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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2016)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL August 10, 2016 9A Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS Warning signs of disaster scams When natural disasters strike, many people immediately ask what they can do to help. Some may volunteer at disaster sites, while others may offer fi nancial donations from afar. While donors’ efforts are al- ways sincere, some of the peo- ple soliciting those donations may be anything but. The Inter- net and smartphones have made it easier for criminals to defraud well-intentioned men and wom- en who simply want to help at a time when that help is sorely needed. Fraudulent websites, bulk email solicitations and tex- ting scams that encourage dona- tions are each means by which criminals take advantage of conscientious donors. As eager as prospective do- nors may be to lend a fi nancial hand when disaster strikes, it’s important to take the time to confi rm that an organization is legitimate and not an operation organized by fraudsters looking to make a fast buck. The follow- ing are a handful of red fl ags that may indicate an organiza- tion seeking fi nancial donations in the wake of a disaster is not what it says it is. • Demands: Legitimate orga- nizations will never make de- mands of prospective donors, so men and women should be wary of organizations that solicit on- the-spot donations. Reputable organizations, such as the Red Cross, have enough resources to respond to natural disasters without demanding immediate action from donors. • Hesitancy to share informa- tion: Reputable organizations are transparent with regard to sharing information about their programs, relief efforts and allo- cation of donations. If solicited by an organization that seems hesitant to share information about itself, donors should po- litely hang up the phone or walk away. • Request for personal infor- mation: Some scammers will attempt to gather personal in- formation, including social se- curity numbers and credit card numbers, over the phone. Never share your social security num- ber with anyone, and keep in mind that the majority of chari- ties can now accept donations online, removing the need to share credit card information over the phone. Stop speaking with solicitors who continue to ask for personal information. • Checks: Some scammers will request that donors make donation checks out to fundrais- ers and not an actual organiza- tion. When making a donation to charity, make the check pay- able to an organization and not an event. Confi rm the organiza- tion is legitimate by visiting its website. • Name: Many fraudsters go to great lengths to defraud well- intentioned men and women. Some even establish fake or- ganizations and websites with names that sound very similar to legitimate charities. Such websites may be linked through fraudulent email solicitations, and they are often designed to mimic the websites of legitimate organizations. Never donate via links in emails. Instead, type the name of a charity into a search engine, confi rming it’s the actu- al charity you wish to work with and not a fraudulent entity with a very similar name. Donating in the wake of a natural disaster is a thoughtful gesture. But donors must be on the lookout for scammers look- ing to take advantage of their generosity. Home-Building Innovation: Ask your builder about disas- ter-resilient construction Today, given the frequency of natural disasters such as hur- ricanes, tornadoes, fi res, earth- quakes, and fl oods, it’s a “must” to build the most durable homes possible. Wood-framed walls, for example, are not always reli- able, whereas walls constructed with reinforced concrete have proven to withstand some of Mother Nature’s worst perfor- mances. “Building with concrete, or more specifi cally with preas- sembled, insulated concrete forms known as ICFs, has been protecting houses from various disasters for more than a decade now,” says Todd Blyth at Nudu- ra, a leading name in this fi eld. It also delivers superior energy effi ciency to lower heating and cooling costs substantially.” Once built, a concrete home withstands high winds, fi re and fl ash fl oods, but it also with- stands the test of time, says Blyth. “These rock solid walls deliv- er impact-resistance from wind as high as 402 kilometers per hour. This comes from a steel reinforced core, ranging from 10 to 28 centimeters of concrete to stand between you and the el- ements. “The superior insulation prop- erty of concrete is giving hom- eowners up to 70 percent sav- ings on monthly energy bills,” he continues. “The rock solid core vastly reduces air infi ltra- tion, delivering effi ciency rat- ings as high as R-50 due to the thermal mass of the concrete, compared to an average R-20 in wood structures. You can also add optional inserts to the ICF forms to improve this effi ciency even more.” Concrete is responsible This building system is based on sustainable and recycled ma- terials, reducing the need for trees. In addition, the construc- tion process creates less waste than traditional methods and the occupants use fewer fossil fuels for a much smaller carbon foot- print. But even with this commit- ment to responsibility, there is no trade-off on any of the beau- ty aspects and aesthetics, says Blyth. “Your home can have all of the creative architectural shapes, like arches and bay windows, and high ceilings can be achieved,” says Blyth. “Out- doors, the home can be fi nished with attractive brick, or with stone, stucco, wood, or vinyl siding.” E R O T S R E HOURS: T HURSDAY , F RIDAY & S ATURDAY 10 AM -4 PM For Drop-off appointments, after hours, call the offi ce We need volunteers for the ReStore ~ a few hours each month! Will you help? Habitat Offi ce and Warehouse 2155 Getty Circle ~ Unit #1 in the Cottage Grove Industrial Park South on Hwy 99 past the High School NS O I T A N DO S ALWAY ! E M O C L W E Call 541.767.0358 for more information Email info@habitatcg.org Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster. • Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions. • Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home. • Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster. For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center. South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506 Twitter: @southlanei re Facebook: southlanecountyi reandrescue
