Local Service Projects provide the opportunity to choose from a variety of ways to demonstrate the love of Christ by serving others throughout Central Florida.
DHS’ READY CAMPAIGN REMINDS AMERICANS TO “GET PREPARED” AS TROPICAL STORM HANNA MOVES TOWARD THE U.S. WITH TROPICAL STORMS IKE AND JOSEPHINE BEHIND IT WASHINGTON
As Gustav continues inland, Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine serve as stark reminders of the need for Americans to be prepared. The Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign encourages citizens to get an emergency supply kit, make an emergency plan, and be informed about what to do if these Tropical Storms gain strength, turn into hurricanes, and head in their direction. As seen with Gustav, hurricanes and tropical storms also produce tornadoes, flooding and power outages that affect citizens for hours or even days after the initial storm has passed. Ready wants to make sure citizens are on alert and listening to what local authorities are advising them to do.
Ready recommends having a three-day supply of water for each individual in your family, including pets, along with non-perishable food, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries and a flashlight. It is also important to consider your family’s unique needs such as medication and any important documents like property insurance. Additionally, pet owners should check which shelters in the area will take animals in case of evacuation. Also, Ready recommends citizens along the Atlantic Coast have a “to-go” kit that includes basic essentials such as food and water as well as blankets and clothing in case they must evacuate on a moment’s notice.
Ready’s Web site, www.ready.gov, is a free resource where individuals can find an emergency supply checklist, download an emergency plan and link to local information. Ready also has resources and tools available on its Web site to help business owners ensure their business plans stay up and running, talk to their employees and protect their assets. For information in Spanish, visit www.listo.gov. Individuals can also call 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO for more emergency preparedness information.
February 2008 marked the Ready Campaign’s fifth year at the Department of Homeland Security. Launched in 2003 in partnership with The Advertising Council, Ready is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. It has proven to be one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council’s more than 65-year history. Since its launch, the campaign has generated more than $756.5 million in donated media support. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit www.ready.gov.
Here is the most up-to-date information from Seminole County Emergency Management for Tropical Storm Hanna. The system is becoming sub-tropical in nature. Although this is good news for wind, it is not as good for rain. Rainfall estimates have increased to 1-2 inches over the St. Johns River.
The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (520 W. Lake Mary Blvd) will be closed on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at 12:00pm due to the unpredictable forward movement of Tropical Storm Hanna. While Hanna is not forecasted to hit Seminole County, it may bring up 1-2 inches of rain to the area and high wind gusts on Thursday evening and Friday. All citizens are encouraged to contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go to www.fema.gov/assistance to begin the application process. The Center will reopen on Saturday, September 6, at 12:00pm.
As an answer to the many questions, phone calls and requests, we want to provide an update on the upcoming serving opportunities resulting from TS FAY. As you know, Seminole County residents have experienced some significant flooding. The opportunity to serve them directly with rebuilding is still a bit premature since the flood waters have not crested as of yet. Northland will be supporting the response operations of Seminole County Emergency Operations Center through ESF-15 and our partnership with Seminole Community Volunteer Program (SCVP). Those currently on the Disater Response Ministry Teams probably have an application on file, others will be required to fill them out prior to serving. This is an important step be insurance coverage and liability purposes. We will support SCVP and their need for volunteer teams to do various cleaning and mud removal projects, possible debris removal, and rebuilding where necessary once the needs assessment and the evaluations by FEMA and other support organizations have been completed. Donations of building materials, equipment and tools are also needed.
In addition, new serving opportunities will be udated regularily under the disaster response section at the Local Serving registration page.
As the pending storms materialize, there may be an even greater need in the days and weeks to come. We understand that shelters may be opening as early as THURSDAY September 4, 2008. If interested in serving on a shelter team, please contact us immediately. For questions or additional comments please contact Gretchen Kerr 407-949-7190 or Vanessa Puleo 407-949-7165.
Please consider joining us Sunday, Aug. 24, at 8:00 am to observe and participate as volunteers in a Florida National Guard CPOD (Community Point of Distribution) Exercise at Sanford International Airport. This exercise will include National Guard set up of a CPOD, a trial run of simulated distribution of food, water and tarps, and simulated transfer of operation to local volunteers. They are inviting volunteers previously involved in CPOD training, as well as those volunteers who have had no training, to visit and observe or participate.
They also need many volunteers posing as citizen/victim drive-through recipients of these emergency goods to test the competency of the CPOD in serving as great a number of citizens as possible within an hour. This may necessitate volunteers driving through the distribution point repeatedly to simulate large numbers of the public being served.
Report to Sanford International Airport grounds located at 3145 E. 28th Street, Sanford FL at 8:00am Sunday August 24, 2008. Contact: Nancy Roth, Volunteer Coordinator, Seminole Community Volunteer Program once you arrive at the airport site.
Many people have asked what Northland is dong in response to the floods and other incidents resulting from Tropical Storm Fay. At the current time, Northland teams have not been requested to participate in any response efforts. This typically happens following the damage assesment which will be completed byt the emergency management organizations. We have partnered with Seminole County Emergency Management and have trained teams which can help with supply distribution, teams are trained as American Red Cross shelter managers and also to assist in the Volunteer Reception Centers should they open.
In addition Northland has specialty teams that can assit with debris removal, placing tarps on roofs and other activeties necessary following a weather event. If you are interested in participating on one of these specialty teams please visit the local serving section of the Northland website at www.northlandchurch.net to register, trained or cerrtified if necessary and then placed on a team.
If you are currently serving on a Northland Disater Response team, please watch your email for further direction and this blog site for any additional information. Your team leader will contact you with updated information on the status of the response and what we may be asked to help with. For questions please contact Vanessa Puleo vanessa.puleo@northlandchurch.net .
As part of the ongoing training for the Northland Disaster Response Team, we want to identify an opportunity for you to discover more about emergency management and disaster response. Through Northland’s ongoing relationship with The City of Orlando Emergency Management (OEM) and in support of September being National Preparedness Month, OEM is offering a Disaster Volunteer Open House, our opportunity to get Involved with the City of Orlando and find out about all the different areas of emergency management and where you can plug in to volunteer before, during and after a disaster. You will have the opportunity to meet the Orlando Office of Emergency Management Staff and Partners, Learn the role of the Emergency Operations Center and take a tour of the Orlando Operations Center. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in participating in Northland’s Disaster Response Ministry.
Date: September 13, 2008
Time: 9 am - 11 am
Where: Orlando Operations Center (110 N. Andes Ave., Orlando, FL 32807)
RSVP: Janice.Owens-Cannady@cityoforlando.net Janice Owens-Cannady at 321-235-5437
The Northland Disaster Response Ministry has teams that have been trained for Shelter management, goods distribution through the CPOD, Community Point of Distribution sites, and assisting with the VRC, Volunteer Reception Centers. The shelter team was put into action through the American Red Cross on Monday just prior to the arrival of TS Fay. The team arrived at Lyman High School late Monday evening, met the Red Cross vehicle carrying the necessary supplies, and proceeded to set up the shelter. All preparations were made in anticipation of opening Tuesday morning at 8:00am. Bill and Kim Hulme, shelter managers set up the manager office area, the nurses station, the staff area and guest registration. This was the first time that the trained shelter team had the opportunity to put into practice the training they received from the American Red Cross. Upon return the following morning, the team was greeted with the news that the decision was made to not open the shelter. The team took the opportunity to practice the shut down procedures and packed up athe supplies. It was a great experience for the team and a valuable teaching time. Thanks to all who participated and Bill, you have a great team!
Once all the work was completed and the facility was shut down, the team went for our first cup of coffee of the day!
On July 30, Northland hosted Project Homeless Connect in Longwood, an event organized by Homeless Services Network of Central Florida. Each participant was paired with a “shepherd” so that everyone felt welcome and received assistance. Available services included showers, medical care, haircuts and “spa” treatments, employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health counseling, assistance with benefits, ID cards and legal issues, housing information, vision screening, hygiene kits, meals, and spiritual care. Here are just a few moments captured during the event.
When we think of a homeless person, what often comes to mind is the proverbial image of someone who’s disheveled, holding a crude cardboard sign, panhandling on street-corners and intersections. But according to experts, that isn’t an accurate picture.
Fact is, families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population, and the dramatic increase in foreclosures nationwide has only contributed to the problem.
Some property owners, when faced with foreclosure, are not notifying their tenants while still collecting monthly rent. As a result, families are receiving a five- or 10-day eviction notice and do not have funds available for security deposits or first and last months’ rent for a new lease, so they end up in shelters or motel rooms that are rented by the night.
As homelessness hits home for many Central Florida families, an event organized by Homeless Services Network of Central Florida and hosted by Northland Church at Longwood is hoping to help hundreds of individuals in need during Project Homeless Connect (PHC) this Wednesday, July 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida sponsors PHC events throughout Central Florida. More than 40 nonprofit agencies, faith-based groups, government agencies and businesses participate in these events.
“These folks desperately need help to become self-sufficient and get out of their homeless situations. These are our neighbors, and they deserve compassion,” explains Cathy Jackson, executive director of Homeless Services Network.
This Wednesday in Longwood, more than 150 volunteers from Northland and surrounding churches and organizations will be assisting 300 people in need.
Each participant will be paired with a “shepherd” so that everyone feels welcome and receives assistance. Available services will include showers, medical care, haircuts, employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health counseling, assistance with benefits, ID cards and legal issues, housing information, vision screening, hygiene kits, meals, and spiritual care.
“Northland is honored to be the host site to support Homeless Services Network and the activities of the many nonprofit organizations throughout Central Florida,” says Gretchen Kerr, Northland’s director of local service.
To learn more about Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, visit www.hsncfl.org or call 407-893-0133. To register please visit www.volunteermatch.org and search ‘Project Homeless Connect’ in Orlando, FL.
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