fire Chief Keith Holland at 309-484-2064 or stop by the TBA.
2) Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District: Contact Director Sally Keener at 309-368-6468.
3) Knox County Snowmobile Rescue Team: Contact Bob Hennenfent at 309-368-0620. You do not need to own a snowmobile. There are other things that you can do.
*** For the following, please contact Knox County Emergency Agency Director Randy Hovind at
[email protected]
4) Knox County Storm Spotters: They offer training each spring to whomever wishes to attend and learn about how to identify dangerous weather conditions. This group is used to help notify the public's alert systems of impending storms such as tracking tornadoes.
5) Knox County Amateur's Radio Club: This is a group of Ham radio operators with their own tower within the county. Knox County EMA would be able to use them in case of a complete loss of communications throughout the county in a large-scale disaster.
6) Knox County also has a Spontaneous Volunteer Management Team: This puts together a massive bunch of volunteers when the need arises to provide human service assistance with things like Food, Water, and Commodity Distribution and Mass Care Sheltering. The county would notify the public should such a need were to arise.
7) Attention Scuba Divers: If you would like to use your knowledge and skillset as a scuba diver and would be interested in volunteering in water rescues; contact the Copperas Creak Dive Team with the Copperas Creak Fire Protection District at 309-647-9522. Knox County doesn't have a dive team, and many area fire departments call on these fine folks when water tragedies occur. Perhaps someday if there is enough interest, Knox County will once again have a dive team.
So as you can see, there are many ways in which you can get involved and help during a disaster or emergency. Please consider volunteering. Many hands make for light work, so please become a hero and join one of the above organizations today BEFORE disaster strikes. Thank you.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.” - A.A. Milne
Attention Area Residents:
We are blessed to live in a rural area. We live a quality of life like no other. Unfortunately, living in a rural area has its challenges; such as, not having a full time fire or ambulance department, and having longer wait times for essential services to be restored during a storm or disaster. We are however very blessed to have dedicated volunteers that come to our aid when we call for help. In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we will show the fourth and final video in our series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled: Disaster Preparedness - Get Involved. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAjrn5Tze4.
It takes time and effort to become a good firefighter, or an EMT. THANK YOU to ALL of the volunteers who serve either on our fire departments or ambulance district. Without your dedication and sacrifice, we would really be in a hurtful situation with longer response times.
Please consider volunteering and getting involved in any of the following local or county organizations:
1) Altona Fire Department: Contact Fire Chief Keith Holland at 309-484-2064 or stop by the TBA.
2) Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District: Contact Director Sally Keener at 309-368-6468.
3) Knox County Snowmobile Rescue Team: Contact Bob Hennenfent at 309-368-0620. You do not need to own a snowmobile. There are other things that you can do.
*** For the following, please contact Knox County Emergency Agency Director Randy Hovind at
[email protected]
4) Knox County Storm Spotters: They offer training each spring to whomever wishes to attend and learn about how to identify dangerous weather conditions. This group is used to help notify the public's alert systems of impending storms such as tracking tornadoes.
5) Knox County Amateur's Radio Club: This is a group of Ham radio operators with their own tower within the county. Knox County EMA would be able to use them in case of a complete loss of communications throughout the county in a large-scale disaster.
6) Knox County also has a Spontaneous Volunteer Management Team: This puts together a massive bunch of volunteers when the need arises to provide human service assistance with things like Food, Water, and Commodity Distribution and Mass Care Sheltering. The county would notify the public should such a need were to arise.
7) Attention Scuba Divers: If you would like to use your knowledge and skillset as a scuba diver and would be interested in volunteering in water rescues; contact the Copperas Creak Dive Team with the Copperas Creak Fire Protection District at 309-647-9522. Knox County doesn't have a dive team, and many area fire departments call on these fine folks when water tragedies occur. Perhaps someday if there is enough interest, Knox County will once again have a dive team.
So as you can see, there are many ways in which you can get involved and help during a disaster or emergency. Please consider volunteering. Many hands make for light work, so please become a hero and join one of the above organizations today BEFORE disaster strikes. Thank you.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.” - A.A. Milne
September 21, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be watching our third video in the series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management titled: Disaster Preparedness - Stay Informed: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qq4PYj9rg. Do you know how to stay informed during a disaster? Did you know that the Knox County Emergency Management Agency has implemented the Code Red alert system for our county? When you sign up, you will not only get alerts on your phone for our area, but any other area in the country that happens to have this system. You will be notified of alerts when you are traveling in that particular area, say on vacation. To sign up for this free service, visit this website: ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php. Please share this information with friends, neighbors and loved ones. The purpose of National Preparedness Month is to educate the public on how they can survive a disaster should emergency services are delayed or unable in coming to your aid.
*** On October 4th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will be teaming up to conduct a test of the national Emergency Alert System. This is include all television stations, radio, and wireless devices. The tests are scheduled to start at approximately 2:20 pm ET, or 1:20 pm our time. For complete information about this test, please click on the following link:
www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be watching our third video in the series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management titled: Disaster Preparedness - Stay Informed: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qq4PYj9rg. Do you know how to stay informed during a disaster? Did you know that the Knox County Emergency Management Agency has implemented the Code Red alert system for our county? When you sign up, you will not only get alerts on your phone for our area, but any other area in the country that happens to have this system. You will be notified of alerts when you are traveling in that particular area, say on vacation. To sign up for this free service, visit this website: ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php. Please share this information with friends, neighbors and loved ones. The purpose of National Preparedness Month is to educate the public on how they can survive a disaster should emergency services are delayed or unable in coming to your aid.
*** On October 4th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will be teaming up to conduct a test of the national Emergency Alert System. This is include all television stations, radio, and wireless devices. The tests are scheduled to start at approximately 2:20 pm ET, or 1:20 pm our time. For complete information about this test, please click on the following link:
www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023
September 20, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday in our review of how to prepare for disasters, we learned how to build an emergency kit. Today we are going to watch the second video in our series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management titled, Disaster Preparedness - Make A Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw Please review all of the information presented so far as many times as necessary to help you with your preparedness plans.
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday in our review of how to prepare for disasters, we learned how to build an emergency kit. Today we are going to watch the second video in our series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management titled, Disaster Preparedness - Make A Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw Please review all of the information presented so far as many times as necessary to help you with your preparedness plans.
September 19, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
We are over halfway through National Preparedness Month. Hopefully you have been taking the time to watch the daily posting of videos and websites on how to prepare yourself and family members should some sort of emergency or disaster were to occur and help is was unavailable. Hopefully you have started to prepare for such emergencies in order to relieve the chaos that will sure to come. In the next few videos, we will review what has been learned so far. Feel free to review any or all of the materials as many times as needed. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Build A Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
Attention Area Residents:
We are over halfway through National Preparedness Month. Hopefully you have been taking the time to watch the daily posting of videos and websites on how to prepare yourself and family members should some sort of emergency or disaster were to occur and help is was unavailable. Hopefully you have started to prepare for such emergencies in order to relieve the chaos that will sure to come. In the next few videos, we will review what has been learned so far. Feel free to review any or all of the materials as many times as needed. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Build A Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
September 18, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
So far during National Preparedness Month our focus has been on sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. There are many ways to stock up on food. You can buy extra canned goods when you shop at the grocery store; you can either grow your own in a garden or visit a roadside stand and purchase fresh produce that you can for later consumption (canned food can lasts for years if done properly); or you can simply buy what is called "Emergency Food" which is today's topic. Any of these previous methods will help you to survive when you shelter in place.
But what happens if you have to evacuate or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry for your canned goods? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be an option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these dehydrated and freeze dried meals, and many of these companies food will last for up to 25 -30 years. The best thing to do is contact the the companies with your questions, and ask if they will send you a free sample, or if you can purchase a sample kit at a small cost in order to try their food prior to placing large orders. This way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste your money on. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online along with other emergency supplies as well.
The following link will take you to a video showing a montage of a several different companies that offer Emergency Food for sale.
youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY.
The following is a website listing of the more popular major brands of Emergency Foods to help you with your research.
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
Attention Area Residents:
So far during National Preparedness Month our focus has been on sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. There are many ways to stock up on food. You can buy extra canned goods when you shop at the grocery store; you can either grow your own in a garden or visit a roadside stand and purchase fresh produce that you can for later consumption (canned food can lasts for years if done properly); or you can simply buy what is called "Emergency Food" which is today's topic. Any of these previous methods will help you to survive when you shelter in place.
But what happens if you have to evacuate or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry for your canned goods? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be an option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these dehydrated and freeze dried meals, and many of these companies food will last for up to 25 -30 years. The best thing to do is contact the the companies with your questions, and ask if they will send you a free sample, or if you can purchase a sample kit at a small cost in order to try their food prior to placing large orders. This way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste your money on. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online along with other emergency supplies as well.
The following link will take you to a video showing a montage of a several different companies that offer Emergency Food for sale.
youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY.
The following is a website listing of the more popular major brands of Emergency Foods to help you with your research.
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
September 17, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Living in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about tragedies such as wildfires like they experience out west, or hurricanes like our country's coastal regions. But we can have strong winds storms such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the storm in Altona on August 25th, 2021 that had caused downed power lines; severe damage to (including the uprooting) of numerous trees; destruction of buildings and vehicles. We also experience flooding, along with winter snow and ice storms. Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? Is your home or business ready for it should one comes?
In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is BEFORE it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
Please be sure to share these tips with your family and friends. The idea behind Emergency Preparedness Month is make sure everyone is safe should emergency personnel cannot get to you during a disaster or some other form of crisis.
Attention Area Residents:
Living in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about tragedies such as wildfires like they experience out west, or hurricanes like our country's coastal regions. But we can have strong winds storms such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the storm in Altona on August 25th, 2021 that had caused downed power lines; severe damage to (including the uprooting) of numerous trees; destruction of buildings and vehicles. We also experience flooding, along with winter snow and ice storms. Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? Is your home or business ready for it should one comes?
In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is BEFORE it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
Please be sure to share these tips with your family and friends. The idea behind Emergency Preparedness Month is make sure everyone is safe should emergency personnel cannot get to you during a disaster or some other form of crisis.
September 16, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss were to occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is extreme or not needed, I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click to watch the video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please scroll back and review any of the previous videos and materials that has been discussed so far, and as many times as needed; then Create a plan - Build a kit & Stay Informed! Please share the information that is being presented this month with family, friends or post on your social media platforms.
Remember, the purpose behind National Emergency Preparedness Month is to inform and teach the public how to survive should a disaster were to occur and emergency personnel cannot get to you. You may very well be on your own. By taking precautions this month and learning how to prepare (and actually doing it) could either mean the difference between life or death; or it could mean surviving a situation in comfort or being completely miserable with absolutely nothing. Preparing for an emergency or disaster after the event has happened is too late.
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss were to occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is extreme or not needed, I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click to watch the video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please scroll back and review any of the previous videos and materials that has been discussed so far, and as many times as needed; then Create a plan - Build a kit & Stay Informed! Please share the information that is being presented this month with family, friends or post on your social media platforms.
Remember, the purpose behind National Emergency Preparedness Month is to inform and teach the public how to survive should a disaster were to occur and emergency personnel cannot get to you. You may very well be on your own. By taking precautions this month and learning how to prepare (and actually doing it) could either mean the difference between life or death; or it could mean surviving a situation in comfort or being completely miserable with absolutely nothing. Preparing for an emergency or disaster after the event has happened is too late.
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
September 15, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it a crazy person living off the grid and alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with a 20 year supply of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition - stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this example is extreme and excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared for what may come his way. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish, along with some extra cases of bottled water, that, that too is considered a form of being prepared? It is just on a different scale.
This is what National Preparedness Month is all about. Learning how to prepare for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. The more prepared you are, the more likely you will be able to survive it without too much stress or discomfort considering what is at hand. Regardless if you believe in "climate change" or not, disasters happen ever year, and we are constantly reminded of these tragic events on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters (like hurricanes on the coastal areas, wildfires in the west, tornados or flooding in the mid-west); it is up to you to be prepared to survive the disaster in your area should emergency services are not able to respond to help you for days.
During an emergency or disaster, you must be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should an event occur. You will also need a way to prepare that food as well. Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, have you replenished your fuel that you used this summer (LP, charcoal, wood pellets, etc) that operates that grill? If you don't have a back up generator to run your kitchen stove, during a power outage you may need to cook on the grill. Replenish your fuel source while supplies are still available in the stores before you may need them. If you end up not using it, then you are already to go for next summer's grilling season. In the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, do you remember the empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you consider planting a garden or purchase fresh vegetables from a road side stand to can, only to find it hard to find the canning supplies that you needed? Now would be a good time to purchase those canning supplies and preserve that produce for future use.
As you educate yourself in learning how to prepare for different types of disasters or emergencies, don't be afraid to get ideas online such as from YouTube. The "Prepper" community has numerous videos on YouTube. Many channels offer good common sense advice while others may seem a little far out there. They all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation, and there is something that can be learned from them. In today's video, we will learn from Jamie from Guildbrook Farm, as she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry." www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it a crazy person living off the grid and alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with a 20 year supply of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition - stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this example is extreme and excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared for what may come his way. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish, along with some extra cases of bottled water, that, that too is considered a form of being prepared? It is just on a different scale.
This is what National Preparedness Month is all about. Learning how to prepare for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. The more prepared you are, the more likely you will be able to survive it without too much stress or discomfort considering what is at hand. Regardless if you believe in "climate change" or not, disasters happen ever year, and we are constantly reminded of these tragic events on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters (like hurricanes on the coastal areas, wildfires in the west, tornados or flooding in the mid-west); it is up to you to be prepared to survive the disaster in your area should emergency services are not able to respond to help you for days.
During an emergency or disaster, you must be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should an event occur. You will also need a way to prepare that food as well. Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, have you replenished your fuel that you used this summer (LP, charcoal, wood pellets, etc) that operates that grill? If you don't have a back up generator to run your kitchen stove, during a power outage you may need to cook on the grill. Replenish your fuel source while supplies are still available in the stores before you may need them. If you end up not using it, then you are already to go for next summer's grilling season. In the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, do you remember the empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you consider planting a garden or purchase fresh vegetables from a road side stand to can, only to find it hard to find the canning supplies that you needed? Now would be a good time to purchase those canning supplies and preserve that produce for future use.
As you educate yourself in learning how to prepare for different types of disasters or emergencies, don't be afraid to get ideas online such as from YouTube. The "Prepper" community has numerous videos on YouTube. Many channels offer good common sense advice while others may seem a little far out there. They all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation, and there is something that can be learned from them. In today's video, we will learn from Jamie from Guildbrook Farm, as she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry." www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
September 14, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
So far this month during National Preparedness Month, our preparedness videos have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper into learning about those kits, as well as another important thing that we all need in order to survive any type of disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, COVID pandemics, or other supply chain interruptions.
Supply chain interruptions you may ask? Yes. Last year if you remember, the nations railroads were about to go on strike due to the lack of an agreement with their union contracts. The nations railroads haul everything from raw materials to finished products, as well as fuel and your meats and produce across the country. Do you remember the food shelves being empty during the pandemic? Are you prepared should another supply chain disruption were to occur? Do you have a generator to keep your refrigerators, freezers, and electric stoves operating during a prolonged power outage? Do you have your everyday items stockpiled should the shelves go bare again? Have you gotten into gardening or at least acquiring fresh produce from a road side stand or farmer's market and can for future use?
Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines in these videos as your individual needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan. Let's watch Oklahoma State University Extension Food Specialist Barbara Brown as she gives some ideas on what to put in your food kits. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
Attention Area Residents:
So far this month during National Preparedness Month, our preparedness videos have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper into learning about those kits, as well as another important thing that we all need in order to survive any type of disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, COVID pandemics, or other supply chain interruptions.
Supply chain interruptions you may ask? Yes. Last year if you remember, the nations railroads were about to go on strike due to the lack of an agreement with their union contracts. The nations railroads haul everything from raw materials to finished products, as well as fuel and your meats and produce across the country. Do you remember the food shelves being empty during the pandemic? Are you prepared should another supply chain disruption were to occur? Do you have a generator to keep your refrigerators, freezers, and electric stoves operating during a prolonged power outage? Do you have your everyday items stockpiled should the shelves go bare again? Have you gotten into gardening or at least acquiring fresh produce from a road side stand or farmer's market and can for future use?
Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines in these videos as your individual needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan. Let's watch Oklahoma State University Extension Food Specialist Barbara Brown as she gives some ideas on what to put in your food kits. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
September 13, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have merely just touched the surface on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video gets a little bit more specific on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away as it can be expensive. However, if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Since COVID-19 seems to be raising its ugly head again, you may consider adding N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have merely just touched the surface on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video gets a little bit more specific on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away as it can be expensive. However, if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Since COVID-19 seems to be raising its ugly head again, you may consider adding N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
September 12, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far have stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"? Would you know what to do? In episode 10 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness", we learn about how to shelter in place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far have stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"? Would you know what to do? In episode 10 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness", we learn about how to shelter in place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
September 11, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your emergency kits, hopefully you are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and your children know what to do should your house catch on fire? In episode 9 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness: Fire: Get Out!"; today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do, and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters. Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster - and PRACTICE. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your emergency kits, hopefully you are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and your children know what to do should your house catch on fire? In episode 9 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness: Fire: Get Out!"; today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do, and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters. Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster - and PRACTICE. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
September 10, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's watch episode eight in our series of "Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up." www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's watch episode eight in our series of "Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up." www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
September 9, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You would be setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch episode seven of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You would be setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch episode seven of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
September 8, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); but second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by learning about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies. For help in learning how to make a plan, visit
www.ready.gov or www.ready.illinois.gov
Let's watch episode six of "Disaster Meets Preparedness: What's Your Next Move?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); but second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by learning about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies. For help in learning how to make a plan, visit
www.ready.gov or www.ready.illinois.gov
Let's watch episode six of "Disaster Meets Preparedness: What's Your Next Move?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
September 7, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. What better way to learn about preparedness than to read a book about it. Do you know what to do if the power grid ever were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, an emergency supply of food, medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Nature's Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch episode five of "Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word".... www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. What better way to learn about preparedness than to read a book about it. Do you know what to do if the power grid ever were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, an emergency supply of food, medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Nature's Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch episode five of "Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word".... www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
September 6, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month which is set aside by the federal and state government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster were to strike in your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? If the disaster were to require you to shelter in place, would you know what to do? Do you have the necessary supplies on hand to handle the situation? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Episode four of "Disaster and Preparedness: Should I Stay or Should I Go", talks about this in order to get you to start thinking and making plans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month which is set aside by the federal and state government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster were to strike in your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? If the disaster were to require you to shelter in place, would you know what to do? Do you have the necessary supplies on hand to handle the situation? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Episode four of "Disaster and Preparedness: Should I Stay or Should I Go", talks about this in order to get you to start thinking and making plans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
September 5, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability for when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 911 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster were to occur, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's, or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch episode three in our video series titled "Disaster and Preparedness: It's not Rocket Science".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability for when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 911 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster were to occur, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's, or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch episode three in our video series titled "Disaster and Preparedness: It's not Rocket Science".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
September 4, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. In episode two of our video series "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness", we will learn how to keep mayhem at a minimum. Let's watch... youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
Remember, during an emergency or disaster, emergency services may be swamped with calls and their response time to you may be severely delayed due to being short staffed or current on the ground conditions. It is important to be prepared for situations in order for you and your family to temporarily sustain yourselves until emergency services can get to you.
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. In episode two of our video series "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness", we will learn how to keep mayhem at a minimum. Let's watch... youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
Remember, during an emergency or disaster, emergency services may be swamped with calls and their response time to you may be severely delayed due to being short staffed or current on the ground conditions. It is important to be prepared for situations in order for you and your family to temporarily sustain yourselves until emergency services can get to you.
September 3, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be starting our first of a few different video series entitled "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness". Today in episode one we will meet our characters "Disaster" and "Preparedness". Let's see what we can learn from them.... youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be starting our first of a few different video series entitled "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness". Today in episode one we will meet our characters "Disaster" and "Preparedness". Let's see what we can learn from them.... youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
September 2, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where varies governmental agencies stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems that there is always some sort of disaster happening somewhere in the country. Recently Lahaina Town on the Hawaiian island of Maui was destroyed by wildfires. Hurricane Idalia blasted Florida and Georgia recently. Last month a tornado had hit the small town of Baring, Missouri, population of 124 causing a lot of devastation and wiping out their Post Office, homes, and businesses.
While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber prices go up due to lumber shortages here because of the need to rebuild after the disasters in other parts of the country.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan and have an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where varies governmental agencies stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems that there is always some sort of disaster happening somewhere in the country. Recently Lahaina Town on the Hawaiian island of Maui was destroyed by wildfires. Hurricane Idalia blasted Florida and Georgia recently. Last month a tornado had hit the small town of Baring, Missouri, population of 124 causing a lot of devastation and wiping out their Post Office, homes, and businesses.
While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber prices go up due to lumber shortages here because of the need to rebuild after the disasters in other parts of the country.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan and have an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
September 1, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has dedicated September as being National Preparedness Month. The reason for this is to educate the public on how to be prepared should some form of emergency or disaster (whether it be natural or man-made) were to occur. Depending on the disaster at hand, emergency services may not be able to reach you in time. If this unfortunate occurrence were to happen to you, then you need to be able to address the situation at hand. This is the intent of this month long series on Emergency Preparedness. This series is designed to teach you how to prepare, as well as to think about what you would do during various types of disasters. While every possible scenario cannot be addressed in this series, it is hoped that it will expand your knowledge for you to be able to survive should emergency help not be able to arrive right away. It is ultimately up to YOU to be able to take care of yourself and your family during these trying times. Let's begin by clicking on the following link: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has dedicated September as being National Preparedness Month. The reason for this is to educate the public on how to be prepared should some form of emergency or disaster (whether it be natural or man-made) were to occur. Depending on the disaster at hand, emergency services may not be able to reach you in time. If this unfortunate occurrence were to happen to you, then you need to be able to address the situation at hand. This is the intent of this month long series on Emergency Preparedness. This series is designed to teach you how to prepare, as well as to think about what you would do during various types of disasters. While every possible scenario cannot be addressed in this series, it is hoped that it will expand your knowledge for you to be able to survive should emergency help not be able to arrive right away. It is ultimately up to YOU to be able to take care of yourself and your family during these trying times. Let's begin by clicking on the following link: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
March 11, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
This has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois this week. Hopefully you have read through the flyers to get educated on the different types of severe weather and have started to prepare your households for them for the safety of your families. If you haven't, please scroll back and review this information as many times is needed. All levels of governments advise to get an All Hazards Weather Radio to help notify you of severe weather alerts. Knox County is now part of the nation-wide CODE RED system. Sign up and download the app. You can take this with you and it will notify you of severe weather and other safety notifications anywhere in the country that you may be in as long as that community is part of this nationwide system. Click on the following link to sign up for that. www.ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php Again, severe weather can happen at anytime. Only you can prepare yourself and your family to be safe. Please review this flyer and visit the Health and Safety page on the Village of Altona website for all kinds of preparedness tips (see the September postings). A very smart man once said...
"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail."
-- Ben Franklin
Attention Area Residents:
This has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois this week. Hopefully you have read through the flyers to get educated on the different types of severe weather and have started to prepare your households for them for the safety of your families. If you haven't, please scroll back and review this information as many times is needed. All levels of governments advise to get an All Hazards Weather Radio to help notify you of severe weather alerts. Knox County is now part of the nation-wide CODE RED system. Sign up and download the app. You can take this with you and it will notify you of severe weather and other safety notifications anywhere in the country that you may be in as long as that community is part of this nationwide system. Click on the following link to sign up for that. www.ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php Again, severe weather can happen at anytime. Only you can prepare yourself and your family to be safe. Please review this flyer and visit the Health and Safety page on the Village of Altona website for all kinds of preparedness tips (see the September postings). A very smart man once said...
"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail."
-- Ben Franklin
March 10, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois. Today's topic is on Lightning Safety. Did you know that from the years 2006 to 2021, 444 people in the United States died from lightning strikes? On average, that is 28 people each year according to reported deaths. Did you know that on average lightning strikes causes more deaths in the U.S. than tornadoes, floods or hurricanes? According to Dr. Jim Angel, State Climatologist for the State of Illinois, Illinois experiences 2-3 deaths and 8 serious injuries per year due to lightning (he also thinks that those figures or to low), and that a surprisingly percentage of deaths occur in either the first or last few strikes of a thunderstorm. Please view the following flyers for safety tips and what to do to stay safe.
Attention Area Residents:
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois. Today's topic is on Lightning Safety. Did you know that from the years 2006 to 2021, 444 people in the United States died from lightning strikes? On average, that is 28 people each year according to reported deaths. Did you know that on average lightning strikes causes more deaths in the U.S. than tornadoes, floods or hurricanes? According to Dr. Jim Angel, State Climatologist for the State of Illinois, Illinois experiences 2-3 deaths and 8 serious injuries per year due to lightning (he also thinks that those figures or to low), and that a surprisingly percentage of deaths occur in either the first or last few strikes of a thunderstorm. Please view the following flyers for safety tips and what to do to stay safe.
March 9, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Today's topic of Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois is on Severe Storms. Do you know the difference between a Severe Weather Watch and Severe Weather Warning? Do you have a NOAA All Hazards Radio or the CODE RED app downloaded on your smart phone to be notified of severe weather? Read the flyers below for this and more information. By taking the time now to get educated, you will be prepared for when severe weather strikes. Remember it can strike at any time and any time of the year...
Attention Area Residents:
Today's topic of Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois is on Severe Storms. Do you know the difference between a Severe Weather Watch and Severe Weather Warning? Do you have a NOAA All Hazards Radio or the CODE RED app downloaded on your smart phone to be notified of severe weather? Read the flyers below for this and more information. By taking the time now to get educated, you will be prepared for when severe weather strikes. Remember it can strike at any time and any time of the year...
March 8, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois. Today we are going to talk about tornadoes. Do you know what to do? Do you know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning? Do you know what to do before, during and after the tornado? Do you have pets, and if so, do you know how to prepare them for the storm? Please review the flyers below to learn more.
Attention Area Residents:
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois. Today we are going to talk about tornadoes. Do you know what to do? Do you know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning? Do you know what to do before, during and after the tornado? Do you have pets, and if so, do you know how to prepare them for the storm? Please review the flyers below to learn more.
March 7, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
This is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois. Do you have a plan on what to do when severe weather comes, or will you just wing it? Ask yourself the following questions now, then use this week to prepare so that you will be better prepared for when severe weather comes....
* How will you receive alerts & warnings? Cell phone, weather radio, television/radio? You can download a variety of apps. Knox County is now part of the nationwide CODE RED alert system. This will alert you anywhere in the country that you may be in when severe weather hits. See the earlier posting today for the link.
* Where will you shelter? Basement, interior room away from windows, ditch? Depending where you are will dictate where your shelter will be. You must have situational awareness to seek out the best shelter.
* How will you communicate with family? Are your cell phones charged? Do you carry a backup battery or charged charging block? Do you have a meeting location?
* How will you treat injuries? Eat or drink? Build a disaster kit, enough to last several days. September is Emergency Preparedness month. If you visit the "Health & Safety" page on the Village website, and scroll to the month of September; you will find daily postings of tips on how to prepare for a variety of disasters.
March 7, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Did you know that Knox County is part of a nationwide emergency alert system? This system is called Code Red. Regardless if you are hanging out at home, or are traveling throughout the country on business or pleasure; if you are in a location anywhere in the country that uses Code Red, you will be notified of various alerts or warnings that are occurring in the area in which you are at. Signing up for the Code Red system is easy and free. Click on the following link to learn more and to enroll. After you enroll, simply download the app from your Android or iPhone app store to your cell phone. Stay Safe! www.ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” - Roy T. Bennett
This Day in History:
Attention Area Residents:
This is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois. Do you have a plan on what to do when severe weather comes, or will you just wing it? Ask yourself the following questions now, then use this week to prepare so that you will be better prepared for when severe weather comes....
* How will you receive alerts & warnings? Cell phone, weather radio, television/radio? You can download a variety of apps. Knox County is now part of the nationwide CODE RED alert system. This will alert you anywhere in the country that you may be in when severe weather hits. See the earlier posting today for the link.
* Where will you shelter? Basement, interior room away from windows, ditch? Depending where you are will dictate where your shelter will be. You must have situational awareness to seek out the best shelter.
* How will you communicate with family? Are your cell phones charged? Do you carry a backup battery or charged charging block? Do you have a meeting location?
* How will you treat injuries? Eat or drink? Build a disaster kit, enough to last several days. September is Emergency Preparedness month. If you visit the "Health & Safety" page on the Village website, and scroll to the month of September; you will find daily postings of tips on how to prepare for a variety of disasters.
March 7, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Did you know that Knox County is part of a nationwide emergency alert system? This system is called Code Red. Regardless if you are hanging out at home, or are traveling throughout the country on business or pleasure; if you are in a location anywhere in the country that uses Code Red, you will be notified of various alerts or warnings that are occurring in the area in which you are at. Signing up for the Code Red system is easy and free. Click on the following link to learn more and to enroll. After you enroll, simply download the app from your Android or iPhone app store to your cell phone. Stay Safe! www.ci.galesburg.il.us/news_detail_T2_R431.php
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” - Roy T. Bennett
This Day in History:
- 1658 – Treaty of Roskilde: After a devastating defeat in the Northern Wars (1655–1661), Frederick III, the King of Denmark–Norway is forced to give up nearly half his territory to Sweden.
- 1775 – An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
- 1844 – The Althing, the parliament of Iceland, was reopened after 45 years of closure.
- 1936 – Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race.
- 2014 – In one of aviation's greatest mysteries, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying a total of 239 people, disappears en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The fate of the flight remains unknown.
March 6, 2023
Attention Area Residents:
Did you know that this is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois? Do you know what to do in case of a flood? First view the Quick Tips below then look at flyers, and finally visit the following website for tips on how to prepare and to keep you and your family safe: www.weather.gov/ilx/severe-prep#Flood
Quick Tips:
* Know the difference between a Flood Watch and a Flood Warning (see the photos).
* NEVER drive through flood waters - 12 inches of water can sweep a car off the road.
* NEVER drive around barricades.
* NEVER walk into floodwaters.
* TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN - Flood waters puts you and rescuers at risk.
Attention Area Residents:
Did you know that this is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois? Do you know what to do in case of a flood? First view the Quick Tips below then look at flyers, and finally visit the following website for tips on how to prepare and to keep you and your family safe: www.weather.gov/ilx/severe-prep#Flood
Quick Tips:
* Know the difference between a Flood Watch and a Flood Warning (see the photos).
* NEVER drive through flood waters - 12 inches of water can sweep a car off the road.
* NEVER drive around barricades.
* NEVER walk into floodwaters.
* TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN - Flood waters puts you and rescuers at risk.
November 4, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for our entire area beginning at midnight tonight (12:00 A.M. November 5th) until 12:00 noon tomorrow afternoon. Expect wind gusts up to 55 mph. These high wind speeds will blow any loose items away from your yards, could cause tree limb damage which can cause power outages, or make it hard to drive if you have a high profile vehicle. Please take this time to secure anything on your property that could either blow away, or cause damage to your or your neighbors property. For complete details about this Wind Advisory, please click on the following link:
www.accuweather.com/en/us/altona/61414/weather-warnings/2240454
Attention Area Residents:
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for our entire area beginning at midnight tonight (12:00 A.M. November 5th) until 12:00 noon tomorrow afternoon. Expect wind gusts up to 55 mph. These high wind speeds will blow any loose items away from your yards, could cause tree limb damage which can cause power outages, or make it hard to drive if you have a high profile vehicle. Please take this time to secure anything on your property that could either blow away, or cause damage to your or your neighbors property. For complete details about this Wind Advisory, please click on the following link:
www.accuweather.com/en/us/altona/61414/weather-warnings/2240454
November 4, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
This is a reminder that this Sunday November 6th, Daylight Saving Time will end, and that you will need to adjust your clocks back one hour. It is also the time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If both your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are 10 years old or older, it is time to purchase new ones. So while you are out doing your weekend shopping, add batteries and/or new detectors to your shopping lists. The price that these items costs are a small fraction of the regrettable costs you'll have should you not have properly working detectors during a fire or carbon monoxide leak. There are many different types of detectors out there. The following Youtube link will take you to a video which shows you how to change the battery on a few different types of detectors. Always practice safety first, and be careful while standing on the ladder. https://youtu.be/djGUZp3p6VY
“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Attention Area Residents:
This is a reminder that this Sunday November 6th, Daylight Saving Time will end, and that you will need to adjust your clocks back one hour. It is also the time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If both your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are 10 years old or older, it is time to purchase new ones. So while you are out doing your weekend shopping, add batteries and/or new detectors to your shopping lists. The price that these items costs are a small fraction of the regrettable costs you'll have should you not have properly working detectors during a fire or carbon monoxide leak. There are many different types of detectors out there. The following Youtube link will take you to a video which shows you how to change the battery on a few different types of detectors. Always practice safety first, and be careful while standing on the ladder. https://youtu.be/djGUZp3p6VY
“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
October 25, 2022
Attention Village Residents:
The Village of Altona has received the results from the water test. The Village would like to once again thank the residents for their patience during the repair of the water tower leak as well as the improvements to the water system last week. The boil order has been lifted. DRINK UP!
Attention Village Residents:
The Village of Altona has received the results from the water test. The Village would like to once again thank the residents for their patience during the repair of the water tower leak as well as the improvements to the water system last week. The boil order has been lifted. DRINK UP!
October 25, 2022
Attention Village & Area Residents:
This weekend, both children and adults will be will celebrating Halloween within the Village of Altona. Halloween is a fun holiday, but it isn't without its dangers. Poor light and weather, costumes that inhibit sight, bad people wishing to cause harm to people, all combined can make for an unpleasant evening. The following article contains information which may be helpful to you and your family to safely celebrate this fun holiday.
“Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small.” - Ruth Gendler
Attention Village & Area Residents:
This weekend, both children and adults will be will celebrating Halloween within the Village of Altona. Halloween is a fun holiday, but it isn't without its dangers. Poor light and weather, costumes that inhibit sight, bad people wishing to cause harm to people, all combined can make for an unpleasant evening. The following article contains information which may be helpful to you and your family to safely celebrate this fun holiday.
“Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small.” - Ruth Gendler
October 24, 2022
Attention Village Residents:
Just another reminder that the Village of Altona is still under a boil order until further notice. We have not received the results back from the water tests. Please continue to boil your water prior to drinking. We will notify you as soon as we get the results back. Thank you.
“It’s important to be able to distinguish the difference between a problem and an inconvenience.” - Carrie Fisher
Attention Village Residents:
Just another reminder that the Village of Altona is still under a boil order until further notice. We have not received the results back from the water tests. Please continue to boil your water prior to drinking. We will notify you as soon as we get the results back. Thank you.
“It’s important to be able to distinguish the difference between a problem and an inconvenience.” - Carrie Fisher
October 21, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
October is Breast and Cervical Cancer Month. The following article and ad are from the Knox County Health Department. As with anything, prevention and early detection and treatment is always the best in the fight against cancers. Please contact them for more information.
“Unexpected events can set you back or set you up.” - Mary Anne Radmacher
Attention Area Residents:
October is Breast and Cervical Cancer Month. The following article and ad are from the Knox County Health Department. As with anything, prevention and early detection and treatment is always the best in the fight against cancers. Please contact them for more information.
“Unexpected events can set you back or set you up.” - Mary Anne Radmacher
October 20, 2022
Attention Village Residents:
The Village of Altona would like to thank you for your patience during yesterday's repairs to the water tower and water system. The water is turned back on and we are under a boil order until further notice. You will be notified by any combination of - WGIL 1400 AM, the Village's website and Facebook page, notice at the Post Office or signs along the entrances into town, as to when the boil order is lifted. Again thank you for your patience. The improvements made will help to reduce the need for this inconvenience in the future.
“Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.” - Vincent van Gogh
Attention Village Residents:
The Village of Altona would like to thank you for your patience during yesterday's repairs to the water tower and water system. The water is turned back on and we are under a boil order until further notice. You will be notified by any combination of - WGIL 1400 AM, the Village's website and Facebook page, notice at the Post Office or signs along the entrances into town, as to when the boil order is lifted. Again thank you for your patience. The improvements made will help to reduce the need for this inconvenience in the future.
“Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.” - Vincent van Gogh
October 19, 2022
Attention Village Residents:
Final reminder that the water to the Village will be turned off this morning in order for the Village and its contractors to do some necessary repairs and improvements which will help with future maintenance and repairs causing the least impact on our residents. Once the water is turned back on, the Village will be under a boil order until further notice. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs. The Village apologizes for any inconvenience.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” - Zig Ziglar
Attention Village Residents:
Final reminder that the water to the Village will be turned off this morning in order for the Village and its contractors to do some necessary repairs and improvements which will help with future maintenance and repairs causing the least impact on our residents. Once the water is turned back on, the Village will be under a boil order until further notice. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs. The Village apologizes for any inconvenience.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” - Zig Ziglar
October 18, 2022
Attention Village Residents:
Just another friendly reminder that the water to the town will be shut off tomorrow morning in order for the Village to make repairs to the water tower and to make improvements to the water system. The Village would like for the public to help us drain the water tower today by doing the following....
1) Take baths and showers before going to bed while you have optimal pressure to do so.
2) Fill your bathtubs and buckets with water in order to flush your toilets or other sanitary needs for the next day.
3) Fill pots and pans in order to have water for cooking and doing dishes afterwards.
4) Fill pitchers or other vessels of water for drinking purposes.
5) Do laundry or run the dish washer.
The above methods will help us drain the tower. The tower needs to be drained prior to the contractor to start their work. We would rather see you use the water than dump it on the ground and waste it. Today the Village is still doing prep work for tomorrow by pre-digging the holes needed for the valve replacements - please avoid these construction areas for your safety. The Village and its contractors will do their very best to make all necessary repairs and get the inspections done as soon as they can in order to return things back to normal. As a reminder, there will be a boil order in place once the water is turned back on. A boil order reminder will also be placed on WGIL 1400 AM radio, the Village's website and Facebook page as well.
Thank you.
“The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” - Elbert Hubbard
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
Attention Village Residents:
Just another friendly reminder that the water to the town will be shut off tomorrow morning in order for the Village to make repairs to the water tower and to make improvements to the water system. The Village would like for the public to help us drain the water tower today by doing the following....
1) Take baths and showers before going to bed while you have optimal pressure to do so.
2) Fill your bathtubs and buckets with water in order to flush your toilets or other sanitary needs for the next day.
3) Fill pots and pans in order to have water for cooking and doing dishes afterwards.
4) Fill pitchers or other vessels of water for drinking purposes.
5) Do laundry or run the dish washer.
The above methods will help us drain the tower. The tower needs to be drained prior to the contractor to start their work. We would rather see you use the water than dump it on the ground and waste it. Today the Village is still doing prep work for tomorrow by pre-digging the holes needed for the valve replacements - please avoid these construction areas for your safety. The Village and its contractors will do their very best to make all necessary repairs and get the inspections done as soon as they can in order to return things back to normal. As a reminder, there will be a boil order in place once the water is turned back on. A boil order reminder will also be placed on WGIL 1400 AM radio, the Village's website and Facebook page as well.
Thank you.
“The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” - Elbert Hubbard
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
October 15, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
This has been National Fire Prevention Week. Did you know that older adults have an increased risk of dying in a fire? Please check on your elderly friends, neighbors and family members to make sure that their living conditions are up to code, smoke detectors work, and that they know how to escape and that they have a clear path to get out in case of a fire.
“Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.” - Rachel Naomi Ramen
Attention Area Residents:
This has been National Fire Prevention Week. Did you know that older adults have an increased risk of dying in a fire? Please check on your elderly friends, neighbors and family members to make sure that their living conditions are up to code, smoke detectors work, and that they know how to escape and that they have a clear path to get out in case of a fire.
“Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.” - Rachel Naomi Ramen
October 14, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
This has been National Fire Prevention Week. As you know, a simple thing such as a smoke detector can save your life; but do you check yours regularly to make sure that it works? Do you change the batteries every six months during Daylight Saving Time to make sure that you have fresh batteries in them? Do you know how to properly install one? The following link will take you to a Home Depot video which will show you how to properly install a smoke detector. If your detector is more than 10 years old, it is time to purchase a new one. Please watch the video. Thank you and be safe.
www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-install-a-smoke-detector/9ba683603be9fa5395fab900b634d44?exid=167982
“Excellence is to do a common thing is an uncommon way.” - Booker T. Washington
Attention Area Residents:
This has been National Fire Prevention Week. As you know, a simple thing such as a smoke detector can save your life; but do you check yours regularly to make sure that it works? Do you change the batteries every six months during Daylight Saving Time to make sure that you have fresh batteries in them? Do you know how to properly install one? The following link will take you to a Home Depot video which will show you how to properly install a smoke detector. If your detector is more than 10 years old, it is time to purchase a new one. Please watch the video. Thank you and be safe.
www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-install-a-smoke-detector/9ba683603be9fa5395fab900b634d44?exid=167982
“Excellence is to do a common thing is an uncommon way.” - Booker T. Washington
October 13, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement: From 2:43 am this morning until 2:45 am Friday, October 14th, there is a heightened fire danger across central and southeast Illinois. There will be wind gusts between 25 - 35 mph. With the wind gusts and dry vegetation at the end of the growing seasons, the likelihood of fire is increased. Please do NOT burn your leaves or brush during this time. We don't want to have to put our volunteer firefighters to work if we don't have to. Please click on the following link for complete details. Thank you. www.accuweather.com/en/us/altona/61414/weather-warnings/2240454
Attention Area Residents:
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement: From 2:43 am this morning until 2:45 am Friday, October 14th, there is a heightened fire danger across central and southeast Illinois. There will be wind gusts between 25 - 35 mph. With the wind gusts and dry vegetation at the end of the growing seasons, the likelihood of fire is increased. Please do NOT burn your leaves or brush during this time. We don't want to have to put our volunteer firefighters to work if we don't have to. Please click on the following link for complete details. Thank you. www.accuweather.com/en/us/altona/61414/weather-warnings/2240454
October 12, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
This week is National Fire Prevention Week - but do you know how to prevent one? Click on the following link from the American Red Cross. You will find a video link which gives you tips. Please view the video and teach your children. A few minutes of prevention outweighs the months of tragedy any day.
www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire.html?exid=167982
“Enjoy little things. For one day you may look back and realize they were big things.” - Robert Brault
Attention Area Residents:
This week is National Fire Prevention Week - but do you know how to prevent one? Click on the following link from the American Red Cross. You will find a video link which gives you tips. Please view the video and teach your children. A few minutes of prevention outweighs the months of tragedy any day.
www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire.html?exid=167982
“Enjoy little things. For one day you may look back and realize they were big things.” - Robert Brault
October 10, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
This is National Fire Prevention Week: While we always want to be safe, it is important to be aware and take precautions to prevent tragedies, such as fires for example. Please click on the following link for an article about fire safety. Within this article you will find other links with ideas and tips to help you become of aware.
nationaldaycalendar.com/national-fire-prevention-week/
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Unknown
Attention Area Residents:
This is National Fire Prevention Week: While we always want to be safe, it is important to be aware and take precautions to prevent tragedies, such as fires for example. Please click on the following link for an article about fire safety. Within this article you will find other links with ideas and tips to help you become of aware.
nationaldaycalendar.com/national-fire-prevention-week/
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Unknown
September 30, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September was chosen as National Preparedness Month, as the tragedies of September 11, 2001 highlighted the nation the importance of being prepared. Also, September was been chosen partly because of the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in mid-September. The month is set aside by the federal government an an attempt to get everyone educated, and to bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster or emergency ever were to come your way. Disasters can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes, pandemics or financial collapse. Are you prepared?
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit. In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, a NOAA All Hazards radio, medications, pet needs, etc, in order to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water on hand for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this; whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water too. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not, you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as a gas stove, an outdoor grill or a wood fireplace (with the appropriate fuel sources) to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go, and who you will contact? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space. Some big box stores such as Walmart may let you dry camp in their parking lot in your camper for two days.
The "Prepper" community has a saying - "2 is 1, and 1 is none." This means that you should always have a back up plan should your original plan fail; because having no back up plan is the same as having no plan at all should your original plan were to fail.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas on making a plan and kit that works for you and your family. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourages the opinions of these YouTubers; however some of their opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you." - Marsha Norman
Attention Area Residents:
September was chosen as National Preparedness Month, as the tragedies of September 11, 2001 highlighted the nation the importance of being prepared. Also, September was been chosen partly because of the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in mid-September. The month is set aside by the federal government an an attempt to get everyone educated, and to bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster or emergency ever were to come your way. Disasters can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes, pandemics or financial collapse. Are you prepared?
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit. In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, a NOAA All Hazards radio, medications, pet needs, etc, in order to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water on hand for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this; whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water too. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not, you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as a gas stove, an outdoor grill or a wood fireplace (with the appropriate fuel sources) to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go, and who you will contact? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space. Some big box stores such as Walmart may let you dry camp in their parking lot in your camper for two days.
The "Prepper" community has a saying - "2 is 1, and 1 is none." This means that you should always have a back up plan should your original plan fail; because having no back up plan is the same as having no plan at all should your original plan were to fail.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas on making a plan and kit that works for you and your family. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourages the opinions of these YouTubers; however some of their opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you." - Marsha Norman
September 29, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Were you one of the millions of people in the country who were watching the devastation that Hurricane Ian had done on the state of Florida? The pure mass of damage that Mother Nature can unload on the United States is frightening and unimaginable. We are lucky that we live in caring communities in which our people try to help when needed.
September has been National Preparedness Month, the month set aside by the federal, state and local governments to educate and learn how to prepare should some sort of disaster ever were to come your way.
While the midwest does not suffer from hurricanes, we do suffer from other extreme weather conditions such as snow and ice storms, flooding, tornadoes and high wind damage that could cause massive destruction and chaos, just like you had watched in regards to Hurricane Ian. If you were to experience a weather disaster, and the roads are closed for the safety of emergency workers.... could you survive the next 72 hours? If you haven't done so already, please review all of the materials from this past month and beginning learning the basics of having and building a kit.
Attention Area Residents:
Were you one of the millions of people in the country who were watching the devastation that Hurricane Ian had done on the state of Florida? The pure mass of damage that Mother Nature can unload on the United States is frightening and unimaginable. We are lucky that we live in caring communities in which our people try to help when needed.
September has been National Preparedness Month, the month set aside by the federal, state and local governments to educate and learn how to prepare should some sort of disaster ever were to come your way.
While the midwest does not suffer from hurricanes, we do suffer from other extreme weather conditions such as snow and ice storms, flooding, tornadoes and high wind damage that could cause massive destruction and chaos, just like you had watched in regards to Hurricane Ian. If you were to experience a weather disaster, and the roads are closed for the safety of emergency workers.... could you survive the next 72 hours? If you haven't done so already, please review all of the materials from this past month and beginning learning the basics of having and building a kit.
September 29, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate you on how to prepare for, and be safe during an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for another member of your family - your pets. Pets are an important part of your family and they need you to take precautions for them with supplies just as you would for everyone else in your family.
The following videos are a samples of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for the furry members of your family. The views and opinions of these YouTubers and agencies are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed by nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but are being shared for informational purposes. Please watch them, use your best judgement on what your pet will need, and build a kit for them.
Pet Emergency Preparedness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate you on how to prepare for, and be safe during an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for another member of your family - your pets. Pets are an important part of your family and they need you to take precautions for them with supplies just as you would for everyone else in your family.
The following videos are a samples of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for the furry members of your family. The views and opinions of these YouTubers and agencies are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed by nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but are being shared for informational purposes. Please watch them, use your best judgement on what your pet will need, and build a kit for them.
Pet Emergency Preparedness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
September 28, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
As of this posting, Hurricane Ian is pounding Florida and all of America is praying that our fellow countrymen are safe from the storm which is likely to be a Cat 5 - the strongest level. Many people have heeded the warnings and had prepared ahead of time and even evaluated; however severe weather doesn’t always give you plenty of warning time like a hurricane can. Severe weather can come when you least expect it and in many different ways.
September has been National Preparedness Month. If you have not taken the time to start preparing for a future emergency or disaster - Please do so today. Scroll back and review all of the materials that have been posted daily this month on the Village’s website and Facebook page. The purpose of being prepared for various emergencies is so that you can sustain yourself and your family should emergency services are unavailable to you.
Plan ahead - Be safe - and God Bless
Attention Area Residents:
As of this posting, Hurricane Ian is pounding Florida and all of America is praying that our fellow countrymen are safe from the storm which is likely to be a Cat 5 - the strongest level. Many people have heeded the warnings and had prepared ahead of time and even evaluated; however severe weather doesn’t always give you plenty of warning time like a hurricane can. Severe weather can come when you least expect it and in many different ways.
September has been National Preparedness Month. If you have not taken the time to start preparing for a future emergency or disaster - Please do so today. Scroll back and review all of the materials that have been posted daily this month on the Village’s website and Facebook page. The purpose of being prepared for various emergencies is so that you can sustain yourself and your family should emergency services are unavailable to you.
Plan ahead - Be safe - and God Bless
September 28, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Let's look at another scenario to which to prepare for during National Preparedness Month. What would you do?
Scenario: There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut - they are impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house back up generator, your power will turn on and you will have the electricity to run your furnace to stay warm and cook on your stove. But what if you don't have a whole house generator? Do you have a smaller portable generator? If so you can at least run certain appliances one at a time - be sure to follow ALL safety guidelines when doing so as this can be very dangerous. If you don't have any type of generators, do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks, or had purchased whatever fuel source your grill requires after the summer grilling season. Are you fortunate to have a fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you have already stored wood to use it. Remember in this scenario, the roads are impassable, so getting these items when you need them is not an option.
There are numerous disaster situations that could occur. Any plan is better than no plan at all. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
“Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still beat the pack.” - Gerald R. Ford
Attention Area Residents:
Let's look at another scenario to which to prepare for during National Preparedness Month. What would you do?
Scenario: There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut - they are impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house back up generator, your power will turn on and you will have the electricity to run your furnace to stay warm and cook on your stove. But what if you don't have a whole house generator? Do you have a smaller portable generator? If so you can at least run certain appliances one at a time - be sure to follow ALL safety guidelines when doing so as this can be very dangerous. If you don't have any type of generators, do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks, or had purchased whatever fuel source your grill requires after the summer grilling season. Are you fortunate to have a fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you have already stored wood to use it. Remember in this scenario, the roads are impassable, so getting these items when you need them is not an option.
There are numerous disaster situations that could occur. Any plan is better than no plan at all. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
“Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still beat the pack.” - Gerald R. Ford
September 27, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
As National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have learned enough about emergency preparedness to start preparing yourself and your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood as recommended by FEMA.
Let's spend the next few days testing your knowledge with some scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset on what you may do in various situations.....
Scenario: Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant (approximately 50 miles away). There is a major accident which requires evacuation of the entire plant area for at least 100 miles. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since you are 50 miles away, you need to go at least 50 miles away to be in the clear (compared to those who live closer who would need to travel further). Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating the entire area will have the same idea as well. Most likely everyone in your family has a smart phone, if so (and if it works), you can have everyone try and find a hotel room and book your reservation while you are concentrating on driving during the evacuation. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a GM vehicle which is equipped with On Star? On Star may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further for your hotel room is more likely. Do you have a tent, camper or RV? This is an option, and your camper or RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground or state park somewhere within a safe distance may be a better choice to stay rather than trying to book that hotel room. Did you know that some big box stores will even allow you to spend the night or two in your RV in their parking lots? This is called boon docking. Just get permission first. But none of these ideas will help you unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the proper fuel for your campers. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled for your vehicles or camping generators? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans that you have on hand may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Can you think of something else that you could or would do in the above scenario? When you start thinking about various scenarios, think about what could go wrong and what you would need to do to make the best of that situation.
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Andrew Jackson
Attention Area Residents:
As National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have learned enough about emergency preparedness to start preparing yourself and your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood as recommended by FEMA.
Let's spend the next few days testing your knowledge with some scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset on what you may do in various situations.....
Scenario: Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant (approximately 50 miles away). There is a major accident which requires evacuation of the entire plant area for at least 100 miles. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since you are 50 miles away, you need to go at least 50 miles away to be in the clear (compared to those who live closer who would need to travel further). Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating the entire area will have the same idea as well. Most likely everyone in your family has a smart phone, if so (and if it works), you can have everyone try and find a hotel room and book your reservation while you are concentrating on driving during the evacuation. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a GM vehicle which is equipped with On Star? On Star may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further for your hotel room is more likely. Do you have a tent, camper or RV? This is an option, and your camper or RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground or state park somewhere within a safe distance may be a better choice to stay rather than trying to book that hotel room. Did you know that some big box stores will even allow you to spend the night or two in your RV in their parking lots? This is called boon docking. Just get permission first. But none of these ideas will help you unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the proper fuel for your campers. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled for your vehicles or camping generators? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans that you have on hand may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Can you think of something else that you could or would do in the above scenario? When you start thinking about various scenarios, think about what could go wrong and what you would need to do to make the best of that situation.
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Andrew Jackson
September 26, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
As we are winding down National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have started making your emergency plans and building your kits to be prepared in the event of a disaster and emergency services are not available to you. Beginning tomorrow we will test your knowledge with some scenarios, but first the following video is a recap of items that FEMA recommends that you have in your home. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorse nor discourages his views. The video is designed to give you ideas. The only bad plan is not having a plan, nor being prepared at all.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." - Roger Staubach
Attention Area Residents:
As we are winding down National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have started making your emergency plans and building your kits to be prepared in the event of a disaster and emergency services are not available to you. Beginning tomorrow we will test your knowledge with some scenarios, but first the following video is a recap of items that FEMA recommends that you have in your home. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorse nor discourages his views. The video is designed to give you ideas. The only bad plan is not having a plan, nor being prepared at all.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." - Roger Staubach
September 25, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
As you all know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. The following article was produced by the Knox County Health Department. If you haven't begun to make your kits or develop an emergency plan, please start today. Feel free to review all of the daily content which has been posted this month for review and to help guide you. During an emergency or some sort of disaster, emergency services may not be able to reach you right away, which is why FEMA recommends that everyone be able to sustain themselves in all types of disaster for a minimum of three days. The only wrong plan is not having one at all.
“To accept good advice is but to increase one’s own ability.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Attention Area Residents:
As you all know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. The following article was produced by the Knox County Health Department. If you haven't begun to make your kits or develop an emergency plan, please start today. Feel free to review all of the daily content which has been posted this month for review and to help guide you. During an emergency or some sort of disaster, emergency services may not be able to reach you right away, which is why FEMA recommends that everyone be able to sustain themselves in all types of disaster for a minimum of three days. The only wrong plan is not having one at all.
“To accept good advice is but to increase one’s own ability.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
September 24, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video during National Preparedness Month is for the women. Since men and women are different, our YouTuber Pam, will address the sensitive nature and special needs for women during an emergency situation when creating your evacuation kit or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions are those of the YouTubers and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video during National Preparedness Month is for the women. Since men and women are different, our YouTuber Pam, will address the sensitive nature and special needs for women during an emergency situation when creating your evacuation kit or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions are those of the YouTubers and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
September 23, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
The Village of Altona throughout this National Preparedness Month has shared information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, our YouTuber will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
Attention Area Residents:
The Village of Altona throughout this National Preparedness Month has shared information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, our YouTuber will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
September 22, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
We are blessed to live in a rural area. It's a quality of life like no other. But living in a rural area comes with challenges; such as, not having full time fire or ambulance personnel to come to our aid; or having to wait for essential services to be restored in a timely manner during a storm or disaster. We are very blessed however to have dedicated volunteers to come to our aid when we call for help. In today's video during National Preparedness Month, Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management will air their fourth and final video that we are using for review in what you've learned so far this month about preparedness. Today's video is titled Disaster Preparedness - Get Involved. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAjrn5Tze4. It takes time and effort to become a good firefighter, or an EMT. THANK YOU to ALL of the volunteers who serve either on our fire department or ambulance district. Without your dedication, we would really be up a creek with no paddle. Please consider volunteering for the Altona Fire Department (see Jim Andrews or Keith Holland to inquire); as well as the Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District (contact Sally Keener). Many hands make for light work, so please become a hero and join either the Altona Fire Department or AOW Ambulance service. Thank you.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.” - A.A. Milne
Attention Area Residents:
We are blessed to live in a rural area. It's a quality of life like no other. But living in a rural area comes with challenges; such as, not having full time fire or ambulance personnel to come to our aid; or having to wait for essential services to be restored in a timely manner during a storm or disaster. We are very blessed however to have dedicated volunteers to come to our aid when we call for help. In today's video during National Preparedness Month, Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management will air their fourth and final video that we are using for review in what you've learned so far this month about preparedness. Today's video is titled Disaster Preparedness - Get Involved. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAjrn5Tze4. It takes time and effort to become a good firefighter, or an EMT. THANK YOU to ALL of the volunteers who serve either on our fire department or ambulance district. Without your dedication, we would really be up a creek with no paddle. Please consider volunteering for the Altona Fire Department (see Jim Andrews or Keith Holland to inquire); as well as the Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District (contact Sally Keener). Many hands make for light work, so please become a hero and join either the Altona Fire Department or AOW Ambulance service. Thank you.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.” - A.A. Milne
September 21, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Harvest season has begun in parts of Knox County. Please drive with caution as the farmers are traversing the roadways moving their equipment from field to field gathering their crops out of the field. Let's all work together and make this a safe harvest season. Thank you.
Attention Area Residents:
Harvest season has begun in parts of Knox County. Please drive with caution as the farmers are traversing the roadways moving their equipment from field to field gathering their crops out of the field. Let's all work together and make this a safe harvest season. Thank you.
September 21, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Today in our review of what we have learned during National Preparedness Month, Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management third video in our series is called Disaster Preparedness - Stay Informed: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qq4PYj9rg. Do you know how to stay informed during a disaster?
“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.” - Francois Gautier
Attention Area Residents:
Today in our review of what we have learned during National Preparedness Month, Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management third video in our series is called Disaster Preparedness - Stay Informed: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qq4PYj9rg. Do you know how to stay informed during a disaster?
“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.” - Francois Gautier
September 20, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Today we are going to watch the second video in our review series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Make A Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw
“…All appears to change when we change.” - Henri-Frederic Amiel
Attention Area Residents:
Today we are going to watch the second video in our review series from Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Make A Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw
“…All appears to change when we change.” - Henri-Frederic Amiel
September 19, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
We are over halfway through National Preparedness Month. Hopefully you have been watching the daily videos on how to prepare your family should some sort of emergency or disaster were to strike your area and help is not available. Hopefully you have started to prepare for such emergencies in order to relieve the chaos that will sure to come. In the next few videos, we will review what has been taught so far. Feel free to review any or all of the materials as many times as needed. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Build A Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
"Life is always now.” - Tennessee Williams
Attention Area Residents:
We are over halfway through National Preparedness Month. Hopefully you have been watching the daily videos on how to prepare your family should some sort of emergency or disaster were to strike your area and help is not available. Hopefully you have started to prepare for such emergencies in order to relieve the chaos that will sure to come. In the next few videos, we will review what has been taught so far. Feel free to review any or all of the materials as many times as needed. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, KS Emergency Management, titled Disaster Preparedness - Build A Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
"Life is always now.” - Tennessee Williams
September 18, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. There are many ways to stock up on food. You can make extra purchases of canned goods when you shop at the grocery store; you can either garden or visit a roadside stand and purchase fresh produce (such as tomatoes) and can them for later use (canned food can lasts for years if done properly); or you can simply buy what is called "Emergency Food." Any of these will help you to survive when you shelter in place.
But what happens if you have to evacuate, or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry for your canned goods? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be the better option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these meals, and many companies food will last for up to 25 years. The best thing to do is contact the the companies with your questions, and ask if any give will send you a free sample, or a sample kit at a small cost in order to try their food prior to placing large orders; this way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste your money. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online and some sell other emergency supplies as well. The following link shows a video of a few different companies that are available youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY as well as some links below to some of the more popular survival food companies available to inquire about or order.
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination." - Michael Phelps
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. There are many ways to stock up on food. You can make extra purchases of canned goods when you shop at the grocery store; you can either garden or visit a roadside stand and purchase fresh produce (such as tomatoes) and can them for later use (canned food can lasts for years if done properly); or you can simply buy what is called "Emergency Food." Any of these will help you to survive when you shelter in place.
But what happens if you have to evacuate, or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry for your canned goods? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be the better option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these meals, and many companies food will last for up to 25 years. The best thing to do is contact the the companies with your questions, and ask if any give will send you a free sample, or a sample kit at a small cost in order to try their food prior to placing large orders; this way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste your money. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online and some sell other emergency supplies as well. The following link shows a video of a few different companies that are available youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY as well as some links below to some of the more popular survival food companies available to inquire about or order.
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination." - Michael Phelps
September 17, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about wildfires like the west coast experiences, or hurricanes like our southern and southeastern states contend with. But we can have strong winds such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the high winds that had caused downed power lines, severe damage to trees, buildings and vehicles on August 25th, 2021 here in Altona.
Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is before it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now - BEFORE it happens.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing." - Seneca
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about wildfires like the west coast experiences, or hurricanes like our southern and southeastern states contend with. But we can have strong winds such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the high winds that had caused downed power lines, severe damage to trees, buildings and vehicles on August 25th, 2021 here in Altona.
Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is before it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now - BEFORE it happens.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing." - Seneca
September 16, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is excessive; I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the pandemic last year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please review any of the videos or material that has been discussed so far, then Create a plan - Build a kit - Stay Informed!
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is excessive; I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the pandemic last year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please review any of the videos or material that has been discussed so far, then Create a plan - Build a kit - Stay Informed!
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
September 15, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it the guy living alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with years of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this is excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish along with some extra cases of bottled water, that that too is considered being prepared? It is just on a different scale. This is what National Preparedness Month is all about - preparing for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. Disasters happen ever year, and you constantly see it on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters; disasters can and will happen, and it is up to you to be prepared for it should emergency services can't respond for days.
During an emergency or disaster, the one thing that you must do is be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should some event were to occur. During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, did you experience empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you decide to plant a garden to store food only to find it hard to find the canning supplies needed to do that?
During your educational quest of learning how to become prepared, don't be afraid to get ideas off of YouTube. The "Prepper" community has many people who have posted videos on there. Some caution should be taken as you watch and research as some of these people might seem a bit extreme; however they all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation and there is something that can be learned from them.
Today's video is from Guildbrook Farm, and she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
"The heart that gives, gathers." - Marianne Moore
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it the guy living alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with years of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this is excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish along with some extra cases of bottled water, that that too is considered being prepared? It is just on a different scale. This is what National Preparedness Month is all about - preparing for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. Disasters happen ever year, and you constantly see it on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters; disasters can and will happen, and it is up to you to be prepared for it should emergency services can't respond for days.
During an emergency or disaster, the one thing that you must do is be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should some event were to occur. During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, did you experience empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you decide to plant a garden to store food only to find it hard to find the canning supplies needed to do that?
During your educational quest of learning how to become prepared, don't be afraid to get ideas off of YouTube. The "Prepper" community has many people who have posted videos on there. Some caution should be taken as you watch and research as some of these people might seem a bit extreme; however they all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation and there is something that can be learned from them.
Today's video is from Guildbrook Farm, and she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
"The heart that gives, gathers." - Marianne Moore
September 14, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
So far during September's National Preparedness Month, our series of preparedness videos have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper into learning about those kits, as well as another important thing that we all need in order to survive any type of disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to either pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, COVID pandemics, or even railroad strikes that may cause food shortages?
What you may ask? Yes, railroad strikes... for those who may not be aware, the nations railroads haul everything under the sun, whether it be raw materials to make things, to the finished products as well as your produce across the country. The nations railroads and their unions have been attempting to come to agreements on their contracts. IF no agreement is made prior to 12:01 a.m. on September 16th, either the railroads can legally lock out its workers, or the railroad employees may legally walk off the job and strike. Either case will put even more strain on the current shipping crisis in this country. Do you remember the food shelves being empty during the pandemic? Are you prepared should those same food shortages return once again because of a potential work-age strike?
Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines in these videos as your individual tastes and needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan. Let's watch Oklahoma State University Extension Food Specialist Barbara Brown as she gives some ideas on what to put in your food kits. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
Attention Area Residents:
So far during September's National Preparedness Month, our series of preparedness videos have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper into learning about those kits, as well as another important thing that we all need in order to survive any type of disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to either pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, COVID pandemics, or even railroad strikes that may cause food shortages?
What you may ask? Yes, railroad strikes... for those who may not be aware, the nations railroads haul everything under the sun, whether it be raw materials to make things, to the finished products as well as your produce across the country. The nations railroads and their unions have been attempting to come to agreements on their contracts. IF no agreement is made prior to 12:01 a.m. on September 16th, either the railroads can legally lock out its workers, or the railroad employees may legally walk off the job and strike. Either case will put even more strain on the current shipping crisis in this country. Do you remember the food shelves being empty during the pandemic? Are you prepared should those same food shortages return once again because of a potential work-age strike?
Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines in these videos as your individual tastes and needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan. Let's watch Oklahoma State University Extension Food Specialist Barbara Brown as she gives some ideas on what to put in your food kits. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
September 13, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have merely just touched on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video gets a little bit more specific on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away as it can be expensive; however if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Since COVID-19 is still lingering around with different variants, you may consider adding N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
"We are all unique, and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe." - Rod Williams
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have merely just touched on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video gets a little bit more specific on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away as it can be expensive; however if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Since COVID-19 is still lingering around with different variants, you may consider adding N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
"We are all unique, and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe." - Rod Williams
September 12, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far have stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"? Would you know what to do? In episode 10 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness", we learn about how to shelter in place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” - Aristotle
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far have stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"? Would you know what to do? In episode 10 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness", we learn about how to shelter in place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” - Aristotle
September 11, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your kits, hopefully you are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and children know what to do should your house catch on fire? In episode 9 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness: Fire: Get Out!" Today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do, and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters; Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster; and practice. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
"The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times." - Zig Ziglar
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your kits, hopefully you are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and children know what to do should your house catch on fire? In episode 9 in our series "Disaster & Preparedness: Fire: Get Out!" Today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do, and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters; Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster; and practice. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
"The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times." - Zig Ziglar
September 10, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's watch episode eight in our series of "Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up." www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's watch episode eight in our series of "Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up." www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
September 9, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You are setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch episode seven of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act." - Barbara Sher
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You are setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch episode seven of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act." - Barbara Sher
September 8, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); Second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by learning about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies.
Let's watch episode six of "Disaster Meets Preparedness: What's Your Next Move?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); Second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by learning about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies.
Let's watch episode six of "Disaster Meets Preparedness: What's Your Next Move?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke
September 7, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. What better way to learn about preparedness than to read a book about it. Do you know what to do if the power grid ever were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, food, medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Natures Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch episode five of "Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word"....
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. What better way to learn about preparedness than to read a book about it. Do you know what to do if the power grid ever were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, food, medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Natures Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch episode five of "Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word"....
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - George Lucas
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
September 6, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month which is set aside by the federal and state government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster were to strike in your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? If the disaster were to require you to shelter in place, would you know what to do? Do you have the necessary supplies on hand to handle the situation? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Episode four of "Disaster and Preparedness: Should I Stay or Should I Go", talks about this in order to get you to start thinking and making plans.
"Let no one keep you from your journey." - Mark Nepo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month which is set aside by the federal and state government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster were to strike in your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? If the disaster were to require you to shelter in place, would you know what to do? Do you have the necessary supplies on hand to handle the situation? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Episode four of "Disaster and Preparedness: Should I Stay or Should I Go", talks about this in order to get you to start thinking and making plans.
"Let no one keep you from your journey." - Mark Nepo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
September 5, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability for when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 911 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster were to occur, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's, or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch episode three in our video series titled "Disaster and Preparedness: It's not Rocket Science".
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability for when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 911 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster were to occur, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's, or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch episode three in our video series titled "Disaster and Preparedness: It's not Rocket Science".
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
September 4, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. In episode two of our video series "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness", we will learn how to keep mayhem at a minimum. Let's watch... youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
“Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’” - Mathew 19:19 - NIV
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. In episode two of our video series "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness", we will learn how to keep mayhem at a minimum. Let's watch... youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
“Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’” - Mathew 19:19 - NIV
September 3, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be starting a video series entitled "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness". Today in episode one we will meet our characters. Let's see what we learn from them.... youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
“Enthusiasm propels the world.” - Victoria Erickson
Attention Area Residents:
Today during National Preparedness Month, we will be starting a video series entitled "A tale of Disaster and Preparedness". Today in episode one we will meet our characters. Let's see what we learn from them.... youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
“Enthusiasm propels the world.” - Victoria Erickson
September 2, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where governments stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems as if some sort of disaster is happening somewhere in the country. It isn't uncommon to watch wildfires out west, or hurricanes along the Gulf of Mexico or on the eastern seaboard, or even tornados, flooding or ice storms in the midwest.
While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber go up due to lumber shortages because of their rebuild after the disaster, not to mention we are still suffering from the higher prices caused by COVID.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan, an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
“Before you’ll change, something important must be at risk.” - Richard Bach
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where governments stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems as if some sort of disaster is happening somewhere in the country. It isn't uncommon to watch wildfires out west, or hurricanes along the Gulf of Mexico or on the eastern seaboard, or even tornados, flooding or ice storms in the midwest.
While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber go up due to lumber shortages because of their rebuild after the disaster, not to mention we are still suffering from the higher prices caused by COVID.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan, an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
“Before you’ll change, something important must be at risk.” - Richard Bach
September 1, 2022
Attention Area Residents:
Welcome to September! The federal government has dedicated September as being National Preparedness Month. The reason for this is to educate the public on how to be prepared should some form of emergency or disaster (whether it be natural or man-made) were to occur. Depending on the disaster at hand, emergency services may not be able to reach you in time. If this unfortunate occurrence were to happen to you, then you need to be able to address the situation at hand. This is the intent of this month long series on Emergency Preparedness. This series is designed to teach you how to prepare, as well as to think about what you would do during various types of disasters. While every possible scenario cannot be addressed in this series, it is hoped that it will expand your knowledge for you to be able to survive should emergency help not be able to arrive right away. Let's begin by clicking on the following link:
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
“Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.” - David Lloyd George
Attention Area Residents:
Welcome to September! The federal government has dedicated September as being National Preparedness Month. The reason for this is to educate the public on how to be prepared should some form of emergency or disaster (whether it be natural or man-made) were to occur. Depending on the disaster at hand, emergency services may not be able to reach you in time. If this unfortunate occurrence were to happen to you, then you need to be able to address the situation at hand. This is the intent of this month long series on Emergency Preparedness. This series is designed to teach you how to prepare, as well as to think about what you would do during various types of disasters. While every possible scenario cannot be addressed in this series, it is hoped that it will expand your knowledge for you to be able to survive should emergency help not be able to arrive right away. Let's begin by clicking on the following link:
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
“Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.” - David Lloyd George
September 30, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
September was chosen as National Preparedness Month, as the tragedies of September 11, 2001 highlighted to the nation the importance of being prepared. Also, September has been chosen partly because of the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in mid-September. The month is set aside by the federal government in an attempt to get everyone educated, and to bring awareness to the public, the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster ever come your way. Disasters can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and now even pandemics. Are you prepared?
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit. In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, a NOAA All Hazards radio, medications, pet needs, etc, to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water on hand for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this; whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water to. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not, you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as a gas stove, an outdoor grill or a wood fireplace (with the appropriate fuel source) to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space. Some big box stores such as Walmart may let you dry camp in your camper for two days.
The "Prepper" community has a saying - "2 is 1, and 1 is none." This means that you should always have a back up plan should your original plan fail; because having no back up plan is the same as having no plan at all.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas on making a plan and kit that works for you. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourages the opinions of these YouTubers; however some of there opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you." - Marsha Norman
Attention Area Residents:
September was chosen as National Preparedness Month, as the tragedies of September 11, 2001 highlighted to the nation the importance of being prepared. Also, September has been chosen partly because of the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in mid-September. The month is set aside by the federal government in an attempt to get everyone educated, and to bring awareness to the public, the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster ever come your way. Disasters can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and now even pandemics. Are you prepared?
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit. In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, a NOAA All Hazards radio, medications, pet needs, etc, to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water on hand for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this; whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water to. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not, you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as a gas stove, an outdoor grill or a wood fireplace (with the appropriate fuel source) to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space. Some big box stores such as Walmart may let you dry camp in your camper for two days.
The "Prepper" community has a saying - "2 is 1, and 1 is none." This means that you should always have a back up plan should your original plan fail; because having no back up plan is the same as having no plan at all.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas on making a plan and kit that works for you. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community as these people know how to be prepared. Caution is advised on some of those videos, as the views by some may be considered quite extreme. The Village doesn't endorse nor discourages the opinions of these YouTubers; however some of there opinions may be very helpful in creating your own plans. Thank you for participating by reading and watching the content all this month.
Make A Plan - Build A Kit - Stay Informed!
"Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you." - Marsha Norman
September 29, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate you on how to prepare for, and be safe during an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for your pets. They are a part of your family and you need to take precautions for them with supplies just as you would for yourself. The following videos are a sample of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for the furry members of your family. The views and opinions of these YouTubers are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but are being shared for informational purposes.
Pet Emergency Preparedness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been offering tips from FEMA and other resources to try and educate you on how to prepare for, and be safe during an emergency or disaster. Today's topic is about preparing for your pets. They are a part of your family and you need to take precautions for them with supplies just as you would for yourself. The following videos are a sample of what you can find on YouTube to help you prepare for the furry members of your family. The views and opinions of these YouTubers are theirs and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona; but are being shared for informational purposes.
Pet Emergency Preparedness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uAxzFxA_ko
Cats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyiKlbjiB0
Dogs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6RdtKkFkNQ
How To Bug Out With Pets In An Emergency: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqukuBfLRY
City of Kirkland, Washington Seminar on Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ha1xxEg30c
"It's the little things that make life wonderful." - Anonymous
September 28, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
As National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have learned enough about emergency preparedness to start preparing you and your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood as recommended by FEMA.
Let's test your knowledge with a couple of scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset.....
Scenario #1) Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant (approximately 50 miles away). There is a major accident which requires evacuation of the entire area for 100 miles. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since it is 50 miles away, you only need to go over 50 miles away to be in the clear. Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating will have the same idea as well. Does everyone in your family have a smart phone? If so (and if it works), you can have everyone try and find a hotel room and book your reservation while you are concentrating on driving. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a newer GM vehicle equipped with On Star? They may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further is more likely. Do you have a tent, camper or RV? This is an option, and your camper or RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground somewhere may be a better choice to stay rather than trying to book that hotel room. But none of these will help you unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the fuel for your campers. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Scenario #2) There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut and are impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house back up generator your power will turn on, you will have the electricity to run your furnace to stay warm and to cook on your stove. But what if you don't have a generator? Do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have a gas grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks after the summer grilling season. Are you fortunate to have a fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you already have the wood stored for it. Remember in this scenario that the roads are impassable, so getting your items when you need them is not an option.
The above are two things to consider. There are numerous disaster situations that could occur. Any plan is better than no plan at all. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
The following video is a recap of items that FEMA recommends that you have in your home. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorse nor discourages his views.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." - Roger Staubach
Attention Area Residents:
As National Preparedness Month starts to come to an end, hopefully you have learned enough about emergency preparedness to start preparing you and your family should a disaster happen in your neighborhood as recommended by FEMA.
Let's test your knowledge with a couple of scenarios. These scenarios may or may not be realistic, but they are designed to get your mind to think in the proper mindset.....
Scenario #1) Cordova, Illinois has a nuclear power plant (approximately 50 miles away). There is a major accident which requires evacuation of the entire area for 100 miles. Do you know what you would do, or where you would go? Since it is 50 miles away, you only need to go over 50 miles away to be in the clear. Would you try and book a hotel somewhere in Peoria or further away? While this may sound like a good idea, thousands of people who are evacuating will have the same idea as well. Does everyone in your family have a smart phone? If so (and if it works), you can have everyone try and find a hotel room and book your reservation while you are concentrating on driving. But what if you are by yourself? Do you have a newer GM vehicle equipped with On Star? They may be able to book your reservation for you. Since everyone within the 100 mile area will be evacuating, finding hotels just outside of the evacuation zone could be very difficult and the need to travel further is more likely. Do you have a tent, camper or RV? This is an option, and your camper or RV can give you some comforts of home, as well as storage for your emergency supplies that you have taken with you. Not everyone owns these camping items, so a campground somewhere may be a better choice to stay rather than trying to book that hotel room. But none of these will help you unless your vehicles are filled up with gas and you have the fuel for your campers. Do you have at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle? Do you have spare gas cans at home which are filled? The lines at the gas stations will be long with people needing gas, so those extra cans may be enough to get you out of the immediate danger zone to where you can fill up.
Scenario #2) There is a major winter snow and ice storm. Power lines are down, and the roads are closed and drifted shut and are impassable. You are forced to shelter at home. Will you survive? With no power, you have no heat and your pipes could freeze and you will get cold. What is your plan? If you have a whole house back up generator your power will turn on, you will have the electricity to run your furnace to stay warm and to cook on your stove. But what if you don't have a generator? Do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. No gas stove? Do you have a gas grill? If so, you can still cook providing you had topped off all of your LP tanks after the summer grilling season. Are you fortunate to have a fireplace? If so, you can not only stay warm, but you can also cook over that fire - providing of course you already have the wood stored for it. Remember in this scenario that the roads are impassable, so getting your items when you need them is not an option.
The above are two things to consider. There are numerous disaster situations that could occur. Any plan is better than no plan at all. Hopefully by now you have learned the basics that can potentially save your life or keep you somewhat comfortable until help can arrive.
The following video is a recap of items that FEMA recommends that you have in your home. The opinions of this YouTuber are his and the Village of Altona doesn't necessarily endorse nor discourages his views.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." - Roger Staubach
September 27, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video during National Preparedness Month is for the women. Since men and women are different, our YouTuber Pam, will address the sensitive nature and special needs for women during an emergency situation when creating your evacuation kit or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions are those of the YouTubers and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video during National Preparedness Month is for the women. Since men and women are different, our YouTuber Pam, will address the sensitive nature and special needs for women during an emergency situation when creating your evacuation kit or "bug out bags". As with all of the YouTube videos shown during this month, the opinions are those of the YouTubers and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAdmN3G_jo
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde
September 26, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
The Village of Altona throughout this National Preparedness Month has shared information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, our YouTuber will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
Attention Area Residents:
The Village of Altona throughout this National Preparedness Month has shared information and videos about the importance of having an emergency plan and a kit should a disaster occur. We've shared information about food for sheltering in place as well as evacuating. In today's video, our YouTuber will discuss a little more in depth about creating your own "bug out bag", but with a little twist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeCWJr3zrMA
Information from these YouTube videos are being shared strictly for informational purposes for your own research on the given topic. The opinions of these YouTubers are theirs, and are not necessarily endorsed nor discouraged by the Village of Altona. Emergency services may not be available for 72 hours depending on the disaster at hand and conditions on the ground; ultimately it will be up to you to be able to sustain yourself during that time until emergency services can come to your aid. Make a Plan - Build a Kit - Stay Informed!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
September 25, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. But what happens if you have to evacuate or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be the better option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these meals. The best thing to do is contact them and try them first before placing large orders; this way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste money. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online and some sell other emergency supplies as well. A sample list of companies is provided below for your own research. The following link shows a video of a few different companies that are available. youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination." - Michael Phelps
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been sharing a variety of tips on how to prepare should some sort of disaster comes your way and emergency services are not able to assist you for a given length of time. The past couple of days have been spent talking about food storage for sheltering in place. But what happens if you have to evacuate or you simply don't have the storage space for a larger pantry? Do you have the right foods in your pantry to take with you? Emergency food may be the better option for you in this case. If you must evacuate (or "bug out" as they say in the Prepper community), then all you need is hot water to cook these meals. There are numerous companies that make these meals. The best thing to do is contact them and try them first before placing large orders; this way when you make your purchase, you are buying something that you will actually eat and not waste money. Some of these products can be purchased at Walmart or Bass Pro Shop. All of them sell online and some sell other emergency supplies as well. A sample list of companies is provided below for your own research. The following link shows a video of a few different companies that are available. youtu.be/sF09RG8uynY
wisefoodstorage.com/
mypatriotsupply.com/
mountainhouse.com/
4patriots.com/
augasonfarms.com
valleyfoodstorage.com
sustain.com
"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination." - Michael Phelps
September 24, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about wildfires like the west coast states have been experiancing. We also don't have the yearly hurricanes that our coastal states contend with. But we can have strong winds such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the high winds that had caused downed power lines, severe damage to trees, buildings and vehicles on August 25th, 2021 here in Altona (some residents are still trying to recover).
Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is before it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now - BEFORE it happens.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing." - Seneca
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have to worry much about wildfires like the west coast states have been experiancing. We also don't have the yearly hurricanes that our coastal states contend with. But we can have strong winds such as the 112 mph Derecho wind storm that had occurred on August 10, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the high winds that had caused downed power lines, severe damage to trees, buildings and vehicles on August 25th, 2021 here in Altona (some residents are still trying to recover).
Soon, winter will be upon us. Will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? In today's video during National Preparedness Month, we visit with Brad from Wisconsin. His video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter. The time to prepare for an emergency or disaster is before it happens, and since disaster doesn't make an appointment on your calendar; the time to prepare is now - BEFORE it happens.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing." - Seneca
September 23, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is excessive; I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the pandemic last year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please review any of the videos or material that has been discussed so far, then Create a plan - Build a kit - Stay Informed!
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
Attention Area Residents:
In yesterday's video from Guildbrook Farm, Jamie explained how to build a 3 week working pantry in order to have enough food on hand should a disaster or job loss occur. In today's video, we will once again visit with Jamie as she explains how to build a pantry that will last a full year. While one may think that having that much food stored is excessive; I doubt that she had to worry about having enough food to feed her family during the food shortages that the entire country went through during the early stages of the pandemic last year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many things to consider when learning to prepare for emergencies or disasters. Please review any of the videos or material that has been discussed so far, then Create a plan - Build a kit - Stay Informed!
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
September 22, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it the guy living alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with years of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this is excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish along with some extra cases of bottled water, that that too is considered being prepared? It is just on a different scale. This is what National Preparedness Month is all about - preparing for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. Disasters happen ever year, and you constantly see it on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters; disasters can and will happen, and it is up to you to be prepared for it should emergency services can't respond for days.
During an emergency or disaster, the one thing that you must do is be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should some event were to occur. During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, did you experience empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you decide to plant a garden to store food only to find it hard to find the canning supplies needed to do that?
During your educational quest of learning how to become prepared, don't be afraid to get ideas off of YouTube. The "Prepper" community has many people who have posted videos on there. Some caution should be taken as you watch and research as some of these people might seem a bit extreme; however they all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation and there is something that can be learned from them.
Today's video is from Guildbrook Farm, and she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
"The heart that gives, gathers." - Marianne Moore
Attention Area Residents:
When you think of the term "Prepper", what comes to your mind? Is it the guy living alone in a bunker somewhere in Montana with years of food, 500 gallons of fuel, and ten thousand rounds of ammunition stored, just waiting for the world to come to an end? While one might think that this is excessive, one can't argue the fact that he isn't prepared. But did you know that if someone just had an extra case of peanut butter or tuna fish along with some extra cases of bottled water, that that too is considered being prepared? It is just on a different scale. This is what National Preparedness Month is all about - preparing for some sort of disaster or emergency that will disrupt your life. Disasters happen ever year, and you constantly see it on the news. While certain parts of the country are more prone than others for certain disasters; disasters can and will happen, and it is up to you to be prepared for it should emergency services can't respond for days.
During an emergency or disaster, the one thing that you must do is be able to eat. It is important to have a supply of food on hand should some event were to occur. During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, did you experience empty store shelves of basic items such as toilet paper, canned foods, baking supplies to bake your own bread, meat, eggs, etc.? Did you decide to plant a garden to store food only to find it hard to find the canning supplies needed to do that?
During your educational quest of learning how to become prepared, don't be afraid to get ideas off of YouTube. The "Prepper" community has many people who have posted videos on there. Some caution should be taken as you watch and research as some of these people might seem a bit extreme; however they all have one thing in common - they know how to be prepared for any situation and there is something that can be learned from them.
Today's video is from Guildbrook Farm, and she explains how to "Start a 3 Week Prepper Food Pantry."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gk7yKcaGjA
"The heart that gives, gathers." - Marianne Moore
September 21, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
A disaster, whether it be from the weather, terror attack, chemical spill from a train derailment, or in any other form can happen at any time. This is why the Federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month. In order to help you get started and to understand the importance of preparedness, please watch the following video from FEMA then visit their website for ideas to help you get prepared for an emergency or disaster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_omgt3MEBs
"How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!" - George Elliston
Attention Area Residents:
A disaster, whether it be from the weather, terror attack, chemical spill from a train derailment, or in any other form can happen at any time. This is why the Federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month. In order to help you get started and to understand the importance of preparedness, please watch the following video from FEMA then visit their website for ideas to help you get prepared for an emergency or disaster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_omgt3MEBs
"How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!" - George Elliston
September 20, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
The Federal government has set aside the month of September as National Preparedness Month as a time for you and your family to learn about being prepared should some sort of emergency or disaster were to happen. So far this month, the Village of Altona has been sharing a few short video series to help you learn the importance of being prepared. Why? Because when a disaster occurs, it may be 72 hours before help can arrive to assist you. Let's view the tenth and final video in this particular video series. In this video, Disaster strikes with a chemical spill and Preparedness explains what you should do. Do you live along U.S. Highway 34? Are there railroad tracks that go near you? The scenario in this video is something that could very well happen in your neighborhood as hazardous materials are shipped in a variety of ways throughout this country on a daily basis. Please click on the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." - Maya Angelou
Attention Area Residents:
The Federal government has set aside the month of September as National Preparedness Month as a time for you and your family to learn about being prepared should some sort of emergency or disaster were to happen. So far this month, the Village of Altona has been sharing a few short video series to help you learn the importance of being prepared. Why? Because when a disaster occurs, it may be 72 hours before help can arrive to assist you. Let's view the tenth and final video in this particular video series. In this video, Disaster strikes with a chemical spill and Preparedness explains what you should do. Do you live along U.S. Highway 34? Are there railroad tracks that go near you? The scenario in this video is something that could very well happen in your neighborhood as hazardous materials are shipped in a variety of ways throughout this country on a daily basis. Please click on the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." - Maya Angelou
September 19, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
National Preparedness Month is about learning how to prepare you and your family for when some sort of disaster comes your way. As we dive deeper into becoming prepared, let's look at what to do in case of a fire.
youtu.be/W46ENJt-cSU
Attention Area Residents:
National Preparedness Month is about learning how to prepare you and your family for when some sort of disaster comes your way. As we dive deeper into becoming prepared, let's look at what to do in case of a fire.
youtu.be/W46ENJt-cSU
September 18, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
So for during National Preparedness Month, you have learned the basics on how to prepare for a disaster or an emergency. Now let us start learning with a little more detail. Do you know what to do in case of a tornado?
youtu.be/5iWC5qIP1oY
Attention Area Residents:
So for during National Preparedness Month, you have learned the basics on how to prepare for a disaster or an emergency. Now let us start learning with a little more detail. Do you know what to do in case of a tornado?
youtu.be/5iWC5qIP1oY
September 17, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been learning about what it takes to be prepared should a disaster comes knocking at your door. Please click to watch the next video in our series of "Disaster and Preparedness". www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"All the power is within you. You can do anything." - Swami Vivekananda
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, we have been learning about what it takes to be prepared should a disaster comes knocking at your door. Please click to watch the next video in our series of "Disaster and Preparedness". www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"All the power is within you. You can do anything." - Swami Vivekananda
September 16, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Preparing for an emergency or disaster is like a game of chess. To win at the game, you need to anticipate your opponents next move. While we can never predict what Mother Nature will throw our way, we can however plan for the different weather systems in order to hit your responce out of the ball park. Click on the following link to watch the next video in our educational series during National Preparedness Month.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Attention Area Residents:
Preparing for an emergency or disaster is like a game of chess. To win at the game, you need to anticipate your opponents next move. While we can never predict what Mother Nature will throw our way, we can however plan for the different weather systems in order to hit your responce out of the ball park. Click on the following link to watch the next video in our educational series during National Preparedness Month.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
September 15, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
We have learned during National Preparedness month the importance of creating emergency kits and making plans. One important thing to prepare for is the loss of communication. Be sure to add a NOAA All Hazards Radio in your emergency kit with extra batteries. If you don't already have one for your home, pick up two - one for your kit, and one for your home to help warn you of severe weather should you have to evacuate; as you may forget to grab the one from your house. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
"The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it." - Henry Ford
Attention Area Residents:
We have learned during National Preparedness month the importance of creating emergency kits and making plans. One important thing to prepare for is the loss of communication. Be sure to add a NOAA All Hazards Radio in your emergency kit with extra batteries. If you don't already have one for your home, pick up two - one for your kit, and one for your home to help warn you of severe weather should you have to evacuate; as you may forget to grab the one from your house. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
"The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it." - Henry Ford
September 14, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
We've been learning during National Preparedness Month the importance of making emergency plans, and building an emergency kit in case emergency services cannot get to you within the first 72 hours. There are all sorts of disasters that could cause you to either shelter in place or evacuate your home or workplace. Have you thought about what or how to do that? When making your emergency plans, don't forget to think about those situations. The better your plan, the easier it will be to enact it if and when disaster strikes. Click to see today's episode of "Preparedness Meets Disaster", brought to you by the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee of Greater Kansas City. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill
Attention Area Residents:
We've been learning during National Preparedness Month the importance of making emergency plans, and building an emergency kit in case emergency services cannot get to you within the first 72 hours. There are all sorts of disasters that could cause you to either shelter in place or evacuate your home or workplace. Have you thought about what or how to do that? When making your emergency plans, don't forget to think about those situations. The better your plan, the easier it will be to enact it if and when disaster strikes. Click to see today's episode of "Preparedness Meets Disaster", brought to you by the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee of Greater Kansas City. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill
September 13, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
National Preparedness Month is about learning how, as well as taking action to prepare yourself and your family for some sort of disaster in order to lessen yourself becoming a victim. Different events will call for different plans of actions. Your planning can either be simple or in depth, however all of your actions first start out with a plan. When planning for a disaster, start out simple; make a basic plan and build your emergency kit. After you have made your basic plan and built your basic kit; then you can go back and fine tune it and prepare for more specific emergencies.
In today's episode of Disaster theatre, we review the basics to get you started.
youtu.be/nMrPXBlZhlA
Attention Area Residents:
National Preparedness Month is about learning how, as well as taking action to prepare yourself and your family for some sort of disaster in order to lessen yourself becoming a victim. Different events will call for different plans of actions. Your planning can either be simple or in depth, however all of your actions first start out with a plan. When planning for a disaster, start out simple; make a basic plan and build your emergency kit. After you have made your basic plan and built your basic kit; then you can go back and fine tune it and prepare for more specific emergencies.
In today's episode of Disaster theatre, we review the basics to get you started.
youtu.be/nMrPXBlZhlA
September 12, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Building an emergency kit and planning what to do in various circumstances isn't difficult, it's like planning a vacation to a popular destination. The earlier you start planning, and the more thought you put into it, the more successful the journey will be. Just as you educate yourself for a trip somewhere; educating yourself for disasters or unexpected emergency situations is what National Preparedness Month is all about. Today's episode of "a tale of Disaster and Preparedness" is titled "Keep Mayhem to Minimum." Click on the following link to learn just how to do that.
https://youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." - Tony Robbins
Attention Area Residents:
Building an emergency kit and planning what to do in various circumstances isn't difficult, it's like planning a vacation to a popular destination. The earlier you start planning, and the more thought you put into it, the more successful the journey will be. Just as you educate yourself for a trip somewhere; educating yourself for disasters or unexpected emergency situations is what National Preparedness Month is all about. Today's episode of "a tale of Disaster and Preparedness" is titled "Keep Mayhem to Minimum." Click on the following link to learn just how to do that.
https://youtu.be/lkr93WBEiaM
"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." - Tony Robbins
September 11, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
So far during National Preparedness Month, we have talked about the need to make an emergency kit, as well as having an emergency plan.
Make a plan for any emergency:
Plans are a necessary part of life. If you want to start a company you need a business plan, the game of chess requires a plan of attack, or you might even plan a vacation. But how many of us take the time to create an emergency plan?
It is important to sit down with your loved ones before an emergency happens to talk about the possible hazards you face, what you need to do during an incident and what steps you will take to recover when the disaster is over.
Let's begin our video series titled "a tale of Disaster & Preparedness"; brought to you by PrepareMetroKC. The first episode is titled, Meet "Disaster" and "Preparedness". youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
"Life is a sum of all your choices." - Albert Camus
Attention Area Residents:
So far during National Preparedness Month, we have talked about the need to make an emergency kit, as well as having an emergency plan.
Make a plan for any emergency:
Plans are a necessary part of life. If you want to start a company you need a business plan, the game of chess requires a plan of attack, or you might even plan a vacation. But how many of us take the time to create an emergency plan?
It is important to sit down with your loved ones before an emergency happens to talk about the possible hazards you face, what you need to do during an incident and what steps you will take to recover when the disaster is over.
- Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Learn what to do in each case.
- Pick two places to meet: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire, and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Make sure everyone knows the addresses and phone numbers of your meeting places.
- Check on the emergency plans of all schools your children attend
Let's begin our video series titled "a tale of Disaster & Preparedness"; brought to you by PrepareMetroKC. The first episode is titled, Meet "Disaster" and "Preparedness". youtu.be/IWVevsBhLBo
"Life is a sum of all your choices." - Albert Camus
September 10, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we've been discussing the importance of having an emergency kit should you need to shelter in place. Today's video features Meteorologist Maiya May from the PBS channel show Weathered. She will not only give you ideas on items to stock for sheltering in place, but also to store in a to go or "bug out bag" should you have to evacuate. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiqlUC--R6k
"In order to achieve one must be inspired." - Tom Krause
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we've been discussing the importance of having an emergency kit should you need to shelter in place. Today's video features Meteorologist Maiya May from the PBS channel show Weathered. She will not only give you ideas on items to stock for sheltering in place, but also to store in a to go or "bug out bag" should you have to evacuate. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiqlUC--R6k
"In order to achieve one must be inspired." - Tom Krause
September 9, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
FEMA recommends that everyone have an emergency kit which will allow you to be sustainable for at least 72 hours should some sort of an emergency or disaster were to occur. As part of our education this month during National Preparedness Month; today's video takes you through some of those recommended items that you should keep in your home. Feel free to add items that you feel would be beneficial to you during a crisis. Emergency kits are unique to every individual, there are no right or wrong kits. The only wrong kit is not having one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f44CZLVJaU
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams
Attention Area Residents:
FEMA recommends that everyone have an emergency kit which will allow you to be sustainable for at least 72 hours should some sort of an emergency or disaster were to occur. As part of our education this month during National Preparedness Month; today's video takes you through some of those recommended items that you should keep in your home. Feel free to add items that you feel would be beneficial to you during a crisis. Emergency kits are unique to every individual, there are no right or wrong kits. The only wrong kit is not having one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f44CZLVJaU
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." - John Quincy Adams
September 8, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we've been showing ideas of what to have in your emergency kit. Why have a kit? Because when a disaster occurs, emergency services may not be able to come to your aid for awhile due to conditions on the ground, which is why FEMA recommends that you have enough supplies for at least 72 hours. Don't forget the recommended water allotment of at least one gallon, per person, per day, and don't forget your pets needs as well. In today's video we will once again visit Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvs6raUzX8w
"The best we can do with the future is prepare and savor the possibilities of what can be done in the present." - Todd Kashdan
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we've been showing ideas of what to have in your emergency kit. Why have a kit? Because when a disaster occurs, emergency services may not be able to come to your aid for awhile due to conditions on the ground, which is why FEMA recommends that you have enough supplies for at least 72 hours. Don't forget the recommended water allotment of at least one gallon, per person, per day, and don't forget your pets needs as well. In today's video we will once again visit Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvs6raUzX8w
"The best we can do with the future is prepare and savor the possibilities of what can be done in the present." - Todd Kashdan
September 7, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we have been discussing items to have in your emergency kit and the importance of having one. In today's video, a YouTuber who happens to be a survivalist, discusses the 15 items that the American Red Cross recommends that you have in your kit and why. Enjoy the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfN_S5W0MJ
Attention Area Residents:
This week during National Preparedness Month, we have been discussing items to have in your emergency kit and the importance of having one. In today's video, a YouTuber who happens to be a survivalist, discusses the 15 items that the American Red Cross recommends that you have in your kit and why. Enjoy the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfN_S5W0MJ
September 6, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Since many of you are home during this Labor Day holiday, today would be a good day to start talking with your family about the importance of being prepared during National Preparedness Month, and what you would do should a disaster strike our area. Would you shelter in place? If so, what kind of supplies would you need, and do you have all of those supplies for all the various types of disasters that would require you to shelter in place? Would you need to evacuate at a moments notice or at least with very little notice at all? Do you have a plan for where you'd go; where you'd shelter, or what food you'd eat? Do you have enough water for everyone in your family for one gallon per person per day as recommended by FEMA? Today's link is from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, and they give ideas and recommendations on what you should have in your emergency kit or "bug out bag". You can add anything else that you can think of. www.ready.gov/kit
Attention Area Residents:
Since many of you are home during this Labor Day holiday, today would be a good day to start talking with your family about the importance of being prepared during National Preparedness Month, and what you would do should a disaster strike our area. Would you shelter in place? If so, what kind of supplies would you need, and do you have all of those supplies for all the various types of disasters that would require you to shelter in place? Would you need to evacuate at a moments notice or at least with very little notice at all? Do you have a plan for where you'd go; where you'd shelter, or what food you'd eat? Do you have enough water for everyone in your family for one gallon per person per day as recommended by FEMA? Today's link is from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, and they give ideas and recommendations on what you should have in your emergency kit or "bug out bag". You can add anything else that you can think of. www.ready.gov/kit
September 5, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Last week during National Preparedness Month, we talked about the importance of having a plan for the various disasters that may occur. This week we will focus on preparing an emergency kit. Why have an emergency kit or "bug out bag" as some refer to it as? Some disasters require you to shelter in place such as a tornado or chemical spill; while others will require you to evacuate immediately such as hurricanes or fires. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. Hopefully this will give you some ideas on what to have in your kit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
"You must do the things you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Attention Area Residents:
Last week during National Preparedness Month, we talked about the importance of having a plan for the various disasters that may occur. This week we will focus on preparing an emergency kit. Why have an emergency kit or "bug out bag" as some refer to it as? Some disasters require you to shelter in place such as a tornado or chemical spill; while others will require you to evacuate immediately such as hurricanes or fires. Today's video is from the Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. Hopefully this will give you some ideas on what to have in your kit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0hsW1tOmU
"You must do the things you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
September 4, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
As you should know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month dedicated by the federal government to educate the public on how to prepare should some sort of disaster occurs. This week we have been talking about how to make a plan. Today's video is brought to you by Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. It will give you a little more detail as to what your plan making should consist of. Hopefully this video will help you with your plan making. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw
"Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive." - Hafez
Attention Area Residents:
As you should know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month dedicated by the federal government to educate the public on how to prepare should some sort of disaster occurs. This week we have been talking about how to make a plan. Today's video is brought to you by Sedgwick County, Kansas Emergency Management. It will give you a little more detail as to what your plan making should consist of. Hopefully this video will help you with your plan making. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_id2F23sw
"Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive." - Hafez
September 3, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, the federal government's goal is to educate everyone on how to prepare for a disaster. Disasters can come in many forms; whether it be from wildfires like on our west coast, hurricanes and flooding in Louisiana and New York, or from snow and ice storms, tornadoes, and high winds in the mid-west. In order to survive with the least amount of troubles is to have a plan. Remember, that during a disaster, emergency services and governmental agencies may not be able to come to your call for help due to the situation at hand; so it is best to have a plan. The best way to plan is to sit down and decide what and how you would or could react in every possible scenario. This is what county Emergency Management Agencies do, and like them, you should always practice your plan. Here are some tips from Grange Insurance on how to make a plan...
www.grangeinsurance.com/tips/7-tips-for-creating-a-home-emergency-plan
"Life changes very quickly, in a very positive way, if you let it." - Lindsey Vonn
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, the federal government's goal is to educate everyone on how to prepare for a disaster. Disasters can come in many forms; whether it be from wildfires like on our west coast, hurricanes and flooding in Louisiana and New York, or from snow and ice storms, tornadoes, and high winds in the mid-west. In order to survive with the least amount of troubles is to have a plan. Remember, that during a disaster, emergency services and governmental agencies may not be able to come to your call for help due to the situation at hand; so it is best to have a plan. The best way to plan is to sit down and decide what and how you would or could react in every possible scenario. This is what county Emergency Management Agencies do, and like them, you should always practice your plan. Here are some tips from Grange Insurance on how to make a plan...
www.grangeinsurance.com/tips/7-tips-for-creating-a-home-emergency-plan
"Life changes very quickly, in a very positive way, if you let it." - Lindsey Vonn
September 2, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month - the month set aside by the federal government to learn about being prepared for life's tragedies. How do you start? First, you start with a plan. Any plan is better than none, but the more prepared you are, and the better your plan; the more likely that you'll be able to survive the disaster at hand. The following link from FEMA, with help guide and prepare you from anything from avalanches to winter storms. www.ready.gov/plan
"With the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything." - Reese Witherspoon
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month - the month set aside by the federal government to learn about being prepared for life's tragedies. How do you start? First, you start with a plan. Any plan is better than none, but the more prepared you are, and the better your plan; the more likely that you'll be able to survive the disaster at hand. The following link from FEMA, with help guide and prepare you from anything from avalanches to winter storms. www.ready.gov/plan
"With the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything." - Reese Witherspoon
September 1, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has dedicated the month of September as National Preparedness Month. They want you to take this month to educate yourself on the importance of being prepared for life's emergencies as well as all sorts of disasters. When it comes to a disaster, government agencies may be overwhelmed with the situation at hand, and that they may not be able to assist you. Therefore it is important to learn how to prepare for disasters. Throughout this month, the Village will be posting tips, articles, and videos from a variety of government and other sources to help you learn how to prepare for a disaster. You may also look back in the Village archives under the "Current News" section of the past years. Scroll back to the month of September to view all of those postings. The Village hopes that we never have to experience a disaster, but in the event that we do, we hope that you will be better prepared after viewing these postings. Click on the following link to begin...
nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." - Mae Jemison
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has dedicated the month of September as National Preparedness Month. They want you to take this month to educate yourself on the importance of being prepared for life's emergencies as well as all sorts of disasters. When it comes to a disaster, government agencies may be overwhelmed with the situation at hand, and that they may not be able to assist you. Therefore it is important to learn how to prepare for disasters. Throughout this month, the Village will be posting tips, articles, and videos from a variety of government and other sources to help you learn how to prepare for a disaster. You may also look back in the Village archives under the "Current News" section of the past years. Scroll back to the month of September to view all of those postings. The Village hopes that we never have to experience a disaster, but in the event that we do, we hope that you will be better prepared after viewing these postings. Click on the following link to begin...
nationaldaycalendar.com/national-preparedness-month/
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." - Mae Jemison
March 31, 2021
Attention Village Residents:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month. As we bring this month to a close, hopefully you had found the information provided from FEMA useful. Remember, the more one is prepared for severe weather or an emergency, the better off you'll be during those circumstances and beyond. Village of Altona residents are now eligible to acquire flood insurance to protect their homes if they wish. If you have ever experienced any type of flooding in the past, you know how expensive the aftermath can be. For those interested in acquiring flood insurance, please click on the following link to find out more information. www.floodsmart.gov/. Please feel free to scroll back through to review any information.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
Attention Village Residents:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month. As we bring this month to a close, hopefully you had found the information provided from FEMA useful. Remember, the more one is prepared for severe weather or an emergency, the better off you'll be during those circumstances and beyond. Village of Altona residents are now eligible to acquire flood insurance to protect their homes if they wish. If you have ever experienced any type of flooding in the past, you know how expensive the aftermath can be. For those interested in acquiring flood insurance, please click on the following link to find out more information. www.floodsmart.gov/. Please feel free to scroll back through to review any information.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
March 30, 2021
Attention Village Residents:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has been providing information from FEMA and other sources to help educate and prepare you for what to do with all types of severe weather. If you have ever experienced flooding or live in a low lying area, you are now eligible to take out flood insurance to protect your property since the Village is now part of the National Flood Insurance Program. Policies must be in effect 30 days prior to your incident, so if you wish to acquire this coverage for your home you must be proactive and act now before all the spring rains hit.
“If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” - Nora Roberts
Registration Now Open: Spring Flood Insurance Briefing for Region 5
FEMA's Region 5 National Flood Insurance Program team is hosting two opportunities for you to learn more about flood insurance in the lead-up to spring and summer flood seasons.
This webinar will discuss introductory concepts of the National Flood Insurance Program including:
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for FEMA Region 5 (Option 1)
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for FEMA Region 5 (Option 2)
Attention Village Residents:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has been providing information from FEMA and other sources to help educate and prepare you for what to do with all types of severe weather. If you have ever experienced flooding or live in a low lying area, you are now eligible to take out flood insurance to protect your property since the Village is now part of the National Flood Insurance Program. Policies must be in effect 30 days prior to your incident, so if you wish to acquire this coverage for your home you must be proactive and act now before all the spring rains hit.
“If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” - Nora Roberts
Registration Now Open: Spring Flood Insurance Briefing for Region 5
FEMA's Region 5 National Flood Insurance Program team is hosting two opportunities for you to learn more about flood insurance in the lead-up to spring and summer flood seasons.
This webinar will discuss introductory concepts of the National Flood Insurance Program including:
- Flood risk
- Flood insurance compared to disaster assistance
- Brief overview of participation requirements, Elevation Certificates (ECs), and Letters of Map Change (LOMC)
- Purchasing flood insurance and premiums
- Claims and appeals
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for FEMA Region 5 (Option 1)
- Tuesday, March 30, 2021 9:30:00 AM CDT - 11:00:00 AM
- https://fema.connectsolutions.com/evet14d13v19/event/event_info.html
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for FEMA Region 5 (Option 2)
- Wednesday, March 31, 2021 11:30:00 AM CDT - 1:00:00 PM CDT
- https://fema.connectsolutions.com/ewdk49gabwlf/event/event_info.html
March 29, 2021
Attention Kids:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month, and all month long the Village of Altona has been sharing tips from FEMA and other sources trying to educate people on how to prepare for and be safe against severe weather. Do you know what a tornado is? You've seen and heard your parents and the weather man talking about them on the news, but do you know what a tornado really is? That is what today's video is about. Enjoy and be safe. Today's quote of the day is like a tornado...
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpuDYZ_g0yg
Attention Kids:
March has been Severe Weather Preparedness Month, and all month long the Village of Altona has been sharing tips from FEMA and other sources trying to educate people on how to prepare for and be safe against severe weather. Do you know what a tornado is? You've seen and heard your parents and the weather man talking about them on the news, but do you know what a tornado really is? That is what today's video is about. Enjoy and be safe. Today's quote of the day is like a tornado...
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpuDYZ_g0yg
March 26, 2021
Attention Kids!
Have you ever found yourself to be afraid during severe weather? There is no need to be afraid. Today's video is just for you. Let's watch "Peep & the Big Wide World" in Stormy Weather to learn why you should not be afraid.
"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature." - Rachel Carson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Li59FFilYQ
Attention Kids!
Have you ever found yourself to be afraid during severe weather? There is no need to be afraid. Today's video is just for you. Let's watch "Peep & the Big Wide World" in Stormy Weather to learn why you should not be afraid.
"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature." - Rachel Carson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Li59FFilYQ
March 25, 2021
Attention Village Residents:
With spring here, that also means the coming of spring rains and the potential of flooding. If you live in a low lying area or an area that usually is susceptible to flooding, now is the time to purchase flood insurance. In order to get flood coverage for your property, your community must belong to the National Flood Insurance Program. The Village of Altona has joined this program, and now you have this opportunity to get this coverage. To find out more, click on this link.... www.floodsmart.gov/
Attention Village Residents:
With spring here, that also means the coming of spring rains and the potential of flooding. If you live in a low lying area or an area that usually is susceptible to flooding, now is the time to purchase flood insurance. In order to get flood coverage for your property, your community must belong to the National Flood Insurance Program. The Village of Altona has joined this program, and now you have this opportunity to get this coverage. To find out more, click on this link.... www.floodsmart.gov/
March 24, 2021
Attention Kids!
Do you know the difference between "weather and severe weather"? Is it just how hard the wind is blowing? Is it just thunder and lightning? Watch today's video and find out...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZExLO0MWA
Attention Kids!
Do you know the difference between "weather and severe weather"? Is it just how hard the wind is blowing? Is it just thunder and lightning? Watch today's video and find out...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZExLO0MWA
March 23, 2021
Attention Kids:
Do you know what to do in case of severe weather or a disaster? Please watch the follow video with mom and dad to learn what things you should do. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LviZ4pZrqu8
"Passion is in all great searches and is necessary to all creative endeavors." - W. Eugene Smith
Attention Kids:
Do you know what to do in case of severe weather or a disaster? Please watch the follow video with mom and dad to learn what things you should do. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LviZ4pZrqu8
"Passion is in all great searches and is necessary to all creative endeavors." - W. Eugene Smith
March 22, 2021
Attention Kids:
The month of March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you or your parents know what to do in order to be safe? Click on the following video from FEMA to learn how to be safe during all types of severe weather.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXw1feTnkU4
"The sooner you learn it's on you to make life interesting, the better off you'll be." - Maria Semple
Attention Kids:
The month of March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you or your parents know what to do in order to be safe? Click on the following video from FEMA to learn how to be safe during all types of severe weather.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXw1feTnkU4
"The sooner you learn it's on you to make life interesting, the better off you'll be." - Maria Semple
March 20, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
This week during Severe Weather Preparedness Month we have been sharing tips from FEMA about tornadoes. Today's tips discusses how to stay safe after a tornado occurs.
Staying Safe After a Tornado
Attention Area Residents:
This week during Severe Weather Preparedness Month we have been sharing tips from FEMA about tornadoes. Today's tips discusses how to stay safe after a tornado occurs.
Staying Safe After a Tornado
- Keep listening to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information.
- Stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines.
- Save your phone calls for emergencies and use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and continue to shelter in place.
- Wear appropriate gear during clean-up such as thick-soled shoes, long pants, and work gloves, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
March 19, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
As you know by now, March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you know what to do or how to survive during tornadoes? Have you made any type of plans for any type of emergency? Here are today's tips from FEMA.
Survive DURING
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCl5MuiOu4
Attention Area Residents:
As you know by now, March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you know what to do or how to survive during tornadoes? Have you made any type of plans for any type of emergency? Here are today's tips from FEMA.
Survive DURING
- Immediately go to a safe location that you identified.
- Take additional cover by shielding your head and neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around you.
- Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
- Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.
- If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCl5MuiOu4
March 18, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Do you know how to stay safe and prepare for a tornado? That is today's topic. Here are some tips from FEMA.
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS
Prepare NOW
"It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." - Tony Robbins
Attention Area Residents:
Do you know how to stay safe and prepare for a tornado? That is today's topic. Here are some tips from FEMA.
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS
Prepare NOW
- Know your area’s tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a greater risk for tornadoes.
- Know the signs of a tornado, including a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud; an approaching cloud of debris; or a loud roar—similar to a freight train.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If your community has sirens, then become familiar with the warning tone. Sign up for email updates about coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Pay attention to weather reports. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.
- Identify and practice going to a safe shelter, while following the latest social and physical-distancing and other health safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your local health authorities, in the event of high winds, such as a safe room built using FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- Once you have identified your safe location, prepare for long-term social distancing by gathering emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, and water. If you must evacuate to go to a public shelter after a tornado, set aside items to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as soap, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, two masks for each person age 2 and older in the household, disinfecting wipes, and general household cleaning supplies that you can use to disinfect surfaces you touch regularly. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets. After a tornado, you may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks.
- Being prepared allows you to avoid unnecessary excursions and to address minor medical issues at home, alleviating the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals.
"It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." - Tony Robbins
March 17, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
So far during Severe Weather Preparedness Month, we have been giving out tips from FEMA and the National Weather Service about floods, thunderstorms and lightning. Today we will start looking at another weather phenomenon that can be very deadly......
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can:
Please be safe with severe weather. Look to the sky, download weather apps to your smart phones and get a NOAA All Hazards Radio for your home. Preparation is key to surviving severe weather.
Attention Area Residents:
So far during Severe Weather Preparedness Month, we have been giving out tips from FEMA and the National Weather Service about floods, thunderstorms and lightning. Today we will start looking at another weather phenomenon that can be very deadly......
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can:
- Happen anytime and anywhere;
- Bring intense winds, over 200 MPH; and
- Look like funnels.
- If you can safely get to a sturdy building, then do so immediately.
- Go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar.
- If you are in a building with no basement, then get to a small interior room on the lowest level.
- Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
- Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
- Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
- If you cannot stay at home after a tornado, make plans to shelter with friends and family. If necessary, go to a public shelter. Shelters are taking precautions to protect people from COVID-19.
- If you must go to a public shelter after a tornado, try to bring items that can help protect you and others in the shelter from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, cleaning materials, and two masks per person. Note that your regular public shelter may not be open this year. Check with local authorities for the latest information about public shelters.
- While you are at the shelter, take actions that will protect you and others from COVID-19. Wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household while at a public shelter. Children under 2 years old, people who have trouble breathing, and people who are unable to remove masks on their own should not wear them.
- Create an emergency plan so that you and your family know what you will do, where you will go, and what you will need to take with you to safely weather the storm.
- Review the CDC’s guidelines for “Going to a Public Disaster Shelter During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Please be safe with severe weather. Look to the sky, download weather apps to your smart phones and get a NOAA All Hazards Radio for your home. Preparation is key to surviving severe weather.
March 16, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
When it comes with anything in life, especially with being safe during severe weather; it always pays to be willing to learn. The following video about the facts of lightning is from the National Weather Service. This is today's topic during Severe Weather Preparedness Month. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOFxrAWquk
"One thing I know, that I know nothing. This is the source of my wisdom." - Socrates
Attention Area Residents:
When it comes with anything in life, especially with being safe during severe weather; it always pays to be willing to learn. The following video about the facts of lightning is from the National Weather Service. This is today's topic during Severe Weather Preparedness Month. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOFxrAWquk
"One thing I know, that I know nothing. This is the source of my wisdom." - Socrates
March 15, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Since March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has partnered up with FEMA to help educate the public on ways to be safe ahead of the spring severe weather season. Today's question is: Do you know what to do AFTER a severe thunder or lightning storm? Here are some tips from FEMA...
Be Safe AFTER
"Either you run the day, or the day runs you." - Jim Rohn
Attention Area Residents:
Since March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has partnered up with FEMA to help educate the public on ways to be safe ahead of the spring severe weather season. Today's question is: Do you know what to do AFTER a severe thunder or lightning storm? Here are some tips from FEMA...
Be Safe AFTER
- Listen to authorities and weather forecasts for information on whether it is safe to go outside and instructions regarding potential flash flooding.
- Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
- If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and let the operator know if you have, or think you might have, or have been exposed to COVID-19. If possible, put on a mask before help arrives.
- Continue taking steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by washing your hands often and cleaning commonly touched surfaces with disinfecting products.
- Engage virtually with your community through video and phone calls. Know that it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed. Take care of your body and talk to someone if you are feeling upset. Many people may already feel fear and anxiety about the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The threat of a thunderstorm can add additional stress. Follow CDC guidance for managing stress during a traumatic event and managing stress during COVID-19.
"Either you run the day, or the day runs you." - Jim Rohn
March 13, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Do you know how to stay safe DURING a Thunderstorm? That is today's topic during Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The following tips are from FEMA.....
Survive DURING
"A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence." - Jim Watkins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmCnXWN0Dwc
Attention Area Residents:
Do you know how to stay safe DURING a Thunderstorm? That is today's topic during Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The following tips are from FEMA.....
Survive DURING
- When thunder roars, go indoors. A sturdy building is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm.
- If you are sheltering with people who are not part of your household, be sure to wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and others. Masks should not be worn by children under 2 years old, people who have trouble breathing, and people who cannot remove them on their own.
- Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of thunderstorms. Be ready to change plans, if necessary, to be near shelter.
- When you receive a thunderstorm warning or hear thunder, go inside immediately.
- If indoors, avoid running water or using landline phones. Electricity can travel through plumbing and phone lines. Do not wash your hands with soap and water. Instead, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Protect your property. Unplug appliances and other electric devices. Secure outside furniture.
- If boating or swimming, get to land and find a sturdy, grounded shelter or vehicle immediately.
- If necessary, take shelter in a car with a metal top and sides. Do not touch anything metal. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid flooded roadways. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by water, however floodwaters may contain debris, chemicals, or waste that are harmful to your health.
"A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence." - Jim Watkins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmCnXWN0Dwc
March 12, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, do you know what to do BEFORE severe weather hits in order to be safe? Here are some tips from FEMA....
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS
Prepare NOW
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, do you know what to do BEFORE severe weather hits in order to be safe? Here are some tips from FEMA....
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS
Prepare NOW
- Know your area’s risk for thunderstorms. In most places, they can occur year-round and at any hour.
- Create an emergency plan so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from the effects of a thunderstorm during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. Sign up for email updates and follow the latest guidelines about coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Identify nearby, sturdy buildings close to where you live, work, study, and play.
- Cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
- Consider buying surge protectors, lightning rods, or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances, and electronic devices.
Can you think of some other things that you can do ahead of time that might keep you safe, or prevent damage done to your home during a thunderstorm?
"Life is like a prism. What you see depends on how you turn the glass." - Jonathan Kellerman
March 11, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
As you are aware by now, March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has been working with FEMA to help send out tips to help you prepare for Severe Weather and to be safe. So far we have been focusing on flooding, but there are other types of severe weather that you need to prepare for. Now let's look at Thunderstorms and Lightning.
Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that include lightning and can:
"Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong." - Mandy Hale
Attention Area Residents:
As you are aware by now, March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The Village of Altona has been working with FEMA to help send out tips to help you prepare for Severe Weather and to be safe. So far we have been focusing on flooding, but there are other types of severe weather that you need to prepare for. Now let's look at Thunderstorms and Lightning.
Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that include lightning and can:
- Include powerful winds over 50 MPH;
- Create hail; and
- Cause flash flooding and tornadoes.
- When thunder roars, go indoors!
- Move from outdoors into a building or car.
- Pay attention to alerts and warnings.
- Unplug appliances.
- Do not use landline phones.
"Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong." - Mandy Hale
March 10, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
Since March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, we've been talking about what flooding is, how to prepare for flooding prior to the event, and what to do during the flood in order to stay safe. Now let's see some tips on what to do after the flood has occurred.
Be Safe After:
Do you now or have you ever lived in either a flood plain or a low lying area and have experienced what mother nature can do with torrential rains? Have you experienced flooded streets or basements due to all of the rainfall? For those residents who live within the Village of Altona; you now qualify to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. If you are interested, please contact your insurance company.
The secret to surviving any type of emergency or disaster is to plan ahead, and not just wing it as the situation happens.
"It's not the plan that is important, it's the planning." - Graeme Edwards
Attention Area Residents:
Since March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, we've been talking about what flooding is, how to prepare for flooding prior to the event, and what to do during the flood in order to stay safe. Now let's see some tips on what to do after the flood has occurred.
Be Safe After:
- Listen to authorities for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
- Avoid driving except in emergencies.
- Be aware that snakes and other animals may be in your house. Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing, and boots during clean up. Wear a mask and maintain a physical distance of at least six feet while working with someone else. Use an appropriate mask if cleaning mold or other debris. People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
- Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock.
- Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water. There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through water; however, you should avoid contact with floodwaters.
- Continue taking steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, such as washing your hands often and cleaning commonly touched surfaces with disinfecting products.
- Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
- Engage virtually with your community through video and phone calls. Know that it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed. Take care of your body and talk to someone if you are feeling upset. Many people may already feel fear and anxiety about the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The threat of a flood can add additional stress. Follow CDC guidance for managing stress during a traumatic event and managing stress during COVID-19.
Do you now or have you ever lived in either a flood plain or a low lying area and have experienced what mother nature can do with torrential rains? Have you experienced flooded streets or basements due to all of the rainfall? For those residents who live within the Village of Altona; you now qualify to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. If you are interested, please contact your insurance company.
The secret to surviving any type of emergency or disaster is to plan ahead, and not just wing it as the situation happens.
"It's not the plan that is important, it's the planning." - Graeme Edwards
March 9, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. As we continue with our tips from FEMA in regards to flooding, do you how to survive during a flood? That is what today's tips is about.
"Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul." - Will Durant
Survive DURING
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. As we continue with our tips from FEMA in regards to flooding, do you how to survive during a flood? That is what today's tips is about.
"Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul." - Will Durant
Survive DURING
- Depending on where you are, the potential impact, and the warning time given for flooding, go to the safe location that you have identified. If you are not able to shelter in place or with family or friends and must go to a public shelter, remember to bring items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, cleaning materials, and two cloth masks per person. If you can, wash your face covering regularly. Children under 2 years old, people who have trouble breathing, and those who are unable to remove masks on their own should not wear them.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
- If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and let the operator know if you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a mask before help arrives. If staying at a shelter or public facility, alert shelter staff immediately so they can call a local hospital or clinic.
- Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding and COVID-19.
- Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
- If your car is trapped in rapidly moving water stay inside. If water is rising inside the car get on the roof.
- If trapped in a building go to its highest level. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising floodwater. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help.
March 8, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Spring rains can bring flooding. Don't drive through flooded water. Turn around - Don't Drown! “Every thought we think is creating our future.” - Louise Hay
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI6mIlHKrVY
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Spring rains can bring flooding. Don't drive through flooded water. Turn around - Don't Drown! “Every thought we think is creating our future.” - Louise Hay
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI6mIlHKrVY
March 6, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you know how to prepare for severe weather and what to do should you need to evacuate? The following are suggestions from FEMA:
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A FLOOD THREATENS
Prepare NOW
"Have the courage to act instead of react." - Earlene Larson Jenks
Attention Area Residents:
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Do you know how to prepare for severe weather and what to do should you need to evacuate? The following are suggestions from FEMA:
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A FLOOD THREATENS
Prepare NOW
- Make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding and COVID-19.
- Build a “Go Kit” of the supplies you will need if you have to quickly evacuate your home.
- Know types of flood risk in your area. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center for information.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. Sign up for email updates and follow the latest guidelines about coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- If flash flooding is a risk in your location monitor potential signs, such as heavy rain.
- Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response.
- If you live in a storm surge flooding zone or a mandatory hurricane evacuation zone, make plans to stay with family and friends. Evacuate to shelters only if you are unable to stay with family and friends. Check with local authorities to determine which public shelters are open. Review your previous evacuation plan and consider alternative options to maintain social and physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Don’t forget to include your pet in your emergency plan. Remember that some evacuation shelters do not accept pets.
- Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area. The CDC recommends having at least 3 days’ worth of supplies on hand, including one gallon of water per day for each person and pet. If you are able, set aside items like soap, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfecting wipes, and general household cleaning supplies that you can use to disinfect surfaces you touch regularly. After a flood, you may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets. Include extra batteries and charging devices for phones and other critical equipment.
- Being prepared allows you to avoid unnecessary excursions and to address minor medical issues at home, alleviating the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals.
- Not everyone can afford to respond by stocking up on necessities. If you can, make essential purchases and slowly build up supplies in advance so that you can leave longer time periods between shopping trips. This helps to protect those who are unable to procure essentials in advance of a disaster, like a flood or pandemic, and must shop more frequently. In addition, consider avoiding WIC-approved products so that those who rely on these products can access them.
- Purchase or renew a flood insurance policy. Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect so the time to buy is well before a disaster. Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
- Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
"Have the courage to act instead of react." - Earlene Larson Jenks
March 5, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
While spring may almost be here and your thoughts are thinking towards planting those gardens, working the flower beds, Easter plans, or perhaps even starting to plan those summer vacations; it is also important to be aware of severe weather. March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. How much do you know about floods?
Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.
Floods may:
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott.
Fortunately for residents who live within the Village of Altona, you can sail your ship in the right direction because you are now eligible to acquire flood insurance to help protect your property. Contact FEMA or your insurance agency today.
Attention Area Residents:
While spring may almost be here and your thoughts are thinking towards planting those gardens, working the flower beds, Easter plans, or perhaps even starting to plan those summer vacations; it is also important to be aware of severe weather. March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. How much do you know about floods?
Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.
Floods may:
- Result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges and overflows of dams and other water systems.
- Develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.
- Cause outages, disrupt transportation, damage buildings and create landslides.
- Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
- Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Stay off of bridges over fast-moving water.
- Depending on the type of flooding:
- Evacuate if told to do so.
- Move to higher ground or a higher floor.
- Stay where you are.
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott.
Fortunately for residents who live within the Village of Altona, you can sail your ship in the right direction because you are now eligible to acquire flood insurance to help protect your property. Contact FEMA or your insurance agency today.
March 4, 2021
Attention Area Residents:
You may know that September is National Preparedness Month, but did you know that March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month? Just as you should always be prepared to take care of your family during an unforeseen emergency or disaster; you should always try and prepare them for severe weather. But what should you know?
What you should know about Flood Safety:
Throughout the month of March the Village of Altona will be posting tips on how to prepare and be safe during severe weather.
"Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't." - Jerry Rice
Attention Area Residents:
You may know that September is National Preparedness Month, but did you know that March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month? Just as you should always be prepared to take care of your family during an unforeseen emergency or disaster; you should always try and prepare them for severe weather. But what should you know?
What you should know about Flood Safety:
- Make a family emergency communication plan and include pets.
- Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
- Check on your neighbors to make sure they’re okay.
- Know what to do before, during, and after a flood.
- Flood insurance takes 30 days to take effect, so purchase now to protect your family!
- Listen to local officials by radio, TV or social media.
- Evacuate when advised by authorities or if you are in a flood or flash flood prone area.
- If you are on high ground above flooded areas, being prepared to stay where you are may be the best protection.
- Never drive or walk through flooded streets; Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Do not go through flood waters.
Throughout the month of March the Village of Altona will be posting tips on how to prepare and be safe during severe weather.
"Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't." - Jerry Rice
March 3, 2021
Attention Village Residents:
Temperatures are warming up, and soon the April showers will be bringing those May flowers; and with those showers will be the potential of flooding. The Village of Altona is now part of the National Flood Insurance Program, which simply means - if you would like to acquire flood insurance for your property, you are now eligible to purchase this from the Federal Government.
You wouldn't wait until your home is on fire to buy home owners insurance; the same is with flood insurance, you must have it in place prior to the incident occurring.
FEMA will be offering a free webinar to explain the National Flood Insurance Program. If you are interested in acquiring this coverage, please click on one of the two links for their prospective times to register for this event.
The presentation will cover:
There are two scheduled presentations for this month. Registration can be accessed at the links below:
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for Illinois (Option 1)
Monday, March 15, 1-2:30
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/ey66z38vhqca/event/event_info.html
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for Illinois (Option 2)
Thursday, March 18, 10-11:30
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/e2lpwij82nwa/event/event_info.html
Having the proper protections in your life can bring you peace of mind after a disaster.
"When you are totally at peace with yourself, nothing can shake you." - Deepam Chatterjee
Attention Village Residents:
Temperatures are warming up, and soon the April showers will be bringing those May flowers; and with those showers will be the potential of flooding. The Village of Altona is now part of the National Flood Insurance Program, which simply means - if you would like to acquire flood insurance for your property, you are now eligible to purchase this from the Federal Government.
You wouldn't wait until your home is on fire to buy home owners insurance; the same is with flood insurance, you must have it in place prior to the incident occurring.
FEMA will be offering a free webinar to explain the National Flood Insurance Program. If you are interested in acquiring this coverage, please click on one of the two links for their prospective times to register for this event.
The presentation will cover:
- Flood risk
- Flood insurance compared to disaster assistance
- Purchasing flood insurance and premiums
- Claims and appeals
There are two scheduled presentations for this month. Registration can be accessed at the links below:
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for Illinois (Option 1)
Monday, March 15, 1-2:30
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/ey66z38vhqca/event/event_info.html
National Flood Insurance Program - Spring Briefing for Illinois (Option 2)
Thursday, March 18, 10-11:30
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/e2lpwij82nwa/event/event_info.html
Having the proper protections in your life can bring you peace of mind after a disaster.
"When you are totally at peace with yourself, nothing can shake you." - Deepam Chatterjee
January 30, 2021
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency teamed up with the National Weather Service to put together the following Winter Weather Preparedness Guidebook. Please click on the following link to read it, and please be careful during the winter months.
www2.illinois.gov/iema/Preparedness/Documents/winter_storm_preparedness_guidebook.pdf
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency teamed up with the National Weather Service to put together the following Winter Weather Preparedness Guidebook. Please click on the following link to read it, and please be careful during the winter months.
www2.illinois.gov/iema/Preparedness/Documents/winter_storm_preparedness_guidebook.pdf
December 20, 2020
November 22, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it is time to start thinking about your winter emergency prepardeness in order to be prepared should you get stranded. The following article was published in the November 2020 edition of the Knox County Farm Bulletin by Country Financial. For more tips on preparing for emergencies or distasters, please visit the Health & Safety page on the Village website. Be safe this winter.
Prep your Winter Emergency Weather Kit before snow hits:
You're probably familiar with emergency kits, but have you ever considered packing a shovel in your trunk or hauling around a bag of kitty litter? How about a jar of peanut butter?
Hauling that shovel could come in handy if your car ever lands in a ditch. And having that cat litter on standby could offer the much needed traction you'd need to dig it out. As for the peanut butter, when you burn all those calories digging through the snow, a jar of peanut butter could provide some nourishment in a pinch.
Better safe than sorry:
Winter weather can turn a routine trip into a dangerous situation but being prepared can make the difference between life and death when facing hypothermia.
No one plans to be marooned roadside, but with severe weather looming, it's always a possiblility. Be ready for Jack Frost with a Winter Emergency Weather Kit.
Consider the basics:
- First Aid Kit
- Cell phone and car charger
- Flashlight with new batteries
- Candle with matches or lighter
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Shovel
- Hazard sign or brightly colored flag
- Cat litter or sand
- Bottled water and non perishable food items
- Warm clothing
- Blanket
- Battery jump pack or jumper cables.
If you live in a rural area or are taking a longer trip, your needs may be different so consider adding a few extra items to your kit.
Add-on items:
- Flares and emergency strobes
- Light sticks
- Disposable hand warmers
- Toilet paper
- Basic tool kit
- Tire Chains/Tow Rope
In case of highway accidents or ice storms, motorists may get stranded in groups. Ensure you have enough supplies for you and your family and pack a little extra to help other stranded motorists.
You can also buy readymade kits in stores and online. Make sure whatever you buy includes the basics. Also update your kit twice a year to ensure your supplies and tools are in good working order.
Attention Area Residents:
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it is time to start thinking about your winter emergency prepardeness in order to be prepared should you get stranded. The following article was published in the November 2020 edition of the Knox County Farm Bulletin by Country Financial. For more tips on preparing for emergencies or distasters, please visit the Health & Safety page on the Village website. Be safe this winter.
Prep your Winter Emergency Weather Kit before snow hits:
You're probably familiar with emergency kits, but have you ever considered packing a shovel in your trunk or hauling around a bag of kitty litter? How about a jar of peanut butter?
Hauling that shovel could come in handy if your car ever lands in a ditch. And having that cat litter on standby could offer the much needed traction you'd need to dig it out. As for the peanut butter, when you burn all those calories digging through the snow, a jar of peanut butter could provide some nourishment in a pinch.
Better safe than sorry:
Winter weather can turn a routine trip into a dangerous situation but being prepared can make the difference between life and death when facing hypothermia.
No one plans to be marooned roadside, but with severe weather looming, it's always a possiblility. Be ready for Jack Frost with a Winter Emergency Weather Kit.
Consider the basics:
- First Aid Kit
- Cell phone and car charger
- Flashlight with new batteries
- Candle with matches or lighter
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Shovel
- Hazard sign or brightly colored flag
- Cat litter or sand
- Bottled water and non perishable food items
- Warm clothing
- Blanket
- Battery jump pack or jumper cables.
If you live in a rural area or are taking a longer trip, your needs may be different so consider adding a few extra items to your kit.
Add-on items:
- Flares and emergency strobes
- Light sticks
- Disposable hand warmers
- Toilet paper
- Basic tool kit
- Tire Chains/Tow Rope
In case of highway accidents or ice storms, motorists may get stranded in groups. Ensure you have enough supplies for you and your family and pack a little extra to help other stranded motorists.
You can also buy readymade kits in stores and online. Make sure whatever you buy includes the basics. Also update your kit twice a year to ensure your supplies and tools are in good working order.
To view the CDC guidelines for Halloween and other holiday activities, please click on the following link:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
To view the Illinois Department of Public Health's Halloween guidelines, please click on the following .pdf file.
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
To view the Illinois Department of Public Health's Halloween guidelines, please click on the following .pdf file.
idph_halloweenguidance_fina.pdf | |
File Size: | 211 kb |
File Type: |
September 30, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
September has been National Preparedness Month; the month set aside by the federal government to help educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster ever were to come your way. Disaster can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and now even pandemics. Are you prepared?
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit - In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, etc to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this, whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water to. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as an outdoor grill or wood fireplace to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community. Caution is advised on some of those videos as the views by some of those people may be considered quite extreme as to their reasoning. The Village doesn't endorse their views, however some of there opinons are very helpful in creating your own plans.
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill
Attention Area Residents:
September has been National Preparedness Month; the month set aside by the federal government to help educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster ever were to come your way. Disaster can come in many forms, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and now even pandemics. Are you prepared?
To review:
You need to build an emergency kit - In your kit you need copies of important documents such as insurance papers, social security numbers, etc to help you rebuild should your dwelling and its belongings gets destroyed once you evacuate. You also need food, water, medicine and other provisions for at least 72 hours. If you have to evacuate, you may not be allowed back in your home for some time. If you are required to shelter in place, the weather conditions or infrastructure of the aftermath may prohibit emergency workers from getting to you.
Food: Have food and water for a minimum of three days. You should plan on having one gallon of water, per person, per day at a minimum - and don't forget your pets. There are many options to prepare for this, whether it is canning food for yourself, buying canned foods or purchasing emergency food that you just add boiling water to. But having the food is not enough, you must be able to cook it. After the disaster, is your electricity on? If not, do you have a back up generator? If so - great, if not you need some sort of alternative cooking option such as an outdoor grill or wood fireplace to be able to cook on.
Shelter: If you must shelter in place, do you have everything you need to get by? If you must evacuate, do you have a plan on where you will go? Depending on the disaster, if you have a tent, camper or RV, you may be able to use this as your shelter as many others will be vying for the same hotel space.
Please review all of the postings and videos that have been posted this month to give you some ideas. Information on how to prepare can be found at the following websites:
www.ready.gov/
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Pages/default.aspx
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can find all sorts of information. Don't be afraid to look for those videos made by the "Prepper" community. Caution is advised on some of those videos as the views by some of those people may be considered quite extreme as to their reasoning. The Village doesn't endorse their views, however some of there opinons are very helpful in creating your own plans.
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill
September 29, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been showing a variety of videos to help you learn how to prepare should some sort of disaster occur. Because of potential delays due to weather or infrastructure where emergency personel may not get to you quickly, it is important that you learn how to sustain yourself until help arrives. One of the topics that was discussed was food and food storage. While the earlier videos had focused on canning and storage pantries, what do you do if you don't have the space for a large pantry? Today's video is about another food item which takes up little space - Emergency Food. This food comes in buckets and the meals are individually packaged. They are designed to be able to take with you. They are perfect for hiking and camping trips, or should you run out of your normal food at home. All you do is boil water and rehydrate them. They have up to a 25 year shelf life and take up little space. As with everything else during this COVID-19 pandemic, many items are in short supply. But how do you know which one to buy? Since you want to buy something that you will actually eat, the best thing to do is to try some of each companies products to see what you like and more importantly - what you will eat. Then after you have decided what you will eat, then make your larger purchases. Walmart and Bass Pro Shops sell some of these items as well. If you just buy a big supply of "whatever" and come to find out you don't like it, it will be a waste of money because you won't eat it.
As with anything, you can spend a lot or a little on your preparation needs. The more you prepare for any given disaster the better your chances of survival. Please click on the following link to learn about several of the numerous emergency food supply companies out there. You can find more by doing a Google or YouTube search on this type of food. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF09RG8uynY
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be." - William Shakespeare
September 28, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
All of the videos that have been shown throughout National Preparedness Month have two things in common; first is having a plan, and second is having an emergency kit. Today will be look at how to build an emergency kit. How do we build a kit? What should you put in there? Today's video shows you 21 basic items that the CDC recommends that you have in there. Feel free to add more items that you believe would be essential or fit your family's individual needs.
"Strong leaders encourage you to do things for your own benefit, not just theirs." - Tim Tebow
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
Attention Area Residents:
All of the videos that have been shown throughout National Preparedness Month have two things in common; first is having a plan, and second is having an emergency kit. Today will be look at how to build an emergency kit. How do we build a kit? What should you put in there? Today's video shows you 21 basic items that the CDC recommends that you have in there. Feel free to add more items that you believe would be essential or fit your family's individual needs.
"Strong leaders encourage you to do things for your own benefit, not just theirs." - Tim Tebow
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s5WALuhrVA
September 27, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout September, the Village has been posting information on a variety types of disasters and information for your general knowledge as to help you prepare for what may come knocking at your door. The reason for the federal government declaring September as National Preparedness Month is to help educate you on what to do, because when disaster strikes, emergency services may either be stretched, or unable to assist you due to weather or other conditions on the ground. We see on the television news every year where people did not heed warnings from officials and those people ended up stranded and in dire straights. Please take the time this month to: 1) Make a plan, 2) Make an Emergency Kit, and 3) Educate yourself on the different types of disasters so that you can prepare ahead of time for them.
Today we'll address something that the midwest doesn't deal with, but our fellow citizens on the west coast are being devasted with. We all are praying for rain to help those fire fighters put out those wildfire flames.
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhTdfHQWqs
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout September, the Village has been posting information on a variety types of disasters and information for your general knowledge as to help you prepare for what may come knocking at your door. The reason for the federal government declaring September as National Preparedness Month is to help educate you on what to do, because when disaster strikes, emergency services may either be stretched, or unable to assist you due to weather or other conditions on the ground. We see on the television news every year where people did not heed warnings from officials and those people ended up stranded and in dire straights. Please take the time this month to: 1) Make a plan, 2) Make an Emergency Kit, and 3) Educate yourself on the different types of disasters so that you can prepare ahead of time for them.
Today we'll address something that the midwest doesn't deal with, but our fellow citizens on the west coast are being devasted with. We all are praying for rain to help those fire fighters put out those wildfire flames.
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhTdfHQWqs
September 26, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
As we have been learning throughout National Preparedness Month, disasters and other emergencies can come in many different forms and at any given moment. Creating a plan and preparing an emergency kit are the first two steps in protecting your family.
Today we visit something that we really don't experience much - Flooding. The Village of Altona had joined the National Flood Insurance Program in May, 2020. This means that our Village residents now qualify to take out flood insurance on their properties should they wish to do so. Please watch today's video on tips on what to do should there be a flood where you may happen to be at.
"There's a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go." - Tennessee Williams
www.youtube.com/watch?v=STiMKEYZ3Q4
Attention Area Residents:
As we have been learning throughout National Preparedness Month, disasters and other emergencies can come in many different forms and at any given moment. Creating a plan and preparing an emergency kit are the first two steps in protecting your family.
Today we visit something that we really don't experience much - Flooding. The Village of Altona had joined the National Flood Insurance Program in May, 2020. This means that our Village residents now qualify to take out flood insurance on their properties should they wish to do so. Please watch today's video on tips on what to do should there be a flood where you may happen to be at.
"There's a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go." - Tennessee Williams
www.youtube.com/watch?v=STiMKEYZ3Q4
September 25, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, the Village has been posting a variety of videos on a variety of different topics in order to help you learn how to prepare for some sort of disaster. The reason for this is; when a disaster strikes, emergency services may very well be very limited and overwhelmed with other calls. Help may be hampered by the weather or conditions on the ground and may NOT get to you for some time. This is why it is important to have a kit in order to survive for the first 72 hours. Do you know what to do should a tornado come? Please watch today's video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsjUfdaW67k
Attention Area Residents:
During National Preparedness Month, the Village has been posting a variety of videos on a variety of different topics in order to help you learn how to prepare for some sort of disaster. The reason for this is; when a disaster strikes, emergency services may very well be very limited and overwhelmed with other calls. Help may be hampered by the weather or conditions on the ground and may NOT get to you for some time. This is why it is important to have a kit in order to survive for the first 72 hours. Do you know what to do should a tornado come? Please watch today's video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsjUfdaW67k
September 24, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Distasters may occur at anytime as well as in a variety of ways. Today's video shows us how to Shelter in Place due to an Airborne Threat. While this video was made for our personel in the Navy, this video is relevant due to our area having a railroad that hauls all sorts of hazardous material - amongst them being inhalation hazards. A derailment of hazardous materials could cause a danger. The information that is found in this video could help keep you safe should this type of disaster occur. Please take the time during National Preparedness Month to learn about the different types of disasters and how you can keep your family safe.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch1VqlDAnI0
"The difference between a dreamer and a doer is the amount of action that follows their vision." - Fabienne Fredrickson
Attention Area Residents:
Distasters may occur at anytime as well as in a variety of ways. Today's video shows us how to Shelter in Place due to an Airborne Threat. While this video was made for our personel in the Navy, this video is relevant due to our area having a railroad that hauls all sorts of hazardous material - amongst them being inhalation hazards. A derailment of hazardous materials could cause a danger. The information that is found in this video could help keep you safe should this type of disaster occur. Please take the time during National Preparedness Month to learn about the different types of disasters and how you can keep your family safe.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch1VqlDAnI0
"The difference between a dreamer and a doer is the amount of action that follows their vision." - Fabienne Fredrickson
September 23, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Disasters and Emergencies come in many forms. On November 1st, Daylight Savings Time comes to an end. Be sure to pick up some new batteries for your smoke alarms, and if your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it is time to buy a new one. Do you have a fire extinguisher or two in your home? You should have one readily available for kitchen fires, and having one in your garage would be a good idea as well. Smoke alarms saves life! Please teach your children the importance of fire safety at home and abroad. Today's video during National Preparedness Month talk about this subject.
"If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way." -- Seamus Heaney
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCAqm8U8k60
Attention Area Residents:
Disasters and Emergencies come in many forms. On November 1st, Daylight Savings Time comes to an end. Be sure to pick up some new batteries for your smoke alarms, and if your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it is time to buy a new one. Do you have a fire extinguisher or two in your home? You should have one readily available for kitchen fires, and having one in your garage would be a good idea as well. Smoke alarms saves life! Please teach your children the importance of fire safety at home and abroad. Today's video during National Preparedness Month talk about this subject.
"If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way." -- Seamus Heaney
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCAqm8U8k60
September 22, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday during National Preparedness Month, we had looked at a scenario where you were at home during a power outage during a snow storm. Today let's consider what to do if you had to evacuate.
Scenario: A major disaster hits our area which requires the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes.
What would you do? Would you just grab your emergency kit and a suitcase of clothes and drive in any random direction hoping that you'll find a hotel room? While that is certainly an option, the problem with that plan is that most other people will be doing the same thing. Will there be a room for you? If this is your plan there are ways to help assure that you get that room before someone else does:
1) Do you have the phone numbers of the hotel chains already in your phone? You may need to drive further than you had anticipated. While one person is driving, another can be calling ahead to try and get a reservation.
2) Do you have a newer General Motors vehicle with OnStar as well as wifi? In 2017 during hurricane Irma, OnStar was able to help their subscribers evacuate and get to safety. With your OnStar feature, you may have a phone to use should the phone lines be down. OnStar uses both cellular and satellite technology. If the cell towers are down, then you may be able to use the satellite feature to help you.
But is this the best plan of action? Keep in mind that most everyone will be doing the same thing. Do you own a tent, camper or RV? If so, then this may be a better option as you could head to a campground or parking lot. Most people don't have these and you won't be competing as much for lodging. You have your lodging already with you wherever you may end up. A camper or RV has storage so that you can take extra supplies with you.
The point of this exercise of scenarios is to get you to think about what to do should something were to happen. Emergency services train with various scenarios as well, this is why they are good at what they do. Just brainstorm of what different things that could happen, and make a plan accordingly. The only wrong plan is not having one. You are the leader in your household, and you can't rely on governmental agencies to be there during a disaster because their services may be overwhelmed and conditions on the ground may delay their responce. This is why the federal government had created September as National Preparedness Month in order to encourage you to learn how to prepare and protect your family.
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren Bennis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzvomQYJpE
Attention Area Residents:
Yesterday during National Preparedness Month, we had looked at a scenario where you were at home during a power outage during a snow storm. Today let's consider what to do if you had to evacuate.
Scenario: A major disaster hits our area which requires the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes.
What would you do? Would you just grab your emergency kit and a suitcase of clothes and drive in any random direction hoping that you'll find a hotel room? While that is certainly an option, the problem with that plan is that most other people will be doing the same thing. Will there be a room for you? If this is your plan there are ways to help assure that you get that room before someone else does:
1) Do you have the phone numbers of the hotel chains already in your phone? You may need to drive further than you had anticipated. While one person is driving, another can be calling ahead to try and get a reservation.
2) Do you have a newer General Motors vehicle with OnStar as well as wifi? In 2017 during hurricane Irma, OnStar was able to help their subscribers evacuate and get to safety. With your OnStar feature, you may have a phone to use should the phone lines be down. OnStar uses both cellular and satellite technology. If the cell towers are down, then you may be able to use the satellite feature to help you.
But is this the best plan of action? Keep in mind that most everyone will be doing the same thing. Do you own a tent, camper or RV? If so, then this may be a better option as you could head to a campground or parking lot. Most people don't have these and you won't be competing as much for lodging. You have your lodging already with you wherever you may end up. A camper or RV has storage so that you can take extra supplies with you.
The point of this exercise of scenarios is to get you to think about what to do should something were to happen. Emergency services train with various scenarios as well, this is why they are good at what they do. Just brainstorm of what different things that could happen, and make a plan accordingly. The only wrong plan is not having one. You are the leader in your household, and you can't rely on governmental agencies to be there during a disaster because their services may be overwhelmed and conditions on the ground may delay their responce. This is why the federal government had created September as National Preparedness Month in order to encourage you to learn how to prepare and protect your family.
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren Bennis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzvomQYJpE
September 21, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village has been posting videos and tips to help you learn and how to think about preparing yourself and your family should a disaster or emergency come to your door. Today we will do a scenario, but first ask yourself this question:
Do you know what the number one thing that America relies upon in this country is? It is used daily, taken for granted, and is the most life saving item in our country? It is also one of our most vulnerable items, in that for a long prolonged period of time without it would devastate our nation and our lives.
Please pause for a minute to think about your answer. The answer is electricity. We take it for granted because it is usually there. We cook with it, it keeps us both warm and cool, it charges our daily wireless gadgets, and it operates any medical equipment that we may need to keep us alive. Let's begin with a scenario.....
Scenario: A winter storm comes through and knocks down powerlines for days, if not weeks (does this somewhat sound familiar), how prepared are you and what would you do?
Do you have a back up home generator? If you did, then you probably wouldn't have much to worry about as these home units kick on automatically. These run off of your natural or propane gas lines until your power is restored, then they will revert back to their standby mode once the power is restored. The two major brands on the market are Generac (which can be purchased at Galesburg Electric, 309-343-3062) and Koehler (which according to an internet search Mangieri Electric in Galesburg carries, 309-342-7340). These will need to be installed by a licensed electrician and the Village of Altona is blessed to have two electrical companies with experienced electricians that can install these for you. Both JDC Swanson Electric (309-484-5221), and Swanson Electric (309-484-5231) can help you determine the size that you may need. Give them a call. You can purchase smaller units that will run just the essentials, or you can purchase larger units that will run everything as if the power never went off and your life isn't inconvenienced much. Depending on how big of unit you purchase and how far they have to run the gas line, expect to pay under $7,000 for both the purchase and installation. While these home units may seem like a luxury, if you rely on medical equipment, these now become a necessity. In long periods of time without power, you'll be glad you had made the investment in your home.
If you can't afford a larger home generator, there are smaller generators that you can pick up at pretty much any big box store or hardware store. They will run under $1,000 depending on the brand and size of the unit. These will work in a pinch and will allow you to run your appliances individually so you can either cook or keep your food from spoiling. Just plug in and use your appliances one at a time. They run off of gasoline, and there are also units that run off of both gas and LP. You will want to make sure that you have extra gas on hand as these units will be running non-stop during the power outage. A gas station may not have a generator themselves to be open to sell you this needed fuel.
But what happens if you just don't have a generator? Do you have a wood burning fireplace? If so you are in good hands. You can not only use that to heat your home, but you can cook over the fire. You just need to make sure that you have plenty of firewood on hand should the power outage last for weeks. So how much wood do you currently have? Now is the time to start storing it as winter is just around the corner.
But what if you didn't have a fireplace, how would you cook? Do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. But what if you didn't have a gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, that is now your cooking source - or is it? We just finished the summer grilling season, have you replenished your fuel source for your grill? Whatever type of outdoor grill that you may have (LP, charcoal, pellet), now is the time to stock up on that fuel source so that you have it for when you need it. If a disaster doesn't come this winter and you didn't need to use it, then you are all ready to go for next summer's grilling season.
What happens if you don't own a grill? Now would be a good time to get one while the stores still have these seasonal items in stock, or you can always make yourself an outdoor camping fire to cook on, however you will need to gather your wood now and store it in a dry place so that you aren't trying to dig through snow to find it.
This scenario was designed to get you to think a little deeper when it come to preparedness. There are all sorts of YouTube videos on the internet that talks about preparedness; many of these videos you will find are made from the "Prepper Community". The Prepper community has a saying that they live by - "Two is one, and one is none." This means that you should ALWAYS have a back up plan, because if you don't and your plan fails, then you have no plan. A word of caution - caution should be used when watching some of those videos as certain individuals you'll find may seem a little out there with their ideas and reasoning for preparing for the next apocalypse, but the underlying tone of their videos still offers some good tips in which you can use to help you make it through a distaster.
Please watch today's video for a few extra tips. If you are interested in reading a good book on how America is so dependent on electricity and its vulnerabilities, pick up Lights Out, by Ted Koppel.
"The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts." - Marianne Williamson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eH7VbMXir4
Attention Area Residents:
Throughout National Preparedness Month, the Village has been posting videos and tips to help you learn and how to think about preparing yourself and your family should a disaster or emergency come to your door. Today we will do a scenario, but first ask yourself this question:
Do you know what the number one thing that America relies upon in this country is? It is used daily, taken for granted, and is the most life saving item in our country? It is also one of our most vulnerable items, in that for a long prolonged period of time without it would devastate our nation and our lives.
Please pause for a minute to think about your answer. The answer is electricity. We take it for granted because it is usually there. We cook with it, it keeps us both warm and cool, it charges our daily wireless gadgets, and it operates any medical equipment that we may need to keep us alive. Let's begin with a scenario.....
Scenario: A winter storm comes through and knocks down powerlines for days, if not weeks (does this somewhat sound familiar), how prepared are you and what would you do?
Do you have a back up home generator? If you did, then you probably wouldn't have much to worry about as these home units kick on automatically. These run off of your natural or propane gas lines until your power is restored, then they will revert back to their standby mode once the power is restored. The two major brands on the market are Generac (which can be purchased at Galesburg Electric, 309-343-3062) and Koehler (which according to an internet search Mangieri Electric in Galesburg carries, 309-342-7340). These will need to be installed by a licensed electrician and the Village of Altona is blessed to have two electrical companies with experienced electricians that can install these for you. Both JDC Swanson Electric (309-484-5221), and Swanson Electric (309-484-5231) can help you determine the size that you may need. Give them a call. You can purchase smaller units that will run just the essentials, or you can purchase larger units that will run everything as if the power never went off and your life isn't inconvenienced much. Depending on how big of unit you purchase and how far they have to run the gas line, expect to pay under $7,000 for both the purchase and installation. While these home units may seem like a luxury, if you rely on medical equipment, these now become a necessity. In long periods of time without power, you'll be glad you had made the investment in your home.
If you can't afford a larger home generator, there are smaller generators that you can pick up at pretty much any big box store or hardware store. They will run under $1,000 depending on the brand and size of the unit. These will work in a pinch and will allow you to run your appliances individually so you can either cook or keep your food from spoiling. Just plug in and use your appliances one at a time. They run off of gasoline, and there are also units that run off of both gas and LP. You will want to make sure that you have extra gas on hand as these units will be running non-stop during the power outage. A gas station may not have a generator themselves to be open to sell you this needed fuel.
But what happens if you just don't have a generator? Do you have a wood burning fireplace? If so you are in good hands. You can not only use that to heat your home, but you can cook over the fire. You just need to make sure that you have plenty of firewood on hand should the power outage last for weeks. So how much wood do you currently have? Now is the time to start storing it as winter is just around the corner.
But what if you didn't have a fireplace, how would you cook? Do you have a gas stove? If so, you can still cook. But what if you didn't have a gas stove? Do you have an outdoor grill? If so, that is now your cooking source - or is it? We just finished the summer grilling season, have you replenished your fuel source for your grill? Whatever type of outdoor grill that you may have (LP, charcoal, pellet), now is the time to stock up on that fuel source so that you have it for when you need it. If a disaster doesn't come this winter and you didn't need to use it, then you are all ready to go for next summer's grilling season.
What happens if you don't own a grill? Now would be a good time to get one while the stores still have these seasonal items in stock, or you can always make yourself an outdoor camping fire to cook on, however you will need to gather your wood now and store it in a dry place so that you aren't trying to dig through snow to find it.
This scenario was designed to get you to think a little deeper when it come to preparedness. There are all sorts of YouTube videos on the internet that talks about preparedness; many of these videos you will find are made from the "Prepper Community". The Prepper community has a saying that they live by - "Two is one, and one is none." This means that you should ALWAYS have a back up plan, because if you don't and your plan fails, then you have no plan. A word of caution - caution should be used when watching some of those videos as certain individuals you'll find may seem a little out there with their ideas and reasoning for preparing for the next apocalypse, but the underlying tone of their videos still offers some good tips in which you can use to help you make it through a distaster.
Please watch today's video for a few extra tips. If you are interested in reading a good book on how America is so dependent on electricity and its vulnerabilities, pick up Lights Out, by Ted Koppel.
"The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts." - Marianne Williamson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eH7VbMXir4
September 20, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
In doing your planning for disasters during National Preparedness Month, have you made plans for what you would do should a power outage occur? Today's video from FEMA is designed to help you with just that....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=04y22voY8Xw
Attention Area Residents:
In doing your planning for disasters during National Preparedness Month, have you made plans for what you would do should a power outage occur? Today's video from FEMA is designed to help you with just that....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=04y22voY8Xw
September 19, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video on Emergency Preparedness is brought to you by FEMA. It explains why "Preparing Makes Sence". Please take the time this month during National Preparedness Month to learn what to do, as well as how to protect your family should a disaster come to your door.
"The people in your life who present the greatest challenges are usually your greatest teachers." - James van Praggh
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D_MmRz8gsU
Attention Area Residents:
Today's video on Emergency Preparedness is brought to you by FEMA. It explains why "Preparing Makes Sence". Please take the time this month during National Preparedness Month to learn what to do, as well as how to protect your family should a disaster come to your door.
"The people in your life who present the greatest challenges are usually your greatest teachers." - James van Praggh
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D_MmRz8gsU
September 18, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
When making your emergency / disaster plans, don't forget to consider making plans should you have to go to a shelter. As part of National Preparedness Month, you should try and consider as many scenarios as possible. We will soon discuss some scenarios, but do you know what to take should you have to go to some public shelter? Since you don't know what privations will be there, plan on packing hand sanitizer, face masks, and other cleaning supplies, as well as pillows and blankets and something to do to combat any bordem. You might even wish to help out while you are there. Many hands makes light work and the shelter volunteers could probably use the extra help.
"Enthusiasm propels the world." - Victoria Erickson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWXY1JxNcAg&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG&index=3
Attention Area Residents:
When making your emergency / disaster plans, don't forget to consider making plans should you have to go to a shelter. As part of National Preparedness Month, you should try and consider as many scenarios as possible. We will soon discuss some scenarios, but do you know what to take should you have to go to some public shelter? Since you don't know what privations will be there, plan on packing hand sanitizer, face masks, and other cleaning supplies, as well as pillows and blankets and something to do to combat any bordem. You might even wish to help out while you are there. Many hands makes light work and the shelter volunteers could probably use the extra help.
"Enthusiasm propels the world." - Victoria Erickson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWXY1JxNcAg&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG&index=3
September 17, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Do you and your family know what to do should a disaster come to your area? Have you made an emergency kit? Do your children know where to go for help? Visit www.ready.gov for helpful tips. The authorities may not be able to get to you right away after a disaster, this is why the federal government sets aside September as National Preparedness Month. Please make a kit and learn how to prepare for all sorts of disasters today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYqWyY36vP4&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG&index=2
"Nothing should be out of the reach of hope. Life is a hope." - Oscar Wilde
Attention Area Residents:
Do you and your family know what to do should a disaster come to your area? Have you made an emergency kit? Do your children know where to go for help? Visit www.ready.gov for helpful tips. The authorities may not be able to get to you right away after a disaster, this is why the federal government sets aside September as National Preparedness Month. Please make a kit and learn how to prepare for all sorts of disasters today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYqWyY36vP4&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG&index=2
"Nothing should be out of the reach of hope. Life is a hope." - Oscar Wilde
September 16, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month in hopes that you will educate yourself on the importance of preparations should a disaster accure. Resources to help may be limited both during and immediately after the disaster. Please take this month to make plans for various types of emergencies and disasters. Soon we will discuss some scenarios which may help in your planning. For ideas and information visit www.ready.gov.
"In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say, but by what they understand." - John C. Maxwell
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnIcIBJpTh8&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month in hopes that you will educate yourself on the importance of preparations should a disaster accure. Resources to help may be limited both during and immediately after the disaster. Please take this month to make plans for various types of emergencies and disasters. Soon we will discuss some scenarios which may help in your planning. For ideas and information visit www.ready.gov.
"In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say, but by what they understand." - John C. Maxwell
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnIcIBJpTh8&list=PL720Kw_OojlLuAAL5jic2jDQHsomSq-TG
September 15, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have the wildfires that the west coast states are experiancing. We also don't have the yearly hurricanes our coastal states are dealing with. But we can have strong winds such as the storm on August 10th that had caused tree damage, downed power lines and power outages. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is still reeling from those 112 mph hurricane wind speeds (this is called a derecho); some people still don't have cable or internet restored. Another thing that we do have to be prepared for is winter storms. 2020 has been a year to remember. Will we have a mild winter, or will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? Today's video during National Preparedness Month takes us to our neighbors up in Wisconsin. This video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things a different way." - Edward De Bono
Attention Area Residents:
Living here in the midwest, we are fortunate that we don't have the wildfires that the west coast states are experiancing. We also don't have the yearly hurricanes our coastal states are dealing with. But we can have strong winds such as the storm on August 10th that had caused tree damage, downed power lines and power outages. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is still reeling from those 112 mph hurricane wind speeds (this is called a derecho); some people still don't have cable or internet restored. Another thing that we do have to be prepared for is winter storms. 2020 has been a year to remember. Will we have a mild winter, or will Old Man Winter dump a blizzard on us? Today's video during National Preparedness Month takes us to our neighbors up in Wisconsin. This video will give you some ideas on how you can prepare for the upcoming winter.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktGIMPmIb4
"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things a different way." - Edward De Bono
September 14, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Since September is National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have been watching these videos and learning different ways on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of emergency or disaster comes to your door. When we think of diasters, we think about wildfires in California, hurricanes along our coastal regions, or perhaps tornadoes and winter storms in the midwest; but are there other types disasters that we hadn't thought about? Does a Coronavirus pandemic come to mind? Who would have dreamed about that one right?
So what have we learned from the current COVID-19 crisis other than to wash our hands for 20 seconds under warm soapy water? We have learned that supplies such as toilet paper, paper products, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer flies off the shelve because people (through human nature) get in a panic. We also have learned that people stock up on food such as bread and baking supplies to either cook from scratch or to bake their own bread - and what is it with all the baking of soar dough bread? Now the latest shortage is canning supplies, because throughout the various food shortages during this pandemic, people have decided to grow their own food and to can it for later since they can't predict what the next shortage will be. With all of this canning you will need a way to store those items, and that is what today's video is all about - How to start a Prepper Food Pantry. Today's video features Jamie from Guildbrook Farms. She and her husband are homesteaders and Preppers who make YouTube videos on all sorts of preparation topics and the canning of foods. Perhaps Jamie can help you with some ideas on creating your own pantry that soots your needs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
"If you developed the quality of unshakeable self-confidence, your whole world would be different." - Brian Tracy
Attention Area Residents:
Since September is National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have been watching these videos and learning different ways on how to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of emergency or disaster comes to your door. When we think of diasters, we think about wildfires in California, hurricanes along our coastal regions, or perhaps tornadoes and winter storms in the midwest; but are there other types disasters that we hadn't thought about? Does a Coronavirus pandemic come to mind? Who would have dreamed about that one right?
So what have we learned from the current COVID-19 crisis other than to wash our hands for 20 seconds under warm soapy water? We have learned that supplies such as toilet paper, paper products, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer flies off the shelve because people (through human nature) get in a panic. We also have learned that people stock up on food such as bread and baking supplies to either cook from scratch or to bake their own bread - and what is it with all the baking of soar dough bread? Now the latest shortage is canning supplies, because throughout the various food shortages during this pandemic, people have decided to grow their own food and to can it for later since they can't predict what the next shortage will be. With all of this canning you will need a way to store those items, and that is what today's video is all about - How to start a Prepper Food Pantry. Today's video features Jamie from Guildbrook Farms. She and her husband are homesteaders and Preppers who make YouTube videos on all sorts of preparation topics and the canning of foods. Perhaps Jamie can help you with some ideas on creating your own pantry that soots your needs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao
"If you developed the quality of unshakeable self-confidence, your whole world would be different." - Brian Tracy
September 13, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
So far in our National Preparedness Month series of preparedness we have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper and learn about an important thing that we all need in order to survive any disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to either pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, or say - pandemics? Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines as your individual tastes and needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
Attention Area Residents:
So far in our National Preparedness Month series of preparedness we have focused on some general things that could happen and how to build an emergency kit. Now let's dive a little deeper and learn about an important thing that we all need in order to survive any disaster or emergency for longer periods of time - FOOD. The next few videos will talk about what to either pack or store for longer emergencies such as storms, power outages, or say - pandemics? Remember, these are only general ideas and guidelines as your individual tastes and needs will vary from someone else. Surviving any type of emergency or disaster starts with taking that first step - Making a plan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfeaf9xT0
"If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." - Nora Roberts
September 12, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have just briefly touched on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video goes a little bit deeper on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit to take with you should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away (it can be expensive), but if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Due to the current COVID-19 situational times that we are living in. You may wish to add N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
"We are all unique, and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe." - Rod Williams
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. So far in our video series, our videos have just briefly touched on how you should have an emergency kit in order to be prepared for some sort of disaster. But what should you have in it? Today's video goes a little bit deeper on giving you some ideas. Every disaster kit is different because everyone is unique and their needs are different. Please watch this video to give you some ideas to help you think about what you may need to have in your emergency kit to take with you should you be forced to evacuate for whatever reason. You don't have to go out and buy everything right away (it can be expensive), but if you gradually pick up those items as you do your normal shopping or see them on sale, you will either save money or won't feel the financial burden as much compared to doing it all at once.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYkK0gC2Gc
*** Note: Due to the current COVID-19 situational times that we are living in. You may wish to add N-95 face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes or other cleaning needs in your emergency kits as well.
"We are all unique, and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe." - Rod Williams
Posted September 11, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far has stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"; would you know what to do? Let's look at a different disaster situation in today's episode of Disaster & Preparedness to learn about what to do and how to plan for.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
Attention Area Residents:
During this National Preparedness Month, our videos and information so far has stressed the importance of building a kit should you need to leave or "bug out". But what happens when a disaster happens and you must "stay home"; would you know what to do? Let's look at a different disaster situation in today's episode of Disaster & Preparedness to learn about what to do and how to plan for.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
Posted September 10, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your kits, hopefully your are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and children know what to do should your house catch on fire? Today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do,and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters; Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster; and practice. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
"People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be." - Harvey Makay
Attention Area Residents:
As you are watching these disaster preparedness videos and building your kits, hopefully your are trying to think of all the different types of disasters that could cause mayhem for your family. Do you and children know what to do should your house catch on fire? Today's video addresses that particular disaster. Be sure that your children know what to do,and have them watch these videos too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46ENJt-cSU
Preparation starts with getting yourself in the right mindset. Study the different types of disasters; Think about what you will need and how you will deal with each disaster; and practice. Doing these will make you successful in coping with whatever disaster brings to your door.
"People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be." - Harvey Makay
Posted September 9, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's visit our next video in our Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. There are many types of disasters that both Mother Nature and mankind can dish out. One of those disasters that we can experience here in the midwest is a tornado. Do you know what to do? Let's visit our next video in our Disaster & Preparedness series: Get down, get out or seal up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
Posted September 8, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You are setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch the next episode of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act." - Barbara Sher
Attention Area Residents:
Do you leave life to chance? Or, do you plan for life's unexpected problems? Don't press your luck, for failure to prepare yourself for some sort of disaster is like getting into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson without knowing how to box. You are setting yourself up to be knocked out by his punch. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take this time to learn how to prepare for an emergency and look for ways on how to minimize the situation of those disasters. As we go through this month, we will go further in depth on ways to better prepare. In the meantime, please watch the next episode of Disaster and Preparedness: Put Disaster Down for the Count.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLM-oQYQUo
"The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act." - Barbara Sher
Posted September 7, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); Second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by sitting down, learn about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies.
In today's episode of Disaster Meets Preparedness, we ask you - What is your next move?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke
Attention Area Residents:
Winning the game against a disaster or life's emergencies is like playing a game of chess. First, you not only need to learn how to prepare for a disaster (or in this case the game of chess); Second, you also need to study your opponent's moves (all the different types of disasters and emergencies) in order to win the game and come out on top. It all starts with education, which is why September is National Preparedness Month. So start today by sitting down, learn about the different types of disasters, then make out a plan to help you and your family win the game against a disaster or life's unexpected emergencies.
In today's episode of Disaster Meets Preparedness, we ask you - What is your next move?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
"The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke
Posted September 6, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
Today is not only National Read A Book Day, but it is also another day of National Preparedness Month; so what better day than to read a book about being prepared. Do you know what to do if the power grid were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, food and medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Natures Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch today's episode five of Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
Attention Area Residents:
Today is not only National Read A Book Day, but it is also another day of National Preparedness Month; so what better day than to read a book about being prepared. Do you know what to do if the power grid were to go down? Do you have a backup generator, food and medicine, or an alternative cooking and heat source to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours? A good book to read about power outages is "Lights Out" By Ted Koppel, a New York Times Bestseller.
The purpose of learning how to be prepared for Mother Natures Disasters or life's emergencies is so disasters don't have the last word. Let's watch today's episode five of Disaster and Preparedness: Don't Let Disaster Have the Last Word:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
Posted September 5, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month set aside by the federal government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster strikes your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Please keep watching the videos and reading the information that will be offered throughout this month so that you can use that information to create what is best for you and your family.
Please watch Episode 4 of our Disaster & Preparedness video series.
"Let no one keep you from your journey." - Mark Nepo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
Attention Area Residents:
By now you know that September is National Preparedness Month, the month set aside by the federal government to help educate you on the importance of being prepared should an emergency or disaster strikes your area. If a disaster were to hit your community and you had to evacuate, do you have a plan? Do you know where you would go on this unexpected journey? This is the month to sit down, write out your plans for all sorts of disasters or life's emergencies, and to build your emergency kits. Please keep watching the videos and reading the information that will be offered throughout this month so that you can use that information to create what is best for you and your family.
Please watch Episode 4 of our Disaster & Preparedness video series.
"Let no one keep you from your journey." - Mark Nepo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
Posted September 4, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
The Village has been having issues with its Facebook account from a computer, as well as posting replies only using a cell phone. Please bare with us while we try to figure out what is wrong.
But just to update the public, the Village is still looking into the purchase and installation of a weather siren, whether that be a larger one, or installing additional ones. Weather sirens are meant to be heard when people are outdoors, not if you are indoors. It is recommended that everyone have a NOAA All Hazards radio as well as download a weather app for your smart phone if you have one. There are free weather apps that work pretty well as well as those that can be purchased.
Attention Area Residents:
The Village has been having issues with its Facebook account from a computer, as well as posting replies only using a cell phone. Please bare with us while we try to figure out what is wrong.
But just to update the public, the Village is still looking into the purchase and installation of a weather siren, whether that be a larger one, or installing additional ones. Weather sirens are meant to be heard when people are outdoors, not if you are indoors. It is recommended that everyone have a NOAA All Hazards radio as well as download a weather app for your smart phone if you have one. There are free weather apps that work pretty well as well as those that can be purchased.
Posted September 4, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster happen, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Just watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch the next video in our video serious of Disaster and Preparedness.
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Attention Area Residents:
You protect your family in several ways. You have life insurance so that there is financial stability when you are gone; You keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a kitchen fire; and you train your children how to dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. But should an emergency or disaster happen, do you really know what to do? September is National Preparedness Month, and preparing yourself for life's or Mother Nature's disasters is a journey. Those emergencies or disasters can come in many forms. Just watch the news and you can see how many of our fellow citizens were not prepared. It all stars with a plan, and a kit. Please watch the next video in our video serious of Disaster and Preparedness.
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Posted September 3, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness month. The Village of Altona is posting educational videos and other information to help you learn the importance of being prepared should some sort of emergency or disaster strikes your home or community. We never know what type or when a disaster or emergency will occur; but if you start off with a plan, and an emergency kit that will sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours; then the mayhem won't seem as bad compared to not having a plan at all. Please enjoy this second video in our Disaster and Preparedness series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM&feature=emb_rel_pause
Attention Area Residents:
The federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness month. The Village of Altona is posting educational videos and other information to help you learn the importance of being prepared should some sort of emergency or disaster strikes your home or community. We never know what type or when a disaster or emergency will occur; but if you start off with a plan, and an emergency kit that will sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours; then the mayhem won't seem as bad compared to not having a plan at all. Please enjoy this second video in our Disaster and Preparedness series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM&feature=emb_rel_pause
Posted September 2, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where governments stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems that this time of year always brings some sort of disaster in our country. While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber goes up due to shortages and higher prices because of the increased demand of that lumber in the devastated areas.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan, and making an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time of year where governments stress the importance of being prepared for any type of emergency or disasters. As we watch the news, it seems that this time of year always brings some sort of disaster in our country. While we may not feel the physical destruction of a hurricane, we do feel the pain in our wallets when lumber goes up due to shortages and higher prices because of the increased demand of that lumber in the devastated areas.
Do you know how to plan for an emergency or a disaster? If not, that is what this month is all about. The first step is to make a plan, and making an emergency kit. The following are some websites that will help you in this first step.
www.ready.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.redcross.org/store/preparedness
Posted September 1, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside by our federal, state and local governments to encourage our citizenry to educate themselves and their families on the importance of preparing themselves should some sort of emergency or disaster strikes. The more prepared you and your family are, the easier it wil be for you and your loved ones to get through the crisis which is at hand. Throughout America, a disaster may come in many forms, whether it be wildfires, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, floods, wind damage, winter snow or ice storms, terrorists attacks, or even a virus at pandemic levels. Can you think of others?
Throughout the month of September, the Village of Altona will once again be posting various videos, and other educational materials from a variety of sources to help you and your family learn how to prepare during a time of crisis.
Let's start off National Preparedness month by clicking on the following link to read a message from President Trump. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-preparedness-month-2020/
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside by our federal, state and local governments to encourage our citizenry to educate themselves and their families on the importance of preparing themselves should some sort of emergency or disaster strikes. The more prepared you and your family are, the easier it wil be for you and your loved ones to get through the crisis which is at hand. Throughout America, a disaster may come in many forms, whether it be wildfires, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, floods, wind damage, winter snow or ice storms, terrorists attacks, or even a virus at pandemic levels. Can you think of others?
Throughout the month of September, the Village of Altona will once again be posting various videos, and other educational materials from a variety of sources to help you and your family learn how to prepare during a time of crisis.
Let's start off National Preparedness month by clicking on the following link to read a message from President Trump. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-preparedness-month-2020/
Posted June 17, 2020
Attention Area Residents:
It's grilling season, and with all the problems that we have had due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we need is another disruption in our food supply. Please click on the following link to learn about a ground beef recall due to E.coli:
https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/meat-contaminated-with-e-coli-recalled/742151/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-06-16
Attention Area Residents:
It's grilling season, and with all the problems that we have had due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we need is another disruption in our food supply. Please click on the following link to learn about a ground beef recall due to E.coli:
https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/meat-contaminated-with-e-coli-recalled/742151/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-06-16
National Bike Month Safety Video Series:
1) Basic Bike Check: youtu.be/mQ1_yx_6B-U
2) Starting and Stopping: https://youtu.be/wpMQ6rK0hvw
3) Signaling: youtu.be/wgfiu_Mw87Q
4) Shifting Gears: youtu.be/xaXkJktrMWU
5) Where Should I Ride?: youtu.be/nuqxkz_eo8Y
6) Bike Helmets: youtu.be/4ayW5HNdSqs
1) Basic Bike Check: youtu.be/mQ1_yx_6B-U
2) Starting and Stopping: https://youtu.be/wpMQ6rK0hvw
3) Signaling: youtu.be/wgfiu_Mw87Q
4) Shifting Gears: youtu.be/xaXkJktrMWU
5) Where Should I Ride?: youtu.be/nuqxkz_eo8Y
6) Bike Helmets: youtu.be/4ayW5HNdSqs
The following are links to some articles in which you may find helpful during this COVID-19 pandemic....
How to Clean and Sanitize your COVID-19 Facemask: www.komando.com/coronavirus/how-to-sanitize-covid-19-face-masks/741316/
Should you be interested in learning How To Protect Yourself, the CDC has a link with some helpful tips:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention.html
Did you know that the Coronavirus can live on your smartwatch? The following article is how to disinfect it:
www.komando.com/news/coronavirus-smartwatch-sanitize/711840/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-03-19
A video on how to disinfect your cell phone: youtu.be/7RjuRfiU_AE
Did you know that the virus can live on boxes? The following article is how to handle your delivery boxes:
https://www.komando.com/news/how-to-properly-handle-amazon-boxes-and-orders-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/711838/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-03-19
Click on the following links for tips on how to make your own face masks as well as homemade Clorox disinfectant wipes.
Face masks:
www.komando.com/coronavirus/coronavirus-diy-face-mask-cdc/733825/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-04-04
Should you wear a face mask?
www.komando.com/video/diy-how-to/should-you-wear-a-face-mask-coronavirus-covid-19-mask-tips/734360/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-04-08
Clorox disinfectant wipes:
www.komando.com/video/diy-how-to/diy-homemade-disinfectant-wipes/733726/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=wkru&utm_content=2020-04-05
How to Clean and Sanitize your COVID-19 Facemask: www.komando.com/coronavirus/how-to-sanitize-covid-19-face-masks/741316/
Should you be interested in learning How To Protect Yourself, the CDC has a link with some helpful tips:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention.html
Did you know that the Coronavirus can live on your smartwatch? The following article is how to disinfect it:
www.komando.com/news/coronavirus-smartwatch-sanitize/711840/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-03-19
A video on how to disinfect your cell phone: youtu.be/7RjuRfiU_AE
Did you know that the virus can live on boxes? The following article is how to handle your delivery boxes:
https://www.komando.com/news/how-to-properly-handle-amazon-boxes-and-orders-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/711838/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-03-19
Click on the following links for tips on how to make your own face masks as well as homemade Clorox disinfectant wipes.
Face masks:
www.komando.com/coronavirus/coronavirus-diy-face-mask-cdc/733825/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-04-04
Should you wear a face mask?
www.komando.com/video/diy-how-to/should-you-wear-a-face-mask-coronavirus-covid-19-mask-tips/734360/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2020-04-08
Clorox disinfectant wipes:
www.komando.com/video/diy-how-to/diy-homemade-disinfectant-wipes/733726/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=wkru&utm_content=2020-04-05
Downloadable files:
20200406_idph_guidance_for_the_use_o.pdf | |
File Size: | 628 kb |
File Type: |
helplines___webpages.pdf | |
File Size: | 176 kb |
File Type: |
covid-19_updates_from_the_idph___cms.pdf | |
File Size: | 656 kb |
File Type: |
covid-19_for_home_preparedness.pdf | |
File Size: | 988 kb |
File Type: |
covid-19_preventing_the_spread.pdf | |
File Size: | 913 kb |
File Type: |
October 1, 2019
September has been National Preparedness Month. As we end the month on learning tips on how to prepare for life's emergencies or disasters, let us not forget about our pets. As the FEMA video shows, our pets need the same amount of provisions as we do. Be sure to include disaster plans for your pets as well since they are a vidil part of your family. Most shelters are designed for people only, and will not accept animals unless they are service animals such as seeing eye dogs. Our pets bring us joy just like our children. During a disaster they, like our children will get scared and may want to wonder off, not knowing what is going on. They need YOU to provide for them and to make them comfortable. Proper planning ahead of time to comfort them will ensure that your pet will be there to comfort you.
Life's emergencies and disasters aren't just made by Mother Nature. They aren't limited to weather phenomenons such as hurricanes, blizzards and floods. They can happen occur as house fires, job loss, or even a terrorist attack on our power grid - see the following video clip: youtu.be/kmYT9Q6dTUI - anything can happen and proper planning begins with a plan and a kit.
Thank you for watching this year's series on preparedness. Feel free to go back and rewatch any of these videos or review any materials that have been posted. Proper preparedness is a never ending task. Just because National Preparedness Month is over, doesn't mean that you shouldn't stop thinking about it. Proper advanced planning for an emergency or disaster now, will only give you the assurance of getting through it later. Even a simple basic plan is better than no plan at all.
The following is our last video in our preparedness series by Suttons Daze. The views of this Youtuber are her's and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Village of Altona. All videos in this series as well as other postings on this page have been designed to bring you awareness in order to help you with your preparation planning during National Preparedness Month.
September 30th: National Preparedness Month - Thank You! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNO8qBas3Lc
Listing of agencies and periodicals to help assit you with your planning. Please build an Emergency Kit.
Federal Emergency Management Agency - www.fema.gov/
Department of Homeland Security - www.dhs.gov/
Ready.Gov (Department of Homeland Security) - www.ready.gov/
Illinois Emergency Management Agency - www2.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
American Red Cross - www.redcross.org
Food and Cooking Resources:
National Center For Home Food Preservation - nchfp.uga.edu/
Wise Food Storage - www.wisefoodstorage.com
My Patriot Supply - mypatriotsupply.com/
How To Can - www.everythingkitchens.com/how-to-can-water-bath-canning-at-home.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-9Sa28H25AIVEj0MCh2B-AroEAAYASAAEgKIe_D_BwE
Search YouTube Videos - www.youtube.com/
Grills - Be sure to refill your LP gas tanks or restock on the charcoal briquettes from the summer grilling sesaon.
Energy Sources and Periodicals:
Home Generators - www.generac.com/
Lights Out, by Ted Koppel - tedkoppellightsout.com/
Search YouTube Videos - www.youtube.com/
Life's emergencies and disasters aren't just made by Mother Nature. They aren't limited to weather phenomenons such as hurricanes, blizzards and floods. They can happen occur as house fires, job loss, or even a terrorist attack on our power grid - see the following video clip: youtu.be/kmYT9Q6dTUI - anything can happen and proper planning begins with a plan and a kit.
Thank you for watching this year's series on preparedness. Feel free to go back and rewatch any of these videos or review any materials that have been posted. Proper preparedness is a never ending task. Just because National Preparedness Month is over, doesn't mean that you shouldn't stop thinking about it. Proper advanced planning for an emergency or disaster now, will only give you the assurance of getting through it later. Even a simple basic plan is better than no plan at all.
The following is our last video in our preparedness series by Suttons Daze. The views of this Youtuber are her's and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Village of Altona. All videos in this series as well as other postings on this page have been designed to bring you awareness in order to help you with your preparation planning during National Preparedness Month.
September 30th: National Preparedness Month - Thank You! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNO8qBas3Lc
Listing of agencies and periodicals to help assit you with your planning. Please build an Emergency Kit.
Federal Emergency Management Agency - www.fema.gov/
Department of Homeland Security - www.dhs.gov/
Ready.Gov (Department of Homeland Security) - www.ready.gov/
Illinois Emergency Management Agency - www2.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
American Red Cross - www.redcross.org
Food and Cooking Resources:
National Center For Home Food Preservation - nchfp.uga.edu/
Wise Food Storage - www.wisefoodstorage.com
My Patriot Supply - mypatriotsupply.com/
How To Can - www.everythingkitchens.com/how-to-can-water-bath-canning-at-home.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-9Sa28H25AIVEj0MCh2B-AroEAAYASAAEgKIe_D_BwE
Search YouTube Videos - www.youtube.com/
Grills - Be sure to refill your LP gas tanks or restock on the charcoal briquettes from the summer grilling sesaon.
Energy Sources and Periodicals:
Home Generators - www.generac.com/
Lights Out, by Ted Koppel - tedkoppellightsout.com/
Search YouTube Videos - www.youtube.com/
September 29, 2019
With the federal government setting aside September as National Preparedness Month - the month dedicated for us to get educated, do planning and preparations, should the need for life's emergencies or disasters come our way in order to keep our families safe; it is important to review and consider all of the dangers when making and practicing our emergency plans. Ask yourself the following questions while you consider make your plans....
Do you have two exits out of each room in your home should there be a fire?
Do you have alternative energy sources for heating, cooking or shelter, regardless of the type of distaster or emergency at hand?
Do you have plenty of food and water on hand should a disaster strike, and you are unable to get to the store or that you are forced to shelter in?
Do you know where or how to find the information that you need to help with your planning needs?
Today's video from Suttons Daze talks about the last question. Views from this YouTuber are her's and her's alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Village of Altona. All of the postings and tips throughout this month in regards to National Preparedness Month have been designed to help you with your planning needs should some sort of a disaster or emergency occur. A little bit of planning now could make your response quicker later on. You can find all sorts of planning advice from governmental websites, books and YouTube videos. Good luck with your planning.
September 29th: National Preparedness Month - Community:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV22tDR7jTQ
Do you have two exits out of each room in your home should there be a fire?
Do you have alternative energy sources for heating, cooking or shelter, regardless of the type of distaster or emergency at hand?
Do you have plenty of food and water on hand should a disaster strike, and you are unable to get to the store or that you are forced to shelter in?
Do you know where or how to find the information that you need to help with your planning needs?
Today's video from Suttons Daze talks about the last question. Views from this YouTuber are her's and her's alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Village of Altona. All of the postings and tips throughout this month in regards to National Preparedness Month have been designed to help you with your planning needs should some sort of a disaster or emergency occur. A little bit of planning now could make your response quicker later on. You can find all sorts of planning advice from governmental websites, books and YouTube videos. Good luck with your planning.
September 29th: National Preparedness Month - Community:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV22tDR7jTQ
September 28 , 2019
September is National Preparedness Month. Let's continue with our educational planning with this scenario....
It is winter and a huge snow and ice storm has blanketed the area. You do not have a home generator, however you did decided to purchase a gas stove in order to cook during a power outage. The problem is that the winter ice storm has nocked out the power and the outage is suppose to last for a very long period of time - days, if not weeks. Your food in your refrigerator and freezers may now spoil due to the prolonged power outage.
Question: How do you preserve food in order to sustain yourself during this crisis? Answer: Canning. Yes, canning be time consuming, but it preserves your food for a long time. To learn how to can, you can find information from YouTube videos, University of Illinois Extension, and books on the subject from book stores or from your local library.
Let's continue with our video series from Suttons Daze. The views from this YouTuber are designed to help bring awareness to you, and to give you tips, in order to assist you with your preparation needs for a disaster or life's little emergencies. The views of this YouTuber does not necessarily represent the views of the Village of Altona. The posting of this video series is done to help bring awareness to you as part of National Preparedness Month.
September 27th: (Bonus Video) National Preparedness Month - I've Canned Meat - Now What?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKhZRi70DTI
September 27th: National Preparedness Month - Self Defense:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefgnKr-t4E
September 28th: National Preparedness Month - Shelter In Place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpPtsqXH_us
It is winter and a huge snow and ice storm has blanketed the area. You do not have a home generator, however you did decided to purchase a gas stove in order to cook during a power outage. The problem is that the winter ice storm has nocked out the power and the outage is suppose to last for a very long period of time - days, if not weeks. Your food in your refrigerator and freezers may now spoil due to the prolonged power outage.
Question: How do you preserve food in order to sustain yourself during this crisis? Answer: Canning. Yes, canning be time consuming, but it preserves your food for a long time. To learn how to can, you can find information from YouTube videos, University of Illinois Extension, and books on the subject from book stores or from your local library.
Let's continue with our video series from Suttons Daze. The views from this YouTuber are designed to help bring awareness to you, and to give you tips, in order to assist you with your preparation needs for a disaster or life's little emergencies. The views of this YouTuber does not necessarily represent the views of the Village of Altona. The posting of this video series is done to help bring awareness to you as part of National Preparedness Month.
September 27th: (Bonus Video) National Preparedness Month - I've Canned Meat - Now What?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKhZRi70DTI
September 27th: National Preparedness Month - Self Defense:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefgnKr-t4E
September 28th: National Preparedness Month - Shelter In Place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpPtsqXH_us
September 26, 2019
National Preparedness Month is about getting educated on all aspects of being prepared should a disaster or emergency were to happen. If something were to happen, how would you communicate with your loved one's about your situation? Do you know how you would receive information about the disaster or emergency at hand? That is what today's video from Sutton's Daze is all about - Communications. The opinons from this YouTuber is theirs and are not necessarily endorsed by the Village of Altona.
September 26th: National Preparedness Month - Communications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf_0gSHYcz0
September 26th: National Preparedness Month - Communications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf_0gSHYcz0
Posted September 25, 2019
September is National Preparedness Month. Throughout this month, the Village of Altona has been participating by posting tips, articles and videos to help inform you about ideas so that you can make plans that fit you and your families needs. The following is the next installment of the video seriers by Suttons Daze. These postings are designed to offer tips and ideas to help assist you in being prepared in a time of disaster, emergency, or just help with your daily life. All content and opinions from these videos are those from the YouTuber and not necessarily those of the Village of Altona.
September 25th: National Preparedness Month - Security: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUxcEByCs4w
Senario: Our area gets hit with a huge snow and ice storm. We are dumped with over a foot of snow, and six inches of ice. Numerous power poles have snapped due to the heavy ice leaving lines down across the area and power is out for about a week or more. What would you do? Have you made the advanced planning that is needed in order to get through this disaster? Consider the following:
Heat - Do you have a back up generator? A whole house natural gas (or propane) generator would allow you to heat your home. If you have to rely on electricity for medical needs, having back up electricity is a must. If you use propane, do you have enough fuel in the tank? If you do not have a whole house generator, smaller ones would help get you by, but you must have enough gasoline on hand to whether out this storm. If the power is out, you will not be able to purchase gasoline. If you have one of these types of generators, do you have enough gasoline stored for such a situation? Do you have a fireplace, or a wood burning stove? If so this would be good to heat your home and to cook on, but do you have dry wood accessible and ready? Or is it under a foot of snow and six inches of ice where you can not get to it?
Lighting - If the power is out, do you have candles, flashlights and plenty of batteries on hand?
Cooking - Do you have a gas range, or perhaps a charcoal or LP gas grill? If so excellent, you can cook - or can you? Did you remember to stock up on charcoal or refill all of those LP tanks after the summer grilling season?
Water - If the power is out and everything is under snow and ice, will you be able to get water? Do you have water stored at home for such a scenario, or will you have to somehow melt snow?
Food - Do you have food on hand which does not require cooking? It takes electricity to keep our refrigerators and freezers cold. You don't want to continuously open and close them. Whether it is peanut butter or canned tuna, you will want to have some sort of non-perishable food on hand to eat. Do you garden in the summer? Canning your fruits and vegetables comes in handy during a situation like this.
Think about the above scenario and how you would handle this situation as the roads will be closed and help is far away. This is a possibility as such a scenario has happened to us before if not quite as severe. September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time to educate and prepare ourselves should a disaster or emergency were to happen, not wonder around in a daze and be unprepared when it does. Good luck with your planning.
September 25th: National Preparedness Month - Security: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUxcEByCs4w
Senario: Our area gets hit with a huge snow and ice storm. We are dumped with over a foot of snow, and six inches of ice. Numerous power poles have snapped due to the heavy ice leaving lines down across the area and power is out for about a week or more. What would you do? Have you made the advanced planning that is needed in order to get through this disaster? Consider the following:
Heat - Do you have a back up generator? A whole house natural gas (or propane) generator would allow you to heat your home. If you have to rely on electricity for medical needs, having back up electricity is a must. If you use propane, do you have enough fuel in the tank? If you do not have a whole house generator, smaller ones would help get you by, but you must have enough gasoline on hand to whether out this storm. If the power is out, you will not be able to purchase gasoline. If you have one of these types of generators, do you have enough gasoline stored for such a situation? Do you have a fireplace, or a wood burning stove? If so this would be good to heat your home and to cook on, but do you have dry wood accessible and ready? Or is it under a foot of snow and six inches of ice where you can not get to it?
Lighting - If the power is out, do you have candles, flashlights and plenty of batteries on hand?
Cooking - Do you have a gas range, or perhaps a charcoal or LP gas grill? If so excellent, you can cook - or can you? Did you remember to stock up on charcoal or refill all of those LP tanks after the summer grilling season?
Water - If the power is out and everything is under snow and ice, will you be able to get water? Do you have water stored at home for such a scenario, or will you have to somehow melt snow?
Food - Do you have food on hand which does not require cooking? It takes electricity to keep our refrigerators and freezers cold. You don't want to continuously open and close them. Whether it is peanut butter or canned tuna, you will want to have some sort of non-perishable food on hand to eat. Do you garden in the summer? Canning your fruits and vegetables comes in handy during a situation like this.
Think about the above scenario and how you would handle this situation as the roads will be closed and help is far away. This is a possibility as such a scenario has happened to us before if not quite as severe. September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time to educate and prepare ourselves should a disaster or emergency were to happen, not wonder around in a daze and be unprepared when it does. Good luck with your planning.
Posted September 25, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
September 22nd - 28th is Illinois Rail Safety Week. This week is designed to bring awareness of the dangers of railroad crossings and tracks. Railroad tracks and public crossings are private property and are dangerous places to be near. Please do not trespass. Only cross tracks at designated crossings. Illinois law states that only when the gates have completely gone up and the lights have completely stopped operating can you traverse over the crossing. Trying to do so otherwise can subject you to a hefty fine.
Always Expect A Train: At Any Time, In Any Direction, And On Any Track.
Did you know that in the United States in 2018, there were:
2214 Rail Crossing Collisions
263 Rail Crossing Deaths
1022 Rail Trespassing Incidents
541 Trespassing Deaths
Did you know that According to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC):
• There is more than 7,400 miles of railroad track within Illinois, the second largest rail system of any state in the U.S.
• All 7 Class 1 railroads in the U.S. operate within Illinois (BNSF, CN, CP, CSX, KCS, NS, UP), in addition to about 50 smaller railroads.
• 11,714 level crossings exist within Illinois (7,741 public: 3,610 private: 363 pedestrian).
• 2,620 public highway rail structures exist within Illinois (1,686 over highway, 934 under highway).
• More than 500 million tons of freight moves on rails within Illinois each year, which is the most of any state in the U.S.
• About 20 million tons of chemicals, many of which are hazardous, are transported on the rail system within Illinois each year.
• Chicago is the largest rail hub in the U.S. and the 3rd largest intermodal container/trailer port in the world, following only Singapore and Hong Kong.
As a motorist, you may have noticed that trains are getting longer. The FRA has given BNSF a waiver to run trains up to 21,000 feet in length - that's about four miles long. Trains can be as much as 21,000 tons (or 42 million pounds). A train can not stop like a car as it is not like a Corvette. It can take miles for a train to safely come to a stop. The force of a train hitting your car would be equivalent to a cement truck running over an aluminum can. In train vs. car collisions - The Train Will ALWAYS Win!
So please use common sense and be safe around railroad tracks and remember the following:
Attention Area Residents:
September 22nd - 28th is Illinois Rail Safety Week. This week is designed to bring awareness of the dangers of railroad crossings and tracks. Railroad tracks and public crossings are private property and are dangerous places to be near. Please do not trespass. Only cross tracks at designated crossings. Illinois law states that only when the gates have completely gone up and the lights have completely stopped operating can you traverse over the crossing. Trying to do so otherwise can subject you to a hefty fine.
Always Expect A Train: At Any Time, In Any Direction, And On Any Track.
Did you know that in the United States in 2018, there were:
2214 Rail Crossing Collisions
263 Rail Crossing Deaths
1022 Rail Trespassing Incidents
541 Trespassing Deaths
Did you know that According to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC):
• There is more than 7,400 miles of railroad track within Illinois, the second largest rail system of any state in the U.S.
• All 7 Class 1 railroads in the U.S. operate within Illinois (BNSF, CN, CP, CSX, KCS, NS, UP), in addition to about 50 smaller railroads.
• 11,714 level crossings exist within Illinois (7,741 public: 3,610 private: 363 pedestrian).
• 2,620 public highway rail structures exist within Illinois (1,686 over highway, 934 under highway).
• More than 500 million tons of freight moves on rails within Illinois each year, which is the most of any state in the U.S.
• About 20 million tons of chemicals, many of which are hazardous, are transported on the rail system within Illinois each year.
• Chicago is the largest rail hub in the U.S. and the 3rd largest intermodal container/trailer port in the world, following only Singapore and Hong Kong.
As a motorist, you may have noticed that trains are getting longer. The FRA has given BNSF a waiver to run trains up to 21,000 feet in length - that's about four miles long. Trains can be as much as 21,000 tons (or 42 million pounds). A train can not stop like a car as it is not like a Corvette. It can take miles for a train to safely come to a stop. The force of a train hitting your car would be equivalent to a cement truck running over an aluminum can. In train vs. car collisions - The Train Will ALWAYS Win!
So please use common sense and be safe around railroad tracks and remember the following:
- Walking or playing on train tracks is dangerous and illegal.
- Be prepared to stop at crossings.
- Cross train tracks at designated highway/railroad crossings.
- Look for the cross buck sign, lights or gates at crossings.
- Listen for warning bells and whistles.
- Obey the signals.
- If one train passes, make sure a second train is not approaching on another track in the same or opposite direction.
- Obey the directions of a police officer or member of a train crew directing traffic at a crossing.
- Cross the tracks in low gear; do not change gears while crossing.
- If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly, and move away from the vehicle and tracks; call the emergency number posted at or near the crossing and call 911.
Posted September 24, 2019
Unlike trying to do your own taxes, being prepared for some form of emergency or disaster isn't something that you have to spend weeks doing. Spending a little bit of time now to plan however, will save you time later on for when the time comes should you need to evacuate. September is National Preparedness Month. Please take this time to educate yourself on what to do should a disaster or emergency were to happen.
Let's continue now with our educational video series by Sutton's Daze. This series is designed to help you think, plan and prepare for disasters or life's little emergencies. Proper early planning will assure an easier time through such a tragedy.
September 23rd: National Preparedness Month - I Can See You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqDGoAOIUKs
September 24th: National Preparedness Month - Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btRkW2oEVY
Now that you've been thinking of how you would plan for a disaster or an emergency, let's play out a scenario. Some sort of disaster hits your town, and the authorities say that you must leave your home and that you only have 20 minutes to grab your stuff and leave. Have you made your kit? Do you know where you will go and what you will take with you? You decide to just wing it and head towards the northwest. Do you have a hotel or other lodging lined up? No? Are you just planning on driving until you think it is safe and just pull into a hotel and look for a room? The problem with this is, there may be ten's of thousand's of people who have to evacuate your area and they all will be looking for a place to spend the night as well. Do you have a newer General Motors vehicle with On Star installed? While you are on the road, either have someone search on their cell phone (providing it will work) to find a hotel and book while enroute, or contact On Star. They may be able to help. Do you have a tent, camper or a RV? This could be an option for your lodging needs. While everyone will be crowding the hotels looking for that very last room, you have your lodging already with you. Either find a campground or a vacant retail parking lot to pull in to. Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, GREAT! You can cook, or can you? After the summer grilling season, did you replenish that charcoal bag or fill up all of your LP tanks? These will be one of those commodities that may sell out fast during the runs on the stores.
These are just ideas to help you with your planning. While nobody can think of every possible thing that one would need, it is always best to try your best to think out all possible scenarios. Good luck with you planning needs. The secret to survival in an emergency is having a plan, and having a kit.
For other sources of information, visit FEMA website, your states Emergency Services website, Department of Homeland Security, The American Red Cross, or other YouTube websites on preparedness for ideas.
Let's continue now with our educational video series by Sutton's Daze. This series is designed to help you think, plan and prepare for disasters or life's little emergencies. Proper early planning will assure an easier time through such a tragedy.
September 23rd: National Preparedness Month - I Can See You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqDGoAOIUKs
September 24th: National Preparedness Month - Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btRkW2oEVY
Now that you've been thinking of how you would plan for a disaster or an emergency, let's play out a scenario. Some sort of disaster hits your town, and the authorities say that you must leave your home and that you only have 20 minutes to grab your stuff and leave. Have you made your kit? Do you know where you will go and what you will take with you? You decide to just wing it and head towards the northwest. Do you have a hotel or other lodging lined up? No? Are you just planning on driving until you think it is safe and just pull into a hotel and look for a room? The problem with this is, there may be ten's of thousand's of people who have to evacuate your area and they all will be looking for a place to spend the night as well. Do you have a newer General Motors vehicle with On Star installed? While you are on the road, either have someone search on their cell phone (providing it will work) to find a hotel and book while enroute, or contact On Star. They may be able to help. Do you have a tent, camper or a RV? This could be an option for your lodging needs. While everyone will be crowding the hotels looking for that very last room, you have your lodging already with you. Either find a campground or a vacant retail parking lot to pull in to. Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, GREAT! You can cook, or can you? After the summer grilling season, did you replenish that charcoal bag or fill up all of your LP tanks? These will be one of those commodities that may sell out fast during the runs on the stores.
These are just ideas to help you with your planning. While nobody can think of every possible thing that one would need, it is always best to try your best to think out all possible scenarios. Good luck with you planning needs. The secret to survival in an emergency is having a plan, and having a kit.
For other sources of information, visit FEMA website, your states Emergency Services website, Department of Homeland Security, The American Red Cross, or other YouTube websites on preparedness for ideas.
Posted September 22, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
As we continue with our educational series about being prepared during National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have picked up on some tips or advice that may help you with your preparation planning. Disasters don't plan ahead, but YOU can. We will once again visit Suttons Daze with the daily preparedness video....
September 22nd: National Preparedness Month - Kitchen Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAwb3ewgCNs
As we continue with our educational series about being prepared during National Preparedness Month, hopefully you have picked up on some tips or advice that may help you with your preparation planning. Disasters don't plan ahead, but YOU can. We will once again visit Suttons Daze with the daily preparedness video....
September 22nd: National Preparedness Month - Kitchen Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAwb3ewgCNs
Posted September 21, 2019
Being that September is National Preparedness Month, it is important to learn what you would want to take with you should you be ordered to evacuate by the authorities due to some sort of disaster. Today's educational video from Suttons Daze ties into today's FEMA video on "Bug Out Bags". You can find more suggestions and tips on preparedness on governmental websites as well as on YouTube.
September 21st: National Preparedness Month - Bug Out Bags: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvHDCz6D8iI
September 21st: National Preparedness Month - Bug Out Bags: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvHDCz6D8iI
Posted September 20, 2019
Attention Area Residents: As you are probably aware by now, September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time that our federal government has set aside for all of us to educate ourselves and to develop a plan so that we are ready for whenever any type of disaster comes our way. Distasters can come in any form and at any time. Are you ready? This month, the Village of Altona has been participating by posting a video series by Sutton Daze. It is the intent of the videoer to try and cover all aspects of planning in order to get you to think what may be best for you and your family. The following are the latest links by date in this daily video series for the month. Best of luck in your learning as well as in your preparation planning. You may find other ideas and tips by visiting governmental websites as well as other YouTube videos.
September 19th: National Preparedness Month - Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BES6ViJ3ns
September 20th: National Preparedness Month - Heat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZmTEfNPiDM
September 19th: National Preparedness Month - Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BES6ViJ3ns
September 20th: National Preparedness Month - Heat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZmTEfNPiDM
Posted September 18, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
As you know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month set aside by the federal government to educate the citizens of our country on the need to be prepared for disasters. We watch the devastation on the news from various parts of the world, including our own country; but have we taken the time to prepare ourselves in case a disaster happens close to home? Throughout the month, the Village of Altona has been posting videos, tips and articles to help you with your education. This year the video postings have been from Sutton Daze. Their daily postings have been designed to educate every aspect of preparedness and to try and make things as comfortable as possible. Disasters can come in many different forms. It is hard to plan for everything, but the more planning you take now will ensure you more comfort later on should the time comes when disaster knocks on your front door.
September 18: National Preparedness Month - Outdoor Cooking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iant0Ryx0
As you know by now, September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month set aside by the federal government to educate the citizens of our country on the need to be prepared for disasters. We watch the devastation on the news from various parts of the world, including our own country; but have we taken the time to prepare ourselves in case a disaster happens close to home? Throughout the month, the Village of Altona has been posting videos, tips and articles to help you with your education. This year the video postings have been from Sutton Daze. Their daily postings have been designed to educate every aspect of preparedness and to try and make things as comfortable as possible. Disasters can come in many different forms. It is hard to plan for everything, but the more planning you take now will ensure you more comfort later on should the time comes when disaster knocks on your front door.
September 18: National Preparedness Month - Outdoor Cooking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iant0Ryx0
Posted September 17, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
Weather can cause lots of problems. Icy roads can put you in the ditch; flash floods can fill your basement with water; a tornado can flatten your home. Have you thought in advance what you would do in various situations? Do you have a plan? If a disaster were to happen and you had to evacuate your dwelling, do you know what you would take? Are those items easily accessible for when the authorities say that you only have 15 minutes to get out? These are questions that the federal government wants you to consider when making your plans. This is the third year that the Village of Altona has participated in National Preparedness Month. The Village has been posting a video series and articles, all of which is designed to help you decide how to prepare you and your family should some sort of disaster were to hit you. Disasters come in a variety of ways. The following is the next two segments of our video series by Sutton Daze. You can find a lot of information on being prepared by visiting YouTube as well as governmental agencies as well under the September postings for the past two years on the Village Facebook, Current News and Health and Safety page. Ultimately the choice on how to prepare is up to you.
September 16th: National Preparedness Month - Clothing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sHER109xfA&t=377s
September 17th: National Preparedness Month - Seeds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlauG2_YQWQ
Weather can cause lots of problems. Icy roads can put you in the ditch; flash floods can fill your basement with water; a tornado can flatten your home. Have you thought in advance what you would do in various situations? Do you have a plan? If a disaster were to happen and you had to evacuate your dwelling, do you know what you would take? Are those items easily accessible for when the authorities say that you only have 15 minutes to get out? These are questions that the federal government wants you to consider when making your plans. This is the third year that the Village of Altona has participated in National Preparedness Month. The Village has been posting a video series and articles, all of which is designed to help you decide how to prepare you and your family should some sort of disaster were to hit you. Disasters come in a variety of ways. The following is the next two segments of our video series by Sutton Daze. You can find a lot of information on being prepared by visiting YouTube as well as governmental agencies as well under the September postings for the past two years on the Village Facebook, Current News and Health and Safety page. Ultimately the choice on how to prepare is up to you.
September 16th: National Preparedness Month - Clothing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sHER109xfA&t=377s
September 17th: National Preparedness Month - Seeds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlauG2_YQWQ
Posted September 15, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
If authorities were to come pounding on your door in the middle of the night stating that you had exactly 15 minutes to evacuate your home due to a disaster, do you know what you would do? Where you would go? What would you take with you? September is National Preparedness Month. These questions and more is exactly what the Federal government had in mind when they created National Preparedness Month. The month of September is set aside to educate you on how to prepare should some form of disaster ever where to occur.
The Village of Altona is participating by posting articles and videos on both its website and Facebook page. The following is the next video in our month long series of preparedness by Sutton Daze.
September 15: National Preparedness Month - Vitamins and Rx: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjFpiF6noE
If authorities were to come pounding on your door in the middle of the night stating that you had exactly 15 minutes to evacuate your home due to a disaster, do you know what you would do? Where you would go? What would you take with you? September is National Preparedness Month. These questions and more is exactly what the Federal government had in mind when they created National Preparedness Month. The month of September is set aside to educate you on how to prepare should some form of disaster ever where to occur.
The Village of Altona is participating by posting articles and videos on both its website and Facebook page. The following is the next video in our month long series of preparedness by Sutton Daze.
September 15: National Preparedness Month - Vitamins and Rx: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjFpiF6noE
Posted September 15, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
September 15th -21st is National Farm Safety & Health Week. While this week is designed to remind farmers to be safe on the farm as they start gearing up for the fall harvest; it is equally important that those who are not farmers traveling the roads on our daily commutes to be vigilant and look out for agriculture equipment to avoid accidents. This slow moving equipment will soon be busy occupying the roads getting the harvet out of the fields. Please SLOW DOWN and give them the room that they need to get from field to field and from field to elevator. They travel as fast as their slow moving equipment allows them to travel. Whether farmer or motorists, let's all be safe on the roads. Thank you.
The following article was printed in the September 2019 addition of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
Attention Area Residents:
September 15th -21st is National Farm Safety & Health Week. While this week is designed to remind farmers to be safe on the farm as they start gearing up for the fall harvest; it is equally important that those who are not farmers traveling the roads on our daily commutes to be vigilant and look out for agriculture equipment to avoid accidents. This slow moving equipment will soon be busy occupying the roads getting the harvet out of the fields. Please SLOW DOWN and give them the room that they need to get from field to field and from field to elevator. They travel as fast as their slow moving equipment allows them to travel. Whether farmer or motorists, let's all be safe on the roads. Thank you.
The following article was printed in the September 2019 addition of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
Posted September 14, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
Prepared, not scared! Be ready for Disasters. This is this years theme for National Preparedness Month. Each year, the federal government sets aside the month of September to bring awareness for the need for everyone to be prepared for some sort of disaster. Whether that disaster takes the form of a hurricane, wildfires, tornado, floods, financial, or some other sort of distaster; ultimately it is our own personal responsibility to be able to take care of ourselves. The government can not take care of everyone's needs. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do? If you are ordered to evacuate, do you know where you'll go? Do your children know what to do in case of an emergency or a disaster?
It all starts with educating yourself, and creating a kit. Throughout the month of September, the Village of Altona will be posting articles and links to videos to help you become educated and to be informed. These links are located in the Current News section on our website, as well as posted on our Facebook page. If you haven't watched any of the videos, please scroll back to find the links and watch the daily videos.
The following article was written by the Knox County Health Department and was printed in the September 2019 issue of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin. Hopefully you will find this article helpful.
Attention Area Residents:
Prepared, not scared! Be ready for Disasters. This is this years theme for National Preparedness Month. Each year, the federal government sets aside the month of September to bring awareness for the need for everyone to be prepared for some sort of disaster. Whether that disaster takes the form of a hurricane, wildfires, tornado, floods, financial, or some other sort of distaster; ultimately it is our own personal responsibility to be able to take care of ourselves. The government can not take care of everyone's needs. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do? If you are ordered to evacuate, do you know where you'll go? Do your children know what to do in case of an emergency or a disaster?
It all starts with educating yourself, and creating a kit. Throughout the month of September, the Village of Altona will be posting articles and links to videos to help you become educated and to be informed. These links are located in the Current News section on our website, as well as posted on our Facebook page. If you haven't watched any of the videos, please scroll back to find the links and watch the daily videos.
The following article was written by the Knox County Health Department and was printed in the September 2019 issue of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin. Hopefully you will find this article helpful.
September 13th: National Preparedness Month - Hygiene: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8NL7Q2xJ1w
September 14th: National Preparedness Month - 20 Uses For Duct Tape: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRziesZqfjc
September 14th: National Preparedness Month - 20 Uses For Duct Tape: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRziesZqfjc
Posted September 14, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
School is back in session and some children ride their bicycles to school. They may or may not know the rules of the road when it comes to riding their bicycles on the road. This means that us vehicle drivers must drive with extra caution to look out for bicyclists in order to avoid an accident. The following article is from the September 2019 of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin. Hopefully it will give you some extra insite on Sharing the Road with Bicycle Riders....
Attention Area Residents:
School is back in session and some children ride their bicycles to school. They may or may not know the rules of the road when it comes to riding their bicycles on the road. This means that us vehicle drivers must drive with extra caution to look out for bicyclists in order to avoid an accident. The following article is from the September 2019 of the Knox County Farm Bureau Bulletin. Hopefully it will give you some extra insite on Sharing the Road with Bicycle Riders....
Posted September 12, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. Watching the news, we see some sort of disaster happen in some part of the world on a constant basis. We feel sorry for those victims and we thank our lucky stars that we are not there. Have you ever thought that you are glad that you live where you do, because nothing would happen here in the midwest? If so, you would be wrong to think that, because a disaster can happen anywhere. While we may not get hurricanes in Illinois, we do get tornadoes, ice storms, and flooding. We have a railroad that hauls hazardous materials through our towns daily. There are many types of disasters that could happen, and in the end, it is up to us individually to be prepared in order to be able to take care of ourselves and our families. This is why the Federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month, in order for each of us to become educated and to make a plan should something ever where to happen in order to reduce the loss of of live.
There are many websites where you can go to learn about preparedness. Federal and State agencies have websites, as do relief organizations. There are numerous YouTube videos on how to prepare for disasters as well. It is up to you to research and decide which advice and tips that would benefit you. The following is a listing of some websites for your research (just enter your item in their search bar,) as well as today's video in the Village's Preparedness series by Sutton Daze.
Federal Websites:
www.ready.gov/
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov
Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov
Illinois websites:
Illinois Emergency Management Agency: www2.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
Organizations:
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/National-Preparedness-Month-Get-Ready-for-Emergencies.html
Village Preparedness Series:
September 12th: National Preparedness Month - Tool Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofLPXQhSGE0
I hope that you will find this information helpful. If you would like to help your community during its time of need, please consider joining your local volunteer fire department as well as the Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District. These two organizations are our local heros that come to your aid during your time of need. Please support them.
Thank you and be safe.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
September is National Preparedness Month. Watching the news, we see some sort of disaster happen in some part of the world on a constant basis. We feel sorry for those victims and we thank our lucky stars that we are not there. Have you ever thought that you are glad that you live where you do, because nothing would happen here in the midwest? If so, you would be wrong to think that, because a disaster can happen anywhere. While we may not get hurricanes in Illinois, we do get tornadoes, ice storms, and flooding. We have a railroad that hauls hazardous materials through our towns daily. There are many types of disasters that could happen, and in the end, it is up to us individually to be prepared in order to be able to take care of ourselves and our families. This is why the Federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month, in order for each of us to become educated and to make a plan should something ever where to happen in order to reduce the loss of of live.
There are many websites where you can go to learn about preparedness. Federal and State agencies have websites, as do relief organizations. There are numerous YouTube videos on how to prepare for disasters as well. It is up to you to research and decide which advice and tips that would benefit you. The following is a listing of some websites for your research (just enter your item in their search bar,) as well as today's video in the Village's Preparedness series by Sutton Daze.
Federal Websites:
www.ready.gov/
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov
Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov
Illinois websites:
Illinois Emergency Management Agency: www2.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
Organizations:
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/National-Preparedness-Month-Get-Ready-for-Emergencies.html
Village Preparedness Series:
September 12th: National Preparedness Month - Tool Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofLPXQhSGE0
I hope that you will find this information helpful. If you would like to help your community during its time of need, please consider joining your local volunteer fire department as well as the Altona-Oneida-Wataga Ambulance District. These two organizations are our local heros that come to your aid during your time of need. Please support them.
Thank you and be safe.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
Posted September 11, 2019
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. It is the month set aside by the United States government to help bring awareness to the need for being prepared for any type of disaster. Disasters can come in many forms, such as Hurricanes (like Dorian which recently devastated the Bahamas and the Outer Banks of North Carolina); Wildfires (such as what was experienced last year in California or currently burning in the Rain Forests in Central America); Flooding (as was experienced this spring in parts of Missouri and Nebraska); Winter Storms (like we had experienced here this past winter); Financial Loss (such as losing your job) or even a Fire (which recently happened in our area).
Do you know what to do should a disaster happen in our area? Do you have a family plan of action? Do you know where you will go? Where you will stay? How will you evacuate? Do you have any pets? If so, do you know what you will do with them? This is what the month of September is all about when it comes to National Preparedness Month. It is a time to get educated and to develop a plan of action so that you and your family can stay safe during this traumatic time.
Where can you go for information on planning? www.ready.gov/ or www.fema.gov are a couple of good websites to get you started.
Throughout this month as was done the past couple of years; the Village of Altona will be posting video links on both this website as well as our Facebook page to help educate you on how to become better prepared. You may find the videos from the Current News 2018 and 2017 for those years, as well as under the Health and Safety page under the September postings. This year we will use a different video series. This year we will use a series produced by Suttons Daze. You can find all sorts of videos done by Prep-pers on Youtube. Some are common sense and educational, while others are pretty far out there. You must choose those methods that you agree with and wish to try. The lady with Suttons Daze does a good job explaining things and trying to get you to think. The following is a listing of each of the videos that she has produced each day so for this month. Other links will be posted throughout this month. Please take the time this month to get educated and to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster occur in our area, because the time for preparing is too late when the disaster strikes.
September 1st: National Preparedness Month - The Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOTDDWxAUg
September 2nd: National Preparedness Month - Water: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Te2iV39iuc
September 3rd: National Preparedness Month - Food: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4IDxZLQE0&t=610s
September 4th: National Preparedness Month - Pets: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js67JCUcHl8&t=5s
September 5th: National Preparedness Month - First Aide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3vu86GKjHg
September 6th: National Preparedness Month - Office Supplies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgdjz73FJ-o
September 7th: National Preparedness Month - Emergency Lighting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwgWgZ0qDjQ
September 8th: National Preparedness Month - Get Home Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwcU2FgSSXA
September 9th: National Preparedness Month - Auto Emergency Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFySDjlPqQ
September 10th: National Preparedness Month - Important Documents: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTxCeprz5nc
September 11th: National Preparedness Month - 72 Hour Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=idOqsBKWF2A
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. It is the month set aside by the United States government to help bring awareness to the need for being prepared for any type of disaster. Disasters can come in many forms, such as Hurricanes (like Dorian which recently devastated the Bahamas and the Outer Banks of North Carolina); Wildfires (such as what was experienced last year in California or currently burning in the Rain Forests in Central America); Flooding (as was experienced this spring in parts of Missouri and Nebraska); Winter Storms (like we had experienced here this past winter); Financial Loss (such as losing your job) or even a Fire (which recently happened in our area).
Do you know what to do should a disaster happen in our area? Do you have a family plan of action? Do you know where you will go? Where you will stay? How will you evacuate? Do you have any pets? If so, do you know what you will do with them? This is what the month of September is all about when it comes to National Preparedness Month. It is a time to get educated and to develop a plan of action so that you and your family can stay safe during this traumatic time.
Where can you go for information on planning? www.ready.gov/ or www.fema.gov are a couple of good websites to get you started.
Throughout this month as was done the past couple of years; the Village of Altona will be posting video links on both this website as well as our Facebook page to help educate you on how to become better prepared. You may find the videos from the Current News 2018 and 2017 for those years, as well as under the Health and Safety page under the September postings. This year we will use a different video series. This year we will use a series produced by Suttons Daze. You can find all sorts of videos done by Prep-pers on Youtube. Some are common sense and educational, while others are pretty far out there. You must choose those methods that you agree with and wish to try. The lady with Suttons Daze does a good job explaining things and trying to get you to think. The following is a listing of each of the videos that she has produced each day so for this month. Other links will be posted throughout this month. Please take the time this month to get educated and to prepare yourself and your family should some sort of disaster occur in our area, because the time for preparing is too late when the disaster strikes.
September 1st: National Preparedness Month - The Plan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOTDDWxAUg
September 2nd: National Preparedness Month - Water: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Te2iV39iuc
September 3rd: National Preparedness Month - Food: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4IDxZLQE0&t=610s
September 4th: National Preparedness Month - Pets: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js67JCUcHl8&t=5s
September 5th: National Preparedness Month - First Aide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3vu86GKjHg
September 6th: National Preparedness Month - Office Supplies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgdjz73FJ-o
September 7th: National Preparedness Month - Emergency Lighting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwgWgZ0qDjQ
September 8th: National Preparedness Month - Get Home Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwcU2FgSSXA
September 9th: National Preparedness Month - Auto Emergency Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFySDjlPqQ
September 10th: National Preparedness Month - Important Documents: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTxCeprz5nc
September 11th: National Preparedness Month - 72 Hour Kit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=idOqsBKWF2A
|
Attention Area Residents:
As you are all aware, September was Emergency Preparedness Month, the time our federal government sets aside to learn the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster were to occur. Mother Nature all to well reminds us of this need to have a plan of action in order to react.
On October 3rd, 2018, everyone in the country with a cell phone had received the first Presidential Alert. This was a test of the new National Wireless Emergency Alert System. I had found the following article which tells the story behind this Emergency System and why it is important. Click on the following link to learn more, thank you.
mypatriotsupply.com/blogs/scout/the-story-behind-the-text-from-the-president?utm_source=10.13.18+Scout+-+The+Story+behind+the+Text+from+the+President&utm_campaign=10.13.18+Scout+-+The+Story+behind+the+Text+from+the+President&utm_medium=email
As you are all aware, September was Emergency Preparedness Month, the time our federal government sets aside to learn the importance of being prepared should some sort of disaster were to occur. Mother Nature all to well reminds us of this need to have a plan of action in order to react.
On October 3rd, 2018, everyone in the country with a cell phone had received the first Presidential Alert. This was a test of the new National Wireless Emergency Alert System. I had found the following article which tells the story behind this Emergency System and why it is important. Click on the following link to learn more, thank you.
mypatriotsupply.com/blogs/scout/the-story-behind-the-text-from-the-president?utm_source=10.13.18+Scout+-+The+Story+behind+the+Text+from+the+President&utm_campaign=10.13.18+Scout+-+The+Story+behind+the+Text+from+the+President&utm_medium=email
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time set aside by the federal government to try and educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared for some sort of disaster. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level and build yourself an emergency kit if you don't have one already. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be? Here is the fourth episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
At the time of this posting, hurricane Florence has started to bear down on the Carolina coasts. Nearly 17,000 people are out of power and the most damaging part of the storm isn't supposed to hit until during the night. While we in the midwest may not experience hurricanes, we can and do experience other disasters. Mother Nature is in charge and images of hurricanes, volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, or wildfires in California are mere daily reminders of this. This is why the federal government has set aside the month of September as Emergency Preparedness Month. The government wishes everyone to get informed on how to prepare for any disaster so that you can better take care of yourself and your family because resources may be stretched thin, and depending on the disaster; federal, state or local governments may not be able to help you.
Here is the Episode 3 in our video series....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Here is the Episode 3 in our video series....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
September is National Preparedness Month. In an effort to promote this time set aside by the federal government, please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be?
Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
Here is episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM
Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
- Make an Emergency Plan.
- Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
- Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
- Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide.
- Plan financially for the possibility of disaster.
Here is episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM
September is National Preparedness Month, a time that the federal government sets aside to help educate the public on how to better prepare themselves and their families should some sort of disaster were to happen as resources will be stretched thin to help. Here is the first of a video series to get us started.....
September is National Preparedness Month.
The federal government sets this month aside to bring awareness, as well as to educate the importance of being prepared should you or your family happen to experience some sort of disaster. By educating the citizenry, people can be better prepared to take care of themselves and their families rather than having to rely and depend on the federal, state or local governments for help during a severe crisis when resources will be extremely limited.
Disasters can come in many forms. They be manmade such as terrorist attacks or hazardous material accidents that require evacuations; or they can be caused by the weather such as tornadoes, volcano eruptions, wild fires, flooding, snow and ice storms, etc. Regardless of the type of disaster, people should be prepared. Do you know what to do, or how to prepare? For help or lifesaving tips, visit www.ready.gov.
Throughout the month of September, tips and suggestions will be posted on the Village website and Facebook page to help educate you on how to be prepared in the event of a disaster.
Here are 10 examples of essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods. Emergency food companies such as wisefoodstorage.com as well as others (just do a Google search) can help you should you wish to have emergency food on hand.
3. Cooking - If you lose power, could you still cook? Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, do you have extra LP tanks filled up, or plenty of bags of charcoal on hand to cook? Do you have a generator? Do you have fuel to run it in order to have power for your cooking device?
4. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
5. Medications - Collect at least 3 days worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
6. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
7. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
8. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
9. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
10. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The federal government sets this month aside to bring awareness, as well as to educate the importance of being prepared should you or your family happen to experience some sort of disaster. By educating the citizenry, people can be better prepared to take care of themselves and their families rather than having to rely and depend on the federal, state or local governments for help during a severe crisis when resources will be extremely limited.
Disasters can come in many forms. They be manmade such as terrorist attacks or hazardous material accidents that require evacuations; or they can be caused by the weather such as tornadoes, volcano eruptions, wild fires, flooding, snow and ice storms, etc. Regardless of the type of disaster, people should be prepared. Do you know what to do, or how to prepare? For help or lifesaving tips, visit www.ready.gov.
Throughout the month of September, tips and suggestions will be posted on the Village website and Facebook page to help educate you on how to be prepared in the event of a disaster.
Here are 10 examples of essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods. Emergency food companies such as wisefoodstorage.com as well as others (just do a Google search) can help you should you wish to have emergency food on hand.
3. Cooking - If you lose power, could you still cook? Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, do you have extra LP tanks filled up, or plenty of bags of charcoal on hand to cook? Do you have a generator? Do you have fuel to run it in order to have power for your cooking device?
4. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
5. Medications - Collect at least 3 days worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
6. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
7. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
8. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
9. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
10. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
Take Care Of Your Blood Pressure To Optimize Your Health!
Here are some tips to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.....
Here are some tips to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.....
What is an Electrical Magnetic Pulse (EMP)? Is this something that you should be concerned about? Click here to watch an informative show about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrCVOq9cQGI
Ten Tips To Help Prevent DIABETES
1) Find Out If You're At Risk:
If you have a higher-than-normal blood sugar level, you may have prediabetes. A fasting glucose level of 100-125 mg/dl indicates prediabetes and 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes. Talk to your doctor about next steps.
2) Lose The "Spare Tire":
The more fat you have around your stomach, the harder it is for your body to use insulin. Focus on weight loss and weight maintenance.
3) Move More:
Try 150 minutes/week (about 30 minutes, five days). Excercise not only helps control your weight, but also lowers your blood sugar.
4) Get More Whole Grains:
Avoid white bread and pasta products and choose whole grain instead. Whole grains take longer to digest so your blood sugar takes longer to rise.
5) Pick Healty Snacks:
Go for fruit, veggies with low-fat dip, low-salt nuts and seeds, reduced fat string cheese, or yogurt, or low sugar granola bars.
6) Practice Portion Control:
Try having no more than three ounces of meat or chicken (about the size of your palm) at meals. And, if you must have dessert, share it, or save half for tomorrow.
7) Soak Up Some Rays:
Intake of vitamin D is believed to increase insulin sensitivity and can help keep blood glucose levels under control. Getting 10 minutes of sunlight a day can help.
8) Drink Water:
Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated and avoid empty calories found in sugary drinks. You also might confuse thirst for hunger, so try drinking water before meals and you may end up eating less.
9) Reduce Stress:
Stress can raise blood sugar levels, so find ways of coping with stress. Try doing yoga, deep breathing, walking or other exercise, or find a hobby that makes you happy.
10) Get your ZZZ's
Try getting 7-9 hours of sleep most days, avoid caffeine right before bed and when possible, keep your room cool and dark to improve your sleep.
*** The material contained in this communication is based on general health information. It is not designed to replace either medical advice or medical treatment. Talk with a qualified health provider for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Sources: http://www.diabetesforecast.org and www.diabetes.org
1) Find Out If You're At Risk:
If you have a higher-than-normal blood sugar level, you may have prediabetes. A fasting glucose level of 100-125 mg/dl indicates prediabetes and 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes. Talk to your doctor about next steps.
2) Lose The "Spare Tire":
The more fat you have around your stomach, the harder it is for your body to use insulin. Focus on weight loss and weight maintenance.
3) Move More:
Try 150 minutes/week (about 30 minutes, five days). Excercise not only helps control your weight, but also lowers your blood sugar.
4) Get More Whole Grains:
Avoid white bread and pasta products and choose whole grain instead. Whole grains take longer to digest so your blood sugar takes longer to rise.
5) Pick Healty Snacks:
Go for fruit, veggies with low-fat dip, low-salt nuts and seeds, reduced fat string cheese, or yogurt, or low sugar granola bars.
6) Practice Portion Control:
Try having no more than three ounces of meat or chicken (about the size of your palm) at meals. And, if you must have dessert, share it, or save half for tomorrow.
7) Soak Up Some Rays:
Intake of vitamin D is believed to increase insulin sensitivity and can help keep blood glucose levels under control. Getting 10 minutes of sunlight a day can help.
8) Drink Water:
Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated and avoid empty calories found in sugary drinks. You also might confuse thirst for hunger, so try drinking water before meals and you may end up eating less.
9) Reduce Stress:
Stress can raise blood sugar levels, so find ways of coping with stress. Try doing yoga, deep breathing, walking or other exercise, or find a hobby that makes you happy.
10) Get your ZZZ's
Try getting 7-9 hours of sleep most days, avoid caffeine right before bed and when possible, keep your room cool and dark to improve your sleep.
*** The material contained in this communication is based on general health information. It is not designed to replace either medical advice or medical treatment. Talk with a qualified health provider for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Sources: http://www.diabetesforecast.org and www.diabetes.org
Winter Preparedness.......
Now that we have had our first snowfall of the season, ask yourself... Did I get my home ready for winter prior to the snow? Did I get my walkways cleaned up of potential hazards that might cause an accident while shoveling or plowing snow? Have I bought my winter supply of ice melt? Are my snow shovels handy? Do I have gas for my snow blowers? Are my winter boots or my enhanced traction footwear in good condition? Is your emergency generator in working condition in case of a power outage? Are you prepared for the outdoor activity that comes with snow? Here are some tips to help you prepare for the winter.
Winter Preparedness:
Stretching: Before, during and after working in the cold, you should always stretch your muscles. Be sure to consult your doctor prior to doing any exercise program, but these are some general guidelines.....
Tips:
- Don't Bounce.
- Keep the stretch mild and comfortable.
- Relax muscles as you stretch.
- Breathe - don't hold your breath.
- Hold your stretch until tension releases, and then go farther into another mild stretch.
- Don't forget to stretch bot sides of the body.
- You should never feel pain during or after a stretch.
- Stretch before you work, before any physical exertion and periodically to relieve muscle tension.
- A good rule of thumb is to stretch every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Tension for the initial stretch should release within 60 seconds. If it doesn't, reduce the intensity of the stretch slightly.
Benefits:
- Increases range of motion, reducing risk of injury near joint limits.
- Warms muscles, reduces internal friction and "resets" discs before activity.
- "Pre-fuels" muscles with oxygen before activity.
- Helps muscles relax and reduces soreness after activity.
Personal Winter Protection:
Medical conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and snow blindness can be attributed to exposure to low temperatures. The effects can be serious, so awareness and prevention are paramount. It is important to:
- Understand that cold-related medical conditions can be life threatening.
- Be aware of related signs, symptoms and risk factors.
- Follow preventive measures.
Cold Weather Injuries:
Frostbite: Skin not covered and protected from the harsh bite of cold can be affected within minutes of exposure to cold, windy conditions. Fingers, toes, ears, nose, chin and cheeks are easier to freeze and cut off from circulation, since they have small blood vessels.
Prevention - To avoid frostbite, keep moving, dress appropriately with loose clothing to allow circulation and stay dry.
Symptoms - Signs of frostbite include paleness, numbness, tingling, stinging or a cold firmness in the affected area. Severe frostbite, sometimes with frozen, blue skin, should be treated immediately by a medical professional.
Treatment - Use heated water at about 105 degrees in a sheltered place.
Hypothermia: An abmormally low core body temperature, caused by exposure, can affect the brain with hypothermia, making movement and even thought difficult as the body shuts down. Hypothermia is life-threatening.
Prevention - Dress appropriately; adjust to the temperature, and stay dry to prevent hyopthermia.
Symptoms - Unusual shivering, fatigue or confusion.
Treatment - Move to a warm, dry area. Replace wet clothing with dry and get a hot, decaffeinated drink.
Snow Blindness: Snow Blindness occures when UV rays reflect into the eyes off snow or water. Whiteout conditions ona snowy, overcast day are actually more conductive to snow blindness than a sunny day. Symptoms include red, burning, watery, scratchy painful eyes or headaches. Wear sunglasses or goggles, which filter out some UV radiation.
When traveling during inclement weather....
- Slow down.
- Do not use cruise control.
- Apply traction devices as needed (such as snow chains).
If you judge it to be unsafe, do not proceed. Pull off the road in secure location until inclement weather passes.
Saftey Around Snowplows....
- Don't crowd the plow. Plow drivers have limited visibility, so don't asume your vehicle is in view.
- Maintain a safe distance behind the snowplow. Plows aren't just removing snow. They also may be spreading sand or de-icer on the road.
- Be patient - never pass through a whiteout. The driver will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow vehicles to pass.
-Slow Down! Plows are large and move slower than highway speeds. It is difficult to judge distance when approching the plow, so slow down immediately to avoid a collision.
More Winter Driving Tips:
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Leave early to allow extra time to reach you destination.
- If roads are slick, consider not using cruise control.
- Bridges freeze before roads. Shaded areas are more prone to icing.
- Travel on interstates or other main highways to lessen the likelihood of being stranded.
- Ignoring vehicle maintenance wil lead to an untimely breakdown; check the following items:
- Cooling system - Lights
- Heater, defroster and wipers - Exhaust system
- Fuel system - Tires
- Oil level - Brakes
- Battery and ignition system
- Plan ahead. Look up directions in advance and keep updated on weather reports while on longer trips.
- Be sure you can be seen. If you need to turn on your windshield wipers, it's a good idea to also turn on your headlights. Remember to remove any snow from widows and lights.
- Always proceed cautiously. Anticipate lane changes, turns, curves and speed reduction. Excesive speed and sudden braking should be avoided.
- Do not spin wheels. A spinning wheel does not have traction in snow or ice. Point front wheels straight for best results.
- Keep in control. If your automobile slides, don't brake, hit the gas or jerk your steering wheel.
- Winter roadway width is restricted by snow buildup. Proceed with caution when passing and/or meeting oncoming traffic.
- Prepare your emergency travel kit and never fear a potenial breakdown. Here's what you need.....
- NOAA weather radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Blankets
-Seasonal clothing
- Whistle to singal for help
- Dust mask
- Most toweletts, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Basic tool kit, knife, and shovel
- Axe or saw
- Tow chain, straps or come-along
- Spare tire
- Wire and rope
- Starter Fluid, extra oil and de-icer
- Flares
- Kitty litter or sand
- Booster cables
- Water
- Nonperishable, high-energy food
- Local maps
Stay Healthy:
Sleep: Holiday stress can cause anyone to lose rest. If you are sleep-deprived, your attention and focus at work or play are in jeopardy, as well as your health. In order to get a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep each night, take the following steps:
- Minimize noise, light and temperature changes before sleep.
- Drink less caffeine, especially in the hours before sleep.
- Keep heavier meals and alcohol away from bedtime.
- Don't smoke, especially near bedtime.
- Get regular exercise and eat well.
- Relax: there will be some things over the holidays that can't be made perfect.
Hydration: Winter air is much drier than it is in the summertime. Sweat will quickly evaporate meaning that you will lose water. You may even have a diminished thirst resonse if you think you're not sweating. Losing just two percent of your body's water content is enough to cause dehydration.
Cold air usually triggers the body to reserve heat and maintain fluid, such as sweat. However, layers of clothing can cause your skin temperature to increase and the body will release heat through sweat. Start out with all your layers and once warmed up, remove clothing as not to overheat.
Other Personal Winter Tips:
-Keep driveways and sidewalks at both your work and at home clear of snow and ice.
- Test smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Sled only in safe, designated areas.
- Have snow and ice removal equipment ready all winter.
- Have warm clothing and food reserves prepared in the event of severe inclement weather.
- Guard against fire by keeping everything away from hot surfaces such as space heaters or fireplaces.
- Maintain good posture and remember not to overexert while shoveling or carrying firewood.
- If decorating for the holidays, don't overload electrical outlets and avoid putting decorations near heat sources.
Now that we have had our first snowfall of the season, ask yourself... Did I get my home ready for winter prior to the snow? Did I get my walkways cleaned up of potential hazards that might cause an accident while shoveling or plowing snow? Have I bought my winter supply of ice melt? Are my snow shovels handy? Do I have gas for my snow blowers? Are my winter boots or my enhanced traction footwear in good condition? Is your emergency generator in working condition in case of a power outage? Are you prepared for the outdoor activity that comes with snow? Here are some tips to help you prepare for the winter.
Winter Preparedness:
Stretching: Before, during and after working in the cold, you should always stretch your muscles. Be sure to consult your doctor prior to doing any exercise program, but these are some general guidelines.....
Tips:
- Don't Bounce.
- Keep the stretch mild and comfortable.
- Relax muscles as you stretch.
- Breathe - don't hold your breath.
- Hold your stretch until tension releases, and then go farther into another mild stretch.
- Don't forget to stretch bot sides of the body.
- You should never feel pain during or after a stretch.
- Stretch before you work, before any physical exertion and periodically to relieve muscle tension.
- A good rule of thumb is to stretch every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Tension for the initial stretch should release within 60 seconds. If it doesn't, reduce the intensity of the stretch slightly.
Benefits:
- Increases range of motion, reducing risk of injury near joint limits.
- Warms muscles, reduces internal friction and "resets" discs before activity.
- "Pre-fuels" muscles with oxygen before activity.
- Helps muscles relax and reduces soreness after activity.
Personal Winter Protection:
Medical conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and snow blindness can be attributed to exposure to low temperatures. The effects can be serious, so awareness and prevention are paramount. It is important to:
- Understand that cold-related medical conditions can be life threatening.
- Be aware of related signs, symptoms and risk factors.
- Follow preventive measures.
Cold Weather Injuries:
Frostbite: Skin not covered and protected from the harsh bite of cold can be affected within minutes of exposure to cold, windy conditions. Fingers, toes, ears, nose, chin and cheeks are easier to freeze and cut off from circulation, since they have small blood vessels.
Prevention - To avoid frostbite, keep moving, dress appropriately with loose clothing to allow circulation and stay dry.
Symptoms - Signs of frostbite include paleness, numbness, tingling, stinging or a cold firmness in the affected area. Severe frostbite, sometimes with frozen, blue skin, should be treated immediately by a medical professional.
Treatment - Use heated water at about 105 degrees in a sheltered place.
Hypothermia: An abmormally low core body temperature, caused by exposure, can affect the brain with hypothermia, making movement and even thought difficult as the body shuts down. Hypothermia is life-threatening.
Prevention - Dress appropriately; adjust to the temperature, and stay dry to prevent hyopthermia.
Symptoms - Unusual shivering, fatigue or confusion.
Treatment - Move to a warm, dry area. Replace wet clothing with dry and get a hot, decaffeinated drink.
Snow Blindness: Snow Blindness occures when UV rays reflect into the eyes off snow or water. Whiteout conditions ona snowy, overcast day are actually more conductive to snow blindness than a sunny day. Symptoms include red, burning, watery, scratchy painful eyes or headaches. Wear sunglasses or goggles, which filter out some UV radiation.
When traveling during inclement weather....
- Slow down.
- Do not use cruise control.
- Apply traction devices as needed (such as snow chains).
If you judge it to be unsafe, do not proceed. Pull off the road in secure location until inclement weather passes.
Saftey Around Snowplows....
- Don't crowd the plow. Plow drivers have limited visibility, so don't asume your vehicle is in view.
- Maintain a safe distance behind the snowplow. Plows aren't just removing snow. They also may be spreading sand or de-icer on the road.
- Be patient - never pass through a whiteout. The driver will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow vehicles to pass.
-Slow Down! Plows are large and move slower than highway speeds. It is difficult to judge distance when approching the plow, so slow down immediately to avoid a collision.
More Winter Driving Tips:
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Leave early to allow extra time to reach you destination.
- If roads are slick, consider not using cruise control.
- Bridges freeze before roads. Shaded areas are more prone to icing.
- Travel on interstates or other main highways to lessen the likelihood of being stranded.
- Ignoring vehicle maintenance wil lead to an untimely breakdown; check the following items:
- Cooling system - Lights
- Heater, defroster and wipers - Exhaust system
- Fuel system - Tires
- Oil level - Brakes
- Battery and ignition system
- Plan ahead. Look up directions in advance and keep updated on weather reports while on longer trips.
- Be sure you can be seen. If you need to turn on your windshield wipers, it's a good idea to also turn on your headlights. Remember to remove any snow from widows and lights.
- Always proceed cautiously. Anticipate lane changes, turns, curves and speed reduction. Excesive speed and sudden braking should be avoided.
- Do not spin wheels. A spinning wheel does not have traction in snow or ice. Point front wheels straight for best results.
- Keep in control. If your automobile slides, don't brake, hit the gas or jerk your steering wheel.
- Winter roadway width is restricted by snow buildup. Proceed with caution when passing and/or meeting oncoming traffic.
- Prepare your emergency travel kit and never fear a potenial breakdown. Here's what you need.....
- NOAA weather radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Blankets
-Seasonal clothing
- Whistle to singal for help
- Dust mask
- Most toweletts, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Basic tool kit, knife, and shovel
- Axe or saw
- Tow chain, straps or come-along
- Spare tire
- Wire and rope
- Starter Fluid, extra oil and de-icer
- Flares
- Kitty litter or sand
- Booster cables
- Water
- Nonperishable, high-energy food
- Local maps
Stay Healthy:
Sleep: Holiday stress can cause anyone to lose rest. If you are sleep-deprived, your attention and focus at work or play are in jeopardy, as well as your health. In order to get a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep each night, take the following steps:
- Minimize noise, light and temperature changes before sleep.
- Drink less caffeine, especially in the hours before sleep.
- Keep heavier meals and alcohol away from bedtime.
- Don't smoke, especially near bedtime.
- Get regular exercise and eat well.
- Relax: there will be some things over the holidays that can't be made perfect.
Hydration: Winter air is much drier than it is in the summertime. Sweat will quickly evaporate meaning that you will lose water. You may even have a diminished thirst resonse if you think you're not sweating. Losing just two percent of your body's water content is enough to cause dehydration.
Cold air usually triggers the body to reserve heat and maintain fluid, such as sweat. However, layers of clothing can cause your skin temperature to increase and the body will release heat through sweat. Start out with all your layers and once warmed up, remove clothing as not to overheat.
Other Personal Winter Tips:
-Keep driveways and sidewalks at both your work and at home clear of snow and ice.
- Test smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Sled only in safe, designated areas.
- Have snow and ice removal equipment ready all winter.
- Have warm clothing and food reserves prepared in the event of severe inclement weather.
- Guard against fire by keeping everything away from hot surfaces such as space heaters or fireplaces.
- Maintain good posture and remember not to overexert while shoveling or carrying firewood.
- If decorating for the holidays, don't overload electrical outlets and avoid putting decorations near heat sources.
This article was published in the October edition of the Knox County Farm Bulletin. Please follow these tips and have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Parents: Take Precautions to Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe.
For many children, Halloween is a time to dress up in a favorite costume, go to classroom parties and trick-or-treat at neighbor's houses. These happy thoughts of jack-o-lanterns, costumes and candy may cause parents and kids alike to forget the potential dangers of Halloween. The following is an assembly of some Halloween safety topics for adults in order to keep this autumn holiday safe and fun.
Costume
- Whether you buy or make your child's costume, make sure the material is flame retardant.
- If the costume is not already a bright color, add reflective tape so motorists and other trick-or-treaters can better see your child.
- Consider using face paint instead of a mask, so your child's vision will not be restricted.
- Make sure the costume is not too long so that your child doesn't trip and fall.
- If your child is carrying a prop, such as a plastic sword, make sure the tips are smooth and flexible to prevent injury.
Route
- Older children: Plan older children's routes ahead of time, so you know where they will be. Also, set a time for them to return home. If possible, send a cell phone with them to use in case of an emergency.
- Younger children: Never let small children trick-or-treat alone. While walking your pre-planned route, remind them to stay on sidewalks and cross at corners or crosswalks.
- Only go to houses where the lights are on.
- Make sure either you or your child carries a flashlight if trick-or-treating after daylight hours.
Candy
- Provide your children with a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating. This way, they won't be hungry and will be less tempted to sample their candy en-route.
- Do not allow children to eat collected candy while they are trick-or-treating. Always check candy before they eat it, and dispose of any candy with an open wrapper or other suspicious appearances.
In addition to the above suggestions, teach your children basic safety knowledge. Common sense tells adults to look both ways before crossing the street, but eager kids on Halloween night may forget this basic safety rule. Also, it is good to remind children that although Halloween is a fun, exciting holiday, they still need to remember their manners and always say "thank you" when accepting candy.
Parents: Take Precautions to Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe.
For many children, Halloween is a time to dress up in a favorite costume, go to classroom parties and trick-or-treat at neighbor's houses. These happy thoughts of jack-o-lanterns, costumes and candy may cause parents and kids alike to forget the potential dangers of Halloween. The following is an assembly of some Halloween safety topics for adults in order to keep this autumn holiday safe and fun.
Costume
- Whether you buy or make your child's costume, make sure the material is flame retardant.
- If the costume is not already a bright color, add reflective tape so motorists and other trick-or-treaters can better see your child.
- Consider using face paint instead of a mask, so your child's vision will not be restricted.
- Make sure the costume is not too long so that your child doesn't trip and fall.
- If your child is carrying a prop, such as a plastic sword, make sure the tips are smooth and flexible to prevent injury.
Route
- Older children: Plan older children's routes ahead of time, so you know where they will be. Also, set a time for them to return home. If possible, send a cell phone with them to use in case of an emergency.
- Younger children: Never let small children trick-or-treat alone. While walking your pre-planned route, remind them to stay on sidewalks and cross at corners or crosswalks.
- Only go to houses where the lights are on.
- Make sure either you or your child carries a flashlight if trick-or-treating after daylight hours.
Candy
- Provide your children with a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating. This way, they won't be hungry and will be less tempted to sample their candy en-route.
- Do not allow children to eat collected candy while they are trick-or-treating. Always check candy before they eat it, and dispose of any candy with an open wrapper or other suspicious appearances.
In addition to the above suggestions, teach your children basic safety knowledge. Common sense tells adults to look both ways before crossing the street, but eager kids on Halloween night may forget this basic safety rule. Also, it is good to remind children that although Halloween is a fun, exciting holiday, they still need to remember their manners and always say "thank you" when accepting candy.
September has been National Preparedness Month. This brings a close to our month long educational series on how to be prepared in case of an emergency or a disaster. If you haven't viewed, or you would like to view all of the materials again, please scroll back through all of the postings during the month of September. The video series will not be taken down.
Just a quick review. Everyone should have an emergency kit with food, water, medications, and supplies such as flashlights and extra batteries to last a minimum of 72 hours. The reason for this is because during any type of disaster, comunications and emergency responders may be overwhelmed and may not be able to get to you. You should also have a first aid kit, copies of important papers such as birth certificates and insurance policies in your kit as well. You should also have a NOAA All Hazards battery operated radio with extra batteries so you can be informed. Remember that you should have one gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and sanitation purposes. Don't forget about food, water, and supplies for your pets as well. Pets become victems of disasters as well.
Again, please scroll through and revisit our video series and read all of the tips. For other sources of information and help creating your own emergency kit, visit the following websites:
www.ready.gov
www.fema.gov
www.dhs.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.preparemetrokc.org
www.readync.org
or simply visit www.youtube.com and search emergency preparedness, and you'll find all sorts of information.
Thank you for viewing our educational series during National Preparedness Month.
Just a quick review. Everyone should have an emergency kit with food, water, medications, and supplies such as flashlights and extra batteries to last a minimum of 72 hours. The reason for this is because during any type of disaster, comunications and emergency responders may be overwhelmed and may not be able to get to you. You should also have a first aid kit, copies of important papers such as birth certificates and insurance policies in your kit as well. You should also have a NOAA All Hazards battery operated radio with extra batteries so you can be informed. Remember that you should have one gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and sanitation purposes. Don't forget about food, water, and supplies for your pets as well. Pets become victems of disasters as well.
Again, please scroll through and revisit our video series and read all of the tips. For other sources of information and help creating your own emergency kit, visit the following websites:
www.ready.gov
www.fema.gov
www.dhs.gov
www.ready.illinois.gov
www.preparemetrokc.org
www.readync.org
or simply visit www.youtube.com and search emergency preparedness, and you'll find all sorts of information.
Thank you for viewing our educational series during National Preparedness Month.
September has been designated as National Preparedess Month by the Federal government. This is the time that our government has set aside for people to educate themselves and to create an emergency kit should some form of emergency or disaster were to hit your area. The Village of Altona has been participating by posting tips from FEMA and other sources to educate the importance of having an emergency kit and having a plan should some sort of disater were to happen in your area.
We have talked about the importance of the basic needs of food and water. Now let talk about the other basic needs of clothing and shelter.
Clothing: This is self explanitory. You need the proper clothing for the season at hand at all times. In an emergency or a disaster, regardless if you have to leave your home or not, you always want to make sure that you have the proper clothing with you. During the winter, you should always have an extra set of clothes in your car, as well as a blanket and food should you get stranded. If you need to evacuate your home during a disaster, you may only have minutes to gather items prior to leaving. You should have these outfits already in your emergency kits to quickly take with you.
Shelter: You need a place to protect yourself from the elements. But what happens if you have to evacuate your home? The people in Puerto Rico had no place to go. Do you? Would you travel to a friends or relatives house? This is a good idea providing that they are not in the same effected area as you. Would you get a hotel room? If your entire area is being evacuated, EVERYONE will be vying for that same hotel room. If you plan on staying in a hotel, have a list of hotels in that area in order for you to call and make your reservation enroute. You should always have a back up plan should your hotel attempts are unsuccesful. Do you have a newer GM vehicle? If so, then you may be in luck. With your OnStar feature, you may have a phone to use should the phone lines be down. OnStar uses both cellular and satelite technology. If the cell towers or down, then you may be able to use satelite feature to help you. OnStar had helped their customers evacuate from Hurricane Irma when it had hit Florida. Do you camp or like the outdoors? Do you have a cabin? If so, then this could be your getaway spot in an emergency. Do you camp? If you have a camper or an RV, then this could be used as your shelter. With the storage capacity of some of these units, it can hold many of your emergency supplies. If you don't know where to go if the hotels are booked, you may be able to go to a campground. So whether it is with a tent, camper or RV, your shelter needs would be met.
MONEY: There is one more very important thing that you will need during a disaster. MONEY! You will need money to buy things, pay for hotel rooms, etc. During a power outage, you will not be able to use your ATM. The amount of money that you should have in your home safe for emergencies is up to you. But you want to have enough to cover whatever may come your way.
Please feel free to review our educational series at any time. Just scroll back to the earlier posts.
We have talked about the importance of the basic needs of food and water. Now let talk about the other basic needs of clothing and shelter.
Clothing: This is self explanitory. You need the proper clothing for the season at hand at all times. In an emergency or a disaster, regardless if you have to leave your home or not, you always want to make sure that you have the proper clothing with you. During the winter, you should always have an extra set of clothes in your car, as well as a blanket and food should you get stranded. If you need to evacuate your home during a disaster, you may only have minutes to gather items prior to leaving. You should have these outfits already in your emergency kits to quickly take with you.
Shelter: You need a place to protect yourself from the elements. But what happens if you have to evacuate your home? The people in Puerto Rico had no place to go. Do you? Would you travel to a friends or relatives house? This is a good idea providing that they are not in the same effected area as you. Would you get a hotel room? If your entire area is being evacuated, EVERYONE will be vying for that same hotel room. If you plan on staying in a hotel, have a list of hotels in that area in order for you to call and make your reservation enroute. You should always have a back up plan should your hotel attempts are unsuccesful. Do you have a newer GM vehicle? If so, then you may be in luck. With your OnStar feature, you may have a phone to use should the phone lines be down. OnStar uses both cellular and satelite technology. If the cell towers or down, then you may be able to use satelite feature to help you. OnStar had helped their customers evacuate from Hurricane Irma when it had hit Florida. Do you camp or like the outdoors? Do you have a cabin? If so, then this could be your getaway spot in an emergency. Do you camp? If you have a camper or an RV, then this could be used as your shelter. With the storage capacity of some of these units, it can hold many of your emergency supplies. If you don't know where to go if the hotels are booked, you may be able to go to a campground. So whether it is with a tent, camper or RV, your shelter needs would be met.
MONEY: There is one more very important thing that you will need during a disaster. MONEY! You will need money to buy things, pay for hotel rooms, etc. During a power outage, you will not be able to use your ATM. The amount of money that you should have in your home safe for emergencies is up to you. But you want to have enough to cover whatever may come your way.
Please feel free to review our educational series at any time. Just scroll back to the earlier posts.
September has been National Preparedness Month. All month long, the Village of Altona has been posting information from FEMA and other sources in order to help you learn the importance of being prepared in case of an emergency or disaster. You have learned the importance of having an emergency kit to help you through a period of 72 hours. We have discussed the importance of having at least a three day supply of water and ways to either store water, or retrieve water should a disaster occur. Now let's talk about food.
Whether you are forced to evacuate during an emergency or snowed in for days during a power outage, you have to eat. Ask yourself: What do I have in my pantry? Do I have foods in my pantry to sustain myself for a prolonged period of time? If you had to evacuate, do you have food that you could simply grab and take with you? While cans of tuna fish and peanut butter can get you by, is this something that you would like to live on for a sustained amount of time, or would you want meals to eat?
If you are able to boil water, there are foods available for this type of purpose. This emergency food has a shelf life for up to 25 years. This food comes either dehydrated or freeze dried. All you have to do is add boiling water. The following websites are provided for your convenience should you be interested in having this type of food on hand.
www.wisefoodstorage.com
www.mypatriotsupply.com
www.mountainhouse.com
www.backpackerspantry.com
www.valleyfoodstorage.com
Other ideas for long term food storage is canning. Do you have a garden? If so, canning your harvest will last for years as long as the seals are good. For canning help you can go to the National Center for Home Food Preseration for instructions on various foods. nchfp.uga.edu/.
There are numerous videos on youtube.com that can help in your research for your preparedness needs. While some of these people may seem down to earth, others may come across as preparing for the zombie appocolypce. Take them as you would, but they all have something in common; they have prepared themselves should some sort of emergency or disaster were to occur.
If you would like more information on creating a Prepper pantry for your food storage, here is a video to get you started.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao&t=5s
Whether you are forced to evacuate during an emergency or snowed in for days during a power outage, you have to eat. Ask yourself: What do I have in my pantry? Do I have foods in my pantry to sustain myself for a prolonged period of time? If you had to evacuate, do you have food that you could simply grab and take with you? While cans of tuna fish and peanut butter can get you by, is this something that you would like to live on for a sustained amount of time, or would you want meals to eat?
If you are able to boil water, there are foods available for this type of purpose. This emergency food has a shelf life for up to 25 years. This food comes either dehydrated or freeze dried. All you have to do is add boiling water. The following websites are provided for your convenience should you be interested in having this type of food on hand.
www.wisefoodstorage.com
www.mypatriotsupply.com
www.mountainhouse.com
www.backpackerspantry.com
www.valleyfoodstorage.com
Other ideas for long term food storage is canning. Do you have a garden? If so, canning your harvest will last for years as long as the seals are good. For canning help you can go to the National Center for Home Food Preseration for instructions on various foods. nchfp.uga.edu/.
There are numerous videos on youtube.com that can help in your research for your preparedness needs. While some of these people may seem down to earth, others may come across as preparing for the zombie appocolypce. Take them as you would, but they all have something in common; they have prepared themselves should some sort of emergency or disaster were to occur.
If you would like more information on creating a Prepper pantry for your food storage, here is a video to get you started.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuM17eG1nao&t=5s
All one has to do is watch the news to see the devastation that Hurricane Maria had placed on Puerto Rico. Electricity is all but gone, gas lines are very long and at limited supply, buildings and businesses crumbled, and millions of people are displaced out of their homes. This is obviously a disaster for that area. Could a similar disaster happen here? While we may not get hurricanes in the midwest, mother nature can surely cause problems for us all. This is why the Federal government has made the month of September, National Preparedness Month.
For the entire month of September, the Village of Altona has been relaying information from FEMA and other sources about the importance and need of being prepared for an emergency or other type of disaster. If you have been following along during this educational series, then you know the importance of having at least a three day supply of food and water, and having a copy of important papers in your emergency kit. We will now take a more in depth look at how to prepare.
The first thing to ask yourself when preparing for any type of disaster is.... What IF? What if "this" happens, could I get by? What if "that" happens, am I prepared? By asking yourself these questions, you can then think of the answer that you need to better prepare you and your family for what disaster or emergency may come your way.
Let's practice with this scenario:
There is a bad winter snow and ice storm. The power goes out. You go to call the power company but your cell phone is dead, and can not charge it up. How would you contact the power company?
Answer: If you had a landline phone (on the wall and not just a cordless only phone), you could still call the power company as the telephone system does not use electricity. Their system is separate. You could also charge your phone in your car, or use a solar charging unit or fully charged battery pack to use your phone.
Let's continue: The power company says that powerline polls are down and it will be days until power can be restored.
Now what would you do? You don't have electricity, can you cook or heat your home? If you had a natural gas powered home generator or a gasoline powered generator (providing you had gas for it, and you had it ready and in working condition), you could either run your entire home or certain items in order to get by. But what if you didn't have a home generator? Could you still cook? If you had a gas stove you could. But what if you didn't have a gas stove, what would you do? Do you have an outdoor gas or charcoal grill? If so great, you can cook - or can you? Did you refill your LP tanks from the summer season of outdoor cooking? Do you have plenty of charcoal and lighter fluid on hand in order to cook? If not, you are not cooking. If you don't have a grill, how could you cook? Do you have a fire pit for wiener roasts or a fireplace? If so, that's good. But do you have dry wood to burn? A fireplace would not only allow you to cook, but it would also allow you a place to keep warm.
Does the above scenario sound familiar? It should, because it happened in our area about 10 years ago. Some people stayed home and managed through it; while others went and stayed out of town with friends, relatives, or got hotel rooms in Galesburg. Leaving the area is fine with one exception, in the case of a major disaster, the entire area will be evacuating and vying for that same hotel room as you, wherever it may be.
There are four basic needs that need to be met to survive any disaster. They are food, water, shelter, and clothing. You have learned that you should have an emergency supply of food and water to last for a minimum of 72 hours. For water, it is recommended to have at least one gallon of water per person, per day to cover cooking, cleaning and hygiene purposes.
Do you have enough water stored? How would you store water? You could store water in water containers. These can be portable should the need to evacuate or "bug out" to use a term from the military and prepper comunity. If you were able to stay in your home, and had no water what would you do? Are you fortunate to have a working well? If so you could perhaps obtain water from it, but it is safe to drink? If you are unsure of its safety, then you could use that water to flush the toilets, or boil it for sanitation purposes. Do you have a hot water heater? There may be 40-50 gallons of water there. You could also fill up empty milk jugs and put them in your freezer. When the power goes out, the iced jugs will help keep your frozen food cold. You could even take one out and let it thaw for water to drink. In a worse case situation, you could even drain the water out of your pipes for water. You will have to call the plumber to fix it when the water comes back on however.
These were just some ideas for your basic need for water. You may think of other ideas. We will talk about food in another posting. Please feel free to review the entire educational series on emergency preparedness by scrolling through the earlier postings.
*** On a side note, if you would like to learn more about our nation's electrical power grid, former ABC News anchor of Nightline Ted Koppel, had written a New York Times Best Seller book entitled LIGHTS OUT. It discusses the vulnerability of our nation's power grid and the reality of what to expect should something were to go wrong with it and the disaster that it would cause. It is an interesting read. It is up to the reader to decide for themselves the likelihood of the events which are talked about in the book.
For the entire month of September, the Village of Altona has been relaying information from FEMA and other sources about the importance and need of being prepared for an emergency or other type of disaster. If you have been following along during this educational series, then you know the importance of having at least a three day supply of food and water, and having a copy of important papers in your emergency kit. We will now take a more in depth look at how to prepare.
The first thing to ask yourself when preparing for any type of disaster is.... What IF? What if "this" happens, could I get by? What if "that" happens, am I prepared? By asking yourself these questions, you can then think of the answer that you need to better prepare you and your family for what disaster or emergency may come your way.
Let's practice with this scenario:
There is a bad winter snow and ice storm. The power goes out. You go to call the power company but your cell phone is dead, and can not charge it up. How would you contact the power company?
Answer: If you had a landline phone (on the wall and not just a cordless only phone), you could still call the power company as the telephone system does not use electricity. Their system is separate. You could also charge your phone in your car, or use a solar charging unit or fully charged battery pack to use your phone.
Let's continue: The power company says that powerline polls are down and it will be days until power can be restored.
Now what would you do? You don't have electricity, can you cook or heat your home? If you had a natural gas powered home generator or a gasoline powered generator (providing you had gas for it, and you had it ready and in working condition), you could either run your entire home or certain items in order to get by. But what if you didn't have a home generator? Could you still cook? If you had a gas stove you could. But what if you didn't have a gas stove, what would you do? Do you have an outdoor gas or charcoal grill? If so great, you can cook - or can you? Did you refill your LP tanks from the summer season of outdoor cooking? Do you have plenty of charcoal and lighter fluid on hand in order to cook? If not, you are not cooking. If you don't have a grill, how could you cook? Do you have a fire pit for wiener roasts or a fireplace? If so, that's good. But do you have dry wood to burn? A fireplace would not only allow you to cook, but it would also allow you a place to keep warm.
Does the above scenario sound familiar? It should, because it happened in our area about 10 years ago. Some people stayed home and managed through it; while others went and stayed out of town with friends, relatives, or got hotel rooms in Galesburg. Leaving the area is fine with one exception, in the case of a major disaster, the entire area will be evacuating and vying for that same hotel room as you, wherever it may be.
There are four basic needs that need to be met to survive any disaster. They are food, water, shelter, and clothing. You have learned that you should have an emergency supply of food and water to last for a minimum of 72 hours. For water, it is recommended to have at least one gallon of water per person, per day to cover cooking, cleaning and hygiene purposes.
Do you have enough water stored? How would you store water? You could store water in water containers. These can be portable should the need to evacuate or "bug out" to use a term from the military and prepper comunity. If you were able to stay in your home, and had no water what would you do? Are you fortunate to have a working well? If so you could perhaps obtain water from it, but it is safe to drink? If you are unsure of its safety, then you could use that water to flush the toilets, or boil it for sanitation purposes. Do you have a hot water heater? There may be 40-50 gallons of water there. You could also fill up empty milk jugs and put them in your freezer. When the power goes out, the iced jugs will help keep your frozen food cold. You could even take one out and let it thaw for water to drink. In a worse case situation, you could even drain the water out of your pipes for water. You will have to call the plumber to fix it when the water comes back on however.
These were just some ideas for your basic need for water. You may think of other ideas. We will talk about food in another posting. Please feel free to review the entire educational series on emergency preparedness by scrolling through the earlier postings.
*** On a side note, if you would like to learn more about our nation's electrical power grid, former ABC News anchor of Nightline Ted Koppel, had written a New York Times Best Seller book entitled LIGHTS OUT. It discusses the vulnerability of our nation's power grid and the reality of what to expect should something were to go wrong with it and the disaster that it would cause. It is an interesting read. It is up to the reader to decide for themselves the likelihood of the events which are talked about in the book.
September is National Preparedness Month. All month long, the Village of Altona has been offering tips and ideas from FEMA and other sources to help you learn how to prepare and to become more aware of what to do in the event of an emergency or some sort of disaster.
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteers are your local heros. They are your friends and neighbors and our your first responders when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
We are starting our forth and final week of learning about being better prepared. Here is what the Federal government asks of you this week.
Week 4: September 24-30
Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger
Ready Business
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteers are your local heros. They are your friends and neighbors and our your first responders when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
We are starting our forth and final week of learning about being better prepared. Here is what the Federal government asks of you this week.
Week 4: September 24-30
Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger
- Get your campus, business, faith-based organization and community organization prepared for an emergency
- Join Weather Ready Nation
- Sign up for Ready Business Workshop
Ready Business
- Get involved and share preparedness info in your community, faith-based organization, business & more: www.ready.gov #PlanAhead #NatlPrep
- 40% of businesses never recover after a disaster. Watch this video and #PlanAhead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U0EFYKGn50&feature=youtu.be #NatlPrep
- Develop a preparedness program for your business to plan for & reduce the impact of disasters: www.ready.gov/business
- Planning ahead for disasters can be the difference between going out of business and running a successful one. #NatlPrep
- Make sure your campus is a #ReadyCampus and prepared for all types of emergencies. Get involved: www.ready.gov/campus #NatlPrep
- Make sure your school has emergency procedures in place for disasters that could affect your campus. #NatlPrep
- Know how to get in touch with family/friends if phones are down. Text instead of call and mark yourself as safe on social media. #NatlPrep
- If you can’t get in touch with family/friends after a disaster, register yourself as “Safe and Well” on the Red Cross’ website #NatlPrep
- Sign up to receive alerts from your school in case of an emergency like an active shooter event or natural disaster. #NatlPrep
- Keep your congregation safe – make sure your house of worship has a plan for all types of emergencies. #NatlPrep
- Faith-based venues can become targets. Protect your congregation & house of worship by preparing for emergencies: www.fema.gov/faith-resources #PlanAhead
- Take steps to protect your house of worship from arson. Illuminate the exterior/entrances and clear anything that could fuel fire. #NatlPrep
By now you know that the Federal government has declared the month of September, National Preparedness Month - a time to educate ourselves about the importance of preparing should an emergency or disaster ever were to happen. If you have been following along with our video series, you know the importance of having an emergency kit. Please click on the following links for a few more items to have in your emergency kits, as well as how to build one and be prepared in the event you and your family were to experiance some sort of emergency or disaster.
www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1390846764394-dc08e309debe561d866b05ac84daf1ee/checklist_2014.pdf
https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1390846764394-dc08e309debe561d866b05ac84daf1ee/checklist_2014.pdf
https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
A disaster, whether it be from the weather, terror attack, chemical spill from a train derailment, or in any other form can happen at any time. This is why the Federal government has set aside September as National Preparedness Month. In order to help you get started and to understand the importance of preparedness, please watch the following video from FEMA then click on the link that follows for ideas to start your preparedness evaluation. We will go into more detail in later posts.
Please click on this link to start your preparedness kit: www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1440449346150-1ff18127345615d8b7e1effb4752b668/Family_Comm_Plan_508_20150820.pdf
Severe weather can have devastating effects. Look at the carnage that hurricanes Harvey, Irma and now Maria have caused. Hundreds of people have died from the earthquake in Mexico. The Federal government has set aside the month of September as National Preparedness Month. This is the time that the government wants all of us to get educated about being prepared in order for us to be safe during an emergency or diaster. While we may not experience hurricanes in the midwest, we do experience snow & ice storms, tornadoes & high winds, flooding, power outages, and even an earthquake is possible. Would you consider a sudden job loss a disaster for your family?
In participation of National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been posting videos and information about the basics of emergency and disaster preparedness. If you have not viewed the videos yet, please feel free to do so. In the coming days we will start to take a more detailed look into preparedness. When your family experiences an emergency or disaster, that is not the time to start thinking about what to do. The posted videos and information are intended to help you in your plans.
In participation of National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona has been posting videos and information about the basics of emergency and disaster preparedness. If you have not viewed the videos yet, please feel free to do so. In the coming days we will start to take a more detailed look into preparedness. When your family experiences an emergency or disaster, that is not the time to start thinking about what to do. The posted videos and information are intended to help you in your plans.
As September is National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona will be offering tips and ideas from FEMA and other sources to help you learn how to prepare and to become more aware of what to do in case of a disaster of some sort.
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteer men and women are your local heros. They are on the front lines of local disasters and help when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
We are now in week number three: Here are the things you should be working on this week to help better prepare yourselves.
Week 3: September 17-23
Practice and Build Out Your Plans
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteer men and women are your local heros. They are on the front lines of local disasters and help when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
We are now in week number three: Here are the things you should be working on this week to help better prepare yourselves.
Week 3: September 17-23
Practice and Build Out Your Plans
- Complete an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK)
- Maintain emergency savings for use in case of an emergency
- Participate in an emergency drill
- Know how to access community resources (e.g., shelters, food banks)
- What important docs should you have in your emergency kit? The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit explains them all: https://go.usa.gov/xNhp6 #NatlPrep
- How will you pay your bills if a disaster strikes? Disasters don’t plan ahead, you can: www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness #NatlPrep
- Maintain emergency savings in case of a disasters. #PlanAhead #NatlPrep
- Do you know how to access community resources where you live? Search online today. #NatlPrep
- Make digital copies of important documents and save them on the cloud or a secure cell phone app in case disaster strikes. #PlanAhead #NatlPrep
- Have at least a one-week supply of medications. #NatlPrep
- Flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period before they go into effect. Plan now for floods www.floodsmart.gov #PlanAhead #NatlPrep
- Give yourself financial peace of mind & create an emergency savings account that can be used in a crisis. #natlprep
- Financial prep tip: gather & store critical personal, household, & medical information for easy access during a disaster. #natlprep
The Federal government has set aside the month of September as National Preparedness Month. This is the time for you and your family to learn about being prepared should some sort of emergency or disaster were to happen. So far throughout the month of September, the Village of Altona has been airing short video clip series to help you learn the importance of being prepared. Why? Because when a disaster occures, it may be 72 hours before help can arrive to help you. Let's view the tenth and last video in this particular video series. In episode 10, this video talks about what to do should a chemical spill happen in your neighborhood. Please feel free to review any and all videos again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpoh7lGqLg
The Federal government has deemed September as National Preparedness month. This is the time they have set aside to educate and bring awareness to the need of preparedness should an emergency were to happen. In our first seven episodes of our Preparedness Meets Disaster video series sponsored by Preparemetrokc.org, we've learned some basics on how to make and what to have in your emergency preparedness kits.
Now let's look at some specific disasters. Starting with our eigth episode in our video series, let's visit Disaster Place Theater, The Ongoing Saga Of Disaster and Preparedness. This video talks about what to do during a tornado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
Now let's look at some specific disasters. Starting with our eigth episode in our video series, let's visit Disaster Place Theater, The Ongoing Saga Of Disaster and Preparedness. This video talks about what to do during a tornado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWC5qIP1oY
By now you know that the United States government has set aside the month of September as National Preparedness Month. Let's take a short break from our video series and discuss why and what should be a part of your emergency disaster kits.
First, how is a disaster defined? According to dictionary.com; "a disaster is a calamitous event, especially one occurring suddenly and causing great loss of life, damage, or hardship, as a flood, airplane crash, or business failure." If you had a sudden job loss, this would be considered a personal disaster for you and your family as well.
Why should you have a kit?
“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” –Proverbs 27:12
This answer can be more defined in the disaster survival guide http://www.disaster-survival-guide.com/disaster-preparedness/. Basically it is to be able to cope through a tragedy.
What should I prepare for?
It depends on where you live. Our coastal states get hurricanes like Harvey and Irma. The western states get forest fires and earthquakes. We don't get those in the midwest, but we do get snow & ice storms, tornadoes, flooding, house fires and sudden job losses.
What should you have in your kit?
Water: The rule of thumb is that you should have a minimum supply of water to last three days. That is one gallon of water per person per day. Clean water is essential to life and good hygiene as well. You can not live very long without water.
Food: It is recommended that you have a minimum supply of food to last three days as well. During a disaster, the first 72 hours are critical. Local, state and federal resources may be stretched thin and they may not be able to reach your destination to rescue you. You may need to fend for yourself. You should also have a secondary source available to cook your food should your electricity goes out.
Important Papers: You will want to have a copy of your important papers, such as: birth certificates, home owners and medical insurance, phone numbers for your doctors, family and friends, etc. If your home is destroyed, authorities such as FEMA may be asking these from you in order to help you get your life back in order.
First Aid Kit: You will want a first aid kit to take care of any injuries that you may incur. Cuts and wounds which do not get properly taken care of may lead to an infection or worse. Make sure that you pack extra medications that you take as well. If you have to leave, you never know when you'll be able to come back home.
Flashlights with extra batteries. Rechargeable batteries fully charged, solar or hand cranked flashlights work very well.
Appropriate clothing for the current weather conditions.
Communication devices. Your phone may not work. A NOAA all hazards radio would be an excellent choice.
A full tank of gas: You should always have a full tank of gas during a disaster. Roads gets clogged with travelers leaving the area just like you. People will be stopping to get gas and stocking up on supplies. If you were already prepared, then you may not be the one left on the side of the road.
CASH! In the event of an emergency with people fleeing, electricty may be out. If this is the case, then you may not be able to get money out of your bank or ATM machine or make needed purchases with your credit card. Having a stash of emergency cash is smart. Cash will always be king. The amount that you store in your home safe is up to you. Experts say that $500 - $1,000 may be enough to get you by in the short term.
Surely you can think of other things to pack. But this covers some of the basics. Remember that during an emergency, government agencies may not be able to reach you for the first 72 hours. It is up to you to adhere to the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.
First, how is a disaster defined? According to dictionary.com; "a disaster is a calamitous event, especially one occurring suddenly and causing great loss of life, damage, or hardship, as a flood, airplane crash, or business failure." If you had a sudden job loss, this would be considered a personal disaster for you and your family as well.
Why should you have a kit?
“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” –Proverbs 27:12
This answer can be more defined in the disaster survival guide http://www.disaster-survival-guide.com/disaster-preparedness/. Basically it is to be able to cope through a tragedy.
What should I prepare for?
It depends on where you live. Our coastal states get hurricanes like Harvey and Irma. The western states get forest fires and earthquakes. We don't get those in the midwest, but we do get snow & ice storms, tornadoes, flooding, house fires and sudden job losses.
What should you have in your kit?
Water: The rule of thumb is that you should have a minimum supply of water to last three days. That is one gallon of water per person per day. Clean water is essential to life and good hygiene as well. You can not live very long without water.
Food: It is recommended that you have a minimum supply of food to last three days as well. During a disaster, the first 72 hours are critical. Local, state and federal resources may be stretched thin and they may not be able to reach your destination to rescue you. You may need to fend for yourself. You should also have a secondary source available to cook your food should your electricity goes out.
Important Papers: You will want to have a copy of your important papers, such as: birth certificates, home owners and medical insurance, phone numbers for your doctors, family and friends, etc. If your home is destroyed, authorities such as FEMA may be asking these from you in order to help you get your life back in order.
First Aid Kit: You will want a first aid kit to take care of any injuries that you may incur. Cuts and wounds which do not get properly taken care of may lead to an infection or worse. Make sure that you pack extra medications that you take as well. If you have to leave, you never know when you'll be able to come back home.
Flashlights with extra batteries. Rechargeable batteries fully charged, solar or hand cranked flashlights work very well.
Appropriate clothing for the current weather conditions.
Communication devices. Your phone may not work. A NOAA all hazards radio would be an excellent choice.
A full tank of gas: You should always have a full tank of gas during a disaster. Roads gets clogged with travelers leaving the area just like you. People will be stopping to get gas and stocking up on supplies. If you were already prepared, then you may not be the one left on the side of the road.
CASH! In the event of an emergency with people fleeing, electricty may be out. If this is the case, then you may not be able to get money out of your bank or ATM machine or make needed purchases with your credit card. Having a stash of emergency cash is smart. Cash will always be king. The amount that you store in your home safe is up to you. Experts say that $500 - $1,000 may be enough to get you by in the short term.
Surely you can think of other things to pack. But this covers some of the basics. Remember that during an emergency, government agencies may not be able to reach you for the first 72 hours. It is up to you to adhere to the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month that our federal government has set aside to try to bring awareness and educate the public the importance of being prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness needs and build yourself an emergency kit. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. Just look at hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Mother nature can have devastating effects. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be? Here is the seventh and final episode of our video series sponsored by preparemetrokc.org.
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time that our federal government has set aside to try and educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared in the event of a disaster. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness needs and build yourself an emergency kit. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be? Here is the sixth episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0KmkguD4U
As September is National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona will be offering tips and ideas from FEMA and other sources to help you prepare and to become more aware of what to do in case of a disaster of some sort.
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteer men and women are your local heros. They are on the front lines of local disasters and help when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
Let's start:
Week 2: September 10-16
Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community
If you would like to help your community in times of disasters, please join your local fire department and ambulance districts. These volunteer men and women are your local heros. They are on the front lines of local disasters and help when help is needed. Please support them and consider volunteering and donating funds to them in order for them to purchase better equipment to help our local area.
Let's start:
Week 2: September 10-16
Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community
- Learn skills you need to help yourself and others until help can arrive.
- Take Until Help Arrives training.
- Check on your neighbors.
- Talk with your Power Company about utility safety.
- On National Prepareathon Day, Friday, September, 15, hold an event.
- Joining a local #CERT program is a great way to give back. Find a team near you and #volunteer today! www.ready.gov/cert #NatlPrep
- Don’t wait until the next emergency to get involved, start today: www.ready.gov/citizen-corps #NatlPrep
- Did you know? @fema's online trainings to help get your community prepared. Take them today: http://bit.ly/29VKBfU #NatlPrep
- Almost half of Americans expect to rely on their neighbors after a disaster. Plan today: www.ready.gov/volunteer #NatlPrep
- #PrepareAthon can help your community discover activities to keep you and your neighbors safe: www.ready.gov/prepare #NatlPrep
- Plan a #preparedness event for your community. Get FREE planning guides from: http://bit.ly/29Kjc0Q#NatlPrep
- Your neighbor may have to rely on you during an emergency. Will you be ready: https://go.usa.gov/xRf4N #NatlPrep
- Do you know what to do when an emergency happens? Learn the 5 key actions you can take to save a life #UntilHelpArrives here: www.ready.gov/until-help-arrives #NatlPrep
- DYK: In the wake of an emergency, it’s okay to move the injured away from ongoing danger. Learn how you can help #UntilHelpArrives here: www.ready.gov/until-help-arrives #NatlPrep
- Get involved for #natlprep month. Take a first aid & CPR class with your local @RedCross chapter. www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/training-education
- Knowing how to shut off utilities like gas, water, & electricity is key after a disaster. For more info: www.ready.gov/safety-skills #NatlPrep
- If you don’t know where the shut-off valves for water/gas/electricity are, call your utility company and ask someone to show you. #NatlPrep
- Keep contact info for your utility companies on hand in case you have to report an emergency like a gas leak. #PlanAhead #NatlPrep
- Natural gas leaks can cause fires following disasters. Learn how to shut off your meter by contacting your local gas company. #NatlPrep
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time that our federal government has set aside to try and educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared in the event of a disaster. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness needs and build yourself an emergency kit. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be? Here is the fifth episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYlLelq1M
September is National Preparedness Month. This is the time set aside by the federal government to try and educate and bring awareness to the public the importance of being prepared for some sort of disaster. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level and build yourself an emergency kit if you don't have one already. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be? Here is the fourth episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_FSV7i3Bs
September is National Preparedness Month. In an effort to promote this time set aside by the federal government. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be?
Here is the third episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
Here is the third episode of our video series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMrPXBlZhlA
September is National Preparedness Month. In an effort to promote this time set aside by the federal government. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be?
Here is episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM
Here is episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkr93WBEiaM
Posted September 7, 2017
Attention Area Residents:
As September is National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona will be offering tips and ideas from FEMA and other sources to help you prepare and to become more aware of what to do in case of a disaster of some sort.
Let's start:
Week 1: September 1-9
Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
Attention Area Residents:
As September is National Preparedness Month, the Village of Altona will be offering tips and ideas from FEMA and other sources to help you prepare and to become more aware of what to do in case of a disaster of some sort.
Let's start:
Week 1: September 1-9
Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
- Make an Emergency Plan.
- Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
- Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
- Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide.
- Plan financially for the possibility of disaster.
Attention Area Residents:
September is National Preparedness Month. In an effort to promote this time set aside by the federal government, I will be posting tips and several video series throughout the month of September. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be?
Here is episode 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWVevsBhLBo.
Thank you.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
September is National Preparedness Month. In an effort to promote this time set aside by the federal government, I will be posting tips and several video series throughout the month of September. Please take the time this month to evaluate your preparedness level. A disaster CAN & WILL happen. The only question that remains is..... How prepared will you be?
Here is episode 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWVevsBhLBo.
Thank you.
Derrick R. Appell
Village Board President
Village of Altona
September is National Preparedness Month.
The federal government sets this month aside to bring awareness and to educate the importance of being prepared should you and family happen to experiance some sort of disaster. By educating the citizenry, people can better take care of themselves and their families rather than depend on the federal or state government for help during a severe crisis.
Huricane Harvey recently hit Houston, Texas. Huricane Irma is predicdted to hit Florida within a couple of days. Both of these storms will be devestating to those areas and clean up costs will be in the billions. People will be displaced. While the midwest may not have huricanes, we do get snow and ice storms, tornadoes, flooding and power outages. There are many types of disasters and crisis moments that mother nature can throw at you. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do, or how to prepare? For help or lifesaving tips, visit www.ready.gov.
Here are 10 examples of essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods. Emergency food companies such as wisefoodstorage.com as well as others (just do a Google search) can help you should you wish to have emergency food on hand.
3. Cooking - If you lose power, could you still cook? Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, do you have extra LP tanks filled up, or plenty of bags of charcoal on hand to cook? Do you have a generator? Do you have fuel to run it in order to have power for your cooking device?
4. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
5. Medications - Collect at least 3 days worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
6. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
7. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
8. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
9. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
10. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The federal government sets this month aside to bring awareness and to educate the importance of being prepared should you and family happen to experiance some sort of disaster. By educating the citizenry, people can better take care of themselves and their families rather than depend on the federal or state government for help during a severe crisis.
Huricane Harvey recently hit Houston, Texas. Huricane Irma is predicdted to hit Florida within a couple of days. Both of these storms will be devestating to those areas and clean up costs will be in the billions. People will be displaced. While the midwest may not have huricanes, we do get snow and ice storms, tornadoes, flooding and power outages. There are many types of disasters and crisis moments that mother nature can throw at you. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do, or how to prepare? For help or lifesaving tips, visit www.ready.gov.
Here are 10 examples of essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods. Emergency food companies such as wisefoodstorage.com as well as others (just do a Google search) can help you should you wish to have emergency food on hand.
3. Cooking - If you lose power, could you still cook? Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? If so, do you have extra LP tanks filled up, or plenty of bags of charcoal on hand to cook? Do you have a generator? Do you have fuel to run it in order to have power for your cooking device?
4. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
5. Medications - Collect at least 3 days worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
6. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
7. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
8. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
9. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
10. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
Unfortunately in today's society, there are scam artists that come in all stripes. Instead of trying to make an honest living like everyone else, these scam artists try and swindle your hard earned dollars. Over the years these criminals have become quite good at it. They not only fool tech savvy people, but they are also able to hack into corporations, and even our federal government. Scams come in all sorts of forms: telephone, in-person, to internet, and computer hacking. The scams are too numerous to list, but here are a few, along with tips to help you protect yourself....
Telephone Jury Duty Scam:
videos.komando.com/watch/11789/kims-picks-telephone-fraudsters-are-getting-more-aggressive?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=apple&utm_content=2017-03-15-a-g
Google Phishing scam:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/393678/old-google-login-phishing-scam-is-still-fooling-people?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=alerts&utm_content=2017-03-15-article-a
IRS Tax scams targeting seniors:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/388271/tax-scams-targeting-senior-citizens
Article on secret Air Force data leaked:
www.komando.com/happening-now/393585/secret-air-force-data-leaked-due-to-unsecured-backup?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=alerts&utm_content=2017-03-15-article-d
Don't say "YES" if asked if you can be heard:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/388464/top-story-if-you-get-this-call-hang-up-immediately-its-a-scam
Telephone Jury Duty Scam:
videos.komando.com/watch/11789/kims-picks-telephone-fraudsters-are-getting-more-aggressive?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=apple&utm_content=2017-03-15-a-g
Google Phishing scam:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/393678/old-google-login-phishing-scam-is-still-fooling-people?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=alerts&utm_content=2017-03-15-article-a
IRS Tax scams targeting seniors:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/388271/tax-scams-targeting-senior-citizens
Article on secret Air Force data leaked:
www.komando.com/happening-now/393585/secret-air-force-data-leaked-due-to-unsecured-backup?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=alerts&utm_content=2017-03-15-article-d
Don't say "YES" if asked if you can be heard:
http://www.komando.com/happening-now/388464/top-story-if-you-get-this-call-hang-up-immediately-its-a-scam
For tips on winter safety and other tips for winter preparedness during an ice storm, click on the following link:
www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-survive-a-power-outage-in-winter/70000039
www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-survive-a-power-outage-in-winter/70000039
Winter Preparedness:
Now that we have had our first snowfall of the season (which is swiftly melting away), ask yourself... Did I get my home ready for winter prior to the snow? Did I get my walkways cleaned up of potential hazards that might cause an accident while shoveling or plowing snow? Have I bought my winter supply of ice melt? Are my snow shovels handy? Do I have gas for my snow blowers? Are my winter boots or my enhanced traction footwear in good condition? Is your emergency generator in working condition in case of a power outage? This is supposed to be an El `Nino winter, which means a bad winter. Are you prepared for the outdoor activity that comes with snow? Here are some tips to help you prepare.
Stretching: Before, during and after working in the cold, you should always stretch your muscles. Be sure to consult your doctor prior to doing any exercise program, but these are some general guidelines.....
Tips:
- Don't Bounce.
- Keep the stretch mild and comfortable.
- Relax muscles as you stretch.
- Breathe - don't hold your breath.
- Hold your stretch until tension releases, and then go farther into another mild stretch.
- Don't forget to stretch bot sides of the body.
- You should never feel pain during or after a stretch.
- Stretch before you work, before any physical exertion and periodically to relieve muscle tension.
- A good rule of thumb is to stretch every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Tension for the initial stretch should release within 60 seconds. If it doesn't, reduce the intensity of the stretch slightly.
Benefits:
- Increases range of motion, reducing risk of injury near joint limits.
- Warms muscles, reduces internal friction and "resets" discs before activity.
- "Pre-fuels" muscles with oxygen before activity.
- Helps muscles relax and reduces soreness after activity.
Personal Winter Protection:
Medical conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and snow blindness can be attributed to exposure to low temperatures. The effects can be serious, so awareness and prevention are paramount. It is important to:
- Understand that cold-related medical conditions can be life threatening.
- Be aware of related signs, symptoms and risk factors.
- Follow preventive measures.
Cold Weather Injuries:
Frostbite: Skin not covered and protected from the harsh bite of cold can be affected within minutes of exposure to cold, windy conditions. Fingers, toes, ears, nose, chin and cheeks are easier to freeze and cut off from circulation, since they have small blood vessels.
Prevention - To avoid frostbite, keep moving, dress appropriately with loose clothing to allow circulation and stay dry.
Symptoms - Signs of frostbite include paleness, numbness, tingling, stinging or a cold firmness in the affected area. Severe frostbite, sometimes with frozen, blue skin, should be treated immediately by a medical professional.
Treatment - Use heated water at about 105 degrees in a sheltered place.
Hypothermia: An abmormally low core body temperature, caused by exposure, can affect the brain with hypothermia, making movement and even thought difficult as the body shuts down. Hypothermia is life-threatening.
Prevention - Dress appropriately; adjust to the temperature, and stay dry to prevent hyopthermia.
Symptoms - Unusual shivering, fatigue or confusion.
Treatment - Move to a warm, dry area. Replace wet clothing with dry and get a hot, decaffeinated drink.
Snow Blindness: Snow Blindness occures when UV rays reflect into the eyes off snow or water. Whiteout conditions ona snowy, overcast day are actually more conductive to snow blindness than a sunny day. Symptoms include red, burning, watery, scratchy painful eyes or headaches. Wear sunglasses or goggles, which filter out some UV radiation.
When traveling during inclement weather....
- Slow down.
- Do not use cruise control.
- Apply traction devices as needed (such as snow chains).
If you judge it to be unsafe, do not proceed. Pull off the road in secure location until inclement weather passes.
Saftey Around Snowplows....
- Don't crowd the plow. Plow drivers have limited visibility, so don't asume your vehicle is in view.
- Maintain a safe distance behind the snowplow. Plows aren't just removing snow. They also may be spreading sand or de-icer on the road.
- Be patient - never pass through a whiteout. The driver will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow vehicles to pass.
-Slow Down! Plows are large and move slower than highway speeds. It is difficult to judge distance when approching the plow, so slow down immediately to avoid a collision.
More Winter Driving Tips:
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Leave early to allow extra time to reach you destination.
- If roads are slick, consider not using cruise control.
- Bridges freeze before roads. Shaded areas are more prone to icing.
- Travel on interstates or other main highways to lessen the likelihood of being stranded.
- Ignoring vehicle maintenance wil lead to an untimely breakdown; check the following items:
- Cooling system - Lights
- Heater, defroster and wipers - Exhaust system
- Fuel system - Tires
- Oil level - Brakes
- Battery and ignition system
- Plan ahead. Look up directions in advance and keep updated on weather reports while on longer trips.
- Be sure you can be seen. If you need to turn on your windshield wipers, it's a good idea to also turn on your headlights. Remember to remove any snow from widows and lights.
- Always proceed cautiously. Anticipate lane changes, turns, curves and speed reduction. Excesive speed and sudden braking should be avoided.
- Do not spin wheels. A spinning wheel does not have traction in snow or ice. Point front wheels straight for best results.
- Keep in control. If your automobile slides, don't brake, hit the gas or jerk your steering wheel.
- Winter roadway width is restricted by snow buildup. Proceed with caution when passing and/or meeting oncoming traffic.
- Prepare your emergency travel kit and never fear a potenial breakdown. Here's what you need.....
- NOAA weather radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Blankets
-Seasonal clothing
- Whistle to singal for help
- Dust mask
- Most toweletts, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Basic tool kit, knife, and shovel
- Axe or saw
- Tow chain, straps or come-along
- Spare tire
- Wire and rope
- Starter Fluid, extra oil and de-icer
- Flares
- Kitty litter or sand
- Booster cables
- Water
- Nonperishable, high-energy food
- Local maps
Stay Healthy:
Sleep: Holiday stress can cause anyone to lose rest. If you are sleep-deprived, your attention and focus at work or play are in jeopardy, as well as your health. In order to get a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep each night, take the following steps:
- Minimize noise, light and temperature changes before sleep.
- Drink less caffeine, especially in the hours before sleep.
- Keep heavier meals and alcohol away from bedtime.
- Don't smoke, especially near bedtime.
- Get regular exercise and eat well.
- Relax: there will be some things over the holidays that can't be made perfect.
Hydration: Winter air is much drier than it is in the summertime. Sweat will quickly evaporate meaning that you will lose water. You may even have a diminished thirst resonse if you think you're not sweating. Losing just two percent of your body's water content is enough to cause dehydration.
Cold air usually triggers the body to reserve heat and maintain fluid, such as sweat. However, layers of clothing can cause your skin temperature to increase and the body will release heat through sweat. Start out with all your layers and once warmed up, remove clothing as not to overheat.
Other Personal Winter Tips:
-Keep driveways and sidewalks at both your work and at home clear of snow and ice.
- Test smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Sled only in safe, designated areas.
- Have snow and ice removal equipment ready all winter.
- Have warm clothing and food reserves prepared in the event of severe inclement weather.
- Guard against fire by keeping everything away from hot surfaces such as space heaters or fireplaces.
- Maintain good posture and remember not to overexert while shoveling or carrying firewood.
- If decorating for the holidays, don't overload electrical outlets and avoid putting decorations near heat sources.
Now that we have had our first snowfall of the season (which is swiftly melting away), ask yourself... Did I get my home ready for winter prior to the snow? Did I get my walkways cleaned up of potential hazards that might cause an accident while shoveling or plowing snow? Have I bought my winter supply of ice melt? Are my snow shovels handy? Do I have gas for my snow blowers? Are my winter boots or my enhanced traction footwear in good condition? Is your emergency generator in working condition in case of a power outage? This is supposed to be an El `Nino winter, which means a bad winter. Are you prepared for the outdoor activity that comes with snow? Here are some tips to help you prepare.
Stretching: Before, during and after working in the cold, you should always stretch your muscles. Be sure to consult your doctor prior to doing any exercise program, but these are some general guidelines.....
Tips:
- Don't Bounce.
- Keep the stretch mild and comfortable.
- Relax muscles as you stretch.
- Breathe - don't hold your breath.
- Hold your stretch until tension releases, and then go farther into another mild stretch.
- Don't forget to stretch bot sides of the body.
- You should never feel pain during or after a stretch.
- Stretch before you work, before any physical exertion and periodically to relieve muscle tension.
- A good rule of thumb is to stretch every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Tension for the initial stretch should release within 60 seconds. If it doesn't, reduce the intensity of the stretch slightly.
Benefits:
- Increases range of motion, reducing risk of injury near joint limits.
- Warms muscles, reduces internal friction and "resets" discs before activity.
- "Pre-fuels" muscles with oxygen before activity.
- Helps muscles relax and reduces soreness after activity.
Personal Winter Protection:
Medical conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite and snow blindness can be attributed to exposure to low temperatures. The effects can be serious, so awareness and prevention are paramount. It is important to:
- Understand that cold-related medical conditions can be life threatening.
- Be aware of related signs, symptoms and risk factors.
- Follow preventive measures.
Cold Weather Injuries:
Frostbite: Skin not covered and protected from the harsh bite of cold can be affected within minutes of exposure to cold, windy conditions. Fingers, toes, ears, nose, chin and cheeks are easier to freeze and cut off from circulation, since they have small blood vessels.
Prevention - To avoid frostbite, keep moving, dress appropriately with loose clothing to allow circulation and stay dry.
Symptoms - Signs of frostbite include paleness, numbness, tingling, stinging or a cold firmness in the affected area. Severe frostbite, sometimes with frozen, blue skin, should be treated immediately by a medical professional.
Treatment - Use heated water at about 105 degrees in a sheltered place.
Hypothermia: An abmormally low core body temperature, caused by exposure, can affect the brain with hypothermia, making movement and even thought difficult as the body shuts down. Hypothermia is life-threatening.
Prevention - Dress appropriately; adjust to the temperature, and stay dry to prevent hyopthermia.
Symptoms - Unusual shivering, fatigue or confusion.
Treatment - Move to a warm, dry area. Replace wet clothing with dry and get a hot, decaffeinated drink.
Snow Blindness: Snow Blindness occures when UV rays reflect into the eyes off snow or water. Whiteout conditions ona snowy, overcast day are actually more conductive to snow blindness than a sunny day. Symptoms include red, burning, watery, scratchy painful eyes or headaches. Wear sunglasses or goggles, which filter out some UV radiation.
When traveling during inclement weather....
- Slow down.
- Do not use cruise control.
- Apply traction devices as needed (such as snow chains).
If you judge it to be unsafe, do not proceed. Pull off the road in secure location until inclement weather passes.
Saftey Around Snowplows....
- Don't crowd the plow. Plow drivers have limited visibility, so don't asume your vehicle is in view.
- Maintain a safe distance behind the snowplow. Plows aren't just removing snow. They also may be spreading sand or de-icer on the road.
- Be patient - never pass through a whiteout. The driver will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow vehicles to pass.
-Slow Down! Plows are large and move slower than highway speeds. It is difficult to judge distance when approching the plow, so slow down immediately to avoid a collision.
More Winter Driving Tips:
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Leave early to allow extra time to reach you destination.
- If roads are slick, consider not using cruise control.
- Bridges freeze before roads. Shaded areas are more prone to icing.
- Travel on interstates or other main highways to lessen the likelihood of being stranded.
- Ignoring vehicle maintenance wil lead to an untimely breakdown; check the following items:
- Cooling system - Lights
- Heater, defroster and wipers - Exhaust system
- Fuel system - Tires
- Oil level - Brakes
- Battery and ignition system
- Plan ahead. Look up directions in advance and keep updated on weather reports while on longer trips.
- Be sure you can be seen. If you need to turn on your windshield wipers, it's a good idea to also turn on your headlights. Remember to remove any snow from widows and lights.
- Always proceed cautiously. Anticipate lane changes, turns, curves and speed reduction. Excesive speed and sudden braking should be avoided.
- Do not spin wheels. A spinning wheel does not have traction in snow or ice. Point front wheels straight for best results.
- Keep in control. If your automobile slides, don't brake, hit the gas or jerk your steering wheel.
- Winter roadway width is restricted by snow buildup. Proceed with caution when passing and/or meeting oncoming traffic.
- Prepare your emergency travel kit and never fear a potenial breakdown. Here's what you need.....
- NOAA weather radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Blankets
-Seasonal clothing
- Whistle to singal for help
- Dust mask
- Most toweletts, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Basic tool kit, knife, and shovel
- Axe or saw
- Tow chain, straps or come-along
- Spare tire
- Wire and rope
- Starter Fluid, extra oil and de-icer
- Flares
- Kitty litter or sand
- Booster cables
- Water
- Nonperishable, high-energy food
- Local maps
Stay Healthy:
Sleep: Holiday stress can cause anyone to lose rest. If you are sleep-deprived, your attention and focus at work or play are in jeopardy, as well as your health. In order to get a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep each night, take the following steps:
- Minimize noise, light and temperature changes before sleep.
- Drink less caffeine, especially in the hours before sleep.
- Keep heavier meals and alcohol away from bedtime.
- Don't smoke, especially near bedtime.
- Get regular exercise and eat well.
- Relax: there will be some things over the holidays that can't be made perfect.
Hydration: Winter air is much drier than it is in the summertime. Sweat will quickly evaporate meaning that you will lose water. You may even have a diminished thirst resonse if you think you're not sweating. Losing just two percent of your body's water content is enough to cause dehydration.
Cold air usually triggers the body to reserve heat and maintain fluid, such as sweat. However, layers of clothing can cause your skin temperature to increase and the body will release heat through sweat. Start out with all your layers and once warmed up, remove clothing as not to overheat.
Other Personal Winter Tips:
-Keep driveways and sidewalks at both your work and at home clear of snow and ice.
- Test smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Sled only in safe, designated areas.
- Have snow and ice removal equipment ready all winter.
- Have warm clothing and food reserves prepared in the event of severe inclement weather.
- Guard against fire by keeping everything away from hot surfaces such as space heaters or fireplaces.
- Maintain good posture and remember not to overexert while shoveling or carrying firewood.
- If decorating for the holidays, don't overload electrical outlets and avoid putting decorations near heat sources.
|
|
|
|
|
With Halloween fast approaching, now is a good time to plan for the safety of your children for the upcoming holiday. Below are some tips provided by U.S. Cellular so that you and your children can have a safe and fun Trick or Treat. Have a Happy Halloween!!!
Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year. The costumes, the parties, and of course the trick or treating and candy! But according to Safe Kids Worldwide, while Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays, there are some scary safety statistics that come with it. Only one-third of parents talk to their kids about safety each year, yet three quarters report having fears about them roaming the neighborhood on the quest for treats.
A simple chat about the importance of safety with your little ghosts and goblins along with these handy tracking apps will help you rest easy and ensure the entire family has a spooktacular holiday.
TrickorTracker® is a free app specifically designed with your trick-or-treaters in mind. Trick or Tracker can locate your child with the touch of a single button, so you know exactly where they are. You can also choose to receive messages at regular intervals revealing their location.
Family Locator is a free app that tracks phone locations to help you keep tabs on your family, all in real time. You can receive notifications when your kids have reached their destination, see the location of all family members on the map and stay in touch with instant messages. Just in case your kids get lost, tapping an SOS button will immediately send you their exact GPS location.
Life360 is a free app that allows you to create private groups, and communicate via group chat. A great way to communicate with and track the whole family’s whereabouts. It will also send notifications when members of your group check into places and users can even set boundary limits.
Staying connected with your kids on Halloween will help to keep them safe and sound. All you need are your smartphones and one of these apps and you will be ready to trick, treat and track!
There’s no place like home when it comes to Halloween fun. Whether you’re just celebrating with the family or planning a big bash, you can create a spook-tacular Halloween with memories to last a lifetime.
Target the Treats. Trick-or-treating might be the best part of Halloween, but let’s be honest, not all neighborhoods are created equal when it comes to the candy. Make the most of your time and target those treats with Treat Map by Nextdoor. The days of wandering aimlessly from house to house on the hunt for candy are over. The free app takes your Halloween high-tech, safely connecting with your neighbors for an evening of trick-or-treating.
Trick or Trivia. Whether you’re throwing a big party with friends and family or just planning some Halloween fun at home with the family, no party, big or small, is complete without party games. The Halloween Party App, available on iOS for just $0.99, is a trivia game designed for groups of kids ages 6-11 and consists of rapid-fire questions to be answered in split seconds. It’s fun, fast and it’s filled with spooky adventure. It’s also educational, but we won’t tell the kids if you don’t!
Spooktacular Sounds. No Halloween is complete without spooky sounds and music. Cue up your ultimate haunted hit list and hide your Bluetooth Speaker so no one knows quite where it’s coming from. A splashproof speaker like the JLab Mini is a great option to be safe – just in case of spills – and offers great sound in a small package.
Make it Social! Create a hashtag to share and capture your Halloween memories. Can’t decide on a hashtag? No problem. Try this Hashtag Generator. Want to keep things private? Use a photo sharing app like Cluster. Cluster makes it possible to create private groups to share photos and videos. Only invited members of the group can see and share. You’ll be alerted when people post new things to the group. It’s free and easily accessed through the app or the web.
With a little planning and these tips, you’re sure to have more treats and less tricks!
Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year. The costumes, the parties, and of course the trick or treating and candy! But according to Safe Kids Worldwide, while Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays, there are some scary safety statistics that come with it. Only one-third of parents talk to their kids about safety each year, yet three quarters report having fears about them roaming the neighborhood on the quest for treats.
A simple chat about the importance of safety with your little ghosts and goblins along with these handy tracking apps will help you rest easy and ensure the entire family has a spooktacular holiday.
TrickorTracker® is a free app specifically designed with your trick-or-treaters in mind. Trick or Tracker can locate your child with the touch of a single button, so you know exactly where they are. You can also choose to receive messages at regular intervals revealing their location.
Family Locator is a free app that tracks phone locations to help you keep tabs on your family, all in real time. You can receive notifications when your kids have reached their destination, see the location of all family members on the map and stay in touch with instant messages. Just in case your kids get lost, tapping an SOS button will immediately send you their exact GPS location.
Life360 is a free app that allows you to create private groups, and communicate via group chat. A great way to communicate with and track the whole family’s whereabouts. It will also send notifications when members of your group check into places and users can even set boundary limits.
Staying connected with your kids on Halloween will help to keep them safe and sound. All you need are your smartphones and one of these apps and you will be ready to trick, treat and track!
There’s no place like home when it comes to Halloween fun. Whether you’re just celebrating with the family or planning a big bash, you can create a spook-tacular Halloween with memories to last a lifetime.
Target the Treats. Trick-or-treating might be the best part of Halloween, but let’s be honest, not all neighborhoods are created equal when it comes to the candy. Make the most of your time and target those treats with Treat Map by Nextdoor. The days of wandering aimlessly from house to house on the hunt for candy are over. The free app takes your Halloween high-tech, safely connecting with your neighbors for an evening of trick-or-treating.
Trick or Trivia. Whether you’re throwing a big party with friends and family or just planning some Halloween fun at home with the family, no party, big or small, is complete without party games. The Halloween Party App, available on iOS for just $0.99, is a trivia game designed for groups of kids ages 6-11 and consists of rapid-fire questions to be answered in split seconds. It’s fun, fast and it’s filled with spooky adventure. It’s also educational, but we won’t tell the kids if you don’t!
Spooktacular Sounds. No Halloween is complete without spooky sounds and music. Cue up your ultimate haunted hit list and hide your Bluetooth Speaker so no one knows quite where it’s coming from. A splashproof speaker like the JLab Mini is a great option to be safe – just in case of spills – and offers great sound in a small package.
Make it Social! Create a hashtag to share and capture your Halloween memories. Can’t decide on a hashtag? No problem. Try this Hashtag Generator. Want to keep things private? Use a photo sharing app like Cluster. Cluster makes it possible to create private groups to share photos and videos. Only invited members of the group can see and share. You’ll be alerted when people post new things to the group. It’s free and easily accessed through the app or the web.
With a little planning and these tips, you’re sure to have more treats and less tricks!
It may be fall and with summer like temperatures, but winter will be here before you know it. Below is a file for you to download with some winter preparedness tips.
winter_preparedness-_my_patriot_supply.html | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | html |
September is Emergency Preparedness Month....
Have you been thinking of ways to prepare you and your family in the event that some Emergency should happen?
Do you have Emergency cash in your safe at home? In an Emergency, the banks may not be open. If the power is out, credit and debit card machines may not be working; (however with the old school use of a pencil, paper and cash, small mom and pop stores could still do sales transactions - you won't find the big box stores doing this).
In case of a power outage, can you cook your food? Do you have an outdoor grill? If it is a charcoal grill, do you have extra charcoal on hand? Summer is winding down and some stores may consider charcoal as a seasonal item. Do you have a gas grill? Are all of your LP tanks filled up? People's Do-It Center in Galesburg has LP refills for $13.80 for a 20# tank. Do you have Emergency Food or perishable foods in your pantry to get you by?
Are your Wills, Insurance, and other important record information up to date? Does everyone in your household know where and how to access this information?
There are many things to do and consider in order to be prepared for any type of emergency. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take the time this month to prepare yourselves. You and your family will thank yourselves later in the event something bad does happen.
Have you been thinking of ways to prepare you and your family in the event that some Emergency should happen?
Do you have Emergency cash in your safe at home? In an Emergency, the banks may not be open. If the power is out, credit and debit card machines may not be working; (however with the old school use of a pencil, paper and cash, small mom and pop stores could still do sales transactions - you won't find the big box stores doing this).
In case of a power outage, can you cook your food? Do you have an outdoor grill? If it is a charcoal grill, do you have extra charcoal on hand? Summer is winding down and some stores may consider charcoal as a seasonal item. Do you have a gas grill? Are all of your LP tanks filled up? People's Do-It Center in Galesburg has LP refills for $13.80 for a 20# tank. Do you have Emergency Food or perishable foods in your pantry to get you by?
Are your Wills, Insurance, and other important record information up to date? Does everyone in your household know where and how to access this information?
There are many things to do and consider in order to be prepared for any type of emergency. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take the time this month to prepare yourselves. You and your family will thank yourselves later in the event something bad does happen.
September is Emergency Preparedness Month. The following helpful tips are brought to you from Steve Anderson, with the Wise Food Storage company. Please feel free to contact him directly with any questions as well as for your Emergency Food Storage needs........
Do you have a Home Emergency Plan for when you have to Shelter in Place? In honor of National Preparedness Month, here's a list of 9 essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many of which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods.
3. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
4. Medications - Collect at least 3 days' worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
5. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
6. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
7. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
8. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
9. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The Wise Food Storage factory is always at your service to help with many of your preparedness needs. Unlike with most other companies, long-term food is now available for purchase, all at factory discounts and free shipping. Just call me, Steve Anderson, at801-928-2348.
When upcoming emergencies bring hard times, I pray your home will be stocked up with enough food, water and other items to tide you over. If you or a neighbor, friend or family member are looking to store some long-term food or have interest in water storage/purification, call me so I can help with your ongoing preparedness efforts.
Yours,
Steve Anderson
Wise Food Storage
801-928-2348
www.wisefoodstorage.com
[email protected]
Do you have a Home Emergency Plan for when you have to Shelter in Place? In honor of National Preparedness Month, here's a list of 9 essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many of which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods.
3. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
4. Medications - Collect at least 3 days' worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
5. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
6. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
7. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
8. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
9. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The Wise Food Storage factory is always at your service to help with many of your preparedness needs. Unlike with most other companies, long-term food is now available for purchase, all at factory discounts and free shipping. Just call me, Steve Anderson, at801-928-2348.
When upcoming emergencies bring hard times, I pray your home will be stocked up with enough food, water and other items to tide you over. If you or a neighbor, friend or family member are looking to store some long-term food or have interest in water storage/purification, call me so I can help with your ongoing preparedness efforts.
Yours,
Steve Anderson
Wise Food Storage
801-928-2348
www.wisefoodstorage.com
[email protected]
To read an article on the different types of ice deicers, please click on this link:
http://www.masterhandyman.com/columndetails.cfm?pubdate=20151218
http://www.masterhandyman.com/columndetails.cfm?pubdate=20151218
Winter Is Just Around The Corner
Although we continue to see relatively mild weather across the area, Mother Nature will soon remind us that winter is on its way. Now is the time to prepare yourself for what winter will throw your way.
First, whether at home or work, check for potential tripping hazards. Remember what you are able to see now, will be under snow this winter and not visible to the eye. Now is the time (if possible) to move or correct this hazard while you are able to see it.
Second, ensure that cold weather gear is in good working order.
Third, the Center for Disease Control recommends a Family Communication plan. Your family may not be together during an extreme winter event, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, or what you will do during an emergency.
What Do Winter Storm Warning Terms Mean?
Although we continue to see relatively mild weather across the area, Mother Nature will soon remind us that winter is on its way. Now is the time to prepare yourself for what winter will throw your way.
First, whether at home or work, check for potential tripping hazards. Remember what you are able to see now, will be under snow this winter and not visible to the eye. Now is the time (if possible) to move or correct this hazard while you are able to see it.
Second, ensure that cold weather gear is in good working order.
Third, the Center for Disease Control recommends a Family Communication plan. Your family may not be together during an extreme winter event, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, or what you will do during an emergency.
What Do Winter Storm Warning Terms Mean?
- Winter Weather Advisory: Expect winter weather condition (e.g., accumulation of snow, freezing rain, and sleet) that could cause severe inconvenience and life-threatening hazards.
- Frost/Freeze Warning: Expect below-freezing temperatures.
- Winter Storm Watch: Be alert; a storm is likely.
- Winter Storm Warning: Take action;; the storm is in or entering the area.
- Blizzard Warning: Seek refuge immediately. Snow and strong winds, near-zero visibility, deep snow drifts and life-threatening wind chill.
- Cellphone, portable charger and extra batteries
- Shovel
- Windshield scraper
- Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Water
- Snack Food
- Extra hats, coats, and mittens
- Blankets
- Chains or rope
- Tire chains
- Canned compressed air with sealant for emergency tire repair
- Road salt and sand
- Booster cables
- Emergency flares
- Bright colored flag or help signs
- First aid kit
- Tool kit
- Road maps
- Compass
- Waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water
- Paper towels
|
|
How to Prepare for a Tornado?
Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, Resources by Wise Blog Team on September 21st, 2015
Each year, roughly 1,200 tornadoes touch down in the United States, and these powerful, sometimes devastating columns of fast-moving air cause roughly a billion dollars’ worth of property damage annually. While it can be difficult to predict exactly when and where a tornado will strike, scientists do understand the specific atmospheric conditions needed to create tornadoes. This means that organizations like NOAA can give advanced tornado warnings to residents, allowing them to prepare or evacuate in ahead of time. If you happen to live in a part of the U.S. that frequently receives tornadoes, then it’s important that you understand the basics of how to prepare for an incoming tornado.
What is a tornado?
According to NOAA, a tornado is part of a larger storm system, and it’s typically accompanied by thunder and lightning. A tornado is basically a column of air that spins about violently. Since they’re made up of air, they’re usually pretty tough to see, but once condensation forms within the funnel, or once it picks up enough dust and debris, then the tornado becomes visible. Tornadoes, though, are no laughing matter—they can be devastating.
How to prepare for a tornado?
Tornadoes happen quickly, so it’s difficult to note specifically when or where a tornado will strike. But scientists know what causes tornadoes to form, so they keep an eye out for those specific conditions. Usually when those conditions are present, NOAA will release a tornado watch—this means that, if the weather turns for the worse, tornadoes could potentially form. If you live in a tornado area, you have two possible options: evacuate or sit tight. You should plan out an evacuation route to a shelter beforehand, and you should make sure to stock the car with emergency supplies, medical kits, and long-term ready-made meals and water. Or, if you’d like to remain in your home (or if you are somehow unable to evacuate), then it’s important for you to prepare your home, as well. Try to stock up on dehydrated or freeze dried meals and water—enough to last for three to five days. Practice shutting off the power or other utilities, and make sure that you have access to first-aid kit that contains not only basic medicines, but also any prescriptions that you and your family might need.
What to do during a tornado?
If you see a tornado approaching, move indoors quickly. If you’re in a car, stop the car immediately and seek the nearest shelter—you can’t outrun a tornado in a car, and seeking shelter within a car is inadvisable as strong winds can actually flip vehicles. Whether you’re at home, school, work, or at a public place like a mall, there are a few critical things to keep in mind: stay away from any windows, get to a basement if possible, and if there isn’t a basement present, then move to the lowest floor of the building you’re in, and seek out a room without windows (like a hallway or bathroom). If you can, find and hide under something heavy and sturdy that can resist falling debris, like a table. Avoid mobile homes (they’re not built to withstand strong winds), and always protect your head and neck from falling debris.
What to do after a tornado?
Avoid any broken glass or fallen items that might be dangerous—like downed power lines or exposed wiring. Avoid any buildings that might be structurally unsound, and don’t turn on any appliances, generators, stoves or any other gas- or electric-powered appliances before checking in with your local utility company.
Though tornadoes can be especially destructive, by following a few simple precautionary steps and by seeking shelter immediately, you can maximize your and your family’s chances of avoiding injury. Remember, it’s impossible to predict when disaster may strike, but by preparing in advance, you can help to boost your chances of experiencing a tragic event.
Sources:
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/prepared.asp
Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, Resources by Wise Blog Team on September 21st, 2015
Each year, roughly 1,200 tornadoes touch down in the United States, and these powerful, sometimes devastating columns of fast-moving air cause roughly a billion dollars’ worth of property damage annually. While it can be difficult to predict exactly when and where a tornado will strike, scientists do understand the specific atmospheric conditions needed to create tornadoes. This means that organizations like NOAA can give advanced tornado warnings to residents, allowing them to prepare or evacuate in ahead of time. If you happen to live in a part of the U.S. that frequently receives tornadoes, then it’s important that you understand the basics of how to prepare for an incoming tornado.
What is a tornado?
According to NOAA, a tornado is part of a larger storm system, and it’s typically accompanied by thunder and lightning. A tornado is basically a column of air that spins about violently. Since they’re made up of air, they’re usually pretty tough to see, but once condensation forms within the funnel, or once it picks up enough dust and debris, then the tornado becomes visible. Tornadoes, though, are no laughing matter—they can be devastating.
How to prepare for a tornado?
Tornadoes happen quickly, so it’s difficult to note specifically when or where a tornado will strike. But scientists know what causes tornadoes to form, so they keep an eye out for those specific conditions. Usually when those conditions are present, NOAA will release a tornado watch—this means that, if the weather turns for the worse, tornadoes could potentially form. If you live in a tornado area, you have two possible options: evacuate or sit tight. You should plan out an evacuation route to a shelter beforehand, and you should make sure to stock the car with emergency supplies, medical kits, and long-term ready-made meals and water. Or, if you’d like to remain in your home (or if you are somehow unable to evacuate), then it’s important for you to prepare your home, as well. Try to stock up on dehydrated or freeze dried meals and water—enough to last for three to five days. Practice shutting off the power or other utilities, and make sure that you have access to first-aid kit that contains not only basic medicines, but also any prescriptions that you and your family might need.
What to do during a tornado?
If you see a tornado approaching, move indoors quickly. If you’re in a car, stop the car immediately and seek the nearest shelter—you can’t outrun a tornado in a car, and seeking shelter within a car is inadvisable as strong winds can actually flip vehicles. Whether you’re at home, school, work, or at a public place like a mall, there are a few critical things to keep in mind: stay away from any windows, get to a basement if possible, and if there isn’t a basement present, then move to the lowest floor of the building you’re in, and seek out a room without windows (like a hallway or bathroom). If you can, find and hide under something heavy and sturdy that can resist falling debris, like a table. Avoid mobile homes (they’re not built to withstand strong winds), and always protect your head and neck from falling debris.
What to do after a tornado?
Avoid any broken glass or fallen items that might be dangerous—like downed power lines or exposed wiring. Avoid any buildings that might be structurally unsound, and don’t turn on any appliances, generators, stoves or any other gas- or electric-powered appliances before checking in with your local utility company.
Though tornadoes can be especially destructive, by following a few simple precautionary steps and by seeking shelter immediately, you can maximize your and your family’s chances of avoiding injury. Remember, it’s impossible to predict when disaster may strike, but by preparing in advance, you can help to boost your chances of experiencing a tragic event.
Sources:
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/prepared.asp
September is Emergency Preparedness Month....
Have you been thinking of ways to prepare you and your family in the event that some Emergency should happen?
Do you have Emergency cash in your safe at home? In an Emergency, the banks may not be open. If the power is out, credit and debit card machines may not be working; (however with the old school use of a pencil, paper and cash, small mom and pop stores could still do sales transactions - you won't find the big box stores doing this).
In case of a power outage, can you cook your food? Do you have an outdoor grill? If it is a charcoal grill, do you have extra charcoal on hand? Summer is winding down and some stores may consider charcoal as a seasonal item. Do you have a gas grill? Are all of your LP tanks filled up? People's Do-It Center in Galesburg has LP refills for $13.80 for a 20# tank. Do you have Emergency Food or perishable foods in your pantry to get you by?
Are your Wills, Insurance, and other important record information up to date? Does everyone in your household know where and how to access this information?
There are many things to do and consider in order to be prepared for any type of emergency. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take the time this month to prepare yourselves. You and your family will thank yourselves later in the event something bad does happen.
Have you been thinking of ways to prepare you and your family in the event that some Emergency should happen?
Do you have Emergency cash in your safe at home? In an Emergency, the banks may not be open. If the power is out, credit and debit card machines may not be working; (however with the old school use of a pencil, paper and cash, small mom and pop stores could still do sales transactions - you won't find the big box stores doing this).
In case of a power outage, can you cook your food? Do you have an outdoor grill? If it is a charcoal grill, do you have extra charcoal on hand? Summer is winding down and some stores may consider charcoal as a seasonal item. Do you have a gas grill? Are all of your LP tanks filled up? People's Do-It Center in Galesburg has LP refills for $13.80 for a 20# tank. Do you have Emergency Food or perishable foods in your pantry to get you by?
Are your Wills, Insurance, and other important record information up to date? Does everyone in your household know where and how to access this information?
There are many things to do and consider in order to be prepared for any type of emergency. September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Please take the time this month to prepare yourselves. You and your family will thank yourselves later in the event something bad does happen.
September is Emergency Preparedness Month. The following helpful tips are brought to you from Steve Anderson, with the Wise Food Storage company. Please feel free to contact him directly with any questions as well as for your Emergency Food Storage needs........
Do you have a Home Emergency Plan for when you have to Shelter in Place? In honor of National Preparedness Month, here's a list of 9 essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many of which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods.
3. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
4. Medications - Collect at least 3 days' worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
5. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
6. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
7. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
8. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
9. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The Wise Food Storage factory is always at your service to help with many of your preparedness needs. Unlike with most other companies, long-term food is now available for purchase, all at factory discounts and free shipping. Just call me, Steve Anderson, at801-928-2348.
When upcoming emergencies bring hard times, I pray your home will be stocked up with enough food, water and other items to tide you over. If you or a neighbor, friend or family member are looking to store some long-term food or have interest in water storage/purification, call me so I can help with your ongoing preparedness efforts.
Yours,
Steve Anderson
Wise Food Storage
801-928-2348
www.wisefoodstorage.com
[email protected]
Do you have a Home Emergency Plan for when you have to Shelter in Place? In honor of National Preparedness Month, here's a list of 9 essential items to keep in your home in the event of a disaster (many of which could also come in handy if stored in your vehicle for when you're away from home):
1. Water - Keep one gallon per person per day for drinking, food preparation and sanitation; store water bottles/bricks/barrels in a cool dark place and refresh every 6 to 12 months.
2. Food - Store at least 5-7 days of nonperishable food for each person - much more, if possible. Also keep canned and packaged goods, frozen and refrigerated and other rotated foods.
3. Clothes - Have on hand one change of clothes and footwear per person; also consider packing blankets, rain gear and outerwear in case of inclement weather.
4. Medications - Collect at least 3 days' worth of any prescription medications you take; be sure to check expiration dates so you don't keep them past their time.
5. Flashlights - Keep one or more bright flashlights in case the power goes out; consider using a head-lamp or lantern-style one for hands-free use.
6. Can opener - Make sure it's a manual can opener in case there's no power.
7. Radio - A battery-powered, solar-powered or crank-operated radio for listening to news and weather; and don't forget extra batteries!
8. Hygiene Items - Keep a basic supply of soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes/toothpaste; moist towelettes can also be useful for quick sanitation.
9. First Aid Supplies - Store essentials such as antiseptic, gloves, bandages and non-prescription medicines; you can buy a pre-made kit at most pharmacies or grocery stores.
The Wise Food Storage factory is always at your service to help with many of your preparedness needs. Unlike with most other companies, long-term food is now available for purchase, all at factory discounts and free shipping. Just call me, Steve Anderson, at801-928-2348.
When upcoming emergencies bring hard times, I pray your home will be stocked up with enough food, water and other items to tide you over. If you or a neighbor, friend or family member are looking to store some long-term food or have interest in water storage/purification, call me so I can help with your ongoing preparedness efforts.
Yours,
Steve Anderson
Wise Food Storage
801-928-2348
www.wisefoodstorage.com
[email protected]
Posted September 9, 2015
September is National Preparedness Month!
Are you prepared to protect and to provide for your family during an emergency or some sort of natural disaster? Do you remember the winter ice storm a few years ago when Altona was out of power for three days? What did you do?
Here are some links for you to help in your research in order to help you prepare yourself and your family for such emergencies....
Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/
Illinois Emergency Management Agency: http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
Food Storage Prep:
Wise Company - Food Guide: http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/prepping-for-disasters-infographic?utm_source=Newsletter%20EmailDirect&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=September-4-2015
My Patriot Supply: http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/
Generators:
http://www.generac.com/
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators
September is National Preparedness Month!
Are you prepared to protect and to provide for your family during an emergency or some sort of natural disaster? Do you remember the winter ice storm a few years ago when Altona was out of power for three days? What did you do?
Here are some links for you to help in your research in order to help you prepare yourself and your family for such emergencies....
Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/
Illinois Emergency Management Agency: http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
Food Storage Prep:
Wise Company - Food Guide: http://www.wisefoodstorage.com/prepping-for-disasters-infographic?utm_source=Newsletter%20EmailDirect&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=September-4-2015
My Patriot Supply: http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/
Generators:
http://www.generac.com/
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators
Ideas For Healthy Choices: Take a look at some ideas before you plan your next meeting or event.
Breakfast:
- Fresh Fruit
- Low-fat or non-fat yogurt
- Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs
- Whole grain French toast or multi-grain pancakes
- Bagels cut into halves or quarters; or serve mini-bagels (3 1/2" diameter or less) - bran, oatmeal, multi-grain
- Whole grain toast or English muffins
- Low-fat granola or granola bars (5g of fat or less per bar)
- Whole grain cereal
- Canadian bacon or thinly sliced ham
Morning or Afternoon Snacks:
- Consider whether it is necessary to offer a morning and/or afternoon food break
- Fresh sliced fruit and fresh vegetable tray - served with low-fat dips
- Bowl of whole fruit - apples, bananas, oranges, pears
- Cubed cheese with whole wheat crackers
- Pretzels, low-fat popcorn, baked chips, trail mixes
- Granola bars - low fat (5g of fat or less per bar)
- Mixed nuts
- Hummus and veggies or whole grain pita chips
Lunch:
- Soups - vegetarian broth based, not cream based
- Baked potato with low-fat condiments, baked sweet potato
- Pasta salad with low-fat dressing and extra veggies
- Sandwiches served on whole grain breads, wraps or pitas; served with low-fat mayo
- Mixed salad greens served with low-fat dressing on the side
- Vegetables - steamed, fresh or cooked without butter or cream sauces
- 2-3 oz. serving (equal to a deck of cards) of lean red meats (loin, round), poultry, fish
- Desserts: frozen yogurt, low-fat ice cream, sorbet, apple crisp, baked apples, poached pears
Beverages:
- Water (pitchers or bottled) - served with fresh lemon or lime
- Hot tea or unsweetened iced tea
- Assorted 100% fruit or vegetable juices
- Coffee with 1% milk
- Non-fat or 1% white or low-fat chocolate milk
Physical Activity:
- Schedule brief activity breaks in the morning and afternoon
- Include an hour lunch break: 20 minutes for physical activity and 40 minutes for the meal
- Add mental or stretch breaks often throughout the meeting
Breakfast:
- Fresh Fruit
- Low-fat or non-fat yogurt
- Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs
- Whole grain French toast or multi-grain pancakes
- Bagels cut into halves or quarters; or serve mini-bagels (3 1/2" diameter or less) - bran, oatmeal, multi-grain
- Whole grain toast or English muffins
- Low-fat granola or granola bars (5g of fat or less per bar)
- Whole grain cereal
- Canadian bacon or thinly sliced ham
Morning or Afternoon Snacks:
- Consider whether it is necessary to offer a morning and/or afternoon food break
- Fresh sliced fruit and fresh vegetable tray - served with low-fat dips
- Bowl of whole fruit - apples, bananas, oranges, pears
- Cubed cheese with whole wheat crackers
- Pretzels, low-fat popcorn, baked chips, trail mixes
- Granola bars - low fat (5g of fat or less per bar)
- Mixed nuts
- Hummus and veggies or whole grain pita chips
Lunch:
- Soups - vegetarian broth based, not cream based
- Baked potato with low-fat condiments, baked sweet potato
- Pasta salad with low-fat dressing and extra veggies
- Sandwiches served on whole grain breads, wraps or pitas; served with low-fat mayo
- Mixed salad greens served with low-fat dressing on the side
- Vegetables - steamed, fresh or cooked without butter or cream sauces
- 2-3 oz. serving (equal to a deck of cards) of lean red meats (loin, round), poultry, fish
- Desserts: frozen yogurt, low-fat ice cream, sorbet, apple crisp, baked apples, poached pears
Beverages:
- Water (pitchers or bottled) - served with fresh lemon or lime
- Hot tea or unsweetened iced tea
- Assorted 100% fruit or vegetable juices
- Coffee with 1% milk
- Non-fat or 1% white or low-fat chocolate milk
Physical Activity:
- Schedule brief activity breaks in the morning and afternoon
- Include an hour lunch break: 20 minutes for physical activity and 40 minutes for the meal
- Add mental or stretch breaks often throughout the meeting
Posted July 12th, 2015
Ways to Beat the Heat!
Summer days are long and hot. When you're outside getting work done, don't forget about personal safety. Here are some basic tips for working safely in the summer heat.
Stay Hydrated
Reduce Sun Exposure
Protect Yourself From Heat
Ways to Beat the Heat!
Summer days are long and hot. When you're outside getting work done, don't forget about personal safety. Here are some basic tips for working safely in the summer heat.
Stay Hydrated
- Drink water frequently and in small amounts (about 1 pint per hour) rather than large amounts at one time.
- Don't depend on feeling thirsty to remind you – by the time you feel thirsty, you are already low on fluids.
- Typical water consumption for the average person working outdoors is 2-3 quarts a day.
- During the summer or winter months, drink 3-4 quarts a day.
- Add 1 quart if you are working in high altitudes over 8,000 feet.
Reduce Sun Exposure
- Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Over time, UV exposure can cause permanent skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Wear tightly woven clothing that blocks out sunlight.
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to help protect the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp.
- Ensure that your protective eyewear blocks out at least 99% of UV rays.
- Sunlight is most intense between 10am and 4pm – your prime working hours – so take time to ensure you are protected!
Protect Yourself From Heat
- Working in the heat is especially demanding on the body. Be aware of your heat exposure.
- Take frequent water breaks in a shaded or air-conditioned area.
- Work in pairs.
- Try to avoid excessive lifting, climbing or digging during peak heat hours. Use additional power equipment as necessary to assist with labor-intensive tasks.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion: pale and clammy skin, increased pulse and breathing, dizziness and nausea, decreased urine output.
- If you feel you might have heat exhaustion, stop working immediately and rest in a shaded area. Drink small to moderate amounts of water or an electrolyte replacing fluid, such as Gatorade® or Powerade®.
Posted June 8, 2015
Tips on Lead Safety: http://d2w0fkre85jr98.cloudfront.net/realbidwebroot/sampledocs/Protect%20Your%20Family%20From%20Lead%20in%20Your%20Home.pdf
Tips on Lead Safety: http://d2w0fkre85jr98.cloudfront.net/realbidwebroot/sampledocs/Protect%20Your%20Family%20From%20Lead%20in%20Your%20Home.pdf
Posted May 30, 2015
Attention residents....
This is just another friendly reminder that since summer is now upon us, and that we are enjoying the great outdoors; the Village parks and baseball diamond are smoke free zones. Smoking is NOT permitted in these areas. You are however more than welcome to smoke in your vehicles. Thank you for being considerate of others.
In the spring of 2014, the Knox Count Health Department had approached the municipalities within Knox County to go smoke free in order to promote the health of their communities. The Village of Altona was the first community within Knox County to pass a No Smoking ordinance. For the health of yourself and your family members, please consider quitting smoking. Tips are below.
The newest videos from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which the Village had participated in, have been officially released, and they are being posted here for your educational benefit. For the health of yourself, your family members, and your wallet; please consider quitting smoking.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8KAc7jWR6Q&feature=youtu.be
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCWUEwVtIsc&feature=youtu.be
Thank you for NOT Smoking within our Village parks.
Attention residents....
This is just another friendly reminder that since summer is now upon us, and that we are enjoying the great outdoors; the Village parks and baseball diamond are smoke free zones. Smoking is NOT permitted in these areas. You are however more than welcome to smoke in your vehicles. Thank you for being considerate of others.
In the spring of 2014, the Knox Count Health Department had approached the municipalities within Knox County to go smoke free in order to promote the health of their communities. The Village of Altona was the first community within Knox County to pass a No Smoking ordinance. For the health of yourself and your family members, please consider quitting smoking. Tips are below.
The newest videos from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which the Village had participated in, have been officially released, and they are being posted here for your educational benefit. For the health of yourself, your family members, and your wallet; please consider quitting smoking.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8KAc7jWR6Q&feature=youtu.be
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCWUEwVtIsc&feature=youtu.be
Thank you for NOT Smoking within our Village parks.
Are you prepared for an emergency? Would you like to keep your family safe, but are unsure how to do it? Then click on the following link from the American Red Cross for just that help. Hopefully you'll never have to use it.
http://www.dcma.mil/Emergency_Resources/files/RedCross_Emergency_Prepardeness_Checklist.pdf
http://www.dcma.mil/Emergency_Resources/files/RedCross_Emergency_Prepardeness_Checklist.pdf
Posted 3/7/15
Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time Begins at 2:00 A.M. tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 2015. Please set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed so that you won't be late for church.
Also, don't forget to change your batteries in your smoke detectors. A fresh battery can save your life in the case of a fire in your home. Change them this weekend.
Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time Begins at 2:00 A.M. tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 2015. Please set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed so that you won't be late for church.
Also, don't forget to change your batteries in your smoke detectors. A fresh battery can save your life in the case of a fire in your home. Change them this weekend.
For healthy advice on eating right, visit: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/index.html
Here is a link for 10 cool cleaning tips using vinegar.
http://videos.komando.com/watch/7037/kims-picks-10-cool-vinegar-tricks?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2015-01-05-article_12-cta
http://videos.komando.com/watch/7037/kims-picks-10-cool-vinegar-tricks?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=notd&utm_content=2015-01-05-article_12-cta
Attention parents! Are you concerned about internet security and what your children my be saying when they text? Click on this link for an article on what all of the acronyms that they are using mean..
http://www.komando.com/columns/289039/essential-texting-acronyms-every-parent-needs-to-know/all
http://www.komando.com/columns/289039/essential-texting-acronyms-every-parent-needs-to-know/all
Article requested from http://masterhandyman.com/
By Glenn Haege
(All rights reserved)
Publication date: 12/05/2014
Tips for safe holiday decorating!
Many people wait until after Thanksgiving to start decorating their homes for the holiday. If you are now in full holiday decorating mode, remember to take safety into account when putting up trees and stringing lights.
The National Fire Protection Association (nfpa.org), says that from 2007-2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 230 home structure fires that began with Christmas tree fires. What causes Christmas tree fires? Generally, electrical failures or malfunctions are the main causes. But there are many other potential fire hazards when it comes to holiday decorating you need to be aware of.
One of the most common problems I see is people overloading outlets with those plug-in cubes that allow you to connect four extension cords into one outlet. Instead, use a six or seven outlet surge-suppressor power strip when you need to plug in more than one cord.
You should also get rid of old, damaged strings of lights that may be crimped or frayed, which can lead to electrical problems. Today’s lights are much safer and have built-in fuses on the end of the string that will blow if there is an electrical problem.
When decorating outdoors, make sure that the lights and extension cords are rated for outdoor use only. Water can get into outdoor sockets, so make sure outdoor lights are plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of shorts and shocks.
When hanging lights on your home, a common mistake people make is to use tacks, nails or staples to hang them, which can pierce the cable and cause serious electrical problems. Instead, use one of the many types of light hangers available from your home and hardware store.
One new way to hang holiday lights comes from a company called Eve Drop, 888-429-1110, evedrop.com. Instead of clipping strings of lights to a gutter or nailing into the fascia board, these small tracks install behind the eaves. You can then slide the lights up out of sight yourself when they’re not being used with a telescoping pole and an adapter.
Falls when people are decorating can lead to serious injury. It is not uncommon to hear about someone who fell from their roof while putting up their favorite lighted Santa Claus decoration, or fell off the ladder when trying to string lights on the highest part of a tree on their front lawn. So like any other project around the home, use common sense. If you really want Santa and his reindeer on your roof, consider hiring a professional who offers holiday decoration services.
Candles are very popular decoration items during the holidays, but they are also one of the most dangerous, especially if you have children in the house. Fortunately, there are some great, battery-operated candles that look real and eliminate the safety hazard. Many hardware and home centers, such as Ace Hardware, acehardware.com, and the Village Lamp Shop in Rochester, 248-651-5714, villagelampshop.com, have a variety of these battery-operated candles, including some that realistically flicker.
And finally, turn off the lights when you are either not home or taking that long winter’s nap. Or better yet, put them on a timer. That is both a good safety tip and and energy saving one, because holiday lights can really drive up your electric bill if they are left on overnight.
There is nothing better than going to someone’s home that is decorated for the holidays. But it is even more impressive when they have taken the time to do it safely. Now that is something you can brag about.
By Glenn Haege
(All rights reserved)
Publication date: 12/05/2014
Tips for safe holiday decorating!
Many people wait until after Thanksgiving to start decorating their homes for the holiday. If you are now in full holiday decorating mode, remember to take safety into account when putting up trees and stringing lights.
The National Fire Protection Association (nfpa.org), says that from 2007-2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 230 home structure fires that began with Christmas tree fires. What causes Christmas tree fires? Generally, electrical failures or malfunctions are the main causes. But there are many other potential fire hazards when it comes to holiday decorating you need to be aware of.
One of the most common problems I see is people overloading outlets with those plug-in cubes that allow you to connect four extension cords into one outlet. Instead, use a six or seven outlet surge-suppressor power strip when you need to plug in more than one cord.
You should also get rid of old, damaged strings of lights that may be crimped or frayed, which can lead to electrical problems. Today’s lights are much safer and have built-in fuses on the end of the string that will blow if there is an electrical problem.
When decorating outdoors, make sure that the lights and extension cords are rated for outdoor use only. Water can get into outdoor sockets, so make sure outdoor lights are plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of shorts and shocks.
When hanging lights on your home, a common mistake people make is to use tacks, nails or staples to hang them, which can pierce the cable and cause serious electrical problems. Instead, use one of the many types of light hangers available from your home and hardware store.
One new way to hang holiday lights comes from a company called Eve Drop, 888-429-1110, evedrop.com. Instead of clipping strings of lights to a gutter or nailing into the fascia board, these small tracks install behind the eaves. You can then slide the lights up out of sight yourself when they’re not being used with a telescoping pole and an adapter.
Falls when people are decorating can lead to serious injury. It is not uncommon to hear about someone who fell from their roof while putting up their favorite lighted Santa Claus decoration, or fell off the ladder when trying to string lights on the highest part of a tree on their front lawn. So like any other project around the home, use common sense. If you really want Santa and his reindeer on your roof, consider hiring a professional who offers holiday decoration services.
Candles are very popular decoration items during the holidays, but they are also one of the most dangerous, especially if you have children in the house. Fortunately, there are some great, battery-operated candles that look real and eliminate the safety hazard. Many hardware and home centers, such as Ace Hardware, acehardware.com, and the Village Lamp Shop in Rochester, 248-651-5714, villagelampshop.com, have a variety of these battery-operated candles, including some that realistically flicker.
And finally, turn off the lights when you are either not home or taking that long winter’s nap. Or better yet, put them on a timer. That is both a good safety tip and and energy saving one, because holiday lights can really drive up your electric bill if they are left on overnight.
There is nothing better than going to someone’s home that is decorated for the holidays. But it is even more impressive when they have taken the time to do it safely. Now that is something you can brag about.
Please be sure that you have your house number clearly placed in a visible location on the front of your house. If your house numbers are missing or faded, please replace them with new ones. In case of an emergency, police, fire and ambulance crews need to be able to find your home. While local emergency crews who live in town may know where you live, emergency personnel from out of town may not. So don't delay, inspect and replace them today!!
Fireplace Safety First!
If you plan to curl up next to a cozy fireplace or wood-burning stove this winter, keep these safety tips in mind:
If you plan to curl up next to a cozy fireplace or wood-burning stove this winter, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned once a year by a chimney specialist.
- Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
- If your fireplace has glass doors, always keep them open while a fire burns. This ensures the fire receives enough air to complete combustion. Make sure to use a metal mesh screen as well.
- When using a wood stove, only use seasoned wood for fuel. Don't use green wood, artificial logs or trash.
- Before going to bed or leaving the house make sure the fire is completely out and allow ashes to cool before disposal.
The harvest may be winding down, but they are not all out of the fields yet. Please be aware of slow moving vehicles as you drive!
Have you changed the batteries in your smoke detectors yet? Please read this helpful article from MasterHandyman Glenn Haege. You can listen and speak to Glenn Haege live on WGIL 1400 AM every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Article requested from http://masterhandyman.com/By Glenn Haege
(All rights reserved)
Publication date: 11/06/2014
Fall back is a reminder of maintenance needs
With all the media attention the end of daylight saving time gets, I’m sure you had all your clocks set back an hour by last Sunday and are getting used to the added hour of evening darkness. But don’t forget that there are also other things you need to do around the house whenever we fall back.
This weekend is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure your family is safe. Dust and dirt can accumulate inside the front covers, so clean them with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. If your detectors are more than 10 years old, they may have passed their life expectancy and it could be time to buy some new ones.
While you’re at it, change the batteries in your programmable thermostat to make sure it will work properly throughout the winter. Also replace the one in the exterior keypad for your garage door opener.
Having a well-maintained fire extinguisher is vital this time of year, as there are even more chances for fires from the use of the fireplace, grease from holiday cooking and overloading electric circuits with holiday lights. Check the pressure gauge to ensure it is in the “green,” and make sure the safety pin is intact and the nozzle unobstructed. You may also want to add a portable aerosol fire extinguisher such as the Tundra Fire Extinguisher Spray from First Alert, (800) 323-9005, firstalert.com.
Check all your extension cords to make sure they are in good order, and throw out any of those old ones you have had forever and buy some newer, grounded three-prong cords. You should only use cords rated for outdoor use on your exterior lights. One of the biggest fire hazards is faulty electrical wires, plugs and/or the misuse of electrical outlets and extension cords. So before you start your holiday decorating, check all your electric outlets to make sure they aren’t faulty, and have an electrician put in new plugs where needed to eliminate the potential for overloading your circuits.
Another potential fire threat are dryer vents. If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned out your dryer vent, it has been too long. If your vent is constructed of vinyl or foil, replace it now with a solid-metal vent.
Now that it is getting dark earlier, change the exterior light bulbs with the newly enhanced Light Emitting Diode, or LED, lights. Consider installing them for your porch and side door lights. Not only are LED lights very bright, they also last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
With the colder weather, you will also be using more hot water. Clean out the tank of your hot water heater to keep it working efficiently. Turn off the burner and close the cold water inlet valve to the water heater, and then drain the tank. Carefully remove the anode rod. Pour 3 gallons of canning-strength vinegar for a 40-gallon water heater into the anode rod hole, and let the vinegar soak in the empty water heater for two hours. Then empty and rinse out the tank and refill it with water, put back the anode rod and turn on the burners.
Since you probably spent last weekend setting back your clocks and enjoying the extra hour of sleep, get started on these home maintenance activities this weekend to make sure your home is ready until you need to do other projects when we spring forward on March 8, 2015.
If you would like to suggest a question for this column, e-mail [email protected]. If you want to talk to Glenn Haege, call his “Handyman Show” on WJR-AM (760) at (866) ASK GLENN, (866) 275-4536 between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “The Handyman Show” can be heard on more than 130 radio stations.
Article requested from http://masterhandyman.com/By Glenn Haege
(All rights reserved)
Publication date: 11/06/2014
Fall back is a reminder of maintenance needs
With all the media attention the end of daylight saving time gets, I’m sure you had all your clocks set back an hour by last Sunday and are getting used to the added hour of evening darkness. But don’t forget that there are also other things you need to do around the house whenever we fall back.
This weekend is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure your family is safe. Dust and dirt can accumulate inside the front covers, so clean them with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. If your detectors are more than 10 years old, they may have passed their life expectancy and it could be time to buy some new ones.
While you’re at it, change the batteries in your programmable thermostat to make sure it will work properly throughout the winter. Also replace the one in the exterior keypad for your garage door opener.
Having a well-maintained fire extinguisher is vital this time of year, as there are even more chances for fires from the use of the fireplace, grease from holiday cooking and overloading electric circuits with holiday lights. Check the pressure gauge to ensure it is in the “green,” and make sure the safety pin is intact and the nozzle unobstructed. You may also want to add a portable aerosol fire extinguisher such as the Tundra Fire Extinguisher Spray from First Alert, (800) 323-9005, firstalert.com.
Check all your extension cords to make sure they are in good order, and throw out any of those old ones you have had forever and buy some newer, grounded three-prong cords. You should only use cords rated for outdoor use on your exterior lights. One of the biggest fire hazards is faulty electrical wires, plugs and/or the misuse of electrical outlets and extension cords. So before you start your holiday decorating, check all your electric outlets to make sure they aren’t faulty, and have an electrician put in new plugs where needed to eliminate the potential for overloading your circuits.
Another potential fire threat are dryer vents. If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned out your dryer vent, it has been too long. If your vent is constructed of vinyl or foil, replace it now with a solid-metal vent.
Now that it is getting dark earlier, change the exterior light bulbs with the newly enhanced Light Emitting Diode, or LED, lights. Consider installing them for your porch and side door lights. Not only are LED lights very bright, they also last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
With the colder weather, you will also be using more hot water. Clean out the tank of your hot water heater to keep it working efficiently. Turn off the burner and close the cold water inlet valve to the water heater, and then drain the tank. Carefully remove the anode rod. Pour 3 gallons of canning-strength vinegar for a 40-gallon water heater into the anode rod hole, and let the vinegar soak in the empty water heater for two hours. Then empty and rinse out the tank and refill it with water, put back the anode rod and turn on the burners.
Since you probably spent last weekend setting back your clocks and enjoying the extra hour of sleep, get started on these home maintenance activities this weekend to make sure your home is ready until you need to do other projects when we spring forward on March 8, 2015.
If you would like to suggest a question for this column, e-mail [email protected]. If you want to talk to Glenn Haege, call his “Handyman Show” on WJR-AM (760) at (866) ASK GLENN, (866) 275-4536 between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “The Handyman Show” can be heard on more than 130 radio stations.
Attention hunters and shooters! As you prepare for this fall's Illinois shotgun season, please be safe and follow the above safety rules. Good luck with your hunting season!!!
Village of Altona Halloween Trick-Or-Treat Hours will be from 6-8pm on Friday, October 31st. Please turn on your front porch light if you wish a visit from the ghosts and goblins.
To the parents and youth of our community, here are some Halloween Safety Tips:
1) Go Trick-Or-Treating with a grown-up.
2) Visit only people you know.
3) Make sure your costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to be able to watch and listen for cars.
4) Make sure your costume fits. It's easy to trip on costumes that are too big.
5) Wear brightly colored clothing. Put glow-in-the-dark patches or strips on your costume so drivers can see you.
6) Carry a flashlight.
7) Make this and every Halloween a safe and happy one.
To the parents and youth of our community, here are some Halloween Safety Tips:
1) Go Trick-Or-Treating with a grown-up.
2) Visit only people you know.
3) Make sure your costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to be able to watch and listen for cars.
4) Make sure your costume fits. It's easy to trip on costumes that are too big.
5) Wear brightly colored clothing. Put glow-in-the-dark patches or strips on your costume so drivers can see you.
6) Carry a flashlight.
7) Make this and every Halloween a safe and happy one.
Illinois Rail Safety Week - Farm Machinery Operator Safety Tips
During Illinois Rail Safety Week, which runs from September 14th to September 20th, the Knox County Farm Bureau wants to promote safety for the operators of farm machinery around railroad tracks. Farm crossings are largely passive and have no gates, lights, bells or signs.
Follow these safety tips for for farm machinery operators:
During Illinois Rail Safety Week, which runs from September 14th to September 20th, the Knox County Farm Bureau wants to promote safety for the operators of farm machinery around railroad tracks. Farm crossings are largely passive and have no gates, lights, bells or signs.
Follow these safety tips for for farm machinery operators:
- Stop no closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail. Allow extra distance for front mounted buckets and other attachments.
- Open the machinery cab windows, turn off the radio, fan, and remove headsets to better hear an approaching train.
- While stopped, look carefully in both directions for an approaching train.
- Look around the mirrors, pillars, and implements on your equipment.
- Use extra caution when crossing tracks in inclement weather such as rain and snow. Be aware of the possibility your machinery may slip or slide onto the crossing.
- Before resuming travel, make sure there is enough room on the other side of the tracks to fully clear the on the other side without stopping.
- Make sure any towed equipment does not become unhitched while crossing, and be sure that any cargo does not fall off and fall onto the tracks.
- Be aware of special situations. Some farm equipment is uniquely designed for fieldwork and does not transport well across farm crossings.
- Always have readily available the location of crossing location (railway subdivision and mileage), railway contact, and the emergency phone number of the railway in case of an emergency.
|
Tips from the Illinois Department of Public Health to combat the West Nile Virus.
|