4B COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JANUARY 11, 2017
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D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
What to do when giving during a crisis
When a crisis such as the tor-
nado that tore through Joplin,
Missouri, in 2011 occurs, it's not
uncommon for men and women
with no connection to the areas
devastated by such disasters to
donate money to help the com-
munities rebound and rebuild.
Donations sparked by tragedies
such as the Joplin tornado are
commonly referred to as "crisis
giving," which also occurred in
the aftermath of other notable
disasters, including the 2011
tsunami in Japan and Hurricane
Katrina in 2005.
Crisis giving can bring out the
best in donors, many of whom
will donate as much as they pos-
sibly can in spite of the sacrifi c-
es their donation requires. But
crisis giving isn't as simple as
generous men and women may
think, and it's good to follow a
few guidelines when donating
during a crisis.
* Be on the lookout for crim-
inals. Crisis giving brings out
many people's generosity, but it
also brings criminals out of the
proverbial woodwork. Crimi-
nals may establish fake charities
designed to entice donors who
just want to donate to a cause as
quickly as possible. These char-
ities may present themselves as
another reputable charity, es-
tablishing Web sites that appear
legitimate to the naked eye.
Thousands of such sites were
discovered in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, so if donat-
ing online, be certain that the
Web site you're using really is
the authorized site of the charity
to which you plan to donate.
In addition, many criminals
will solicit donations via e-mail.
If you haven't requested infor-
mation from a charity, delete
these e-mails before opening
them. If you mistakenly open
them, do not open any attach-
ments, which may contain vi-
ruses.
* Investigate donations made
via text message. Donating via
text message may seem like a
great way to ensure your dona-
tion makes an immediate im-
pact. After all, such donations
can be made in a matter of sec-
onds. However, Charity Nav-
igator, a nonprofi t evaluator of
charities, notes that it can take
as many as 90 days for a charity
to receive funds donated via text
message. Your donation might
prove more immediate if you
donate in a traditional way.
* Designate your donation. If
you're donating to a charity for
a specifi c reason, such as Hurri-
cane Isaac relief, then designate
your donation when making it.
Many charities allow donors
to make this designation when
they donate via the organiza-
tion's Web site. If you choose
not to designate your donation,
then your money may very well
go toward the charity's oper-
ating costs, which benefi ts the
charity but not the victims of the
crisis whom you were intending
to help.
* Value reputation when cri-
sis giving. Choose a charita-
ble organization with a proven
track record of handling disaster
relief. Such organizations have
already proven their mettle and
are likely to make the most out
of your donation. This isn't to
say start-up charities born of
specifi c tragedies aren't well-in-
tentioned or incapable, but more
established charities might be in
a better position to handle crisis
situations than start-ups.
* Avoid sending care packag-
es. Natural disasters tend to pro-
duce harrowing images of vic-
tims forced to go without basic
needs like food, water and shel-
ter. This tends to inspire men
and women to send care pack-
ages consisting of food, water,
blankets, and other items they
feel will help in a time of crisis.
Unfortunately, these goods are
not likely to reach any victims,
as established charities likely
already have agreements and
plans in place to distribute ne-
cessities provided by a host of
companies. While donating care
packages is well-intentioned,
fi nancial donations are more
valuable during a time of crisis.
The dos and don’ts
of backyard fi re pits
Once a rarity, fi re pits have
grown increasingly popular in
recent years, as more and more
homeowners turn their homes
into private oases. Fire pits run
the gamut from the very simple
to the more elaborate, and the
fi re pits homeowners choose
often depend on the space they
have available as well as their
budgets.
But even homeowners with-
out any space or budget con-
straints should give careful con-
sideration to which fi re pit they
ultimately install, especially if
they plan to make that installa-
tion themselves. The following
are some dos and don’ts of fi re
pits for those homeowners about
to add this relaxing and popular
accessory to their backyards.
DO confi rm you can legal-
ly build a fi re pit in your yard.
Fire pits have become so com-
monplace that homeowners may
think there are no regulations
governing their construction.
However, it’s still best to con-
fi rm with your local government
planning or zoning offi ces if you
can build a fi re pit and if any re-
strictions apply.
DON’T proceed with the
project until you have been
granted offi cial approval. As-
suming you have the go-ahead
to build a fi re pit is not the same
thing as knowing you have been
approved. Starting early could
result in fi nes if it turns out you
aren’t allowed to have a fi re pit.
But you may also begin build-
ing a bigger fi re pit than the lo-
cal government allows, and that
could be money down the drain
later. Wait until you get offi cial
word before you proceed with
the project.
DO build on fl at ground. The
fi re pit should be built on fl at
ground to reduce risk of accident
and/or injury. A fi re pit built on
fl at ground also means everyone
can enjoy it comfortably and
equally once the project is fi n-
ished. If the ground around the
pit is not fl at, some people may
be forced to sit crooked or lean
forward just to enjoy the pit.
DON’T build near fl amma-
ble structures. Build the fi re pit
far enough away from existing
structures, such as your home,
garage or shed, so fl ickering
fl ames do not catch some wind
and lead to disaster. Before
building in a given spot, moni-
tor the wind patterns for a few
days by sitting in a lawn chair
at the spot you ultimately want
the fi re pit to be. If you notice
the wind is blowing toward your
house, you will want to choose
another area for the pit so smoke
from the fi re will not be blowing
into your home every night.
DO choose the right size. The
size of your fi re pit will depend
on the space you have avail-
able, but even if you have a vast
swath of space, keep in mind
that professional contractors
typically recommend building a
fi re pit no bigger than 44 inch-
es wide. Anything larger can be
unsightly and may not appeal
to prospective buyers down the
road. In addition, an especially
large fi re pit may result in po-
tentially unruly fl ames that can
present a fi re hazard.
DON’T go it alone if your
DIY skills are suspect. Installing
a fi re pit is a relatively inexpen-
sive DIY job, but that does not
mean anyone can do it. Ground
needs to be excavated and the
slope of the yard must be mea-
sured so the fi re pit is safe and
functional for years to come.
If your DIY skills are not up to
snuff, hire a professional con-
tractor so your backyard oasis
does not become a costly head-
ache.
A fi re pit can turn a boring
backyard into a relaxing retreat.
But homeowners must adhere
to the dos and don’ts of fi re pits
to ensure their retreat is some-
thing they can enjoy for years to
come.
Devastation resulting from natural disasters typically inspires charitable donations.
But men and women must make those donations wisely to ensure they're used as
effectively as possible.
Disinfecting water
during an emergency
When a weather emergency
occurs, the effects can prove
devastating. Natural disasters
like hurricanes have turned cit-
ies upside down, fl oods have
caused the deaths of thousands
and snowstorms have shut com-
munities down for days.
A weather emergency, be it
a natural disaster or a heavy
storm, can contaminate the lo-
cal supply of drinking water and
disrupt the wastewater disposal
system. According to the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency,
such a disruption or contami-
nation can directly threaten a
person's health. As a result, it's
important for men and women
to know how to disinfect their
drinking water should an emer-
gency occur and the supply be
at risk.
The easiest way to avoid
health issues that arise from a
contaminated water supply is to
keep plenty of bottled water on
hand and use as drinking water
and when cooking. So long as
the bottled water has not been
exposed to fl ood waters, it will
be safe to drink.
If an emergency strikes and
you don't have any bottled wa-
ter at home, don't panic. Boiling
water can help make the water
safe, killing most types of dis-
ease-causing organisms that
might be present. Boil water for
one minute before allowing it
cool and then store in containers
for later use.
In an emergency situation,
the water could very well be
cloudy. This is also not a cause
for panic. Instead, fi lter the wa-
ter through clean cloths or just
allow it to settle. When allowed
to settle, chances are the cloudy
water will clear up within min-
utes. Once it does, use the clear
water when boiling.
If there's no means to boiling
the water, you can use house-
hold bleach as a disinfectant.
Bleach is effective at killing
some, but not all, disease-caus-
ing organisms that might be in
the water. If the water is cloudy,
fi lter it through clean cloths or
allow it to settle before attempt-
ing to disinfect it. Once the wa-
ter is clear, use this clear water
for disinfection. When ready to
disinfect the water, the EPA rec-
ommends adding 1/8 teaspoon
(or roughly eight drops) of reg-
ular, unscented liquid household
bleach for each gallon of water.
Do not use non-chlorine bleach
to disinfect water. Once added,
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stir the bleach and water mix-
ture well, then let it stand for 30
minutes before use. Once disin-
fected, store the water in clean
containers with covers.
The treated water should have
a slight odor of chlorine. If it
does not, repeat the process and
allow the water to stand for an
additional 15 minutes. After this
step, if the treated water exhib-
its a strong odor of chlorine or
tastes strongly of chlorine, al-
low the water to stand exposed
to the air for a few hours or pour
the water from one clean con-
tainer to another several times.
For those who rely on well
water, in the case of a fl ood have
the water tested and disinfected
once the fl ood waters have re-
ceded.
Should a weather emergency
occur and the water supply be
disrupted or contaminated, heed
the advice of local health de-
partments or public water sys-
tems. More information about
disinfecting water and surviving
a weather emergency is avail-
able at www.epa.gov.
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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: @southlanefi re
Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue