Airports & Ebola - Are You Prepared

Do you know what to expect at the airport the next time you travel internationally? Well, I decided to present the top 3 things you need to know about airports and Ebola. Right now, the Department of Homeland Security is sending mixed messages because each State is handling the Ebola "crisis" differently. The DHS has a responsibility to help out with national health concerns on a threatening level, but each State also has to make decisions based on their specific needs and population concerns.

Either way, below are the top 3 across-the-board things to know about Ebola at airports.

1. Starting 11/01/13, all International airports will start screening for Ebola. There are no nonstop flights to the U.S. from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea, the three countries hardest-hit by Ebola. Nearly 95% of the roughly 150 people traveling daily from or through those West African countries to the U.S. land first at one of the five airports selected for extra screening.

2. Homeland Security employees at airports will use no-touch thermometers to take the temperatures of passengers who have come from or through West Africa.

3. If you present a fever at an International airport, know the DHS isn't playing games. Case-by-case, health workers and the DHS will direct the passenger either to the local medical system or public health system for possible treatment or routine follow-ups, including daily temperature readings for the 21-day Ebola incubation period. There are quarantine areas at each of the five International airports that can be used, if necessary.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know who will be traveling after Saturday. :)

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett
HireIme.com

What to do during a national crisis.

I've been discussing emergency management for citizens on this blog over the past two weeks. Today, however, I want to talk about national crisis and terrorist activity. Do you know how to handle yourself and what information to rely upon?

There are 7 key services you need to be in contact with to know exactly what you can and can't do while the country is processing a crisis or disaster. Does this mean you call each one up? No, but you should follow these resources on social media and have your local office numbers written down (not just in your phone) in case of a true emergency. Typically, these agencies will reach out to citizens on the news, but if you don't know something or have to report an incident- you can call them during a disaster.

Mayor
The mayor is responsible at the administrative level for the smooth running of the response effort.

Fire service
The fire service is the linchpin in disaster response. The fire chief is charged with the operational management of the response effort. Everything that occurs in the disaster area falls under his/her authority.

Regional accident and disaster medical teams
Anyone injured in a disaster will require medical assistance as soon as possible.

Police
The police will ensure that the fire and ambulance services can do their job. They will cordon off the disaster area, manage the traffic, and sometimes set up a safety zone around the disaster area.

Army
The Ministry of Defence can deploy military personnel to respond to a disaster.

Municipal services
Behind the scenes, several municipal services play an important role in disaster response, especially when it comes to the after-effects.

Other services
Which services take part in the response effort will depend on the type of disaster. In the case of flooding caused by burst dykes or heavy rainfall, the water authorities will play a role. If a disaster occurs off the coast, the Coastguard will be involved. But other services will also often take part. The Red Cross cares for the injured in disasters.

Until tomorrow,
Twyla N. Garrett

FEMA & Your Business.

Let't talk turkey. FEMA may have to help your business recover from a disaster one day. We can't predict unexpected weather events or other emergencies. But, we can prepare for them. As a business owner, you should understand what role FEMA plays in disaster recovery. I speak more about this topic in my up coming book. However, I'm going to list the basics below with some resources. Print this document out and keep it with your other emergency related docs.

Links

FEMA & The IRS. Click here.

FEMA's Official Business Protection Webpage. Click here.

Text Messages from FEMA

Hurricanes: text HURRICANE to 43362 (4FEMA)
Home fires: text FIRE to 43362 (4FEMA)
Wildfires: text WILDFIRE to 43362 (4FEMA)
Tornadoes: text TORNADO to 43362 (4FEMA)
Earthquakes: text EARTHQUAKE to 43362 (4FEMA)
Winter storms and extreme cold: text WINTER to 43362 (4FEMA)
Power outages: text BLACKOUT to 43362 (4FEMA)
Floods: text FLOOD to 43362 (4FEMA)
To search for open shelters: text SHELTER and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA)

General monthly safety tips: text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA)

If subscribing to more than one list, please send a separate text for each disaster type you would like to subscribe to. There is no limit to the number of lists you can subscribe to. Sending STOP will automatically unsubscribe you from all our lists. You can re-subscribe to the list(s) of your choice one-by-one. Updates are bi-monthly and are meant to help businesses and people prepare for and respond to a disaster.

Again, I discuss FEMA and Homeland Security in my upcoming book. To sign-up to buy it first, please click here: www.authortwylagarrett.com

Until next time,
Twyla