Trick or Tweet

Happy Halloween! 

Here's a quick round-up of some spooky cool news:

Social media guru Beth Kanter presents a fun  way to use Twitter as a force for good this Halloween. Check out this "trick or tweet" game (from FutureNow), and vote for the Red Cross in the comments!

Lots of my coworkers wore ridiculously awesome costumes today. Check out the Flickr set.

Nature's phlebotomists: a New York Times article on some fascinatingly creepy bloodsucking creatures. Fortunately our bloodsuckers aren't nearly as creepy.

How Would You Pronounce This Word?

DOSR.  

Okay, it's not exactly a word. It's an acronym - one of the many we use as shorthand when we're in disaster mode here at the Red Cross.

It stands for Disaster Operations Summary Report. Basically, it's all the stats on how many meals we've served, shelters we've opened, etc.

Normally it's a pretty boring document. But our Wendy just made a cool video DOSR for the recent Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. 

 

It's short, cute, and you may learn a lot from it (including how to pronounce DOSR). Oh, and keep an eye out for the photo of the clean up  kit items...I totally took that photo! 

Click here or watch below:

"I Smelled Like Chili And My Own Sweat."

Okay, I just became an official fan of our brainy, big-hearted national leader, GMcG (Aka, Gail McGovern). 

Yes, folks, she now has a fan club on Facebook. It appears to have been started by some Red Crossers down in Atlanta who were super impressed by her visit to their chapter. (As we were when we met her. See here, here, and here.) 

You can even see video of her Atlanta visit on the fan page. That's where I got the following quote, in which she talks about getting on the airplane after volunteering in a meal kitchen for Hurricane Ike survivors in Houston:

I smelled like chili and my own sweat...Nobody knew who I was, but they saw my Red Cross t-shirt, and people were just stopping me wherever I went saying, "Thank you for what you're doing."

You've gotta love a leader who will sweat right alongside her volunteers. Her tenacity and ability to inspire definitely make her deserving of a fan club. If you agree, join here.

Disaster Action Team Responses

On Oct. 28, 2008 a family in Vernonia, had a house fire. The family had a temporary place to stay, but the family will need assistance. The Columbia County Red Cross Volunteers will meet with the family today and help with
--A client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.
--If needed temporary lodging in a nearby motel.

On Oct. 29, 2008 a family of 6 in Tillamook had a house fire. The family does have a place to stay. The Tillamook County Red Cross Volunteers will meet with the family to access their needs.

Oct 29, an adult had a fire in their apartment. When the Red Cross volunteers arrived, they found the person did have a place to stay, but did need some additional assistance. The volunteers assisted the person with:
--A client assistance card to shop for food.

Ensuring the Safety of Coastal Residents

Great news: we're taking action on the lessons learned from the December 2007 storms that pummeled the coast and neighboring communities. You'll remember the extensive damage, as seen in this photo taken by The Oregonian last year. This press release just went out the door:

NEWS RELEASE

October 29, 2008
Contact: Eric Corliss
Phone: 503-528-5670
E-mail: corlisse@redcross-pdx.org

Red Cross Prepares Oregon Coast for Winter Storms

Additional emergency supplies now arriving

PORTLAND, Ore. – Nearly one year ago, Oregon's northern coast was pummeled with record-setting storms and flooding. This year, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross is positioning new stockpiles of supplies and materials throughout the area, more than doubling the number of people who can be helped in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.

Starting today, the Oregon Trail Chapter is delivering seven trailers filled with cots, blankets, personal comfort kits, cooking supplies, cleaning supplies, HAM radios, nurse’s kits and shelter kits to communities along the northern Oregon Coast. Additional supplies arrived today in Cannon Beach, and will be delivered to Pacific City, Manzanita/Nehalem, Warrenton, Astoria and Seaside by November 10. The Red Cross has recently pre-positioned additional emergency supplies in Clatskanie and Vernonia, as well. Supplies are housed in trailers so that they are mobile, and can be made available to neighboring communities when needed.

Added Governor Ted Kulongoski, "The Red Cross plays an important role in disaster preparedness and response, and these supplies are critical to that mission.”

“The Red Cross is making this $125,000 investment because increasing coastal preparedness is a priority for the organization,” said Thomas Bruner, CEO of the Oregon Trail Chapter and Regional Executive for Oregon. "This investment increases the capacity of communities to care for themselves and each other when – not if – the next disaster strikes."

Additional supplies mean care can be provided for 1,500 people in the first 72-hours following a disaster – a 100% increase over the current supply capacity. 72-hours is the timeframe that Oregonians should be prepared to care for themselves until help can arrive.

"These supplies mean that communities who are cut off by flooded roads will have access to much needed disaster services" said Tillamook County Commissioner Mark Labhart. "We are so pleased that the Red Cross has addressed this critical need. It will save lives."

State Senator Betsy Johnson, whose territory covers this region, agreed. "Coastal communities have the potential to be devastated in a natural disaster. Pre-positioning supplies will expedite relief efforts. This kind of proactive planning is a hallmark of the Red Cross and we are very appreciative of their efforts.”

While the additional disaster supplies are important, they are only one step in a larger Red Cross coastal preparedness plan – tripling the ranks of active volunteers in Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties in 2009, and pre-positioning many more supplies along the coast. The Red Cross will train residents in disaster response for emergencies year-round.

To get involved, contact the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross at 503-528-5624 or email gibneym@redcross-pdx.org.

All About When The Lights Go Out

I apologize for how quiet it's been on the blog. With Lise out this week I've been working my tail off to fill her big shoes. (Not that I have a tail, nor does Lise have big feet. These are just expressions, mind you.) 

BUT we do have some big news! It's just that I can't tell you quite yet because I think Thomas may want to tell you himself.

(UPDATE: Yes, he did!)

BUT I will say that it has to do with preparing for winter storms on the coast (hey, weren't we just talking about that?). And so - on that stormy theme - I want to share with you some important tips for power blackouts. 

Here are just a few of the more intriguing tips from the list:

• If you have an electric garage door opener, find out where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it.
  
• If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
  
• Keep your car fuel tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
  
• A car battery also can be used with a wheelchair but will not last as long as a wheelchair's deep-cycle battery.
  

P.S. On another power outage-related note, I want to give a shout out to PGE who sent safety tips out to all their customers and posted a basic emergency checklist on their website without any prompting from us. 

photo via flickr user Joe Gatling

Northeastern Oregon Red Cross Welcomes New Leader

I'm delighted to introduce to you the District Manager of our new Northeastern Oregon District - Susan Daggett. I just sent out the following announcement about Susan's hiring to lead our efforts in Morrow, Umatilla, Wallowa, Union and Baker counties:

NEWS RELEASE

October 28, 2008

Contact: Thomas Bruner

Phone: 503-528-5650

E-mail: brunert@redcross-pdx.org

Red Cross Selects Leader 

For New Northeastern Oregon District

PORTLAND, Ore. – Wallowa County native Susan Daggett has been named as the Northeastern Oregon District Manager for the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross effective November 3, 2008. The newly configured Northeastern Oregon District includes Baker, Union, Wallowa, Umatilla and Morrow counties. This five-county region will allow the Red Cross to draw on a larger pool of expertise and skills, provide services more effectively, maximize community resources and increase administrative efficiencies.

As District Manager, Daggett will be responsible for raising funds for programs and services; pursuing new health and safety training opportunities; developing and implementing emergency preparedness plans; building partnerships with community leaders and organizations; and recruiting and retaining volunteers. Daggett will oversee staff in the district’s Pendleton, La Grande and Baker City offices, and ensure that counties without physical offices are well-served and represented.

“As a native Northeastern Oregonian, I appreciate the caring and compassionate attitude of the people of our region, and I am excited to combine these qualities with the Red Cross’ excellence in volunteerism, disaster response and health and safety education,” said Daggett. “Maintaining the vitality of rural Oregon’s communities is extremely important to me, as this is home for my family, friends and neighbors.”

Dagget comes to the Red Cross after 23 years at the Port of Umatilla, where she served as Director of Operations, handling federal and state grants and loans; public works projects; the Port’s annual budget; and marketing of the Port to prospective industries. Prior to the Port of Umatilla, Daggett spent six years with First American Banking Company in Hermiston, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon.

A long-time volunteer, Daggett currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Good Shepard Health Care System and chairs its Community Relations Committee. She has been President and Auction Chair of Altrusa International of Hermiston, and serves on the Two Rivers Correctional Institution Prison Advisory Committee.

“We are delighted to welcome Susan to the Red Cross team in Oregon,” said Thomas Bruner, CEO of the Oregon Trail Chapter and Regional Executive for Oregon. “With her deep knowledge of and passion for Northeastern Oregon, we are in good hands.”

Community leaders serving on the finalist interview panel were Dr. Dixie Lund, President, Eastern Oregon University; Gary Neal, General Manager, Port of Morrow; Bill Hansell, Chair, Umatilla County Commission; and Kari Borgen, Publisher, Baker City Herald. In addition, Kricket Nicholson, Executive Director, United Way of Umatilla-Morrow; and Fred Warner, Jr., Chair, Baker County Commission, provided input into the selection process.

Hero Dog Saves Kittens From Fire

Okay, this might be the most adorable rescue story ever. (Click link to see video.) Maybe even more adorable than the firefighter who gave the cat CPR. 

And it also reminds me that our Breakfast of Champions hero nominations are due! If you know of a local hero - human or animal - you can nominate them to be honored at our annual Breakfast of Champions next Spring. Just click here and fill out the brief nomination form.  

P.S. This also reminds me of this hilarious "dog saves owner" photo from CuteOverload that Niani forwarded me last week. 

Salem Red Cross Is On It!

Kudos to my colleague Karen Schultz, Executive Director of the Willamette Chapter in Salem. Karen's getting the word out about preventing house fires through this op-ed in today's StatesmanJournal.

Learn more, be aware to prevent house fires
Karen Schultz

October 27, 2008

Major disasters such as Hurricane Ike receive a great deal of media attention, yet four out of five Americans don't realize the most common disaster threat is not hurricanes or floods — it's home fires. In fact, each year, more than 93 percent of the 74,000 disasters the American Red Cross responds to nationally are fire-related.

Here in Oregon, the American Red Cross responds to a fire approximately every 12 hours, and volunteers are on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help meet housing, food and medication needs for those who have lost everything. In Marion and Polk counties, the Willamette Chapter responded to 70 disasters last year, helping 99 families get started on the road to recovery.

For a family made homeless by a house fire, their disaster is every bit as devastating as a hurricane of Ike's size. Although we can't prevent a hurricane, we can and must try to prevent home fires.

House fires are caused by a number of factors, most of which are preventable. Part of our mission is to help people prevent fires. The Red Cross recently partnered with the National Fire Protection Association to conduct a survey as part of that effort.

The survey revealed that the majority of Americans (79 percent to be exact) are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes. Forty-eight percent of those who are concerned stated they will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter. Alternative heating sources include portable space heaters, stoves, ovens and fireplaces.

I can't begin to count the number of house fires we have responded to that were caused by alternative heat sources in my 10-plus years with the chapter. What I do know is that almost all of those fires were
preventable. With an economic crisis looming on the horizon, I fear that more people will turn to alternative heat sources as a cost saving measure, which can result in disaster.

In Marion and Polk counties, we have seen a steady increase in our house-fire responses during the past three years. This past year, our local disaster relief fund was depleted in the first six months of our fiscal year, creating a frightening fundraising challenge. Given the severe economic downturn this year, we are very concerned about our ability to keep pace with the needs of our community members. I urge all families to learn more about fire prevention. Please take some time to learn more about keeping your family safe from fire. Fire safety tips are readily available at redcross.org/homefires or firepreventionweek.org.

The time to prevent a disaster from affecting your family is now. If the worst should happen and your family should experience a disaster, please know we will be there to help, just as we have done in our local community for 91 years.

Karen Schultz is the Willamette Chapter executive director of the American Red Cross.

Oregon Trail Chapter CEO Abducted by Aliens

Here is the proof; our "fearless" leader has been abducted by aliens. His whereabouts are unknown. There is a clone now occupying his office which explains a lot of recent behaviors.

The numerous recent trips to less populated parts of the state put him at risk of this abduction, he should have known.

It can be assured that on the 31st of this month many more unusual characters will be seen wandering the halls. After this our fearless leader should return and with it, some manner of normalcy in the workplace as well. At least we can hope…

S.T.E.P. This Way!

The small, coastal city of Warrenton, Oregon (pop. 4,500) is taking big steps toward preparedness. I just learned about their brand new (well, started in July) S.T.E.P. initiative. It stands for Storm, Tsunami & Earthquake Preparedness, and it's all about building a grassroots community preparedness network. (I am so into that.)

Not only do they have a good goal and an adorable logo, they also have a blog! I recommend subscribing to it if you live anywhere near our great rocky shores.  It looks like they post some good coastal preparedness resources. 

And on November 3 -  exactly a week from today -  they'll be hosting an interactive preparedness workshop with  coastal hazard experts. Very cool.

Hat tip to Moss Grove for the info.

Disaster Action Team Responses

A family in Portland had a fire in their house in NW Portland, on Oct.24, 2008. When the Red Cross volunteers arrived they assisted the family of 4 with:
--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--A Client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.

On Oct. 25, 2008 there was a apartment fire in Happy Valley. Four families, 7 adults and 2 children need Red Cross assistance. When the Red Cross volunteers arrived they assisted the families with:
--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--A client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.

This morning, Oct. 27, 2008 a family had a fire in their house in South East Portland. When Red Cross Volunteers arrived they assisted the family of 7 with
--Lodging in a nearby motel.
--A client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.

Red Cross volunteers will give family member comfort kits at a time of a fire, which contain the following for adults:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo, washcloth, soap, Kleenex, and razor.
The children's comfort kits contain:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, shampoo, comb coloring book, crayons, and Kleenex.
The volunteers will give children stuffed animals to comfort them.

Hunter S. Thompson on Minor Toilet Articles

How often do you hear the Red Cross quote Hunter S. Thompson? Well, you will here.

I'm posting this as a follow up to Lise's posts yesterday (yes, that's two separate links) about how you can help the Disaster Relief Fund. But also just because it's just really cool.

Our Wendy at National Headquarters (does anyone actually get the Peter Pan reference I keep making?)  made a totally rad video yesterday. It's witty, it's simple, and it's real. I think it's an awesome thing to forward to all your friends and contacts.

This sort of thing really cuts through the cynicism that I think we all have about if we really can make a difference in the world.

So here you go.  Watch and forward. 

Before another weekend arrives...

Let me recap last weekend.  As you know I attended WhereCampPDX, a conference that brought together nearly 100 innovative, tech-savvy people to discuss topics related to geo-location. Much to my delight, disaster preparedness/recovery ended up being one of the big hot topics. 

In fact, people were so interested that a few of us formed a group to further explore using Web 2.0 tools to connect people and resources in preparation for disaster. Discussion has just begun on http://nowwhatpdx.ning.com. Please join and share your ideas for making disaster preparedness creative and collaborative! 

I also met several mapping experts, including a guy who created real-time maps for the recent California wildfires. Very cool. There are a couple of nice write-ups about the conference on OSnews and DailyWireless.org. 

Slaughter House! This Weekend!

Okay, so it's really not my kind of entertainment, but I know a lot of you out there totally dig haunted houses.  And it is for you that I post this announcement. 

If you go to The Slaughter House haunted house tonight or tomorrow, $2.00 from your ticket price will go to the Red Cross! 

I think it's a pretty cool partnership. It's still not incentive enough to get me to step into one of those creepy places, but you go right ahead! I'll be at home watching happy movies about sunshine and kittens.

Check out the Slaughter House myspace page for more info.

Gone, But Not Forgotten?

So I'm just about out of here, after wrapping up lots of press releases and various projects that Robin will get to take all the credit for while I'm gone. Lucky her.

I'm not sure that I'll have much in the way of computer access in Detroit, though I'll do my best to snag one. However, I will have my Blackberry -- which is outfitted with Twitter -- so I might switch from blog updates to mini-updates on there. If you think you're going to miss me even the slightest bit (and flattery will get you everywhere), sign up to follow us on Twitter and you might just hear a Tweet or two from me.

In the meantime, I'll be leaving you with very capable blogmistress Robin, who I'm sure has lots of post ideas. I know she has stuff on her list that she hasn't gotten to in months, so perhaps me being out of the office will give her a chance to catch up (hint, hint).

With that said, I leave you with a song...dedicated to Robin and all my OTC friends. See you in November!

Calling All Facebook Users!

This just in!

The Western Union Foundation recently announced a partnership, Our World Gives, with Facebook to give its members the opportunity to vote in support of their preferred non-governmental organizations. Naturally, the list includes the American Red Cross. The charity picked by the Facebook community will receive $50,000 from the Western Union Foundation.

If you read my last post, you'll see that we could really use the 50 grand. And all it takes is you logging on to Facebook, going to the Our World Gives app and voting for the Red Cross. And then sharing it with your friends who will share it with their friends and so on.

It's super easy, doesn't cost you a penny and is a great way to show your support of the work that we do. What's stopping you?

And, yeah, I totally added it to my Facebook page and sent it to folks already. I'm not a huge Facebook user, so if I can do it, I'm am 100% sure that you're capable of doing it as well.

Pessimist Or Optimist?

Are you a "glass half full" or a "glass half empty" person?

I'd say that I'm the former; somewhat of an eternal optimist. So when I saw the news that the Red Cross Campaign for Disaster Relief has reached the $50 million mark, I thought to myself, "Yay! We're halfway there!"

On the other hand, I could have just as easily said that we have a long way to go. And we do. There's another $50 million needed before we reach the $100 million campaign goal. And that, my friends, is a lot of moola.

2008 has been a busy year, with Midwest floods, California wildfires and hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. In fact, our chapter still has three Oregonians deployed for Hurricane Ike relief efforts.

So if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, STOP, DROP and ROLL (hee!). But if you've got money that you just want to give to a good cause, think of us.

With your help, the glass could be all the way full in no time.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Youngstrom

Your Three-Minute Trip To Africa

To follow up on my post about the Believe in Africa campaign, I thought I'd share this video created by the IFRC. It's definitely upbeat and positive, so I'd say they're on the right track already.

Do You Believe In Africa?

Today is the final day of the 7th Pan African Conference. Actually, given the time difference between Oregon and Africa, I'm pretty sure it's over by now. But I digress...

During the conference, 53 African National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies talked about today’s humanitarian priorities in Africa and set the agenda of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement for the next four years.

The conference was also the launchpad for a new campaign called Believe in Africa. Essentially, the IFRC (and many others) are concerned that media coverage of Africa focuses on war, famine and poverty almost to the exclusion of everything else. And there appears to be some anecdotal evidence to back this up -- you can see the analysis here.

So what is the IFRC doing to change this perception? Without trying to distort the news agenda, they are working to promote more positive images and success stories from the continent. And to emphasize the developments that are continuously taking place, there's a Good News For Africa competition now open to professional (African) journalists. You can see the rules here.

A friend of mine just got back from Nigeria and is headed off to Somalia in December. I haven't heard a recap of his experience just yet, but I have seen an awful lot of photos and -- despite the hardships -- there were a ton of smiles. So far, he's had nothing but wonderful things to say about Africa and its people, making me believe that there are indeed plenty of uplifting stories to be found.

They're Here: Halloween Safety Tips!

As previously mentioned, I'll be in Detroit for Halloween. And even if I was here, I'm slightly (just slightly, mind you) too old for trick-or-treating.

But I'm betting we all know some kids who aren't.

If you have kids, know kids, give out candy, drive a car, are a human being, etc... I'd urge you to check out our spankin' new Halloween safety tips page:

www.oregonredcross.org/halloween

And if you speak Spanish, you can check out a similar guide right here:

www.oregonredcross.org/nochedebrujas

Trick or treat safely!

Photo courtesy of Paranoid Black Jack

This One Goes Out To Juan de Fuca

Because today marks the 140th anniversary of the first Great San Francisco Earthquake (the one in 1868, before Nature decided to one-up itself in 1906), Wired published several fascinating articles on earthquake technology and history. 

First, this video podcast on earthquake-proof technology at the University of California's Earthquake Engineering Research Center. Those machines are gigantic! It's cool to see how the first building they shake crumbles and the next - identical - building stands strong. 

And then two galleries of historic photos from the 1868 Quake and the Ten Deadliest Quakes in U.S. History. The point is not just to gawk at the damage, but to learn from what happened in the past.

Because, thanks to the Juan de Fuca plate, we in Portland are as much at risk of a big quake as San Francisco. So remember - as quake researcher Nick Sitar says in the video - the old advice to duck under your desk is still good. 

Making More Blog Friends

I like making blog friends, especially ones who make yummy coffee.

I've actually been a closet fan of Nancy Rommelmann for quite some time now. She's a really outstanding journalist, she contributes to Portland Food and Drink, and she brews a mean cup of joe for her business, Ristretto Roasters (which just opened a new location steps away from the Chapter!).

Well, Nancy's also interested in preparedness, which makes me like her even more. Just yesterday, she posted on her blog about reading our friend Amanda Ripley's book, The Unthinkable, and how it inspired her to want to take a CPR/first aid class and put together a "go kit."

I invited Nancy to stop by the Chapter and say hi and she turned around and gave a nice shout-out to Cross Blog at the bottom of her post.

Thanks Nancy! When you come back to actually take your class, we hope we'll get to chat preparedness...and Portland restaurants!

AmeriCorps Romance, Take One

You already know of my enthusiasm for helping people find love in CPR class.

In the past, I've perused the CraigsList missed connections (not for me, I swear!) and picked out posts where our humble little blog might be able to help out. You can see past posts (though the ads are long expired) here and here.

Anyway, this time, I have a very special treat -- an AmeriCorps missed connection!!

As you know, here at the Oregon Trail Chapter, we administer the AmeriCorps program and help place volunteers at non-profits around the state. So if anyone knows the AmeriCorps members and can help this romantic find true love, it's definitely us.

So, Mark and Jen, help away...and let us know if you get good results!

Trick or Treat or...Um, is there a third option?

Yep! The Red Cross Youth have come up with the idea to ask for Disaster Relief Fund donations instead of candy on Halloween. They've even made a customizable flier that explains the whole idea.

It's a cool plan. As long as people are knocking on doors, they may as well help a good cause.  I bet they'll pick up a fair amount of candy along the way too.

Photo via flickr user itchys

Chefs Master How To Deal With Disaster

I'm not normally an Esquire Magazine reader, but who doesn't love knowing the Best New Restaurants of 2008? But the part of the issue that most interested me were the following two stories (from "The Other Awards"), which highlight how chefs roll with the punches during a disaster.

MOST RESOURCEFUL RESPONSE TO A MAJOR STORM
When Donald Link realized that the sudden temperature swings during Hurricane Katrina had "cooked" the wine in the cellar of his restaurant, Herbsaint, he did what any practical, country-raised cook would do: He made vinegar. He now uses it at his new place, Cochon, to turn out some of the best pickled vegetables I've ever had--fresh and crisp, with a deep sense of place. My favorite use: the Bloody Mary, garnished with pickled okra and laced with some of its tangy jar juice.

SECOND-MOST RESOURCEFUL RESPONSE TO A MAJOR STORM
Three years later--about six weeks ago--New Orleans was shut down by another storm, Gustav. With no deliveries and only minimal refrigeration provided by generators, chef John Besh drove into the countryside, from farm to farm, gathering whatever ingredients he could. For the next few days, his restaurant, Lüke, opened for lunch serving only makeshift specials like rabbit-stuffed bell peppers in pecan sauce. He served 150 people the first day.

I love these examples of how disasters make you think outside the box, sometimes inspiring incredible ideas along the way.

Oh, and thank goodness I just ate lunch. I'd be hungry all over again after reading that article.

P.S. Portland's own Beast made the "other" list for "Most Tolerable Example of the Communal-Table Trend."

Grover Has Been Busy Lately!

You remember this candid interview with Sesame Street's Grover, right? Well, it turns out Grover has been doing a lot of thinking about preparedness lately.

He and his friends made a series of videos for the Sesame Workshop's "Let's Get Ready" series aimed at helping 3 - 5-year-olds learn how to be prepared.  The videos and accompanying activity books are all available - in both English and Spanish -  for free at www.sesamestreet.org/ready. 

And I have to say, they're really cute. I put the first video on in the background while I was working, and now I totally have the "how to remember your first and last name" song stuck in my head.

I don't have any kids of my own, but I certainly know a cute three-year-old whose parents I'm going to forward this to!

(And yes, Grover did take some advice from Red Cross experts while he was researching for this series.)

Celebrating Halloween in Detroit?

Yep, it's true -- I will be in Detroit for Halloween. Sounds scary, huh?

But don't be worried about me. I'll be spending time at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference and then with my former college roommate, checking out my favorite Motor City haunts like this place.

I hope to come back with some new ideas for how our chapter can communicate with all of you; a greater appreciation of Portland (as much as I love it...it's DETROIT); and maybe I'll have done a little Red Cross Spotting of my own.

If you're a comms person who's going to the conference -- Red Crosser or not -- please get in touch, as I'd love to meet up. And if you have any interest in following along with the conference, which starts on Friday, you can follow it on their blog or on Flickr and Twitter.

Photo courtesy of toddalert

In Case You Missed It

Red Cross CPR expert Connie Harvey was on The Today Show this morning. It was a great segment, complete with a heart-warming story and a basic CPR/AED crash course for host Matt Lauer.

Questions answered in this segment:

• What if I really don't think I can do mouth-to-mouth?

• Why should I be singing while doing CPR?

Watch below or here.

Disaster Action Team Responses

On Oct. 18, there was a four-plex fire in Astoria. When the Clatsop County Red Cross Volunteers arrived they assisted 5 individuals with :
--A nearby motel.

On Oct. 19, there was a house fire in Knappa, when the Clatsop County Red Cross Volunteers arrived they assisted the family of 4 with:
--Lodging in a nearby motel.
-A client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.

Save The World. For Real.

Just as I was in the midst of creating some tech-centric business cards to take to WhereCampPDX tomorrow, I stumbled across this super cool Lebanese Red Cross ad.

Sleek, simple, and it sends a clear call to the digital generation(s) to get involved. I like it! 

Volunteer Gives 7,000 Hours to Red Cross

Volunteers: If you totaled up how many hours of your life you've spent working on behalf of the Red Cross, what would you get? A couple hundred? A thousand? More?

Well, Eileen Hadbavny has spent an impressive 7,000 hours of her life volunteering for the American Red Cross, which is why she was just honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Eileen has been a Red Cross volunteer for 20 years in both the Montgomery-Floyd Chapter (Blacksburg, VA), and the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter (North Charleston, S.C.). A nationally registered Red Cross nurse, she serves as the Lowcountry Chapter Health Services lead, helping ensure volunteers are properly trained in Disaster Health Services. Elaine also serves as the Health Services Representative for the Disaster Action Team, and is chairman of the Services to Armed Forces and International Services Committee. She provides annual deployment and hurricane briefings to military members and their families.

As Eileen says, "I came to the Red Cross because I believe in the fundamental principles that the Red Cross follows of serving humanity not just nationally, but internationally, as well."

Congrats Eileen -- what an honor!

Don't Leave Home Without Your Documents

If you've been following the news about the California wildfires, you might have also seen that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order to waive fees for replacement documents for fire victims.

In short, this means that the half a million people who had to evacuate and leave behind state-issued records can get them replaced without (as much) difficulty.

California will replace birth, death, marriage and divorce records for free. The state Department of Motor Vehicles will also waive fees for drivers’ licenses, car registrations, and other vehicle records. The governor’s order also waived the waiting period for unemployment assistance: people who live in fire-affected areas can immediately start collecting unemployment.

If you don't live in California, this is still an important reminder. Be ready in case you ever have to evacuate your home by putting together a “grab and go” box of important documents, like state-issued records, financial and insurance information, and a photo or video inventory of your belongings.

A while back I found this great link that really lays out what types of documents you should have ready to go. Check it out.

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Cool Combo: Water Bottle / Flashlight

OMG! Check out this weirdly cool piece of prepare-aphernalia. 

It's a water bottle and flashlight combined. AND it's solar powered, which satisfies my love for gadgets both handy and eco-friendly.

You can get it at ThinkGeek.com

Thanks to Danelle for the tip! 

We Traveled The World.

Here it is. The video you've all been waiting for.

I actually think it turned out pretty cool.

(Yes, I used canned music, and I'm not ashamed!)

And a reminder, for more photos you can check out the flickr set. 

Disco Could Save Your Life

OMG. This might be the most awesome CPR-related news ever!

Health & Safety team, do you think you can start sharing this important research in your classes? I think it might, uh, "liven" things up a bit.

Disasters Change Lives. You Can Too.

The Magic Fryer video came from last year's hurricane season, but this year's is still ongoing. Just to give you a little visual reminder of what the Red Cross has done (and continues to do), here's a photo montage that's been put together.



If you are interested in supporting Red Cross efforts, I'd urge you to check out the new campaign page that has been created. It's a central place to find out all the ways you can give, see photos/video and download avatars, banners and other web resources.

It's A Great Truck, Ain't It?

Now you can check out a Red Cross emergency communications vehicle with the help of YouTube's Magic Fryer, a 16-year-old who has made an astounding 162 videos on a variety of different topics.



I agree...it's a great truck. I wish I had one, too!

Jigsaw Says, "Give Blood This Halloween"

Let me be clear -- the Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region is not participating the SAW V blood drive. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up and have them be disappointed when they find out that they can always GIVE, but just not in conjunction with the movie promotion.

But for those of you who live in other parts of the country or just those who (like me) think this is a terrific way to get a new group of blood donors into the Red Cross, I give you the decidedly non-creepy PSA from Tobin Bell, who plays master of horror Jigsaw in the movie:



Those who participate in the drive (find out where you can give from this page) will walk away with a warm, fuzzy feeling as well as a $2 off coupon for the movie.

And if you question what's in it for the Red Cross from this partnership, think about 80,000 pints of blood donated and 235,000 lives saved. That little horror flick has sure done good...

Trouble the Water Comes to Portland

What do you have planned this weekend?

If you've got nothing on your agenda, you might be interested in stopping by Cinema 21, where Trouble the Water -- an award-winning documentary about Hurricane Katrina -- is playing.

When I read the Willamette Week's review, I noted that the film's producers met their subjects in a Red Cross shelter. That meeting was fateful; Kimberly Roberts and her husband Scott had extensive footage of the storm as it happened, taken on a handheld from an attic in New Orleans' Ninth Ward.

According to the article, the producers ditched their original outline and took on the Robertses’ story, relieving the couple of camera duty as they blended Kimberly’s clips with their own and extended the scope of the Robertses’ coverage, following them to a family home in Memphis and doubling back to New Orleans.

The film sounds powerful, heart-breaking and well worth seeing. It also won the 2008 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, so it's bound to get big attention. We might try to organize a team film night; if you see it, let us know what you think.

Want a sneak peek? Here's the trailer:

Where did this come from?

Where did this come from? 

What kind of instrument is she playing?

Where did they get those outfits?

Name that dance!


Get the answers and many more photos of our One Red Cross Multi-Cultural Day here. I'm also working on a video of all the awesome performances. (I was going to just throw a recap video like this together quickly today, but that wouldn't be doing this fantastic event justice. )

I Lost My Home And 40 Years Worth Of Art

I felt a sharp pang of sadness when I heard Carl say those words.

It seems like you hear a lot about people losing things like photographs or heirlooms in disaster. But art? I'd never thought about how it must feel to lose your whole life's creations in one moment.

As you may know, the American Red Cross is responding to more wildfires in Southern California. This video is one way to get the message out about the human impact of those fires.

So please watch it. And send it to your friends who like to draw, design or create anything. (And by that I mean ALL of your friends. We're all artists at heart, right?)

Slow Blog, Busy Day

I didn't really intend to have a slow day on the blog, but it kind of turned out that way. One of the best reasons for a lack of postings, however, relates to what Robin will be putting together for tomorrow.

This afternoon, we had one of the very best all-staff meetings yet -- our One Red Cross Multi-Cultural Celebration. I have to say that I went into it not expecting all that much; I had heard talk of a parade and some performances and ethnic cuisine, but I had no idea that our Diversity Task Force had put together such a powerhouse event.

I was completely blown away by the time and energy the DTF must have put in to get such outstanding results. The performances were incredible, the food was great, the native clothing was spectacular. And, as you'll soon see, it personally made me want to take up salsa dancing (Cecelia, if you're reading, can you schedule some lunchtime tutorials for Red Crossers?).

With that said, I'll leave it to Robin to share the photos and video that she captured. I guarantee it will inspire you and I sincerely hope it will get the other Red Cross chapters and blood regions around the country wanting to embrace diversity and create their very own multi-cultural celebrations.

If you were there, make sure to tell us what YOU thought of the event!

Image courtesy of Salsa Crazy Portland

One More Reason To Get An iPhone

For a couple of months now - much to the annoyance of my friends and coworkers - I've been singing constant praises of my new iPhone.  But now I have the ultimate justification for my iCrush...

The iPhone could save your life.

iPhone Atlas staffer David W. Martin posted a great write-up today about how his iPhone helped him through Hurricane Ike. 

David used applications like Weatherbug and Twitterific to stay in touch and informed. But one of the coolest applications he mentions is called 1st Responder.  It allows one-touch 911 dialing, stores your medical alert information (like an allergy/diabetes bracelet, but digital), and even gives instructions for basic First Aid techniques (not to replace actual in-class training of course, but it would be a good reminder reference). 

Not mentioned in David's list is my favorite hurricane-related iPhone application - Weather Underground's tropical storm tracker.  But that's okay. He lists a ton of other great ones. Read about all of them here.

Disaster Action Team Responses

In Beaverton, last night there was a duplex fire. When the Red Cross volunteers arrived, both families had a place to spend the night. Today, one of the families realized they did need help, and called the Red Cross. When the volunteers arrived they helped the family of 2 adults and 3 children with:

--3 nights lodging in a nearby motel.
--Client assistance card to shop for food and clothing.
--Adult comfort kits containing shampoo, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor,
Kleenex, and a washcloth.
--Children Comfort kits containing shampoo, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, Kleenex,
washcloth, crayons and a coloring book.
--Stuffed animals to comfort the children.

Helping Military Families Cope With Deployments

Did you know that Oregon is one of only 16 states (plus Washington, DC) to offer the Red Cross' new Coping With Deployments: Psychological First Aid for Military Families course?

The course was developed in collaboration with Disaster Services and subject matter experts from the Department of Defense, and its goal is to provide military families with resources on how to deal with the stress of deployments, especially for those families who are living away from a military installation. Here in Oregon, that's often the case.

Part of the reason I tell you this is because Bob Porter, one of our disaster mental health volunteers, stopped by my office minutes ago. He is one of only two people who were selected for a special “Train the Trainer” session at national headquarters and now he's prepared to teach the course in other states and/or mentor other approved volunteers as they teach the course.

As I type this, Bob and Laura Fields (of the Joint Family Support Assistance Program) are meeting to determine when and where the first classes will be held. This should be a very rewarding new venture -- stay tuned!


P.S. Just to be clear, this course is not offered to the general public, nor should it be taught to service members or veterans alone without family members present. Family members include those who self identify as spouses, children, parents, siblings or significant others of the servicemember or veteran.

Look Out For A Global Warming Land Rush

Oregonians have been known to complain when people move here from out of state, most particularly when they come from California. Remember that Tom McCall quote?

But the real question is, are we ready if Oregon -- already desirable for our natural beauty and relatively reasonable housing prices -- becomes a haven for climate change refugees?

Not sure what this means? Here's how The Oregonian sums it up:

"What if the American Southwest dries up, browns out, and those people now misting their patios in Arizona head to the still-green Pacific Northwest? What if Californians hit the road north in numbers far surpassing the 20,000 who now move to Oregon each year? What if the polar ice melts, oceans rise and millions living along coastal areas -- or ravaged by Katrina-like storms -- have to move?"

A United Nations group and other researchers estimate there are now 20 million to 25 million "environmental refugees" -- people displaced by drought, storms and floods. Here's a quick look at some of the problems the rest of the country has to deal with:

California and Southwest: More frequent and more intense wildfires, extended droughts, shortened snowpack season and hard competition for water, declining air quality with increased health challenges.
Great Plains: More extreme weather events bring more droughts and floods.
Northeast: Rising sea level menaces coastal urban infrastructure, especially transportation systems. Extreme rainstorms raise concern about hurricanes, in greater intensity and frequency.
Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic coasts: Rising sea level and increased storm surges stall coastal development and threaten estuaries and ecosystems.
Gulf Coast: More frequent high-intensity hurricanes, inundation of coastal wetlands, saltwater intrusion from rising sea level creates "ghost forests."

Source: U.S. Global Change Research Program

So what does this mean for us? More disasters = more refugees = more Oregonians = more help needed from the Red Cross. Not to mention our local volunteers responding all over the country as other communities are affected. And if you've forgotten the Red Cross position on global climate change, you can read it here.

Take the time to read the article yourself. I think you'll find it fascinating.

Illustration by Eric Baker/The Oregonian

Because I Like Bringing You Random Things...

A fellow Red Crosser sent me a link to these shoes calling them "part boot, part Ace bandage."

The jury is still out on whether they're "fashionable," but I can't help but think they might be useful in a pinch if you needed an impromptu tourniquet or splint wrap. 

So there you go. Part fashion, part prepare-aphernalia. 

The British Are Podcasting! The British Are Podcasting!

[Er, that was supposed to be a play on Paul Revere's famous quote. Or rather, misquote.]

Our friends at the British Red Cross have just begun podcasting. Take a listen to the first episode, which just happens to be about the Traces Of Hope game I've been blogging. 

Don't be fooled by that American accent. It's the voice of Katrina Crew, native Californian who is now part of the British Red Cross crew. (Sorry, Katrina...I'm sure you've heard that pun too many times before.)

The series, featuring Red cross stories from the UK and around the world, will run every other Friday through November 21.

Photo via Flickr user 13bobby.

Sailors Can Do It. Now I Can, Too!

Tying a bowline knot. I'm willing to bet you'll never see it explained as simply as this.

As LifeHacker.com points out, a bowline knot is "strong enough to put around someone's waist and pull them out of the water, or hold down heavy objects." Sound like a very useful preparedness skill to have! Watch and learn:

Disaster Responses

There was a fire at a house in Portland on Oct.11, 2008. Because, the single adult could not stay in his house, the Red Cross was called. When the Red Cross volunteers arrived they helped the individual with the following:

--Three nights lodging at a nearby motel.
--A client assistance card to get food.

On Oct. 11, 2008 Red Cross volunteers supported a search and rescue operation at Triple Falls on E. Columbia River Hwy. The Red Cross volunteers provided Self Heating Meals to support the first responders who were retrieving a body of a hiker.

New Documentary On The "Donut Dollies"

Thanks to Julie for tipping us off to this new documentary coming out this Veteran's Day weekend (Nov. 9th).

It's all about the "Donut Dollies" - Red Cross women volunteers during the Vietnam War.

From the official movie website:

They came of age at the dawn of the women’s movement, stepping out of conventional roles to take a route away from the expected. Young, adventurous, idealistic, and committed, they were a breath of fresh air in the dusty firebases and sweaty base camps of Vietnam. They were the Donut Dollies, and their job was to distract US soldiers on the front lines with games, songs and a listening ear. Heirs to a Red Cross recreational program started in World War II, the Vietnam girls didn’t have donut machines, but with a never-ending smile, a listening ear, and a collection of silly games, they delivered a touch of home to the combat zone.

You can watch the trailer here and if you're in the Washington, D.C. area, attend the premiere!

Cross Blog Shines In The Spotlights

If you'd been following us on Twitter, you'd already know that my PR dreams came true last night when we took home a PRSA Spotlight Award for Cross Blog!

We worked really hard on our entry and I had a good feeling when society prez Darcie Meihoff mentioned a project in her opening speech that "gets the word out about safety and preparedness." Hmmm...how many of THOSE can there be?

You can see a photo of the award above. I wish you could all touch it -- not only because each of you has contributed to our success, but because it's HEAVY! You'd be impressed.

So, once again, THANK YOU to our fellow Cross Bloggers, to our readers, our fans, our tipsters and to everyone who has joined in the Red Cross conversation that we have here everyday.

I hope that you continue to read, learn, laugh and enjoy what we've created -- we couldn't be more proud of this blog and we're so happy that others like it as much as we do!

P.S. If you work here in our HQ building, you can try your hand at lifting the award. It's in the admin area, right on the counter.

Third Message from Traces Of Hope

I just got another message from the Traces Of Hope game. Looks like it's another intercepted message to "Alan Hackston." I think this one is from "Sukie" again, but I'm not sure.

I think maybe I'm supposed to contact this "Sukie." The numbers must be some sort of clue as to how.

Anyone got any ideas?

Message returned while talking to
extranet1###6#alertquantumsatnet.org:

>>> DATA

<<< 564 5.3.7 Message redirect engaged. Forward to LKA.

Remote-MTA: DNS; extranet1###6#alertquantumsatnet.org

Diagnostic-Code: HMTP; 554 5.1.1, Status: 5.7.4 Last active address

Hi,

Is everything alright, Alan? I thought you’d have checked in by
now. Can’t get through to you at all on your satphone.

I’ve talked to some of our people in the field and they said
you’ve been there, but they don’t know where you are now.

Get in touch – there may be peace talks in place, but it’s still
not a totally safe environment.

Hope everything’s okay…

S x

Don't Be A Doofus

Dan Doofus, that is. Poor Dan doesn't know how to prevent fires. But he's learning! 

I watched these short Fire Prevention Week cartoons on my way to work this morning and totally loved the retro-style animation. (Not to mention useful tips.) 

Thanks to my friends at Red Cross Chat for pointing them out!

Kitty Practices CPR

Okay, not for real. But I just had to post this photo from icanhazcheezburger.com. It's good to start your Friday off with a little bit of cute. 

It seems that I'm starting a collection of these CPR/disaster lolcats. It's gonna drive grammar-geek Lise crazy! Haha!

UPDATE: Traces Of Hope

I've been meaning to blog this, but it's been a hectic few days. 

The other day I got the second email from the Traces Of Hope game. This time it seemed to be an intercepted message to "Alan Hackston" from a "Sukie Edmonson." It said:

Re: Hey!
(messagesSPLATquantumsat.com, Tue Oct 7 11:01:53 2008)
Message returned while talking to satms26.quantumsat.com:

>>> DATA

<<< 554 5.7.1 Message redirect engaged. Forward to LKA.

Remote-MTA: DNS; satms26.quantumsat.com

Diagnostic-Code: HMTP; 554 5.1.1, Status: 5.7.4 Last active address

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your email the other day, sorry it took me so long to
reply, been snowed under here as ever! Can’t believe you’re
managing to use a satellite phone, thought you didn’t really get
along with technology. Glad to hear you’re surviving Uganda so far
(apart from the tummy bug…but then you have a weak stomach..remember
Brighton? Lol.) So I’m just about to check out your linkd in
profile.

All the best and take care of yourself!

Sukie.

Sukie Edmondson.

So far my new gamer friends and I are sort of lost as to what this clue means. I did a Google search for "Sukie Edmonson" and nothing showed up. 

In more promising news, though, "Alan Hackston" has posted a map of Hopetown on his flickr page. Looks intriguing for a future clue...

I'll keep you posted, and if you want to help this clueless blogger (me) out, you can register to play here.