RIA Offers Tips for After the Tornadoes and Storms

Editor Note:  Our prayers are with the families of Georgia and Alabama as reports of damage and loss of life continue to come in.  

/PRNewswire/ -- With such a large area of the U.S. affected by the tornadoes and storms pummeling the country, the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) has these tips for individuals now working on cleaning up in the aftermath:

* Notify your insurance company of the loss.
* Keep a notebook to track dates and times of conversations with individuals pertaining to your claim.
* Save receipts for meals, hotels, toiletries, replacement clothing, prescriptions, etc.
* Take photos of each room for future reference and insurance claims. This will provide a digital inventory of some visible contents.
* If electrical appliances, including televisions and computers are damaged by water, do not turn them back on when power is restored. This can result in electric shock and/or do further damage to the appliance. Electronics can often be cleaned & restored by knowledgeable contractors.
* Drywall, insulation and carpeting/padding impacted by rain will probably need to be removed and replaced.
* Beware of scammers offering restoration services. Check references and visit the Restoration Industry Association website – www.restorationindustry.org – to find a contractor.
* Homeowners with appropriate insurance coverage may hire any restoration company they choose and are not limited to only those suggested by an insurer.
* Wear heavy rubber gloves or work gloves and thick-soled shoes, preferably not tennis shoes since there can be exposed nails, glass and other sharp objects.
* Wash your hands frequently – especially before touching your face or eating.
* Avoid cross contamination – don't wear dirty clothes or shoes to the clean or undamaged part of a structure.
* Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
* Don't use bleach to disinfect since it is corrosive and can react with other substances. Use household disinfectants.
* Open windows to ventilate the area. Open drawers and cabinets for interior drying, but don't force them open.
* Remove standing water from flat surfaces by sponging and blotting.
* Hard surfaces can be disinfected as well as some soft goods, depending on washability.


For clean up tips, information on hiring a contractor, and restoration & remediation in general, visit the RIA website at www.restorationindustry.org and click on the Consumer link.

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Fayetteville Police Offer Safety Tips for Holiday Shoppers

The Fayetteville Police Department would like to offer some tips to help you be more aware during the Holiday season. It’s that time of year! Shopping during the holiday season can present unique dangers when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other crime. Taking a few prevention measurers can help keep your holiday season joyous.

Shop during daylight hours whenever possible.

If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

Valuables and packages left in vehicles should be kept out of sight.

Lock your car and close the windows, even if you will be away for only a few minutes.

Watch your purse, wallet and checkbook while you shop.

Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

Do not let people distract you (some thieves work in pairs-while one person asks for your help reading a label or retrieving items off of shelves the other is sealing your stuff).

Always double check that the sales clerk returned your credit card and driver’s license.

Never let your credit card out of your sight.

Be cautious of money scams (putting your money with their money, cashing a check for someone).

Drive safely and always wear your seatbelt - even on short trips.

Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

Be alert to any activity near your car.

Report suspicious activity immediate!

Do not be afraid to call 911; that’s what we are here for!

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ATF Launches Text-Based Crime Tip Submission System

/PRNewswire- -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, today announced the launch of a text messaging crime tip submission system. During the course of this six-month pilot program, crime tips can be submitted anonymously by text message to ATF's Joint Support and Operations Center for review and processing.

The general public will benefit from the easy to use, anonymous system that will allow them to readily relay information from any cell phone. ATF will benefit from an increased flow of real-time intelligence, which will enhance its investigative capabilities and help keep communities safer.

To submit a crime tip, one can begin by texting a message with "ATF" in the body of the message to the number "274637" (CRIMES).

The initial submission will trigger an auto response from the secure transaction server. The text sender will receive a response, including a unique code number, which must be remembered for encryption and identification purposes. The sender and ATF coordinator may then elect to engage in a secure and encrypted two-way dialog with no additional keywords being required.

The sender can also text "STOP" to the number "274637" (CRIMES) at anytime to pause the system. This is helpful in situations where you cannot be replied to by ATF. If you send "STOP" to the short code number, messages from that point will not get a reply, but are received by ATF. Any new text messages would require repeating these steps from the beginning, utilizing a new code number generated by the system.

For additional information on ATF's SMS text messaging capability, please visit http://www.atf.gov/contact/sms/. For additional information concerning submission of crime tips to ATF, please refer to http://www.atf.gov/contact/hotlines/.

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Smoke Alarm Maintenance How To’s

(BUSINESS WIRE)--With their proven ability to double your family’s chance of surviving a residential fire, smoke detectors are one of the most valuable fire safety tools on the market – yet we tend to take them for granted.

“Smoke alarms are such a common presence in our homes that it’s easy to just expect them to work every time”

“Smoke alarms are such a common presence in our homes that it’s easy to just expect them to work every time,” says CableOrganizer.com product specialist Christina Hansen. “But like many other devices and appliances around the house, smoke detectors require regular cleaning and maintenance to function effectively.”

To ensure the best smoke detection possible, CableOrganizer.com offers these 5 easy tips for keeping household smoke alarms tuned up, properly powered, and ready for action:

* Dust and contaminants can interfere with a smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, so clean all detectors in your home at least twice a year. Use your vacuum cleaner’s long upholstery wand to clear away any dust or cobwebs that have settled around the detectors, and – if possible – vacuum out the smoke alarms’ interior compartments as well.
* Don’t wait for that high-pitched chirp to annoy you into changing smoke detector batteries; instead, keep a standing annual date with yourself to replace the battery in each smoke alarm. Try choosing an easy-to-remember date that has personal significance, like a birthday, anniversary, or the day you turn your clocks back from Daylight Savings Time.
* Remember that smoke detectors don’t last forever. Outdated smoke alarms can randomly fail, so it’s important to stay on the safe side and replace all household smoke detectors every 10 years. If you’ve lived in your home for less than 10 years but aren’t sure how old the existing smoke alarms are, don’t take any chances with your safety – switch them out for new units immediately.
* Test smoke detectors monthly by pressing their “test” buttons – if the alarm sounds, everything’s working fine. If you’d prefer extra reassurance, test your alarms with actual smoke. All you need to do is light a candle, blow it out, then immediately hold it a few inches below the detector, allowing a trail of smoke from the just-extinguished wick to drift inside the unit and trigger its alarm.
* If a particular smoke alarm is sounding frequently even when there isn’t any smoke in the air, don’t disable it – instead, investigate the cause of the false alarms. Oftentimes you’ll find that the smoke detector is located too close to the kitchen or bathroom, where cooking fumes and steam can trick it into going off even when there’s no danger. Relocating the detector a little further away should solve the problem; however, if the false alarms keep occurring, you could be dealing with a faulty smoke alarm, in which case it should just be replaced.

Consumers may order a wide selection of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors online at http://CableOrganizer.com or via toll-free telephone at 1-866-222-0030.

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CPSC Urges Caution With Heating as Winter Weather Arrives; Carbon Monoxide Deaths on the Rise

/PRNewswire/ -- As families look for ways to save money in tough economic times, there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings and fire deaths associated with the use of alternative heating and power sources. The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to check all home heating systems from fireplaces to furnaces, including any back-up power systems.

Heating systems were associated with an average of 32,900 fires and 200 fire deaths per year from 2004-2006. This includes local fixed heaters, portable heaters, central heating systems, and fireplaces and chimneys.

CO deaths have been on the rise since 1999. On average there were 181 unintentional non-fire deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer products per year from 2004-2006 compared to 123 from 1999-2001. Heating equipment and portable generators are among the top contributors to CO deaths.

Portable generator-related deaths have risen more than 400 percent in recent years from an average of about 16 deaths per year in 1999-2001 to 75 deaths per year in 2004-2006. In 2004-2006, 41 percent of consumer product-related CO deaths (an average of about 75 deaths annually) were generator-related and 35 percent (an average of 63 deaths per year) were heating system-related.

To prevent CO poisoning tragedies from occurring, CPSC urges consumers to:

-- Schedule a yearly professional inspection of all fuel-burning home
heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves,
water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents.
-- As a second line of defense, install carbon monoxide alarms meeting
the requirements of UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon
Monoxide Alarms or CSA 6.19 Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming
Devices in the home. Make sure the batteries are fresh and working.
Replace the batteries annually at the spring or autumn time changes.
-- Activate the test button on the CO alarm monthly to ensure proper
operation.
-- NEVER operate a portable gasoline-powered generator in an enclosed
space such as a garage, shed or crawlspace, or in the home.
-- Keep portable generators as far away from the home as possible -- away
from open doors, windows or vents that could allow deadly carbon
monoxide into the home.
-- Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards
and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These
heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features. An unvented
gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if
oxygen levels fall too low.
-- Do not use portable propane space heaters indoors or in any confined
space unless they are specifically designed for indoor use. Always
follow the manufacturer's directions for proper use.
-- Never use gas or electric stoves to heat the home. They are not
intended for that purpose and can pose a CO or fire hazard.


CPSC also urges consumers to follow these home heating safety tips to prevent fires:

-- Place space heaters on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface such as
a ceramic tile floor, not on rugs or carpets. Keep the heater at
least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture, and other flammable
materials, and keep out of the flow of foot traffic. Keep children
and pets away from space heaters.
-- To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go
to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn
the heater off if you leave the area.
-- Never use gasoline in a kerosene space heater. Even small amounts of
gasoline mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of a fire.
-- Have fireplace flues and chimneys inspected for leakage and blockage
by creosote or debris.
-- Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open
until the ashes are cool. An open damper may help prevent build-up of
poisonous gases inside the home.
-- Store fireplace ashes in a fire-resistant container and cover it with
a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles.
Dispose of ashes carefully keeping them away from combustibles, dry
leaves or trash.

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Protect Yourself from Stalkers

/PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 10 percent of women and two percent of men in the United States have been stalked with an average risk of physical violence incidence of nearly 40% - Rosenfeld, B. "Violence Risk Factors in Stalking and Obsessional Harassment."

Stalkers with a prior intimate relationship are more likely to verbally intimidate and physically harm their victims than strangers, with the potential for violence four times higher than strangers. The strongest risk factors for violence are: 1) threats and intimidation; 2) the existence of prior intimate relationships; and 3) substance abuse. The emotional damage of stalking and threats increases the prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression among victims. The incidents of stalking increase during stressful economic environments and is reflected in increases in Cyber-stalking.

Employers can, and have been, held responsible for protecting employees against stalkers and domestic violence, which can be costly in terms of liability and loss of productivity. Companies should establish policies for educating employees and procedures anonymous reporting to protect privacy and safety of victims or potential victims. If someone believes they are being stalked, they should take action, including

-- Obtain a private Post Office (P.O. Box) for all mail, including
magazine subscriptions and the use the P.O. Box on your driver's
license. Do not file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service,
notify friends, utilities and others directly.
-- Set-up Google or other search engines alerts for your name to monitor
online traffic and remove your personal information availability
online such as telephone number, address, etc.
-- Sign up for your state's address confidentiality program and obtain an
unpublished and unlisted phone number and avoid calling toll-free 800,
866, 888, 877 and 900 number services.
-- Don't list your name in an apartment building directory, use a
variation for visitors
-- Be very protective of your Social Security number and alert the three
credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. Put a fraud alert
on your credit reports to avoid fraudulent access.
-- Make a police report and keep a log of every stalking incident. Save
all communications for evidence. Do not edit or alter them in any way.
-- Consider getting professional counseling and/or seeking help from a
victims support group.
-- If you are a victim of Cyber-stalking, act promptly and firmly to
defuse the situation. Take potential threats seriously.
-- If you are receiving unwanted contact, make clear to that person that
you would like him or her not to contact you again.

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Disaster Preparedness Tips for Businesses in Paths of Tropical Storms Hanna and Ike

BUSINESS WIRE --Agility Recovery Solutions, a provider of disaster recovery and business continuity services, issued its top-five disaster preparedness tips every business in hurricane-prone states should take in advance of a storm:

1. Create an employee communication plan.

Create a phone and e-mail tree for all employees and their spouses or closest relatives, including personal e-mail addresses and phone numbers at potential employee evacuation sites. Make sure employees know ahead of time how to exchange or obtain information should standard lines of communication fail.

2. Assess your critical business functions.

Evaluate and document company functions and determine what processes, employees, equipment and materials are critical for your daily operations. Prioritize these functions and determine a process for restoring them.

3. Plan for an alternate location.

Devise a plan for recovery if your office is inaccessible. Where would you go to continue basic operations? Alternate site options include your home, a branch or second location, the site of a similar business or a vendor that provides mobile office recovery.

4. Back up your data and plan to restore your technology.

Make sure to store your data in an off-site, safe and secure location, preferably 50 miles or more from your site. Verify that you are able to retrieve your data. Outline a plan to replace PCs, software, servers, printers and fax machines should your office be affected.

5. Assemble an emergency disaster recovery kit.

An emergency kit should contain items such as fresh water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, battery-powered radio, first aid kit and copies of important documents and records.

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News to Use in Fayette, Coweta, Atlanta and all of Georgia

Have Emergency Communications Plans Ready as Hanna Stalks Georgia

PRNewswire/ -- With Tropical Storm Hanna threatening the Georgia coast, Verizon Wireless urges residents to have their emergency communications plans in place. The company offers the following tips:

-- Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged - in case local power is lost - well before warnings are issued.

-- Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for back-up power.

-- Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.

-- Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers - police, fire, and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co- workers; etc. - and program them into your phone.

-- Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.

-- Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be away from your home or have to evacuate.

-- Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free-up wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations.

-- Send brief text messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons as above.

-- Check weather and news reports available on wireless phone applications when commercial power is out.

Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to reach landfall by Friday of this week. The storm already has begun to churn the ocean waters off the Southeast coast. Over the Labor Day weekend, numerous rescues by lifeguards were carried out along the beaches of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina all due to the dangerous rip currents.

"It's clear that Hanna will have some impact on our region, but preparation and communication will help lessen any problems the storm throws at us," said Jeff Mango, region president for Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama. "We prepare our network all year long, spending more than $110 million across these two states in 2008 to date, to be ready for storms and other emergencies. We work hard to ensure Georgians can use their phones when and where they need it."

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