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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2017)
8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 8, 2017 Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS Disaster relief: Guidelines for giving Disasters are defi ned as ac- cidents or natural catastrophes that cause widespread damage or great loss of life. Disasters are often unpredictable and can occur anywhere around the world. When disasters happen, survivors are often in need of assistance. Disaster relief support is char- itable giving at its fi nest. But helping after a disaster requires both forethought and strategy so donors can rest easy knowing their donations are going to the right place. Work with reputable organi- zations If your fi rst inclination is to provide fi nancial support, do so by working with a reputable charitable organization that has a proven track record with di- saster relief. Charities like Ox- fam, the Red Cross and Direct Relief International organize relief efforts and are fi rst on the scene when disaster strikes. These groups may be more trustworthy than groups without a track record of success regard- ing disaster relief. According to the Center for International Disaster Information, fi nancial contributions allow professional relief organizations to purchase what is most needed by disas- ter survivors, when it is need- ed. Also, cash donations allow relief supplies to be purchased near the disaster site, avoiding delays and steep transportation and logistical costs that can quickly eat up relief fund bud- gets. Confi rm the need before sending materials Many people feel a desire to send material donations in ad- dition to cash. Sometimes there are opportunities to do so, but do your homework before sending supplies, as some organizations ask that supplies not be sent. If there is no need, unsolic- ited materials can cause supply delays, take up storage space and/or require additional funds to remove unnecessary items. Furthermore, the cost to ship material supplies (that may not be useful) can be expensive. Di- saster relief organizations typi- cally can secure the necessary supplies, which is why many organizations request only fi - nancial donations. Get clearance before visiting disaster zones Images of disaster zones can incite strong feelings that com- pel people to travel and help out in person. While that’s a noble gesture, receive clearance be- fore purchasing a plane ticket. The website HelpInDisaster.org can help people with specialized skills learn if there is a need for skilled workers or experts in a particular disaster zone. This ensures efforts can be sustained for as long as is necessary, and there will be no duplication of efforts. Working individually also may not be cost-effective, and you may compound the problem by causing more drain on an already jeopardized infra- structure. Wait until media coverage has subsided Many people rush to give in the fi rst days following a disas- ter, only to have efforts trickle away as time passes and the limelight has stopped. Instead, wait out volunteering oppor- tunities. You may fi nd you are more effective afterward as re- building efforts begin anew. Helping out after a disaster can be a fulfi lling venture if timed correctly and done in the correct manner. 5 benefi ts of building an eco-friendly home Environmentally friendly practices are trending every- where — from our food to our clothing to our homes. Im- proved practices in the con- struction industry today refl ect the greening of building codes across America, and can be seen in advancements in window daylighting, insulation, air infi l- tration, and new wall-building materials. But if you want to reap all of the benefi ts of an eco-friendly home, choose methods and ma- terials that are even more ener- gy effi cient than the minimum required by building codes. If you want to reduce your ener- gy consumption, conserve more and increase your property val- ue, be sure to choose a builder who has a demonstrable record in eco-responsibility. “A huge step forward is to re- place the traditional wood fram- ing of your house with what we call ICFs — insulated concrete forms,” recommends Keven Rector at Nudura, a leading name in this technology. More than a win for the en- vironment, an eco-conscious home also offers the following surprising benefi ts to you and your family: 1. Maximum energy effi cien- cy. With growing energy costs, building an insulated concrete form house is more energy ef- fi cient and can save you signif- icant amounts of money on a yearly basis. Walls that reduce outdoor air infi ltration greatly optimize energy performance. 2. Safety from natural di- sasters. “Our advanced design combines two panels of thick (EPS) foam with the structur- al strength and thermal mass of concrete,” Rector explains. “The resulting envelope imme- diately gives your house hurri- cane wind-resistance up to 250 miles per hour.” A home built with this concrete system is also fi re resistant for up to four hours. 3. Less outside noise. If you have noisy neighbors or live near trains or high-traffi c areas, this one’s for you — ICF con- struction acts as an effective sound barrier, dampening sound vibrations and fi ltering out un- wanted noise. 4. A more comfortable space. Outside cold can easily travel through a typical wood-framed wall, causing thermal bridging and creating uncomfortable cold spots inside your home. If you build the envelope of your house with concrete instead of wood, you can say goodbye to cold spots, drafts and even mold. 5. A faster building time. All new homeowners can’t wait to get into their new house, but construction delays often postpone move-in dates. But ICF construction takes up less shipping space and require less manpower at the site, and the assembly is faster than wood framing. Time-strapped build- ers and eager homeowners ben- efi t equally from this effi ciency, taking you to that new-house smell that much sooner. If you want your builder to use ICFs, be sure to discuss it early in the plans. Find more in- formation online at nudura.com. Organization leading responder in disaster areas Mother Nature can be fi ckle and hard to predict. This is evi- denced by the number of natural disasters that have taken place in the last several years. People need only recall the tornado outbreak of April 2011, Superstorm Sandy of October 2012 or the Colorado Wildfi res of June 2012 to see what a ter- rible toll natural disasters can take on an area. The American Red Cross is routinely one of the fi rst organizations to arrive to help the injured, homeless and emotionally scarred in a time of devastation. Each year the American Red Cross responds to roughly 70,000 natural and man-made disasters across the United States. These include, but are not limited to, transportation accidents, explosions, earth- quakes, fl oods, and hazardous material spills. The assistance the Red Cross provides is varied. The orga- nization may provide blood products to disaster victims, and volunteers may help indi- viduals get in touch with insur- ance representatives or other aid workers to gain access to available resources. Not only does it provide materials such as food, clothing and toiletries to the people directly affected by a disaster, but the Red Cross also will feed emergency work- ers who are at disaster sites around the clock. Because of its strong commitment to the Unit- ed States military, the Red Cross will also provide communica- tion conduits to connect family members facing an emergency or disaster with their relatives in the military. Its also helps support wounded warriors and military hospitals. According to their mission statement, the American Red cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The orga- nization was founded in 1881 by nurse Clara Barton and a few of her friends. Barton had heard of the global Red Cross network in Europe while traveling, and after returning home, she cam- paigned for an American ver- sion. Barton remained at the helm of the Red Cross for 23 years, providing aid to both Ameri- cans as well as those affected by disasters overseas. Through the years the American Red Cross has been instrumental in helping with fi rst aid, water safety and public health nurs- ing programs. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the organiza- tion also assisted victims of the Mississippi River fl ooding and those impacted by the Great Depression. After World War II, the American Red Cross in- troduced the fi rst nationwide civilian blood program that now supplies more than 40 percent of the blood and blood products in this country. In addition to working alone, the Red Cross teams up with FEMA and other aid organiza- tions to go where assistance is needed. Individuals interested in tak- ing life-saving classes can also utilize the Red Cross for in- struction. Each year more than 9 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and re- spond to emergencies through American Red Cross training. The efforts of the Red Cross are funded by donations and the volunteer work of an army of dedicated people. Learn more about the American Red Cross and how to donate by visiting www.redcross.org. WE HAVE CHIMNEY TOPS & SWEEPS! Family owned and operated for over 47 years. LANDSCAPE AND BUILDING MATERIALS Open 7 days a week! 79149 N. River Road 541-942-4664 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