.

Hotel Safety is something everyone should consider.
We’re all vulnerable when we travel. We’re distracted, thrown off our routines–and oftentimes, tired, sleepy, and can easily forget that we’re easy prey for those who want to do harm.

The most important point is to be aware.

Don’t think that just because you’re staying at a major chain in a nice looking part of town that you’re automatically safe.
Ask yourself a few questions before you make your reservations.
Have you checked online for hotel reviews?
Do you know much about the area?
Do you know anyone who has stayed there before?
Is it in an unsafe part of town known for high crime rates?
If you’re traveling out of the country, be sure to check the travel advisory site. Many times, we don’t have a choice about where we’re staying if we’re traveling for business.
It’s wise to talk to another co-worker who has stayed at that hotel. Ask them about their experience and if there’s anything you should watch out for. You can also check with the CDC for other travel warnings.

Parking Lot Safety:
If you’re a woman traveling alone, or if you have small children with you, spring for the extra bucks and use valet service. Park in lighted area and don’t let unloading your luggage distract you from noticing your surroundings.

Hotel Check In Safety:
If you’re traveling alone, go ahead and ask for both keys. That way, there isn’t an extra key floating around the front desk.

As mentioned in Part I, never open the door without checking through the peephole, and if you haven’t requested room service, or other hotel services, don’t open the door. Call the front desk to confirm. It’s better to appear rude and be safe.

Check All Entry Points:
When you enter your room, do a quick check–inspect the closets, under the bed, go into the bathroom and pull back the shower curtain before the bellman leaves. If you’re traveling alone and don’t have a bellman with you, call someone and chat while you do this.

Check windows and doors when you enter your room. Make sure the locks work. There should also be a safety bar on sliding glass doors. Don’t think that just because you’re on a higher floor that you’re safe–balconies can allow someone access to your room from another room. Is your room adjacent to another room via a door? Check to make sure the deadbolt lock works. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, ask for another room.

Don’t let your kids run around the hotel unsupervised. There are too many strangers and rooms that your child could disappear into. Use the buddy system for children who are old enough and mature enough to use safety precautions. Let them take your cell phone, and check on them often If you wouldn’t let your eight year old roam around alone in your neighborhood, then don’t consider it at a hotel.

Other Ways to Stay Safe:
Put the Do-Not-Disturb sign on the doorknob even when you’re not there–or after your room has been cleaned.

Turn on the TV or radio on while you’re not there as well. Leave a light on and if someone is in the hall, act like someone’s inside the room–talk out loud to them as you open the door, or call someone and tell them you’re going into your room.

Always go in and out of the same hotel door. If you use the room service card to order your breakfast, be aware that your name and room number is listed on the card. This could allow an attacker to call you by name and pretend to be from room service.

Always let people know where you are. If you travel a lot, it’s easy to let your guard down. Send someone an email and tell them where you’re staying. If you find a hotel you like and feel that their safety standards are acceptable, stay there often and recommend them to others. If you’re not happy and don’t feel safe–speak to management. It’s important not only for you, but for other guests as well.

Hotel Bar and Restaurant Safety:
Many guests who stay in hotels frequently are bored and can drink too much. Be aware of your drinks. Don’t leave your table to go to the restroom and leave your food and drinks or purse unguarded. Be aware as you walk to the bathroom–that you’re not followed. If you can lock the door to the bathroom, do so. If you feel you’re being watched, wait to use the bathroom in your room.

If you feel you’re being followed, don’t get in the elevator alone–go and talk to the person at the front desk–ask a question, get some local information. Just kill some time until they lose interest and they catch on that you’re not an easy prey.

If you’re being haggled by drunks, speak to your server or bartender. Ignore them, but don’t look scared. If you’re approached and you don’t feel comfortable, state in a loud, firm voice to leave you alone. Then be very aware before you go to your room or to your car. Wait it out and hopefully, they’ll leave. You can ask the bellman to walk you to your room. Tipping them is a small price to pay for your safety.

There are numerous travel safety products available, including door locks and alarms, but be aware that tasers or mace will be confiscated at the airport.

You don’t have to paranoid, but being aware is the smartest way to stay safe.

In light of the recent terrorist attacks in India, many people are wondering about hotel safety.

Most travelers will never experience the terror felt in Mumbai, but it’s still a good time to go over some basic safety tips and answer common hotel safety questions.

Are higher floors safer?
Yes, if you’re referring to crime. A traveler is more likely to have something stolen out of their room, and requesting a higher floor means that the perpetrators would have to work harder to get in and out of the building, and risk being seen.

What if there’s a fire or earthquake?
Hotels are usually equipped with sprinkler systems in each room, but emergency rescue is easiest if you choose a room below the fifth floor. It’s wise to choose a hotel that has either been renovated and is up to current fire safety codes, or is a newer hotel in which this is standard–if you do this–then you can choose a higher floor knowing you’re covered in regard to fire and crime. Ironically, if you choose a room near an exit (which would be convenient during a fire) you run the risk of being a crime victim since this is an exit for thieves.

Is my hotel door really safe?
Hotel doors should have a solid core wood or be made of metal. They should also be self-closing and self-locking. Hotels should have a deadbolt lock with at least a one-inch throw bolt. Inspect the door–are there pry marks or are the screws loose? If so, ask for anther room.

Many rooms have a knob-lock on the door with a button to push when you’re inside the room–which blocks all keys, whether it’s housekeeping or a former guest.

What about keyless entries–or card access?
Today, most hotel doors are accessed with an electronic card. These are relatively safe since the last card is zeroed out after the person checks out. Electronic locks are also good because when you’re inside and use the deadbolt, room service and housekeeping can’t get into you room.

But don’t leave your card lying around and be sure to destroy it after you leave–or return it to the desk. Your personal information including your credit card info is stored on that magnetic strip.

Always use the wide-angle peephole before you open the door. If you didn’t call housekeeping or room service don’t answer the door. Call the front desk to confirm.

Join us for Part II of Hotel Safety: Hotel Safety: Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

Disaster victims of the California’s Tea Wildfires that hit in mid-November and ravaged parts of Southern California now face voluntary and some mandated evacuation oreder from yet another natural disaster–mudslides.

Heavy rains threaten the city of Yorba Linda, birthplace of former President Richard Nixon and home to the Nixon Presidential Library. The voluntary evacuation notice went into effect Tuesday, November 21st due to an impending storm front that threatened to douse the area with more than an inch or rain on the already burned terrain. The National Weather Service forecasted a 60% chance of heavy rains to hit Southern California over the next few days.

Yorba Linda’s assistant city manager David Gruchow said, “Residents are encouraged to remove themselves from these areas until the current rain event has passed,” said D. Grouchow, Yorba Linda’s assistant city manager. Yorba Linda was hit hard by the fires. Over 300 residences were either damaged or destroyed and 30,000 acres were burned in the area.

Many residents have already begun sandbagging their homes and preparing for the worst. The city also placed concrete water barriers to help divert the rains away from neighborhoods and businesses.
The evacuations have affected about 3,400 people in the area. Evacuees can find shelter at the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House, 4701 Casa Loma Ave. This site will be open throughout the evacuation process, stated city officials.

About two inches of rain fell in the Yorba Linda area late Tuesday, and early Wednesday morning. A flash flood warning is now in effect. So far, there are only a few minor areas that have experienced any mudslides, and these areas are now contained, but officials are keeping a watchful eye.

Much of Orange County is now under evacuation orders. Rain has been falling at almost one inch per hour in the north Los Angeles County area since dawn, and over 2,000 homes in the Santa Barbara Country area are also under an evacuation order due to the area’s steep slopes that are now stripped of vegetation and vulnerable to the heavy rains.

Road closings are popping up around the area including a portion of the I-5 in San Diego which was closed for nearly three hours after flooding caused several car accidents due to hydroplaning.

DERA, the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association, International (DERA) connects professionals, volunteers, and organizations that are dedicated to disaster preparedness and emergency management. DERA, founded in 1962 is a nonprofit association and is an independent, nongovernmental organization (NGO).

What exactly does DERA do?

DERA focus is both short term and long term goals. It follows major emergency response and relief operations as well as sponsors many preparedness and educational programs. DERA is managed by unpaid volunteers and relies on teamwork and dedication from its members to assist in developing and managing its programs.

Why is DERA important?

DERA offers support and expertise to governmental and professional organizations. Its role is to find what’s lacking, and seek how to meet these needs. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to offset the impact of the disaster and to provide services to educate and prepare others to do the same.

Recent DERA Disaster Operations:

DERA deployed satellite communications teams and equipment to several states prior to landfall of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gustav in order to provide communications and logistics support to mass care operations and community recovery. DERA provided logistics support and technical assistance in three states, while making the DERA Online Emergency Operations Center available to numerous other relief organizations.

DERA’s international partner, NIAR, deployed communications teams to Northeast India in August following heavy monsoon floods which had caused dam and levee failures, destroying the homes of 750,000 and the evacuation of 2.3 million residents. NIAR teams provided the only communications out of vast regions of Bihar and continue to support logistics communications for medical teams and relief agencies.

DERA members at the Joint Field Office provided state and federal agencies with expertise in Special Needs planning and assisted in obtaining services for a large number of individuals for whom there were no other resources.

New England experienced a powerful Nor’easter in November 2007 and Western States, especially Colorado, had a severe blizzard in December. DERA teams provided emergency communications until the infrastructure could be repaired and continued to support communications and logistics needs of response agencies.

HURRICANES DENNIS, KATRINA, OPHELIA, RITA, WILMA IN 2005: DERA members from around the globe provided technical, financial, and logistical support to this response and recovery effort.

DERA’s role in an impending disaster includes:

DERA logistics teams and emergency management specialists assist other relief organizations with logistics, mission coordination and other special needs.

DERA continues to operate a clearinghouse to match offers of assistance with those in need for long-term recovery.

DERA members provided round-the-clock communications support and technical assistance to recovery teams in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and will continue to provide assistance as needed.

DERA members are leading long-term recovery projects and will remain committed to this mission for the long term.

DERA is providing education and materials to families on ways they can restore vital paper documents and photographs that have been damaged.

For about DERA visit their site and consider becoming a member.

Perhaps no other segment of our society is more vulnerable than those who are disAbled.
When a disaster strikes, the delicate balance of care, medication, equipment, and the caregiving network a disAbled person depends upon is suddenly in jeopardy. If a disAbled person must be evacuated–or rescued–the situation can suddenly become critical.

Each region, city, community has their own protocol for managing the care needs of a disAbled person in the time of a disaster. FEMA, the Red Cross, and the CDC also have their own preparedness plans–but the tricky part is getting the word out, coordinating efforts, and reaching the disAbled during their time of need.

For the individual, knowing that so many agencies have a well thought out plan adds to a sense of safety. For the various governmental agencies and communities, it’s important to understand the needs of the disAbled community.

Here are 7 Key Principles That Should Guide Disaster Relief:

1. Accessible Disaster Facilities and Services:
Communications technology is vital for people with disabilities during a disaster to help assess damage, collect information, and deploy supplies. Access to appropriate facilities — housing, beds, toilets, and other necessities — must be monitored and made available to individuals with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster. This access also must be ensured for those who incur a disability as a result of a disaster. Appropriate planning and management of information related to architectural accessibility improves the provision of disaster services for persons with disabilities.

2. Accessible Communications and Assistance:
As communications technology and policy become more integral to disaster relief and mitigation, providing accessibility to the technology for people with disabilities becomes more essential. For example, people with hearing impairments require interpreters, TDD communications, and signaling devices. In addition, written materials must be produced on cassette tape, on CD-ROM, or in large print for people with visual impairments. People with cognitive impairments, such as those with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, or brain injury, require assistance to cope with new surroundings and to minimize confusion factors. It is crucial that people with disabilities help develop accessible communications and reliable assistance technologies.

3. Accessible and Reliable Rescue Communications:
Accessible and reliable communications technology is critical to ensuring fast, effective, and competent field treatment of people with disabilities. Current satellite and cellular technology as well as personal communication networks permit communication in areas with a damaged or destroyed communication infrastructure. Communications technologies can assist field personnel in rescue coordination and tracking and can be combined with databases that house information on optimal treatment for particular disabilities or that track the allocation of post disaster resources.

4. Partnerships with the Disability Community:
Disability organizations must join with relief and rescue organizations and the media to educate and inform their constituents of disaster contingency and self-help plans. A nationwide awareness effort should be devised and implemented to inform people with disabilities about necessary precautions for imminent disaster. In the event of a sudden natural disaster, such a program would minimize injury and facilitate rescue efforts. In addition, more young people with disabilities should be encouraged to study technology, medicine, science, and engineering as a way of gaining power over future technological advances in disaster relief and mitigation.

5. Disaster Preparation, Education, and Training:
Communications technologies are crucial for educating the public about disaster preparedness and warning the people most likely to be affected. Relief and rescue operations must have the appropriate medical equipment, supplies, and training to address the immediate needs of people with disabilities. Affected individuals may require bladder bags, insulin pumps, walkers, or wheelchairs. Relief personnel must be equipped and trained in the use of such equipment. In addition, relief personnel should provide training, particularly for personnel and volunteers in the field, on how to support the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities in the aftermath of a disaster.

6. Partnerships with the Media:
Many natural disasters can be predicted in advance. Disaster preparedness for people with disabilities is critical in minimizing the impact of a disaster. The media — in partnership with disability and governmental organizations — should incorporate advisories into emergency broadcasts in formats accessible to people with disabilities. Such advisories alert the public, provide a mechanism for informing rescue personnel of individual medical conditions and impairments, and identify accessible emergency shelters. The creation and repetition of accessible media messages is critical for empowering people with disabilities to protect themselves from disasters.

7. Universal Design and Implementation Strategies:
Designing universal access into disaster relief plans, far from being a costly proposition, can pay off handsomely. As accessible communications tools become more widely available, their price will decrease. In addition, a universal design approach to meeting the needs of people with disabilities before and after a disaster will benefit many people without disabilities, such as the very young or the aged. A look at existing agreements among relief organizations and local, state, federal, and international governments will offer guidance in developing effective strategies for universal design and implementation plans. The federal government’s role has yet to be defined, but it could encourage or even mandate universal design and set standards. For example, the federal government could provide guidelines for evacuation plans or pre-disaster warning periods.

(This report was prepared by The Annenberg Washington Program written in collaboration with the President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities by Dr. Peter David Blanck, Annenberg Senior Fellow).

A Disaster Readiness Brochure is available at Disatersrus.org\

My neighbor, Jenny is concerned. Her husband, Jim has MS (multiple sclerosis) and has recently become confined to his wheelchair. She’s worried about how to evacuate Jim from the island they live on if there’s a hurricane or other type of natural disaster. Could she pack his supplies, her husband, their pets and necessary documents and get to a shelter or to another safe location safely? Jenny says it’s difficult to get him to therapy three times a week, and that’s with the assistance of a full-time aid. She’s alone with Jim at night and on the weekends.

Jenny’s concern reflects the concerns of more than 54 million Americans today. About one-fifth of the U.S. population have a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a recent Harris polls states that half of the disAbled population don’t have a pan. They don’t even know who to contact in regard to disaster preparedness, terrorist attack, or other types of disaster. And these are the very segment of the population who need–and deserve our assistance.

Why are so few taking measures to be prepared?

In part, the disconnect has to do with the day-to-day challenges persons with disAbilities face. Many disAbled person’s have specific needs that make evacuation difficult. The three main categories of disabilities are those who suffer from motor disabilities, sensory disabilities, and developmental and cognitive disabilities. Many require ramps, large doorways and bathroom stalls built for disAbled persons, but their needs may be much greater and more complicated. They may need electricity to power a respirator, life-sustaining medication, IV medication, communication challenges, mobility assistance, or post disaster recovery services. Shelters and other types of relief organizations and rescue personnel need to be prepared to address the various needs of a disAbled person before, during, and after a disaster strikes.

The National Organization on disAbilities Principles of disAbility Preparedness has issued this statement:

a. People with disabilities must be included in preparedness planning for all emergencies, and all plans must take people with disabilities into account.

b. People with all types of disabilities must be included: deaf/hard of hearing, blind, mental illness, physical, and non-apparent disabilities (i.e. cognitive, multiple chemical sensitivity).

c. No plan will be complete unless it includes in its base materials and emergency notification procedures facilities that communicate in alternate formats including languages, closed captioning, audio alerts, and interpreter services.

d. All speeches, directives and meetings relevant to preparedness must make appropriate mention of the needs of people with disabilities and such meetings shall be held in accessible locations with all information pertaining to them available in accessible formats.

e. Universal design standards must be met. In evacuation from buildings and homes such standards often provide the best opportunity for escape.

f. To maintain the dignity and independence that lies at the heart of the disability movement, people with disabilities must take personal responsibility for their safety, to the degree allowed by their disability.

g. Each person with a disability should develop a plan for personal emergency preparedness that will maintain his/her safety and security to the greatest extent possible for up to a 72-hour period in any disaster.

h. In terms of larger policy issues for planning, preparedness, response, relief and recovery, people with disabilities must advocate, monitor, advice and help however possible at the local, state and federal levels.

i. Training people with disabilities to develop expertise in disaster/security/emergency management will save lives. It also increases the pool of experts on these important issues as they affect all Americans.

A Disaster Readiness Brochure is available at Disatersrus.org\

When you think of winter safety, go with the three P’s.
Parents, Pets, and Pipes.

If you’re a senior, or your parents are elderly or are living with a disease, they need to be on your priority list for winter safe. Many of our parents live alone and are susceptible to extreme cold temperatures. And in today’s economic hardships, many seniors are cutting expenses by cutting back on heat–a dangerous practice for elders and those with medical conditions.

Here are some helpful hints to protect mom or dad:

Call your elderly family members, neighbors or friends. They need to check in with someone on a regualr basis, but it’s even more important in cold weather. Call several times a day if the temperatures drop significantly, or if there’s an impending snow or ice storm.

If you know a storm is coming, go ahead and bring your elder to your home. Don’t risk them being iced or snowed in–electricity often fails in severe storms–and roads can be shut down.

Check their home and property for dangerous tree limbs or powerlines. Cut overhanging limbs down before bad weather hits.

Salt their stairs and walkways. You can encourage them not to go outside, but assume they will and be prepared.

Suggest they dress warm and in layers even if they’re only in the house all day or only go to the mail box. Be sure to hide a spare key unless they lock themselves out. Don’t be too obvious and hide the key wel, but more people are locked out of their homes each year than those who experience a break in.

Fireplaces can be hazardous for the elderly. Opening and closing the flue can be difficult, and if it isn’t opened properly, they can create a carbon monoxide hazard, or if it isn’t closed properly, it’s the equivalent to having a giant hole in your roof and letting out all your heat.

Elders shouldn’t skimp on heating. They aren’t always as physically active as someone younger, and they don’t have great circulation, so encourage they to not set their temperature before 68-70 degrees. Many utility companies will off-set the cost of heating and air for elders, so be sure to ask if your loved one qualifies.

Some illnesses and medications cause a person not to be able to regulate their body’s heat properly.

Illnesses That Impede Your Ability to Stay Warm:

Does your mom or dad have a thyroid condition?

Have they had a stroke and might not be aware of warmth or cold on one side of their body?

Do they have arthritis and is it more painful during rain or cold?

Do they have Parkinson’s or have they had hip or knee surgery and don’t move around well? This can hinder them from moving around freely, and it makes them more suseptible to falls.

Do they have dementia or Alzheimer’s? Do you suspect they do? If so, get them tested. There are many good medications that can at least slow this disease. This condition can also make it unsafe for them to live alone.

Does your loved one struggle with depression? Do they take heavy doses of sleeping aids? All this can add to their inability to react to the cold.

Remind your elder to let the faucet drip if temperature dip below freezing. Wrap any exposed pipes and get a “blanket” for their hot water heater. A burst pipe will cause water damage and can happen in the middle of the night.

By being aware of possible risks, you can keep your elders safe–and warm during the winter months.

Each year, millions of homes are destroyed by flooding, and millions of lives are lost or displaced.

Flooding the most common and most expensive disaster because it often accompanies other types of disasters. Earthquakes and tornado lead to broken pipes and disrupted river flow, water is used to put out house fires and wildfires, and hurricanes, tsunamis severe storms, and mudslides pack a wallop of water that devastate lives and property.

Flooding impacts most land areas and every continent. South-west Pacific and southern Asia were hit hard back in 1994 as the Bai-u front, (an Indian monsoon) caused flooding in Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Viet Nam and the Korean Peninsula costing billions in damage and killing thousands.

To make matters worse, there is no standard form of measurement or “scale” to measure flood intensity. Tornados are measured in categories 1-5 (the Fujita scale) and earthquakes have the Richter scale. Recurrence intervals are used to measure the size of a flood, but the measurements are unique to a drainage basin and do not allow comparisons among different drainage basins

But as bad as flooding is, throughout history disease epidemics have wiped out millions more than flooding or all other natural-nature based disasters have.

Smallpox killed an estimated 300 million deaths during the 20th Century.

The bubonic plague, known as “The Black Death” took out one third of the population of Europe starting in the 14th century and various strains lasted until the 20th century–and many health officials believe it’s lying dormant and might return.

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 and is responsible for an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide.

Flooding holds the record for natural disaster death tolls and property damage. China’s Hwang He River has experienced extensive flooding in the past hundred years (in 1931, 1887, and 1938) that took close to a total of seven million lives. Flooding is also the most common cause of death during severe/tropical storms such as hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. The Bhola Cyclone in 1970 killed almost a half million people in Bangladesh.

Flooding–and natural disasters isn’t cheap. Hurricane Katrina’s price tag has soared to $122 billion for the Gulf region, approved by Congress, and another $20 billion is allocated for coastal restoration.

Flooding has affected the United States many times over, and in the past 50 years close to 85 percent of U.S. has been declared a federal disaster area due to floods. Increased human living spaces in floodplains and over-building in city areas do little to allow flood waters to soak into much needed soil.

How do you survive a flood?

First, get out before you know it’s coming.
Don’t think you can out-run, or out-climb, or out-drive a flood.

If you have time, listen to the radio or watch television and be aware of what’s happening in your area. Unplug electrical appliances and move any items you can onto counter tops or as high as you can get them–especially electrical equipment. Stuff towels under doors and window ledges. Move any paperwork to higher ground, recheck your first aid kit, and prepare your pets and family for evacuation.

If it happens suddenly, take your loved ones, pets, cell phone, and if you can, prescriptions and important documents (in a baggie, again, if you can), and drive away from the flood. If it’s eminent and you can’t get away, climb up to the roof of your home–grab a towel, bright clothing item or flashlight to wave. Call 9/11 and tell them where you live and where you are. If you can’t get through, call someone you know and tell them to keep calling until they get through–or to call your police or fire department and let them know.

If you can get away before the flood hits, get in the car and go as far you can, and even drive off road, but get to the highest ground you can find. Remember–only two feet of water can cause a car to float–so before the flood gets to you get out and get to the highest floor or roof of a building. Stay together. Call someone and let them know your location–in case the phones go down.

Don’t play in flood waters–electrical lines will most likely be down, sewage will also be in the water–and snakes.

Don’t panic. As long as you’re up high, someone will find you. Make that call to let someone know where you are early–be patient and stay together.

Disasters don’t care if you have money, or if you’re famous.
Disaster victims come in every socio-economic category.
A wildfire will consume a mansion, or a trailer for the same voracity.

The good news is that the wildfires that Santa Barbara area late last week are beginning to die down and residents are returning to survey the damage and give thanks for getting out alive.

The not so good news is that the fires are now spreading to Montecito, a community north of L.A. and appear to be making a ring around the Los Angeles basin.

About 10,000 people have been evacuated so far as more than 3500 firefighter fight the intense flames. Christopher Lloyd, the actor made famous by his role in Taxi and the Back to the Future films lost his 11 million dollar home to the wildfires.

“You watch TV, you see these kinds of incidents happening here and there, but you look with a kind of detachment because it’s happening … elsewhere, but suddenly to be in the midst of it, it’s a very different awareness,” Lloyd said on ABC’s Good Morning America show.

Other celebrities have barely escaped the fires, including homes of Snoop Dog, Mel Gibson, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Douglas, Jeff Bridges, and Rob Lowe who left by car with his children when the flames shot dangerously close to his Montecito home.

“From now on I’ll have so much more empathy and compassion for people who are going through it,” Oprah Winfrey said. The wildfires came precariously close to her estate in the Santa Barbara region.

Oprah interviewed actor Rob Lowe who fled his Montecito home with his kids said, “We just left with the kids…this thing came on so fast, you just can’t believe it.

So far, 111 homes in Montecito enclave have been destroyed by the fires.
But multi-million dollar mansions are not the only homes at stake. More than 500 homes were destroyed in one trailer park alone, and most of the residents were elderly and have been evacuated to a Red Cross shelter nearby.

There are Red Cross shelters operating in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino counties, currently housing 300 evacuees plus numerous others stopping by for a meal, information, and counseling.

For anyone who has family or friends in the region, the Red Cross has set up a website that offers a way for evacuees to keep in touch and get necessary information. Evacuees can register on the Safe and Well website by visiting www.Redcross.org and using the Safe and Well link on the front page.

They can then choose from a menu of pre-scripted messages that their loved ones can access. If evacuees don’t have internet access, they can reach operators at 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) to register.

Are natural disasters on the rise?

2008 has experienced a significant rise in natural disasters.

In a way, yes. Natural disaster effect more people because of the rise in population, and due largely to the fact that they continue to migrate to live in coastal areas which tend to get hit with hurricanes, floods, and tidal waves/tsunamis.

An average of 500 such disasters are now taking place each year, compared to 120 in the 1980s. Floods have also increased six-fold in the last thirty years.

Another factor to consider is that as we continue to build larger and larger cities, we disrupt the ecosystem and become at risk for landslides, mudslides, and flooding.

Does climate change factor into a growing number of natural disasters? Absolutely. According to the EPA, the earth will experience a higher level of heavy rains and droughts in certain areas due to a rise in ocean temperature and the melting of the polar ice caps.

If you’re wondering what the worst disasters that have plagued the earth, then visit the 10 ‘Worst Natural Disasters.” “>Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Hazards and Disasters.

There is good news–there’s no evidence that earthquakes or volcanoes are on the rise, but if you happen to live in New Orleans, Galveston, or the Florida Panhandle–heads up–we’re in a 30 year cycle of higher than normal atmospheric conditions that encourage the development of hurricanes.

As shocking as large scale tsunamis such as the one that hit Thailand in 2004, the more devastating storms impact smaller areas but pack a wallop, and without international aid, people suffer longer and can take years to regain the quality of life they once knew.

The key to saving lives lies in disaster preparedness.

Several organizations are dedicated to just this. They include the International Study for Disaster Reduction , Ready Gov, and Prepare.org.