2012 hurricane watch

7/31/2019 2012 Hurricane Watch

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2 AMERICAN PRESS ADVERTISING SECTION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

HURRICANE WATCH 2012 AMERICANPRESS.COM

By The Associated Press

MIAMI U.S. forecasterspredicted May 24 that thisyears Atlantic hurricaneseason would produce anormal number of about nineto 15 tropical storms, with asmany as four to eight of thosebecoming hurricanes.

The National Oceanic andtmospheric Administration

released its initial outlookfor the six-month storm sea-son that officially began June

1. One to three storms couldbecome major hurricaneswith top winds of 111 mph orhigher.

Though this season isntexpected to be as busy as lastyears above-average season,federal officials warnedcoastal residents to startstocking up on hurricanesupplies and forming evacua-tion plans anyway.

Thats still a lot of activ-ity. So just because were pre-dicting a near-normal seasondoesnt mean anybodys offthe hook at all, said GerryBell, the lead seasonal fore-

caster at NOAAs ClimatePrediction Center.

Atmospheric and marineconditions indicating a high-activity era that began in1995 for Atlantic hurricanescontinue, Bell said.

However, the weatherphenomenon known as ElNino, which warms Pacificwaters near the equator and

increases wind shear overthe Atlantic, may developby the late summer or earlyfall and help suppress stormdevelopment.

Our range (of expected

storms) is a bit wider thisyear because of this inherentuncertainty right now basedon the best guidance we haveas to whether El Nino willform or not, Bell said.

This season got an earlystart when Tropical Storm

Alberto formed off the coastof South Carolina. Albertodissipated over the Atlantic.

Alberto was unusual forbeing a small storm thatformed in a small area favor-able for storm development,

but the weather conditionsas spring transitions intosummer sometimes producetropical systems, said BillRead, director of the Nation-al Hurricane Center.

Forecasters name tropicalstorms when their top windsreach 39 mph; hurricaneshave maximum winds of atleast 74 mph. The next namedstorm will be named Chris.

No major hurricane hasmade a U.S. landfall in thelast six years, since Hurri-cane Wilma cut across SouthFlorida in 2005. This Augustwill mark the 20th anniver-

sary of Hurricane Andrewscatastrophic landfall inSouth Florida as a Category5 storm. The season thatspawned Andrew started lateand produced a total of justsix named storms.

It takes one storm tocome ashore, regardless of

the intensity of the season,to create a disaster, saidFederal Emergency Man-agement Agencys deputyadministrator for protectionand national preparedness,

Tim Manning.The seasonal average is 11

named storms, six hurricanesand two major hurricanes.The 2011 hurricane season,one of the busiest on recordwith 19 named storms, pro-duced Irene, one of the costli-est storms in U.S. history.

Irene killed at least 47 inthe U.S. and at least eightmore in the Caribbean andCanada as it followed a rarepath up the Eastern sea-board from North Carolina,

across the Mid-Atlantic andnear New York City.Flooding from the storm

was the most destructiveevent to hit Vermont inalmost a century, killing sixpeople and leaving hundredshomeless while damaging ordestroying hundreds of milesof roads, scores of bridgesand hundreds of homes.

Hurricane season ends Nov.

30, and the peak period forhurricane activity runs from

August through October.l

Online:NOAAs National Hurricane

Center: http://www.hurricanes.gov

Forecasters predict 9 to 15 storms this hurricane season

AlbertoBeryl

Chris

Debby

Ernesto

Florence

Gordon

Helene

Isaac

Joyce

Kirk

LeslieMichael

Nadine

Oscar

Patty

Rafael

Sandy

Tony

Valerie

William

2012 Names... Just because

were predicting a

near-normal season

doesnt meananybodys off the

hook at all.

Gerry Bell

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Tsday, Jn 7, 2012 advTising sTin aMian Pss 3

HURRICANE WATCH 2012

Photo courte of Mgn-le

No matter where a subscriber evacuates to, as long as the location is in theUnited States, CalcaShout will be able to keep them informed.

Nothing is more important duringan emergency situation than get-ting accurate information out to theaffected public in a timely manner.The CalcaShout Emergency AlertSystem is a free service of the Policeury that sends emergency informa-

tion quickly to subscribers through

phones, email and text messages.The program is managed by theOffice of Homeland Security andEmergency Preparedness.

CalcaShout was first initiated in2008, shortly before Calcasieu Parishwas affected by Hurricanes Gustavand Ike. The emergency alert systemsent important messages via textand email messages to about 20,000subscribers throughout both weatherevents. No matter where a subscriber

had evacuated to, as long as thelocation was in the United States,CalcaShout was able to keep theminformed.

While the service is free, resi-dents do have to sign up for it. Also,residents who are already subscrib-ers of the service are asked to updateany contact information that mayhave changed recently to ensure thatalerts are being sent to the appropri-ate place.

The system is only activated inemergency situations where there isa harmful risk to the public. Calca-Shout is also designed to be usedfor any type of emergency, not justweather events.

Residents can sign-up or changetheir existing subscription informa-tion at www.calcashout.com. If a resi-dent cannot access the Internet they

can sign-up by calling the Office ofHomeland Security and Emergency

Preparedness at 337-721-3800.Emergency contact informationgiven to CalcaShout is strictly usedfor emergencies and is not sharedwith any other agency or the public.The CalcaShout system is poweredby FirstCall systems.

l

For more inormation, contact the Ofce o

Homeland Security and Emergency Prepared-

ness at 337-721-3800.

Receive emergency alerts

with CalcaShout

l Listen to local television or radiostations or ofcial bulletins and shelterannouncements.

l Act immediately and in daylight ipossible.

l Wrap or store items subject to waterdamage in watertight containers.

l Pack enough clothing or fve days.Empty your reezer and rerigerator andremove all perishable ood items.

l Take your portable emergency kitwith you. Tape a note inside your home(maybe on the rerigerator) saying youevacuated and listing your contact inor-mation in case emergency ofcials needto enter while you are away.

l Turn o utilities.

l Lock home securely.l Travel with care, avoid low-lying areasand use recommended routes i theyhave been given.

l Carry your transistor radio, ashlightand valuables (unless stored in a saedeposit box) with you.

If you leave

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4 AMERICAN PRESS ADVERTISING SECTION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012


By Dan Gill

LSU AgCenter Horticulturist

Violent thunderstorms canoccur across the state duringthe summer, and in SouthLouisiana high winds fromhurricanes are a concern insummer and fall.

Although trees add im-measurably to our homegrounds, trees with problemscan be a liability duringstorms or hurricanes.

So now is an excellent time

to take a look at trees in yourlandscape and determineif theyre ready to face suchconditions.

Here are some tips onwhat to look for.

First, check for trees thathave large dead branches orare completely dead. Theseshould be dealt with as soonas possible. Dead branchesshould be pruned off, and

dead trees removed entirely.Look at the overall condi-

tion of your trees. A tree thatis sickly, low in vigor andshows significant signs ofrotten or decayed areas in

the trunk may need to be re-moved if it poses a threat tobuildings. Trees with trunksthat have large cavities withextensive decay should beconsidered for removal, be-cause rot weakens the trunkand reduces a trees ability to

withstand strong winds.After the extreme rain as-sociated with hurricanes orother storms that drop hugeamounts of rain, the soil maybe so soft that trees toppleover if the weight is not

properly proportioned. Sotrees that are very one sidedor leaning significantly alsomay need attention. Selec-tive pruning can relieve theweight on the heavier side balancing out the weightdistribution of the canopy.

Also, look for branchesthat hang over the housenear the roof. Although thebranches may not be touch-ing the roof under normalconditions, the high winds ofviolent storms or hurricanes

can cause trees to bend andbranches to flail around con-siderably. These branchescan cause extensive damageto the roof.

Normally, it is best to havethis kind of work done by aprofessional a licensedarborist. Selecting the rightarborist to do the work is animportant decision. Here aresome tips to help you make aselection:

l Check in the YellowPages under Trees for local

companies that do tree-carework. Having an ad in thephone book indicates thecompany has some degree ofpermanence.

l Beware of door-knock-ers, the people who simplyappear and offer to work onyour trees.

l Never let yourself berushed by bargains such as,If you sign an agreement

today, I can take 10 percentoff the price.

l Ask to see a state arbor-ists license. All practicingarborists in this state mustbe licensed by the Louisiana

Department of Agricultureand Forestry.

lAsk to see certificates ofinsurance, including proofof liability for personal andproperty damage and work-ers compensation. Call theinsurance company to makecertain the policy is current.

lHave more than onearborist look at the job andgive you estimates to ensureyou get a fair price. Thisalso allows you to get otheropinions on what work needs

to be done.lA good arborist willnever recommend or agreeto topping a tree exceptunder rare circumstances(such as to save the tree aftersevere physical damage tothe crown).

lUnless you simply need atree removed, choose a com-pany that offers a wide rangeof services (such as pruning,

fertilizing, cabling/bracing,pest control and so forth).

lDo not allow an arbor-ist to use climbing spikes toclimb a tree, unless the treeis being removed.

Check trees before summer storms, hurricanes

Photo courtesy of MGN-Online

A tree that is sickly, low in vigor and shows signifcant signs orotten or decayed areas in the trunk may need to be removedi it poses a threat to buildings and automobiles.

Rob Cameron226 W. Prien Lake Road, Suite 2

Lake Charles, LA 70601Bus. 337-477-7555

[email protected]

Christopher J. Gaudet1528 E Prien Lake RoadLake Charles, LA 70601

Bus. [email protected]

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Thursday, June 7, 2012 adverTising secTion aMerican Press 5


In addition to the typical aspectsof a family disaster plan, caregiversmust take those extra steps neces-sary to ensure the safety and well

being of the elderly, as well as thosewith medical conditions or other spe-cial needs, according to Dr. DennisFletcher, a family medicine special-ist associated with Women and Chil-drens Hospital.

To prepare for a hurricane orother disaster, Fletcher recommendsthese precautions:

BE INFORMED

l Ask about special assistance

programs offered through the localchapter of the American Red Cross,emergency management office, orfire and police departments. If pos-sible, register so that help can beprovided quickly in an emergency.

l Register with your local utilitycompany if medical equipment iselectricity dependent.

l Know the location and availabil-ity of more than one shelter that canaccommodate the elderly, those withspecial medical needs, and serviceanimals, if necessary.

l Check on available hospitals thatmay provide shelter and medical as-sistance for those with critical needs.

l Learn about your care providers

disaster plans, how to contact themin an emergency and how to identifyback-up providers. Make sure nurs-ing homes or hospitals have the fam-

ilys communication plan and contactnumbers in case of an evacuation.

l Develop a list that includes:phone numbers for doctors, contract-ed health services, and insuranceagents; regular medical treatmentssuch as dialysis; and the schedulefor medicines, monitoring and otherroutine procedures.

l Gather copies of birth certifi-cates or other government-issuedforms of identification, as well asmedical insurance, Medicaid orMedicare cards.

BE PREPARED

Consider the daily needs of thosewith medical conditions or otherspecial needs when preparing yourdisaster plan, Fletcher said. Re-member to:

l Plan emergency evacuation pro-cedures with other family members,nursing home or hospital personnel,if necessary.

l Learn how to manage routinetasks, such as blood pressure, pulseand sugar monitoring, that care pro-viders typically handle.

l Label all medical equipment andsupplies.

l Create a backup plan for elec-tricity-dependent equipment.

l Keep appropriate licenses andvaccination records for service ani-

mals updated in the event you use anemergency public shelter.

l Communicate your plans withyour family, and include membersthat require assistance.

ASSEMBLE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

A disaster supplies kit is a collec-tion of basic items you would proba-bly need to stay safe and comfortableduring and af ter a disaster, includ-

ing non-perishable food and bottledwater. Family members with specialneeds may require more specific sup-plies, such as:

l Special foods to meet dietaryrequirements.

l Special equipment for feeding,respiration, heart or blood pressuremonitoring, or personal care.

l Communications equipment such

as adaptive hearing or sight devices.lMobility aids such as wheelchair,

walker, braces or crutches.lDenture supplies, contact lenses

and supplies, eyeglasses, hearing-aid batteries, and personal hygienesupplies.

lOxygen.lMedical alert tags or bracelets to

help identify disabilities or specialneeds.

l Prescription medications for aminimum of two weeks. (When medi-cine is kept on hand in the event ofan emergency, rotate them out of thesupply kit periodically to account forexpiration dates.) If possible, keep aphysical copy of the doctors pre-scriptions.

l Personal items for comfort.Some no matter how capable theyare under normal situations canbecome disoriented in an emergency.

Tucking a few small personal items,such as family photos, in an emergen-cy kit, can often provide comfort.

l Crates or leashes for service

Customize disaster plans for those with special needs

American Sign Language (ASL) group hasprepared hurricane videos for deaf.

Log on to: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa.asp

For the deaf

See SPECIAL NEEDS,6

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animals to prevent them from becom-

ing frightened or disoriented duringa disaster.

MAINTAIN YOUR PLAN

Once your emergency plans arecomplete, continue to review yourneeds and the needs of those whorequire your care. Make adjustmentsas needed. Also:

l Periodically review your emer-

gency plan with care attendants and

those in your care, revising it to meetyour familys needs.l Maintain your CPR and first aid

skills.l Ensure that you know how to op-

erate any additional medical equip-

ment you may need.

l Rotate food, water, batteriesand medical supplies to account forexpiration dates.

SPECIAL NEEDSContinued from page 5


By The LSU Ag Center

To help Louisiana residentsdetermine if theyre ready for ahurricane, LSU AgCenter housingspecialist Claudette Reichel devel-oped a 20-question quiz.

The answers you give can helpyou evaluate whether youre well-prepared or whether you need totake some action now, Reichelsays. The quiz covers everythingfrom whether your family has awritten emergency plan to suppliesyou have on hand.

As hurricane season kicks off,Reichel and other experts say its aperfect time to evaluate where youstand and what you can do to bebetter-prepared if a storm headsyour way.

Even if youve been through ahurricane before, its easy to forgetsome of the preparations that canprotect your property and family,so its a good idea to review yourplans and make sure you havent

left anything off, Reichel says.Taking the right precautionsbefore a storm has the potential tosave time, money, hassles and evenlives if a hurricane strikes.

LSU AgCenter experts say the fol-

lowing hurricane quiz can help yougauge whether youre prepared. Theyrecommend you take action if you

answer No or I dont know to anyof these 20 questions:

l Do you have a disaster survivalplan?

l Have you planned an evacuationroute and destination?

l Do you have an emergency com-munication plan for staying in touchwith or getting messages to friendsand family?

l Is your homeowners and f loodinsurance coverage up-to-date andsufficient to replace your home andbelongings if they are damaged ordestroyed?

l Do you have an inventory of yourproperty and belongings?

l Do you have copies of your in-surance policies, household inven-tory and other important papers,

as well as other valuables, in a safeplace one thats waterproof andfireproof?

l Do you know how to turn offyour utilities (electricity, gas andwater)?

l Do you have a plan and sup-plies on hand to protect and secureyour home and outdoor items (andyour boat and pool, too, if you havethem)?

l Has your roof been inspectedwithin the past six months?

l Have you trimmed the treesand shrubs around your house?

l Has your car been maintained,and are the tires, including thespare, in good condition?

l

Do you have a plan of what todo with food in your refrigeratorand freezer in the event of a pos-sible power outage?

l Is your emergency phone listup-to-date and handy?

l Do you have emergency sur-vival supplies such as batteries,a battery-operated radio, flash-lights, lanterns, fuel, nonperish-able food for three days, water/water jugs, manual ca n opener,

medicines, travelers checks orcash, and other necessary itemson hand?

lDo you have an emergency sup-ply kit for your car?

lDo you have a plan of how to takecare of family members with specialneeds (those with disabilities, infantsor the elderly)?

lHave you decided what you willdo with your animals if you mustevacuate?

lHave you budgeted for the addedexpenses to protect your home, buy

supplies, evacuate, clean up and

recover?

lHave you discussed your emer-

gency plans, duties and rules with

your family?lDo you know the LSU AgCenter

offers publications and other freeinformation on disaster cleanup andrecovery on its website (www.lsuagcenter.com) and through its parishoffices across the state?

20 questions to find out if you are prepared

Photo courtes of FEMA

Taking the right precautions before a hurricane has the potential to save time,

money, hassles and even lives. Its a common site to see windows boarded upat gas stations and convenient stores as well as homes.

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Know where to go, whatto do when storm is closeWhen the National Weather Ser-

vice announces a hurricane warningfor Louisiana, a storm with windsover 74 mph will strike within 24hours.

Remember, hurricane warningsare almost always accompanied bytornado warnings, thunderstorm andgale warnings, and coastal or inlandflood warnings. Prepare for thosethreats as well.

Twenty-four hours prior to thestorm, take the final steps necessaryto keep yourself and your family safe.

Check your personal emergencykit, then get ready for the storm.

Always listen to local officials forevacuation orders. In the coastal par-ishes, remember an evacuation ordermay come 51 hours before landfall.

If you live in a travel trailer ormobile home in the path of the storm,you should already have evacuated

by the time the storm is this close.Do not attempt to ride out a hurri-

cane in temporary housing or a homedamaged from an earlier storm thatis not yet repaired.

Hurricane safety tips:l Minimize the distance you must

travel to reach a safe location; thefurther you drive, the higher thelikelihood of encountering traf ficcongestion and other problems onthe roadways.

l Select the nearest possible evac-uation destination, preferably withinyour local area, and map out yourroute. Do not get on the road withouta planned route or a place to go.

l Choose the home of the closestfriend or relative outside a designat-ed evacuation zone and discuss yourplan with them before hurricane sea-son. You may also choose a hotel ormotel outside of the vulnerable area.If neither of these options is avail-

able, consider the closest possiblepublic shelter, preferably within yourlocal area.

l Use the evacuation routes desig-nated by authorities and, if possible,become familiar with your route bydriving it before an evacuation orderis issued.

lContact your local emergencymanagement office to register or getinformation regarding anyone in yourhousehold whom may require specialassistance in order to evacuate.

l Prepare a separate pet plan,most public shelters do not acceptpets.

l Prepare your home prior toleaving by boarding up doors andwindows, securing or moving indoorsall yard objects and turning off allutilities.

l Before leaving, fill your car withgas and withdraw extra money fromthe ATM.

l Take all prescription medicinesand special medical items, such asglasses and diapers.

l If your family evacuation planincludes an RV, boat or trailer, leaveearly. Do not wait until the evacua-tion order or exodus is well underway to start your trip.

l Expect traffic congestion andlisten for any advisories or specificinstructions from local officials.

The following is a list of disaster publiceducation websites recommended by theFederal Emergency Management Agency:

Louisiana Emergency Preparedness

www.ohsep.louisiana.gov

Agency for Toxic Substances andDisease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov

American Red Cross

www.redcross.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov

Department of Commerce

www.doc.gov

Department of Education

www.ed.gov

Department of Energy

www.energy.gov

Department of Health and HumanServices

www.hhs.gov/disasters

Department of Homeland Security

www.dhs.gov

Department of Interior

www.doi.gov

Department of Justice

www.justice.gov

Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency

www.fema.gov

Food and Drug Administration

www.fda.gov

National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration

www.noaa.gov

National Weather Service

www.nws.noaa.gov

U.S. Postal Servicewww.usps.gov

For local news and information:

visit www.americanpress.com

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HURRICANE WATCH 2012 AMERICANPRESS COM


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TROPICAL STORM

This type of storm is your firstwarning that a hurricane may be

on the way. A tropical storm is anorganized group of spinning thunder-storms with sustained winds between39 and 73 mph.

The National Weather Servicewill issue a tropical storm warning ifone is headed toward your area. Thislevel of storm is dangerous for peoplein temporary housing and homes thathave not been repaired since the lasthurricane season. If a tropical stormis slow-moving, the levels of rain pro-duced can cause dangerous inlandflooding. Residents should evacuateall temporary housing before tropi-cal storm winds arrive.

CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE

Once sustained winds reach 74mph, the storm becomes a Category 1hurricane, the lowest on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Unanchored mobilehomes and weak permanent struc-tures can be damaged or destroyedand homes in flood areas may bevulnerable. Pay attention to localofficials and evacuate as directed.Never assume a Category 1 stormis weak or safe. Louisianians mayrecall damage caused by Hurricane

Lili in 2002, a Category 1 storm thatkilled 16 people and created $415million worth of damage.


As a storm intensifies, a Category2 hurricane is declared when sus-tained winds reach 96 mph. Thistype of storm will destroy temporaryhousing, damage roofs, windows anddoors on permanent structures andblow down trees. The storm surgefrom this level of storm is typicallysix to eight feet high and flooding isdangerous from the coast to inlandrivers and streams.

Louisianians may remember Hur-ricane Georges that blew across theCaribbean and into the Gulf as a Cat-

egory 2 storm in 1998. Georges dam-aged six countries, killed 603 people two in Louisiana and caused nearly

$6 billion dollars worth of damage. InNew Orleans during the height of thestorm, 14,000 people took shelter in theSuperdome, the levees were toppedby nine feet of water and hundreds ofthousands lost power.


Hurricane Katrina landed asa Category 3 storm. Storms reachthis level with sustained winds of111 mph. Typical damage includes

destruction of all temporary housing,large trees blown down and seriousstructural damage to permanentbuildings. Louisianans should takeevery precaution advised by localofficials during a Category 3 hurri-cane and evacuate safely and calmlyfrom all coastal areas in advance oflandfall.


As winds reach 131 mph, a storm

becomes a Category 4 hurricane.This level of storm destroys perma-nent structures in its path, erodeswaterfront areas with storm surgesup to 18 feet and can cause severeinland flooding of small streams and

rivers far from the coast. This is astorm level where all Louisianansmust listen to evacuation procedures

advised by local officials and evacu-ate calmly and safely in advance ofthe storm.

Those old enough to rememberAudrey in 1957 will recall that Cat-egory 4 hurricane as the deadlieststorm in Louisiana before Katrina,with an estimated 500 people killed.That storm began the practice ofnaming hurricanes and led to en-hanced forecasting.


A Category 5 is the highest levelhurricane, with sustained winds of156 mph or higher. No one is likely tosurvive in the direct path of this levelof storm. Permanent structures arelikely to be destroyed or blown away,all trees destroyed, and all coastalareas flooded.

The last Category 5 storm to hit theUnited States was Hurricane Andrewin 1992, but Louisianians are likely

to remember Hurricane Camille in1969. Camille was a smaller, more in-tense storm than Katrina, with windsthat caused a 24-foot storm surgethat made the Mississippi River runbackwards for 125 miles.

Storm Categories

Satellite image cortes of NASA

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Special to the Amerian Press

With four predicted hurricanesthis year, Verizon Wireless is supply-ing south Louisianans with the toolsto electronically prepare their fami-lies for the storm season ahead.

Download applications that canmake disaster recovery effortseasier. Examples include:

l Disaster Prep and Checklist(iPhone) Provides a means to col-

lect necessary information on yourphone including disaster kit check-lists, family emergency plan forms,basic CPR and first aid information.

lDocument Scanner (Android) Scans documents (like insurancepolicies) with phone camera, convert-ing them to PDFs and allows users tolater access them from their devicesthrough email, Dropbox and GoogleDocs.

lFlashlight (Android and iPhone)

Uses your phones camera flash toemit bright light.

lHurricane Tracker (iPhone) Provides detailed informationto stay up-to-date on hurricanes in-cluding over 50 satellite images andradar, bulletins from the NationalHurricane Center and push notifi-cations.

lS.O.S. by American Red Cross(iPhone) Provides emergency careprotocols and guides, by the Ameri-

can Red Cross and Dr. Oz.Keep wireless phone batteries

fully charged in case local poweris lost well before warnings areissued. Have a backup battery handy,in the event you cannot get to a local

erizon Wireless communications

store for a complimentary post-stormcharge.lProgram emergency phone

numbers into your phone police,fire, and rescue agencies; insuranceproviders; family, friends and co-workers; etc.

lConsider purchasing your ownpersonal mobile hotspot like the4G MiFi to have instant access tothe internet (for up to 5 devices) evenif power outages occur.

If you do not have a cell phone,consider purchasing a prepaid phoneto use if needed during or after adisaster

When a storm strikes or threatensthe area:

lForward your home phone callsto your wireless number if you willbe away from your home or have toevacuate.

lSend brief text messages ratherthan voice calls, to preserve available

networks for emergency personnel.lChange settings so that mobile

devices arent using unnecessarydata.

lUse your wireless device to helpfind shelter and remain updatedwith these applications:

American Red Cross: Shelter View (iPhone) Maps shelter locations and details across theUnited States.

Disaster Alert (iPhone and Android) Featuresan interactive map that lists disaster hazards

around the globe in real-time including hur-ricanes, earthquakes, foods, tsunamis andvolcanoes.

FEMA (Android) Provides inormation on howto stay sae and recover ater a disaster, a mapwith FEMA Disaster Recovery Center locations(one-stop centers where disaster survivors canaccess key relie services) and shelters.

Verizon offers wirelesshurricane preparation guide

l Cash or travelers checks to cover severaldays living expenses, since power outages canmake ATMs and debit cards useless.

l Rolls o quar ters or vending machines, coinlaundries and other needs.

l Emergency phone numbers, including those todoctors, pharmacies, nancial advisers, clergy,repair contractors and amily members. Dontorget to include cell phones o those who alsomay be away rom home.

l Copies o prescriptions or medicines and

eyeglasses, copies o childrens immunizationrecords and copies o medical, dental and pre-scription insurance cards (or policy inormation).

l Copies o auto, food, renters and/or home-owners insurance policies (or at least the policynumbers) as well as contact inormation or yourlocal agents and the companys headquarters.

l Copies o other important papers such asdeeds, titles, wills, trust documents, powerso attorney, healthcare directives, stock andbond certicates, recent investment state-

ments, home inventory, birth cer ticates, deathcerticates, adoption certicates, marriagecerticates, passports and/or other identitydocuments, employee benet documents andederal and state tax returns (at least the rsttwo pages).

l Keys to sae deposit box.

l Combination to sae (i you have one).

l Negatives or digital copies o irreplaceable

personal photos.

l

Backup copies o computerized nancialrecords.

l Computer user names and passwords.

l Lists o Social Security numbers, credit cardnumbers, bank account numbers, driverslicense numbers, loan numbers, investmentaccount numbers and any other importantnumbers.

l List o debt obligations, due dates o pay-ments and contact inormation or companies.

Grab-and-go box

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# !$ "

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#

$ " $

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13/15

Family pets were amongthe victims of HurricanesKatrina and Rita.

The U.S. Department ofHomeland Securitys FederalEmergency Management

gency, working with the Hu-mane Society of the UnitedStates, promotes complete di-saster planning that includespets and other animals. Their

message to the public is clearand direct about safe andprotective action for animalscaught in disasters.

There are some steps petowners can take to preparefor disasters even before hur-ricane season begins:

l Contact your local ani-mal shelter, humane society,veterinarian or emergencymanagement office for infor-

mation on caring for pets inan emergency.

l So pets will be safe ifyou need to evacuate, spendtime before hurricane seasonto find places to board your

pet away from coastal areasor near relatives who liveoutside your region.

l Make sure your pet hasa properly fitted collar thatincludes current license,rabies tags and your updatedcontact information.

l Consider having your petidentified through microchiptechnology. Your local veteri-narian can assist you in find-ing a location that providesthis service.

l Contact motels and ho-tels in communities outsideof your area and find out ifthey will accept pets in anemergency.

l During a disaster, bringyour pets inside. Never leavea pet outside or tied up dur-

ing a storm. If you leave yourhome after a disaster, takeyour pets with you. If youevacuate to a shelter, verifytheir policy on accepting petsbefore you go.


Photo courtes of MGN-OnlineBe aware that your pets behavior may change before, duringand after a disaster.

Have planfor pets

By The Better Business Bureau

of SWLA Inc.

In time of disaster, un-

scrupulous individuals ap-pear in many disguises, butthey all have one thing incommon: they want to takeadvantage of the victims anyway they can.

Some of them appear tobe professionals of one kindor another, others may wantto assess the safety of yourhome or business. Some oth-ers pose as charity workers.

The scams employed bythese people are numerous,but there are some things youcan do to protect yourself andyour hard-earned money. Beon the lookout for:

l Sale of water-damagedvehicles.

lDisaster cleanup andhome repair scams.

lMoving and storagescams.

lPest control-efforts toscare you into paying fortreatment.

lRepair of building me-chanical systems and majorappliances.

lBogus charity appealson the Internet, telemarket-ers and in-person requests.

lPeople misrepresenting

themselves as FEMA of-ficials or other governmentemployees.

lPhony websites thatpose a legitimate relieforganizations.

lEmails with attach-ments containing computerviruses.

lElectronic solicitationsoffering to find missingpersons-for a fee.

Dont respond to unsolic-ited email appeals for pro-fessional services or charitycontributions.

Be wary of door-to-doorsolicitors pitching repairservices of all kinds, espe-cially those who do not pres-ent a professional appear-ance (unmarked trucks, etc.)

Contact a business your-self and get as much infor-

mation as you can; streetaddress, phone number andliterature about them. Con-firm that they have appro-priate licenses and insur-ance. Get references.

BBB: Post-disaster alert

L-R (Back Row) Dennis Guillory, Blake Petry, Darlene Marsh,Gary Pearce, Dooley Prince, Craig Martel, Keith Smith,

Cody Delcambre, Paul Lanier, Lydia Martin (Bottom) Tony Perot,Eddy Robinson owner, Larry Christ owner, and Casey Christ

Insurance Unlimited is a locally owned businesswhere you get professional and personal

assistance with all of your insurance needs.

Call us today at Lake Charles 337-477-6922;

SLC 337-562-1808; Sulphur 337-527-8691;DeRidder 337-660-7128 and Lafayette 337-456-5402

311 Ryan Street Main Office

00752770

americanpress.com

337-494-4040

TAKE US

WITH

YOU

00753868

me




14/15

If an evacuation or other emergency separatesfamily and friends, youll want to find each other.Fill out a card for each close friend and relative.Carry it with you wherever you go.

Our emergency radio broadcast frequency

_____________________________________

Parish emergency managers phone number

_____________________________________

Parish Extension office phone number

_____________________________________

www.lsuagcenter.com

Finding Family and

Friends

in a Disaster

For the______________________Family

of ________________________

We care about you!

When we evacuate, WE WILL GO TO ________________________________________________

We will TELL OUR NEIGHBOR _____________________________________________________

at (#) _________________________________________________ where we are going.

We will CALL _____________________________________________________________

at (#) __________________________________________________________________

and tell him/her where we are going. (Someone who lives well away from the disaster area.)

We will also say what time we are leaving, how we are traveling and who is traveling with us.

If our family gets separated in a disaster we will each CALL________________________________________at (#)___________________________________to let them know we are safe and where we are staying.

If an evacuation or other emergency separatesfamily and friends, youll want to find each other.Fill out a card for each close friend and relative.Carry it with you wherever you go.

Our emergency radio broadcast frequency

_____________________________________

Parish emergency managers phone number

_____________________________________

Parish Extension office phone number

_____________________________________

www.lsuagcenter.com

Finding Family and

Friends

in a Disaster

For the______________________Family

of ________________________

We care about you!

When we evacuate, WE WILL GO TO ________________________________________________

We will TELL OUR NEIGHBOR _____________________________________________________

at (#) _________________________________________________ where we are going.

We will CALL _______________________________________________________________at (#) __________________________________________________________________

and tell him/her where we are going. (Someone who lives well away from the disaster area.)

We will also say what time we are leaving, how we are traveling and who is traveling with us.

If our family gets separated in a disaster we will each CALL

________________________________________at (#)___________________________________to let them know we are safe and where we are staying.

Trim closely around each card

Fold on this line if the paper is printed on one side

Cut on this line if the paper is printed front and back

Trim closely around each cardFold on this line if the paper is printed on one side

Cut on this line if the paper is printed front and back

Disaster wallet cards

&" "" ' % " $($ $$$(#

"%" % %#""" # "

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16 AMERICAN PRESS ADVERTISING SECTION ThuRSDAy, JuNE 7, 2012


15/15

MEMBERSINCE 2003

3708 HWY 27 S. CARLYSS, LA 337-583-21814www.gensetla.com Financing Available W.A.C. Offer Good Thru 6/15/12

Loans provided by EnerBank USA (1245 E. Brickyard Rd. Suite 640, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) onapproved credit, for a limited time. Repayment terms vary from 24 to 132 months. Interest waived ifrepaid in 365 days. 17.1% fixed APR, effective as of 10-15-11, subject to change. INSTALLS ONLY

A permanently installed automaticstand-by generator protects your family

and home from damaging, dangerouspower outages for about the same cost

as a central air conditioning units.

Protect the things that matter.

call FOR DETAILS337-583-2184

www.gensetla.comCome see how it works at our

showroom.

Hwy 27 South (exit 20, of I-10)

MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AVAILABLE

20kwModel #5875

TRANSFER SWITCH INCLUDED,F.O.B. GENSETS WAREHOUSE

22kw Model #QTO2224 TRANSFERNOTINCLUDED




YOUR PRICE

$10,249PLUS APPLICABLE SALES TAX,INSTALLATION NOT INCLUDEDF.O.B. GENSET WAREHOUSE

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R003

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Regular Maintenance

24 Hour Emergency Service

Evacuation Program

2012 hurricane watch

Documents