2011 Hurricane Season is Here

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins today, June 1, and recent computer models predict that we may have some early-season action in the Central Caribbean Sea to coincide with the start of this year's season.

We had an “active” season last year but most of the storms turned north and curved back out into the Atlantic Ocean. So there were a lot of storms but little damage. Remember 1992 and Hurricane Andrew?  The season only produced six named storms and one subtropical storm. However, one of those named storms was Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida as a Category 5 hurricane.

So regardless of the predictions by the scientists and meteorologists, hurricanes have a mind of their own and their ultimate landfall is hard to predict. It only takes one storm hitting the right place to make for a bad season. Hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline; strong winds and flooding rainfall often pose a threat across inland areas along with the risk for tornadoes.

NOAA “The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released their forecast for the 2011 hurricane season. Forecasters are expecting another active season with between 12 and 18 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 6 major hurricanes.”

Now is the time, if you haven’t already, to get your plan together for what you and your family would do if disaster strikes.  A great place to get started is the 2011 Hurricane Workshop.  It is your chance to learn how to prepare for hurricane season. There are giveaways; fun, educational activities for the whole family and information about evacuation plans, safety during a storm, and power restoration.  An interactive Kids Zone provides an opportunity for children to learn more about hurricane safety.

The first 2,000 attendees to arrive on June 4 will receive a FREE lunch and all attendees will have a chance to win emergency supply kits and flatscreen TVs, courtesy of Walmart, at the end of the workshop. And be sure to stop by and say hello to your favorite local TV meteorologist. Representatives from all Houston networks will be available to answer your questions.  Interfaith Ministries is proud to be a contributor to the Hurricane Workshop.  Hope to see you there!

Jennifer Posten

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

Office of Disaster Preparedness & Response – Director

HIDRA & VOAD – HCOHSEM Liaison

Severe Weather Awareness Week: February 20-26

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas is Feb. 20-26. Texas leads the list of U.S. states and territories receiving presidential disaster declarations. Tornadoes and floods can occur at any time of year in Texas, with the state also subject to ice storms, severe wind-related wildfires and other wild weather events. The best advice for Texas residents it to be prepared with emergency plans and supply kits – and to monitor TV, radio and NOAA weather radio for storm information. Visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Severe Weather Awareness web page and the National Weather Service’s online Weather Awareness Events Calendar for more information.

Meta-Leadership Summit

Last week Interfaith Ministries helped sponsor the Meta-Leadership Summit along with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Neighborhood Centers, Inc., and the United Way of Greater Houston.  Participants came together to practice skills necessary for effective leadership during emergencies and identify partnerships that can be leveraged before, during and after a crisis.

The Summit was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, CDC, the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Harvard School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to foster greater cross-sector collaboration during emergencies. The dynamic curriculum is designed by Harvard University faculty and tailored to the challenges business, government and nonprofit leaders face.

The Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness cultivated the critical problem-solving skills and connectivity that leaders need to be effective meta-leaders during times of crisis.  Being a meta-leader requires a unique mindset and skill set, which often goes beyond the scope of an individual's previous experiences. And it requires building strong alliances with a diverse array of leaders before an event occurs.

When disaster strikes, meta-leaders reach across organizations and sectors to build cross-cutting strategies to protect the safety of their families, businesses and communities. They exchange information, share resources and coordinate systems and personnel. They use their influence and connections to guide a cooperative course of action.

Ongoing collaboration will continue though the Meta-leadership program to strengthen the bonds that were created at the summit and Interfaith Ministries will continue to strive to implement Meta-Leadership tools to better serve our clients, employees, and partners.

Fire and Heater Safety

  This week, Houston has been hit with unusually frigid temperatures, rolling blackouts, and icy roads. Prepare and be safe inside and outside your home.

Even though space heaters are an easy alternative for warming up a room, they are also the main cause of home fires during the winter months.  Here are a few pointers that can make all of the difference between staying warm, and becoming a victim of fire.

• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. 
• Never leave space heaters unattended. 
• Keep all flammable materials at least three feet away from space heaters, fireplaces and stoves. 
• Place your space heater on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. 
• Keep children and pets away. 
• Look for space heaters that shut off automatically if they fall over. 
• Keep the fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Never leave fireplaces unattended. 
• Be sure to have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces professionally inspected once a year.

Make it your goal to prepare ahead, install smoke alarms on every floor of your home. Check them once a month by pressing the test button and replace the batteries as necessary. 

Finally, confirm that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly, and practice your home fire escape plan so every member of your family, including young children and pets, can get out quickly and safely.