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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2011 Give the gift of peace of mind Every year millions of Amer- ican lives are disrupted by nat- ural disasters ranging from earthquakes and severe storms to floods and wildfire. But all disasters, large or small, share a common theme, focus- ing attention on the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical need to take action before disaster strikes. The trick is to convert good inten- tions into good deeds, and ac- cording to FEMA Regional Ad- ministrator Ken Murphy, there’s no time like the holidays. “Disaster-ready gifts can save lives, and are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2012,” said Murphy. “Helping to better prepare neighbors, friends and families for emergencies is a great way to say ‘I care.’” Emergency and prepared- ness items that might make great gifts this Holiday Season include: • NOAA Weather Radios and extra batteries. • Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class. • GPS units for vehicles. • Smoke detectors. • Emergency cell phones. • Appropriate fire extinguish- ers (kitchen, garage, car). • Disaster kits for homes, of- fices and vehicles (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, extra eyeglasses or contact lenses, extra clothing, blankets, flash- lights and spare batteries, heavy-duty work gloves and sturdy shoes). • Foldable ladders for sec- ond-story escape in a fire. • Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flash- lights and fluorescent distress flags). • Pet Disaster Kits (food, wa- ter, leashes, dishes and carry- ing case or crate). • A camp stove with extra fuel. • The gift of a gardener to cut back combustible vegeta- tion from wildfire-vulnerable homes. • National Flood Insurance. A wealth of information and preparedness tips is available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website at http://www.ready.gov and from FEMA at: www.fema.gov. Oregon Zoo has many ideas for last minute gifts If you’re hoping to track down some truly wild and in- spiring holiday gifts, look no further than the Oregon Zoo. The zoo offers many unique and eco-friendly gifts, and pur- chases help raise funds for the zoo’s animal care, conserva- tion and education programs. Are your loved ones hard to shop for? Make gift-giving easy and “adopt” an animal in their honor through the ZooParents sponsorship program. With the zoo’s special $75 black rhinoc- eros sponsorship, the “parent” receives a plush toy, a person- alized certificate, a color photo of a black rhino, and more. ZooParent packages begin at $25 and are available online at http://bit.ly/ZooParents. Doz- ens of species are available for sponsorships, and all ZooPar- ent packages support the zoo’s Future For Wildlife program and the many conservation projects it finances. Oregon Zoo memberships are always an appreciated gift. Memberships include unlimited zoo admission for a full year; admission benefits at more than 150 zoos nationwide; invi- tations to member-only events; a one-year subscription to ZooTracks member magazine; and discounts on zoo train rides, camps, classes and Zoo Store purchases. Memberships begin at $49. For more infor- mation and to purchase, go to http://bit.ly/OZmembership. Zoo gift certificates are available at all entrance kiosks in $5 increments up to $100. Certificates can be used to- ward admission, for food and retail purchases, or for camps and classes. Regular admis- sion tickets are valid for one year from date of purchase and make great stocking stuffers. And, of course, the Zoo Store is bursting with unique animal-themed gifts, from intri- cate handmade ornaments to cuddly plush toys. Offerings in- clude a wide variety of eco- friendly and fair-trade products. Shoppers can visit the store without paying zoo admission or shop online at www.ore gonzooshop.com. Page 19