All set up for first day of the tour

Elmwood, Illinois

UPDATE: After a long night in Washington, Peoria and South Pekin Illinois, we now have some of our team in Elmwood, Illinois assisting in disaster recovery as of 1 Am, Sunday June 6. We will attempt to post updates here as we can.

The Summer Tour has begun with three members of the team embarking on a 62 day educational tour today as well!

BIG NEWS

Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been working on some pretty big things here at Chasing4Life. As the team members have changed some, Chasing4Life has narrowed its focus more than ever and we are looking at a year of more powerful educational events than our fans and followers have ever seen before. In a partnership with Fedhealth, Chasing4Life is now a part of a fantastic program featuring the "It's A Disaster" books (see previous blog entry). Chasing4Life members will be presenting special programs with this partnership across the country and will be assisting communities in acquiring these comprehensive books for entire populations. We are working with more EMA's, chambers, libraries, health departments, churches and non-profits than ever before!

In a partnership with several Girl Scout Councils, Eddy and Alannah will be touring the United States beginning in September of 2010 for 12 months presenting new programs on animals in disaster, severe weather science, severe weather safety, earthquakes, disaster preparedness and more as Girl Scouts are now being given the opportunity to actually earn a CHASING4LIFE merit badge! This is huge for us and we want to thank Courtney in Vernon Hills, Illinois for her efforts in making all this possible! Watch our online calendar for Girl Scout dates and make sure if your GS Council has not booked yet, that they do it soon! Dates have filled into mid 2011 pretty quick!

Chasing4Life will now be offering special programs and training presentation/workshops featuring depiction, a mapping software for planning disaster mitigation and response. Check back for more details.

It's A Disaster!

Make sure you pick up your personal copy of "It's A Disaster...And What Are YOU Gonna Do About IT?" from our online store or grab a copy from us while we are on tour this summer. If you represent a community organization, church, fire department or emergency management agency, email us about how you can place a copy of this fantastic book into the hands of EVERYONE in your community!
See video below.

BIG NEWS

Next week is big news week. Right here in our blog you'll find out how to see a piece of the movie "Chasing With Heart" from Veritus Pictures featuring your Chasing4Life Team and you can find out about the brand new 24 month National Tour that starts in September of THIS YEAR! That's right, a brand new tour begins soon as Chasing4Life has partnered with a national organization to bring new programs and new new educational adventure opportunities to literally tens of thousands across the United States!
A whole new Chasing4Life emerges NEXT WEEK!
In the meantime, we're in Central Illinois presenting our new program : "Forecasting And Spotter Safety In A Changing Climate" to fire departments.
See you all next week with the big news!

AFTER THE STORM

I’ve been through quite a few tornadoes, hurricanes too for that matter. While a tornado can be a horrific experience, what is more frightening is the potential for injury and death during the “Let’s go out and look” phase of a tornado. That phase comes right after the debris stops flying.
I am reminded of the HUGE numbers of folks that wandered about after the Kearney tornado. I remember seeing girls in flip-flops and shorts, folks in bare feet and even children walking around gawking at the damage.
While injuries and deaths occur from tornadoes all the time, a study of injuries after a tornado in Marion, Illinois, showed that 50 percent of the tornado-related injuries were suffered during rescue attempts, cleanup, and other post-tornado activities.
Wanna know the big reasons why people are hurt AFTER a tornado? Believe it or not, one third of the injuries are from stepping on nails!
As you can imagine, other injuries come from falling objects, tree limbs and even vehicles. Don’t rule out the great dangers from fallen power lines, exposed wiring and fire or explosions.
We are groomed every day by the media to get excited about tornadoes. Nightly we watch shows about storm chasing and the power of weather. This incites a very real and very dangerous curiosity in each of us that, when mixed with adrenaline, can overcome any common sense.
Today we are spending time in our tracking center assessing the possibilities of tornadoes later this week. They may come and they may not, but one thing is for certain; if not this week, they’ll be here soon. Should a tornado strike your farm or home, your town or city, make sure you use common sense and remember that the dangers do not end when the storm is over.
Make sure you have a COMPLETE disaster kit and that if you venture outdoors, you dress appropriately, stay out of the way of response vehicles, and keep your family from becoming yet another reason why rescuers are shorthanded.
Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Get medical assistance immediately. If someone has stopped breathing, begin CPR if you are trained to do so. Stop a bleeding injury by applying direct pressure to the wound. Have any puncture wound evaluated by a physician. If you are trapped, try to attract attention to your location.
Here are some safety precautions that could help you avoid injury after a tornado:
· Continue to monitor your battery-powered radio or television for emergency information. Here at KRVN, we will do our best to stay on the air and keep you updated as to when it is safe to go out, where the damage is, and where to find help.
· Be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged.
· Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.
· Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass.
· Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.
· Use battery-powered lanterns, if possible, rather than candles to light homes without electrical power. If you use candles, make sure they are in safe holders away from curtains, paper, wood, or other flammable items. Never leave a candle burning when you are out of the room.
· Never use generators, pressure washers, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper—or even outside near an open window, door, or vent. Carbon monoxide (CO)—an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if you breathe it—from these sources can build up in your home, garage, or camper and poison the people and animals inside. Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseated.
· Hang up displaced telephone receivers that may have been knocked off by the tornado, but stay off the telephone, except to report an emergency.
· Cooperate fully with public safety officials.
· Respond to requests for volunteer assistance by police, fire fighters, emergency management, and relief organizations, but do not go into damaged areas unless assistance has been requested. Your presence could hamper relief efforts, and you could endanger yourself.
· After a tornado, be aware of possible structural, electrical, or gas-leak hazards in your home. Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you.
· In general, if you suspect any damage to your home, shut off electrical power, natural gas, and propane tanks to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions.
· If it is dark when you are inspecting your home, use a flashlight rather than a candle or torch to avoid the risk of fire or explosion in a damaged home.
· If you see frayed wiring or sparks, or if there is an odor of something burning, you should immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker if you have not done so already.
· If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows, and leave the house immediately. Notify the gas company, the police or fire departments, or State Fire Marshal’s office, and do not turn on the lights, light matches, smoke, or do anything that could cause a spark. Do not return to your house until you are told it is safe to do so.
· During clean up, wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves.
· Learn proper safety procedures and operating instructions before operating any gas-powered or electric-powered saws or tools.
· Clean up spilled medicines, drugs, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous materials.
Don’t forget that the storm can last for a long time in the minds and hearts of little ones. Trauma is handled differently by different people and our most vulnerable population is our children. After a tornado, children may be afraid the storm will come back again and they will be injured or left alone. Children may even interpret disasters as punishment for real or imagined misdeeds. Use your time with your children to teach them the science behind tornadoes and make sure they understand its power and the dangers, but also that it is a natural event.
Children will be less likely to experience prolonged fear or anxiety if they know what to expect after a tornado. Here are some suggestions:
· Talk about your own experiences with severe storms, or read aloud a book about tornadoes.
· Encourage your child to express feelings of fear. Listen carefully and show understanding.
· Offer reassurance. Tell your child that the situation is not permanent, and provide physical reassurance through time spent together and displays of affection.
· Include your child in clean-up activities. Make sure this is done SAFELY. It is comforting to children to watch the household begin to return to normal and to have a job to do.
We’re hoping that this week’s storms will bring nothing but rain and misty mornings, but as you know…it’s Nebraska and when we go, we go BIG. Be careful, use common sense and keep listening to KRVN Radio for the lastest updates on your weather situation.

Do you have a Dorothy?

Many years ago I came across a black Chevy Blazer. It was by no means new. She had rust, her rear compartment was wet and moldy, and the seats were showing signs of wear. She had one thing going for her; she was affordable. The price I paid was very little, but almost more than I had.
Once I got her home, I began to do what I could...first some paint, then some decals and graphics. The equipment came next as I outfitted her with a weather station, then radios. The project grew.
Over the years, "Dorothy" became one of the best known vehicles in the country. Literally hundreds of thousands of children saw her, learned from her and grew to love her.
Dorothy, my lead chase vehicle had become a celebrity with purpose and ignited passion in the hearts of so many. To look at her originally, you would have thought she was just an old Chevy Blazer.
This past week, I was reunited with Dorothy who now sits proudly as the main exhibit in the Sci-tech Children's Museum in Aurora, Illinois. She still teaches children about severe weather safety and preparedness.
I tell you all about this because there is a very real lesson in Dorothy. You see, I had very little money and few supporters. I saw a need for serious storm monitoring, severe weather research and reporting and knew that I could save lives if I only had a vehicle. Not having much, I used what I had. Not being able to afford much, I used what Dorothy was.
In the end, Dorothy had over $30,000 in repairs. TWELVE TIMES HER PURCHASE PRICE.
Was it worth it? You bet it was.
See, you don't have to have much to do great things. It may cost you dearly as the years progress and it may not, but if you wait until you can afford it all, you'll never accomplish anything. It is all about doing whatever you can and chasing that dream with WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY.
There's a group of kids that do this. You can find them at www.KidsAreHeroes.com. These are kids that, many, with nothing at all, have chosen to change their world and make a difference.
Each of us has a Dorothy. Something that may not even look like much, but if fueled by passion, could change the world. These kids prove it.
Is your Dorothy a talent? A savings account? A connection? A specialty? Are you using your Dorothy to change the world and make it a better place?
Check out www.KidsAreHeroes.com. Make it a regular stop when you're browsing the web. Maybe you know a kid already doing something great, and maybe, just maybe, you're supposed to use your Dorothy to help the kids featured on that site.
(By the way, to see a larger pic of Dorothy in her new home, click the picture above).

Tour was awesome!

The last two weeks was amazing! Our Illinois tour went so well and we cannot wait to get back there! Alannah Raven spent a lot of time in front of the camera lens on this trip with two photo shoots and we will soon have some of the new pics up on the website and available online as well! Robert Pears of Robert Pears Photography (www.robertpears.com) did an awesome job and we had so much fun.
After Alannah's photo shoot, we visited with NFL star Levar Fisher and Alannah once again was in front of the camera in a shared shoot with Levar. He is an incredible man and his beautiful wife Jacinta is an unbelievable woman!
The tour was full of schools, libraries and even the special event at the Sci-Tech Children's Museum in Aurora where we were re-united with Dorothy! We got to go back to my old school, Fenton High School too!
Watch for pictures here on the blog, on Alannah's site (www.alannahraven.com) and make sure you stay tuned to our Twitter! We have some pics posted below for you!

Tour Pics

Prepare your kids for severe weather awareness week!

Several times in recent years, schools have been hit by tornadoes. In most instances, fortunately, classes were not in session. In some other instances, where students were present, school officials made fantastic choices and saved many lives.

Over the course of the next month or so, schools around the country will encounter their own “Severe Weather Awareness” weeks. Each state has its own scheduled week, and during this week, schools will have their tornado drills.

For me, growing up, tornado drills were nothing more than an opportunity to get out of class, sit in the hallway next to a friend and have a conversation. This behavior usually netted me a detention, but hey, at least I was not in the classroom!

With Nebraska’s Severe Weather Week coming up soon, I want to encourage you to talk to your kids about severe weather awareness issues. Scrolling back through all of the blog entries here, you can find a vast resource of information or you can visit the local National Weather Service websites.

Why should you talk to your kids now? Because I know kids. When the day arrives for tornado drills at your child’s school, they will already have been warned. The drill will be held with the lights on in the hallways and probably in the middle of the day. While the drill is important to teach your children the LOGISTICAL aspects of what they should do, it will in no way prepare them for the real thing psychologically. When the real thing happens, there will be no lights in the hallways except for those “spooky” little emergency lights. It won’t be quiet in the hallway and it certainly will not be quiet outside. The kid next to them will not be talking about X-Box or Justin Bieber either, chances are, that kid will be crying or scared speechless.

When we tour schools and libraries and churches around the country, we encourage families to have two tornado drills at home. The first should be mid-day with the lights on at a pre-arranged time. If that goes well, the second should be at a time only you know, should be at night, in the dark with the lights off. You'’ be shocked to find how much longer it takes you to get to your "“afe place” when the conditions are changed.

The same applies to the school drill, only we know the school is not going to be able to simulate the real-deal, so by spending 10 or 15 minutes with your child before Severe Weather Awareness Week, you can make them aware that this upcoming drill is important, that you expect them to pay attention and take it seriously, and to imagine a different environment when they are practicing the procedure.

Lately I have fielded some questions about how young is too young to discuss this all with children…make no mistake. Even the youngest children know what a tornado is and what it does. They watch it on television, they learn about them in school. There is no reason to traumatize your child, but don’t whitewash the important facts! Tornadoes are dangerous and kids need to take them a lot more seriously than they see folks doing on television!

I remember that poor teacher of mine, yelling at me to shut up during drills… If my parents had sat me down for a few minutes, perhaps I would have taken the whole thing a lot more seriously.

President’s budget freezes library funding

President Obama today released his FY2011 Budget Proposal to Congress, calling for a freeze to federal library funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the primary source of federal funding for libraries.

Under the President’s plan, LSTA would be level-funded at $214 million.

As Americans deal with the weakened economy, they are using their libraries more than ever before, visiting them over 119 million times each month. American Library Association (ALA) President Camila Alire said freezing federal funding for libraries at this time of increased demand will hinder libraries from serving job-seekers, who are flocking to the library for help with online job searching and applications, resume writing, computer classes and much more.

“During this time of hoped-for economic recovery, public libraries are one of the greatest tools our nation has, and a lack of federal support jeopardizes this critical institution,” Alire said.

“President Obama often speaks about helping America get back to work, and libraries are critical access points to information and resources that are helping job-seekers every day. Unfortunately, countless libraries in our country are suffering from state budget cuts that have resulted in staff loss, reduced hours, or even closures. Many libraries have managed to efficiently use what little resources they have, but they are hanging on by a thread.

Federal funding may be a small percentage of the funding America’s libraries receive, but it is critical. The ALA calls on Congress to support America’s libraries by not only restoring the funding lost to libraries in the President’s budget proposal but by increasing the funding, which is desperately needed.”

The President’s budget also included a $400 billion investment into education but did not include specific funds for school libraries. Alire said the federal government should invest in school libraries to ensure every student graduates from high school with 21st century skills.

“It is alarming that the President did not recognize the value of school libraries in today’s schools and include them in this effort to improve education,” Alire said.

“Research repeatedly shows that a well-funded and fully staffed school library program with a state-licensed school librarian is an integral component of a student’s education.”

American Library Association

National Library Week

For the last several months we have heard it over and over again:

"Our library budget has been cut".

With that in mind, the Chasing4Life Team began to work on new programs and new program incentives that would fit library budgets so that we could become a part of the solution and not the problem. We know that events at the library are important, and in fact, we believe that the library has become an integral part of every community's infrastructure more than ever before so reaching out to the community with education is more important than ever!

This year, National Library Week is April 11-17 and I find it interesting that the theme for this year's National week is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library".

Now is that time to take advantage of a national marketing campaign, cross-marketing avenues, social media and the program incentives we have been offering. Communities really DO thrive at the library! During tough economic times, libraries see more and more folks coming in to educate themselves, learn how to write resumes, brush up on procedures and news, use the internet and generally just utilize every aspect of the library!

A thriving library makes for a thriving community and budget cuts cannot deter the library from boldly standing up and saying "HERE! WE FOUND SOMETHING YOU NEED!"

With hundreds of libraries booking events with us, we have seen the picture pretty clearly too often; libraries pay WAY too much for WAY too little. That's why we have created entire days of programming for age groups starting with pre-schoolers and ending with Senior Citizens to maximize the potential of each and every day.

No good book has one or two chapters; every librarian knows that, so why not contact us today and see just how many chapters a day at the library with Chasing4Life can have?
Imagine a day filled with severe weather, earthquake, hurricane, lightning, geology, paleontology, climate change, and more. Watch your community grow stronger before your very eyes as they are reintroduced to a library filled with life-changing education on every shelf!

Our country is wrought with disasters from natural to man-made. We believe that with more education we will need less response and that an educated community is a resilient one. It is our goal as we tour to help communities thrive.

You can contact us through the website at www.chasing4life.org and within 24 hours you'll be on the phone with a very passionate, very excited, pro-library team member.

We look forward to seeing you this year.