A number of state and federal agencies are providing relief and aid to Hoosiers following the recent round of storms and flooding. The state’s central information portal for information on these relief efforts is Emergency.IN.gov. This website links to press releases from the Governor’s office, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies that will provide relief services. Audio links of the Governor’s daily storm briefings are available in mp3 format. Road closure information is kept up-to-date by the Indiana Department of Transportation. There are also links to local shelter information, local Boards of Health and local Emergency Management Services.
Information about the newly opened local assistance centers in the eight counties that are currently eligible for federal aid is available as well. According to the Governor’s office, the first step in applying for federal and local aid is to complete an application with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by phone or online; visitors to the local assistance centers can complete that application on site.
Indiana residents who have questions about social services, such as food stamps or Medicaid, can view a list of questions from the Family and Social Services Administration covering topics such as loss of medical equipment, replacement of food stamps or enrolling for services. Information about agricultural relief available to Indiana farmers can be found at the Indiana Department of Agriculture website.
Many Hoosiers, whether they were directly affected by the storms or not, have questions about flood insurance. The Indiana Department of Insurance has re-released a consumer alert regarding flood insurance that explains the difference between standard homeowner’s and flood insurance and provides information about obtaining flood insurance.
The state of Indiana is in the process of collecting information to request wider disaster assistance from FEMA. Those affected should call the Governor’s Office at 317-232-4567 to report damage. More information about the process of requesting assistance and aid approval can be found at FEMA’s website. FEMA also produces flood maps that show the risk of flooding in areas all over the country. Use the drop down menus to select first state, then county, then city/town or unincorporated areas to find the risk of flooding near your home.
Information about flooding levels and predicted stages of flooding around the state can be found at the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction website. Data is available for current river and lake level observations and for predicted river levels. Click on a river station to see water levels over time and to see record historic water levels at that station.
Latest Storm Damage Information: http://emergency.in.gov
INDOT Road closures: http://www.in.gov/dot/gis/slo/RoadClosure.html
Local Shelters: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/ShelterInformation.pdf
Local Assistance Centers: http://www.in.gov/gov/assistance.htm
FSSA Disaster Relief: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/23370.htm
Agricultural Disaster Relief: http://www.in.gov/isda/2783.htm
Indiana Department of Insurance, Flood Insurance: http://www.in.gov/idoi/2420.htm
FEMA Declaration Process: http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/dec_guide.shtm
FEMA Assistance Approval Process: http://tiny.cc/wLz0R
FEMA Flood Maps: http://tiny.cc/iL65l
National Weather Service Hydrologic Prediction Service: http://tiny.cc/a7vIq
SALMONELLOSIS OUTBREAK
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Salmonellosis Outbreak website, the FDA is expanding its warning to consumers nationwide that an outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, raw red Roma, raw red round tomatoes, and products containing these tomatoes. The FDA recommends that consumers not eat these tomatoes unless they have been grown and harvested from states, countries, and territories that have NOT been associated with this outbreak. The list of areas not associated with the outbreak will be updated as more information becomes available. To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area. Indiana residents should call 313-393-8100. If you require the use of a Relay Service, please call the Federal Relay Services (1-800-877-8339). This is a toll free relay service to call Federal agencies from TTY devices.
General information about Salmonella is available on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Salmonella webpage and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Salmonella online fact sheet.
FDA, Salmonellosis Outbreak in Certain Types of Tomatoes: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
List of areas NOT associated: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#retailers
CDC, Salmonella: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
USDA Fact Sheet, Salmonella: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Salmonella_Questions_&_Answers/index.asp
READY.GOV
As a part of their Ready public service campaign, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sponsors Ready.gov, a website devoted entirely to the preparation and planning that goes into natural disaster prevention. The website is divided into three parts: Ready America, Ready Business, and a colorful, jungle adventure-themed Ready Kids.
On the Ready America side of the website, information is organized by particular disaster; and state and local government emergency preparedness information is accessible by state. The steps of the campaign are: “Get an Emergency Supply Kit,” “Make a Family Emergency Plan,” “Be Informed” about emergency responses, and “Get Involved” in educating others in your community. The website and included publications are available in English and Spanish. For the Spanish language version, LISTO.GOV, click the En Español link at the bottom of the homepage. As we approach Summer, this information is becoming more and more important in dealing with the wide-scale flooding, heat waves, and the potential for violent thunderstorms and tornadoes. Ready.gov provides guides on how to prepare for events like floods, which are the most common natural disaster in the United States, including a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for and manage your home and family during a blackout; how to deal with extreme heat; and what the average person should have packed in an emergency kit. Don’t forget to also direct patrons to the Business and Kids sides of the website.
In July, Indianapolis will be the site of a national summit, “Confronting the Ethics of Pandemic Influenza Planning: The 2008 Summit of the States,” co-sponsored by the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana University Center for Bioethics, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. This invitational event will take place at IUPUI.
READY.GOV: http://www.ready.gov
LISTO.GOV: http://www.listo.gov
Information by Disaster: http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/index.html
National Pandemic Influenza Summit: http://www.in.gov/isdh/23154.htm
FATHER’S DAY: JUNE 14TH
It’s time to celebrate Dads of all kinds this Sunday. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 64.3 million fathers in the United States, including 2.5 million single fathers and 159,000 stay-at-home dads. Father’s Day was originally observed in 1910 in Spokane, WA. Father’s Day was first commemorated nationally in 1966 but was not made a permanent national celebration until 1972. For more information on the history of Father’s Day and other fun facts about American Dads, please see the USA.gov Father’s Day website.
The Indiana Department of Child Services Fathers and Families supports community-based programs that encourage fathers’ involvement in parenting by providing informational and fiscal resources for those programs. Guidelines for requesting funds are available, as are links to other federal and private fatherhood-oriented programs. The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse provides publications and up-to-date information on fatherhood issues. The Father and Family Resources section includes tips for parents and information on the effects of absent fathers on children. There are also informational resources for policymakers and researchers.
Girl Power’s Fathers are Power!ful website promotes ways for fathers to bond with their daughters. There are suggestions of dad-and-daughter activities, resources and research on the impact of fathers in their daughters’ lives and messages from girls about their dads. For a K-2 level lesson plan, see the National Endowment for the Arts’ Like Father, Like Son: Presidential Families website.
U.S. Census Bureau Father’s Day Facts for Features: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/cb08ff-09.pdf
USA.gov, Father’s Day Facts: http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Fathers_Day.shtml
Indiana Department of Child Services, Fathers and Families: http://www.in.gov/dcs/3445.htm
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse: http://www.fatherhood.gov/
Fathers are Power!ful: http://www.girlpower.gov/AdultsWhoCare/fathers/
NEH – Like Father, Like Son: http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=264
FLAG DAY: JUNE 14TH
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first presidential proclamation establishing a national flag day in the U.S. on June 14th. In 1949, President Harry Truman signed Congressional legislation into law which included legislation for the President to issue a proclamation for Flag Day every year. The 2008 Presidential Proclamation states that this week (June 8 – June 14) is National Flag Week, with Flag Day on June 14. The Library of Congress online American Memory project features Flag Day in their Today in History section. Explore the full history of Flag Day and share fun facts and photos about the U.S. flag. U.S. and Indiana flags are available for purchase via the Indiana Department of Administration Flag Order Form. Also, you can direct patrons to use Title 4, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Code, especially Sections six through nine, as a guide for U.S. flag use etiquette.
Current Presidential Proclamation: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080606-12.html
Library of Congress, Today in History, Flag Day: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun14.html
Flag Request Form: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Flag_Request_Form.pdf
U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1: http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title4/chapter1_.html
by Katharine Springer & Jesse Lewis