If Gophers Were Terrorists

by Eric Holdeman

I’ve recently read several stories about burrowing animals weakening levee systems to the point of failure both in the United States and abroad. I thought about this new hazard I hadn’t previously considered. As with any new “threat,” it must be addressed, so envision what would happen if we discovered that these animals were, in fact, trained terrorist operatives attacking one element of our critical infrastructure.

First, there would be the predictable congressional hearings by multiple committees in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Since there isn’t a designated Gopher Committee, these legislative bodies would have many committees that viewed this issue as part of their legislative domain. Testimony would come from newly minted gopher experts.

We’d learn that gopher issues exist in Europe and the U.S. This then makes it a classic, international terrorist threat. As an international and domestic issue, the FBI and CIA would each claim jurisdictional authority. Self-appointed experts would point out that there’s not one central figure directing all gopher activity, but “bands of rodent terrorists” classified as moles, beavers and the like that have a history of attacking critical infrastructure.

Congress would do what it does best: appropriate large quantities of money to address this emerging threat. The amount of appropriated funds would have a direct correlation to the media coverage of the precipitating critical infrastructure failure — since we’re not motivated to do anything before an event actually occurs.

There’d be lots of lobbying during the process; rural and urban states would compete for funding. Cities and counties would proclaim that, “All gophers are local.” Fire, law enforcement, public health, hospitals and other disciplines would lobby for funding for their field. They’d argue that animal control should not be getting all of the funds. For years, each would make the case that they should have dedicated funds for equipment.

Gopher Centers of Excellence would be established at numerous universities to study the social dynamics of gophers and their cousins. We’d learn that gophers live in colonies, and indoctrination in the technique of burrowing is passed down from parents to their pups. The culture of burrowing would be recognized as one that will take decades to eliminate. The nation’s borders would become areas of concern. There would be calls for underground fences along the Canadian and Mexican borders that need to be patrolled 24/7. The National Guard would receive another mission: augmenting civilian anti-gopher efforts.

Eventually someone would want to flush the burrowing creatures out of their dens. This water method would be compared to waterboarding and called inhumane. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would rise up in arms pointing out that not all gophers are terrorists. There would be accusation of gopher profiling. If you burrow, then you are a terrorist. Media coverage would be intense and a Southwest state would pass a law allowing Gopher Enforcement Officers to stop and detain unsuspecting gophers.

After years of intense spending, highlighted by federal civilian contractors raking in millions of dollars in consulting fees, the funding gravy train would trail off. Without another catastrophic infrastructure failure, the nation would tire of the energy and time it takes to maintain a high level of anti-gopher activity.

A new threat might capture our attention. Take pigeons for instance: Have you ever noticed how they seem to be everywhere, listening to our conversations and monitoring our movements?

This article was posted here courtesy of Emergency Management Magazine.
To read more articles by Eric Holdeman CLICK HERE.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL...

It is a pretty safe bet that a majority of the United States has weather that could warrant lighting up the fireplace and creating a warmer (if not romantic) atmosphere over the holidays. With all the crazy weather, it is quite possible that we end up NEEDING it when the power goes out!

Like with every good thing comes a risk if you are not prepared and careful. Sparking up that fireplace is no different.

According to the United States Fire Administration, more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes.

Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes.

Before you light up the hearth or that wood stove, make sure you have done the proper maintenance on that chimney!

Here’s some Safety Tips for you…

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

* Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
* Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
* Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. Leaving the doors open ensures that the fire receives enough air to ensure complete combustion and keeps creosote from building up in the chimney.
* Close glass doors when the fire is out to keep air from the chimney opening from getting into the room. Most glass fireplace doors have a metal mesh screen which should be closed when the glass doors are open. This mesh screen helps keep embers from getting out of the fireplace area.
* Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have a glass fireplace door.
* Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
* Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
* Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.


Protect the Outside of Your Home

* Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
* Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
* Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
* Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

This is not all you need to know. For more information, CLICK HERE

Pats and Thanksgiving

“Don’t be giving that to the dog!”

I hear that a lot at Thanksgiving. After all, the kitchen is a frenzied mess and food is flying so it only makes sense to toss a few things to Mac who is lying on the floor right in the middle of it all. For the bigger chunks, we of course, have a St. Bernard just outside the door. The argument is always that “it is okay” because dogs can eat anything.

Turns out, that is not true; in fact, in an article I recently read put out by the ASPCA, I found out that there is A LOT of Thanksgiving food we probably should not be feeding our pets.

The article made a pretty good point: pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Here are some of the tips they had in the article…

Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage
Who would have guessed this one? Sage is used in a lot of dishes at Thanksgiving but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

Bread Dough
Don’t feed your pets raw bread dough and if you drop some, pick it up right away. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

After the new Year, we’ll be running a series on pet safety, pets in disasters and how to make an emergency plan that includes your pets but for now, let’s just get through the holiday without killing Fluffy and Spot with Thanksgiving food.

Stay safe while you travel, make sure you have that safety/preparedness kit in your car and enjoy your holiday!

Reality Check

Sometimes reality can be elusive. We live in a world of so much gaming technology, blue ray discs and 3d movies flying around that when we see a glimpse of disaster aftermath on television, it's hard to tell if it's real. Well, this morning North Carolina residents woke up in the aftermath of an EF2 tornado in late October following historic storms that ripped across the country doing massive amounts of damage in several states.
It is real.
Our present tour has been an exciting one, filled with adventure and frustration but always holding the potential of meeting more people and educating more children about the importance of disaster preparedness.
Today, as the news teams surge throughout the country following up on the disasters of this week. take a look at your family's plan, check that home disaster kit, and take a moment for a reality check. It could happen to you tomorrow.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month.

I have to admit, cyber-security was never a big deal to me until the day I went to the Chasing4Life website and it was all in Russian. A few hours later, I went to check my Chasing4Life email and a skull appeared on the screen and it was all gone...4 years gone.

I started paying attention to cyber security after that, but have to admit I have a long way to go. I try to watch my kids, I try to monitor their activities, I try to back up files...

Cyber Security is a tough subject!

This week, we wanted to bring you some simple education regarding cyber-security. The following comes from StaySafeOnline.org, a website we recommend you go and spend some time on with your family. The site is amazing, very educational and easy to navigate.

When you cross the street, you look both ways so make sure it’s safe. Staying safe on the Internet is similar. It takes some common sense steps -- Stop. Think. Connect.

Stop: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.

Think: Take a moment to be certain the path is clear ahead. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety, or your family’s.

Connect: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone.

TIPS AND ADVICE

Tip: Keep a Clean Machine.

Advice:

• Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
• Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that’s an available option..
• Protect all devices that connect to the Internet: Along with computers, smart phones, gaming systems, and other web-enabled devices also need protection from viruses and malware.
• Plug & scan: “USBs” and other external devices can be infected by viruses and malware. Use your security software to scan them.

Tip: Protect Your Personal Information.

Advice:

• Secure your accounts: Ask for protection beyond passwords. Many account providers now offer additional ways for you verify who you are before you conduct business on that site.
• Make passwords long and strong: Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password.
• Unique account, unique password: Separate passwords for every account helps to thwart cybercriminals.
• Write it down and keep it safe: Everyone can forget a password. Keep a list that’s stored in a safe, secure place away from your computer.
• Own your online presence: When available, set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It’s ok to limit who you share information with.

Tip: Connect with Care.

Advice:

• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email.
• Get savvy about Wi-Fi hotspots: Limit the type of business you conduct and adjust the security settings on your device to limit who can access your machine.
• Protect your $$: When banking and shopping, check to be sure the sites is security enabled. Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://”, which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. “Http://” is not secure.

Tip: Be Web Wise.

Advice:

• Stay current. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Check trusted websites for the latest information, and share with friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to be web wise.
• Think before you act: Be wary of communications that implores you to act immediately, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information.
• Back it up: Protect your valuable work, music, photos, and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.

Tip: Be a Good Online Citizen.

Advice:

• Safer for me more secure for all: What you do online has the potential to affect everyone – at home, at work and around the world. Practicing good online habits benefits the global digital community.
• Post only about others as you have them post about you.
• Help the authorities fight cyber crime: Report stolen finances or identities and other cybercrime to www.ic3.gov (Internet Crime Complaint Center), the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.onguardonline.gov/file-complaint.aspx (if it's fraud), and to your local law enforcement or state attorney general as appropriate.

Practice Stop. Think. Connect. and encourage others to do it as well.

Don't fix what IS NOT broken!

One nice thing about having a blog of your own is that it is YOURS and you can pretty much write what you want. We rarely use this blog as a political platform as Chasing4Life has stayed neutral and practical in most situations that involved politics, but we have some opinions every now and then that we want to share.

Over the course of the last six months, we have had the honor of working with many of the Illinois Township Road Commissioners. These men and women are the people that maintain the roads our team travels everyday as we traverse backroads and small highways from event to event educating tens of thousands each year. We appreciate the work they do. Often times, they are the ones that, despite hours and regulations, schedules and lack of personnel, are out there when we have seen few others.

Now, looming in the news almost every week is an effort to do away with Townships altogether if not, at least, the road work.

The goal of quite a few is to take townships out of the road business in Illinois and have counties take over township roads.

That's one of several new recommendations being offered by business-backed Chicago Metropolis 2020 after the nonprofit group looked at ways to boost the state's economy through transportation. Chicago Metropolis 2020 was created in 1999 by The Commercial Club of Chicago, an organization of business and civic leaders promoting regional growth.

According to its executive director, Frank Beal, $12 billion is spent on public transportation by 2,859 units of government in Illinois. Nearly half of those units - 1,403 - are townships that collect nearly $90 million in gasoline tax revenue each year. The $90 million is 16 percent of local governments' share of gasoline taxes. Each township has its own equipment, staff and buildings.

"It would be more efficient and effective if this was taken over by the county," Beal said in a recent interview.

The recommendation in the organization's report was that counties be given the revenue that townships now receive for roadwork, beginning with township roads in urban areas.

Townships maintain 71,187 miles of roads in Illinois.

71,187 miles. And it is done well.

I am not sure why we feel the need to destroy infrastructure that DOES work while we sit idly by and ignore gross oversights elsewhere. On our recent trip just this past weekend, we traveled over a total of 1600 miles for one event in Illinois. As we traveled, we could not wait to get onto the Township roads for a break from the construction zones with no workers, the poorly maintained roads, and of course, just the roads that ran through highly populated areas of traffic. It was nice to get out onto a Township Road and roll down the windows, enjoying the scenic beauty of the Illinois I remembered as a child; to enjoy the well-maintained roadway, to notice the lack of litter and debris along the roadside.

I do not claim to know all of the ins and outs of the finances of Illinois, but I do know that I speak at dozens of libraries still awaiting their checks from the State from before last year. I know that the State has little if not any money, but why would you do away with one of the ONLY things that IS working?

Many years ago, I attended a church that I was happy attending. The pastor and his wife were always there for you, volunteers filled the lot every Saturday to maintain the church. There was not a moment when SOMEONE was not available. Two years ago, I called the church because of a family emergency hoping to reach the pastor and was greeted by an answering system…

“If you are calling for directions to the church…press one…if you are a youth and wishing to know the times of the next youth meeting…press three…if you are in need of counseling and in need of an English-speaking counselor…press four….if you are calling about our upcoming revival services…press five…”

Seriously? We need to take a look at what we are doing to our country before we make decisions that are strictly based on the financial. Yes, we are growing. Yes we are busier. Yes we have made bad decisions in the past, but now more than ever we need to remember what kept this country together for the longest time and maybe try to preserve some of it. The Township structure is that last connection the local people have to their local government; these Township officials are available, they understand the area and the people, and they care about it.

Would we save money? I bet we would, but before we swallow this hook, someone had better call the Dell Service Center and try to get help rebooting their computer so they are reminded of what happens when we make decisions purely based on finances. Sure it saves a lot of money having customer service outsourced to another country, but I still have that stupid laptop sitting in my office under the desk and it still doesn’t work.

Illinois is still a beautiful state and a great place to travel. The Township roads attract people from all over the world because of what they are and who has taken such great care of them all these decades. The strength of this country is still found on the smallest of highways and now more than ever, we need to stop trying to fix what already works and take a look elsewhere.

If you can't stand the heat...HAVE A DRILL

It really is not that cold yet, but some of the recent nights have been a great excuse to throw a small log in that wood burner and sit in front of the television enujoying that wonderful smell of a fire. Chimneys will soon all be in use throughout the homes across our country shortly, fire wood piles we have worked on all summer will soon be utilized, and fire in general will become a part of everyday life for the next few months. Personally I cannot wait.

I love the sound of crackling logs and the smell of a wood fire, but with all of this comes risk and danger.

October is Fire Prevention Month, and now is the time to begin thinking through evacuation plans, fire safety, smoke alarm maintenance and maybe the process of having a fire drill in your home.

Don't let your family become a statistic this year. A fire drill in your home with your children can save lives. Take a few minutes this month to fire-proof your home and get your family prepared.

Here's some facts from the NFPA:

Smoke alarms

• Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half.
• Most homes (96%) have at least one smoke alarm (according to a 2008 telephone survey.)
• Overall, three-quarters of all U.S. homes have at least one working smoke alarm.
• Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires.
• In 2003-2006, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from home fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
  - No smoke alarms were present in 40% of the home fire deaths.
  - In 23% of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.
• In more than half of the reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate even though the fire was large enough, batteries were missing or disconnected. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected alarms.
• More than half of the smoke alarms found in reported fires and two-thirds of the alarms found in homes with fire deaths were powered by battery only.
• Most homes still have smoke alarms powered by battery only. In a 2007 American Housing Survey (AHS), 67% of the respondents who reported having smoke alarms said they were powered by battery only.
• In a 2008 telephone survey, only 12% knew that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
• In fires considered large enough to activate a smoke alarm, hard-wired alarms operated 91% of the time; battery-powered smoke alarms operated 75% of the time.
• Interconnected smoke alarms on all floors increase safety.
  - In a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey of households with any fires, interconnected smoke alarms were more likely to operate and alert occupants to a fire. (This includes fires in which the fire department was not called.)

Fire

• Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and injuries.
• Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.
• Heating is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries.
• Electrical failures or malfunctions are factors in roughly 50,000 reported fires each year.
• Roughly 30, 000 intentionally set home structure fires are reported each year.

In 2008

• U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires.
• Home fires killed 2,755 people and injured 13,160.
• Someone was injured in a reported home fire every 40 minutes.
• Roughly eight people died in home fires every day.
• A fire department responded to a home fire every 82 seconds.
• 83% of all fire deaths and 79% of fire injuries resulted from home fires.

WORK SMART. RIDE SAFE.

If you have been following the Chasing4Life blogs, you know we are still out on the road touring the country and presenting educational programs to every age group in every corner of the country. Ithas been a busy year and while we have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of great people, we have also had the opportunity to see a lot of tragedy. Amidst the things we have seen on tour, perhaps the most horrific have been the ATV accidents.

We are excited that this week is finally here...

It is National Farm Safety and Health Week!

Each year, the National Center For Educational Safety determines a theme for this special week and the 2010 theme is "ATV's: Work Smart, Ride Safe."

Each year, about 800 deaths are reported nationally associated with ATV accidents. In Missouri, 68 deaths were recorded from 2006 through 2008, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to government statistics, four out of 10 people treated in emergency rooms for ATV injuries are under the age of 16. The exact number is not known because many ATV injuries are treated at home and not reported.

We have been so encouraged by the response and the results of this year's tour and we know that there is power in communicating. Make this week the week you and your family sit down and discuss new guidelines for ATV use and make sure that you check your ATV for excessive wear and the warning signs of a breakdown.

As always, we want you to have a safe and prosperous harvest season, so Work Smart. (and Ride Safe!)

For more information about Farm Safety and Health Week, see www.necasag.org/nfsnhw.php.

Girl Scout Update

From Severe Weather Safety programs with the girl Scouts to risk assessment meetings at their camps, this tour is awesome! We are looking forward to the next tour already! What an honor to have a Chasing4Life badge! I will post one shortly so you can all see!
The Girl Scouts have made a very real commitment to becoming an integral part of educating their communities regarding disaster preparedness and it is honor to be a part of that commitment.
(Picture above: Camp Ranger Andrew and his homemade "all-purpose" vehicle that he uses to navigate around the camp's narrow roads. What an awesome ride! Andrew, we totally enjoyed meeting with you!

A time to remember

Bill Sears

We lost a friend today and he will be missed but remembered fondly.

For several years Chasing4Life has been a member of National Preparedness Month. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reminding everyone that September is National Preparedness Month. Throughout National Preparedness Month, which is sponsored by FEMA's Ready Campaign, FEMA is encouraging all Americans to visit Ready.gov to learn how they can better prepare themselves and their families for the next emergency or disaster.

"Disaster can strike any time, anywhere. By taking a few simple steps now, you can ensure that your family and your community are prepared before the next emergency arises," said FEMA's Acting Regional Administrator Doug Gore. "We urge everyone to take steps necessary to keep their family safe, which includes getting a kit, making a plan, being informed and getting involved."

National Preparedness Month focuses on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and helping Americans understand what it means to "Be Ready." National Preparedness Month coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations.

FEMA's Citizen Corps is also an important partner in this campaign. Citizen Corps is FEMA's grassroots strategy to bring together government and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience.

To see a list of national, regional, tribal, state, local businesses and organizations that have pledged their support and joined the 2009 National Preparedness Month Coalition, please visit www.ready.gov/america/npm09/members.html.

Why we promote over 400 library events each year

“During tough economic times, people turn to libraries for their incredible array of free resources, from computers to books, DVDs and CDs, for help with a job hunt or health information. The average annual cost to the taxpayer for access to this wide range of resources is about $31, the cost of one hardcover book. In good times or bad, libraries are a great value!”

2008-2009 American Library Association President Jim Rettig

Why Support your Local Library?

• In a world where knowledge is power, libraries make everyone more powerful.
• Libraries bring people and ideas together. Think of the library as the living room of your community.
• Libraries are unique. Where else can you have access to nearly anything on CD, DVD, the Web or in print – as well as personal service and assistance in finding it?
• Libraries help bridge the divide between those who have access to information and those who do not. Families making less than $15,000 annually are two to three times more likely to rely on library computers than those earning more than $75,000.
• Nearly 73% of libraries are their communities' only source of free computer and Internet access- which rises to 82% in rural areas.
• Libraries don’t just offer the hardware, but also offer the expertise of librarians in helping teach people how to use the Internet and find the information they need quickly. While Google can give you 50,000 responses to your inquiry, your librarian can help you find the one answer you need.
• Libraries are part of the American Dream. They offer free access to all. They bring opportunity to all.
• Libraries and librarians provide free and equal access to information for people of all ages and backgrounds – in schools, on college and university campuses and in communities large and small.
• Libraries are for everyone, everywhere.

Back to school safety

An article I read recently said that an estimated 2.2 million children under the age of 14 are injured in school-related accidents each year. Accidents while on the way to school, on the way home from school and while playing at school can be avoided much like other disasters; by simply making a plan.

With schools starting across the country, now is the time to make those plans.

-Plan a walking route to school or to the bus stop. Make sure you have a direct route with the least amount of crossings your children will have to encounter. If you are in a rural area, make sure weeds and plants are trimmed from the end of the driveway so your child will be more than visible while waiting for the bus.

-Walk the route with your children and make sure you teach them to stay away from areas where they will be alone and unprotected such as parks, vacant lots, etc.

-Set rules for accepting rides NOW. As my children get older, the number of rides available increases. Make sure your children know not to take rides from strangers and not to take rides from under age drivers you are not sure about.

-Teach your kids to obey traffic laws and rules.

-Don’t forget that bad weather can become a part of your child’s travel to school and teach them the severe weather safety rules.

-Make sure if your child is riding his/her bike to school that they wear a helmet!

-Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies.

-Check the playground equipment at your child’s school. Look for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school.

-Make sure you are familiar with the school’s disaster and safety plans.

As the school year starts, traffic increases, daylight changes and the number of children on the roads increases. Make sure that this year’s back-to-school time is one of excitement and learning and tragedy.

Be alert and PLAN

A tropical wave (Invest 97L) near the east coast of Puerto Rico has became more organized overnight last night but was hardly noticed as storm reports flew into the tracking center from Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. We estimated that we spent over 4 hours on the phones with firefighters and spotters during the storms that inundated Central Illinois yesterday.

That’s a lot of activity all at once, and we often times become victims of what we call “radar fatigue”. This is not a medical term, but rather a term we created a few years ago during the hurricanes of 2005. What we are referring to is that complacency that is caused by storms that just seem to never go away. After hours of watching these storms and having them pound your town, the next one causes you to become weary and eventually many just stop watching.

It is a dangerous situation.

Last night, several folks that had been tracking and chasing these storms all day reached a point where they just wanted rest. Residents in areas already hit three or four times were simply turning off the computer and television assuming that there could not possibly be more.

With a stationary front in place in the Midwest and the systems presently working the country, it is important that despite the poundings, we stay alert. Storms kept us awake all night here in Illinois and we eventually woke to more warnings and watches already being issued for parts of the country.

Now, with that said, let’s talk about something else…

Summer is a time for beach parties, camping and Vacation Bible Schools. Last night, we received a call from a volunteer at a Vacation Bible School that was getting ready to release the children to go home. Rotation had been spotted by trained spotters, hail was over 1” in surrounding communities and the rain was torrential.
The town was in a Thunderstorm Warning.

Despite our advice to keep the children a bit longer and add one more indoor activity to the night’s events rather then sending them home, the church released the children.
Now, we realize that most of the children had rides and the parents were waiting, but what of the children that did not have rides? What of the folks now driving home?

We spoke to the leadership at the church and found that there was no written plan, no policy that had ever been communicated to volunteers and staff before the event began.
We need to have plans.

Whether you are a church or civic organization, a library or a restaurant, nothing will protect you, your property, your employees and your future like a written disaster plan.

Think of the possibilities last night held for anyone on the road…there were tornadoes, large hail, extreme flooding and high winds.

Folks, last night two people were struck by lightning during these storms.

As the severe weather continues to sweep the country, and more could be on its way as the Gulf lights up again, let’s talk plans.

REFERENCE POINT:
(From National Weather Service)
THUNDERSTORM WARNING
This is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by the WSR-88D radar or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail 3/4 inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Lightning frequency is not a criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. They are usually issued for a duration of one hour. They can be issued without a Severe Thunderstorm Watch being already in effect.
The National Weather Service advises that when you hear thunder or see lightning to quickly move indoors or into a hard topped vehicle and remain there until well after the storm has passed.

July 19th Tour Update

Last week's tour ended in Tipton, Iowa where we had the BEST time talking about climate change, severe weather safety and what life can be like in a smaller town. The town itself was wonderfully charming and the visit was truly enjoyable.
Saturday found the educational team rolling into Barrington, Illinois for events at the public library followed by a visit with former C4L Team member Dan Bocklund who underwent heart surgery this week.
This week the road will take us to visit Dorothy at the SciTech Children's Museum in Aurora, Illinois followed by stops in River Forest, Oak Park, Bensenville, Niles, Evanston and ElPaso!
Are you on our schedule for the back-to-school tour? If not, you cannot wait too much longer! Write us an email from your church, school or library as soon as possible because the way it looks, we are not going to get much of a break between the end of this tour and the beginning of the next!

With storms back home in Nebraska, the summer tour continues with a few storms of our own as this week we hit some more cities in Iowa like Hull, Sioux Center, Hawarden, Sheldon, Alton, Boyden, Hospers, Orange City, Ely, Tipton and a few more. Above is a picture of a storm we encountered in Orange City Sunday night!

Dubuque...

The week has come to an end...another week of the tour is over. As we hang out in Fort Dodge tracking storms back in Nebraska, we're sitting here with our new friends from Texas eating homemade Mexican food and looking over the pics from yesterday. What a day it was! We spent the entire day in beautiful downtown Dubuque with Danielle at the Carnegie Stout Library. The building was beautiful but we enjoyed our personal tour of not only the library, but the city and the shoreline of the Mississippi and dinner at the Star Brewery!

HURRICANE WINDS IN IOWA?

Yep, you'd better believe it. Here is a pic of Ethan standing in a Hurricane Wind Simulator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The week has been filled with new experiences and new faces and we have had a great time! Flooding in Iowa is extensive and closed roads with detours are becoming a part of the tour too often, but the reception at libraries has been amazing!

On the road again...

Back on the road today heading to rain-soaked Iowa! The second half of the Summer Reading Tour takes us throughout Iowa libraries with a few special stops in Illinois until mid-August! Keep watching here for updates and pics from the tour- we will try our best to keep things as updated as possible.
Back home, the office is working on the fall and winter dates. There are not many left, so if you think you have the right venue to fill one of these open dates, contact us via email right away. Scheduling for Spring and Summer of 2011 is happening NOW!

Connections...

Every once in a while, you run into people on tour that you "click" with. Chris, from Chris' Computer Connection was just one of those people that we met on this leg of the tour. A sponsor of the event in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Chris showed up early, setting up the projection system in the beautiful Rocky Ford Grand Theatre the other morning. What a morning! A packed house learned about severe weather safety, lightning safety, climate change and even a few tornado facts! We could not have done it without Chris' assistance.
Pictured is the exodus of the young people from the theatre as Chris and Brandi hand out books and arcade tickets.

Storm Addicts

Yep, we met a lot of storm addicts in Fort Morgan, and actually, quite a few in Fort Collins, Rocky Ford, Loveland, Watkins, Centennial, Englewood, Denver, Fowler, LaJunta, Limon and Aurora! One of our favorites was this young man in Fort Morgan, Colorado who actually had a STORM ADDICT shirt on!

Lightning Safety in Colorado!

The tour through Colorado has had a special twist added by Lightning Safety Awareness Week! With no storms in sight, the Chasing4Life Educational Team had fun in the sun with hundreds of youngsters in Fort Collins at the beginning of the week! See pictures from our day in the sun below:

2010 SUMMER TOUR BEGINS

It is hard to believe it has only been a week. Our tour began with a lot of severe weather both at home and as we left. We have put alot of photos here for you, so all you have to do is scroll through and click to enlarge.
We'll begin with pictures from the storm we tracked at the beginning of the tour which resulted in tornadoes across Illinois. Below you will see pictures from Elmwood, Illinois, a small town west of Peoria. The damage was amazing. The tornado struck in the middle of the town's festival which was being held on these streets:

Alannah at the Region 10 Homeland Security Mobile EOC Unit in Elmwood

Look at the sign on the theatre in Elmwood!

"How do we reduce response burdens BEFORE it happens". Eddy was the keynote at the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts Conference. We did a lot of interviews, took in some classes and made some great new friends!

Eddy and Ethan in a midnight stormchase in Central Iowa

The farm safety roll-over rescue training

This is all that is left of a dog training facility hit by the Washington, Illinois tornado

An interview after the Washington County, Illinois tornado

Alannah in front of a REAL fire truck in Peoria, Illinois

Below are pictures of the farm destroyed by a tornado we were tracking in Washington County, Illinois.