As the Boston bombings tragically reminded us, terrorism is a real threat in our society. Events like this cause us to be more aware of our vulnerability, but we should keep safety in mind at all times.  Suspicious activity can happen anywhere, anytime, and keeping an eye out and reporting anything odd to the authorities can save lives.

No matter where you’ll be this summer, you can play a part in keeping large-scale events and attractions safe for everyone. If you see any unattended packages, backpacks, briefcases, etc. that look suspicious, call your local police – even if you are uncertain of their significance. If it is an emergency, dial 911 immediately. You should also alert authorities if you notice any of the following behavior:

• Surveillance using video recording or monitoring activities, taking notes, using cameras, maps or binoculars near key facilities or events.
• Suspicious questioning in an attempt to gain information regarding a facility or people who work there.
• Testing security in attempt to penetrate or test physical security or procedures at a facility or event.
• Attempting to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, uniforms, badges, flight manuals, access cards or identification.
• Suspicious people who do not appear to belong at a workplace, neighborhood or business establishment.
• “Dry Runs,” which entail behavior that appears to be preparation for a terrorist act, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios with other people, monitoring key facilities/events, timing traffic lights or traffic flow.

To learn more about keeping yourself and your community safe from terrorism, watch the If You See Something, Say Something video.

Ready Georgia: Why are volunteers important after an emergency?

In the state of Georgia, every disaster is coordinated by the county’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and they can be supported by the state and federal levels, depending on the severity of the situation. But EMAs only have so many people to do the work. In addition, it can take time for state and federal resources to become available. Volunteers fill that gap by providing people and resources to help with a variety of tasks immediately after a disaster.

Ready Georgia: What does Georgia VOAD do?

Georgia VOAD is made up of about 25 faith-based and volunteer organizations that work together to help with whatever need there may be. That includes everyone from The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross to groups like Catholic Charities Atlanta and Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief.

After a disaster, we coordinate with state agencies to find out what the need is and which organizations are best equipped to fill that need. We and our partner organizations can provide trained people, resources and funds for relief efforts. We’re not firefighters or EMTs, but we do have volunteers who are trained to support them.

For example, after a disaster, there are typically many people who want to volunteer and help. The EMA can ask our groups to come and set up volunteer reception areas to organize those volunteers and make sure they are sent where they are most needed. Without organization, the response wouldn’t be nearly as effective. Same thing with water, food and other supplies. We have people trained to keep track of the supplies and distribute them properly.

Ready Georgia: How important is it for volunteers to be trained in advance?

It’s very important. Disaster areas can be dangerous, and we want volunteers and victims to be safe, so having people ready in advance who know what to do is crucial. VOAD and our partner organizations have volunteers trained in a variety of skills, whether it’s crowd control, administration, construction or spiritual/mental care. Many groups issue cards to show that people have been trained or certified, and many perform background checks as well. Whatever emergency situation is out there, we have people that can fit the bill.

Ready Georgia: How much of a difference does it make when people are prepared?

It makes a tremendous difference. For example, if they have a three-day supply of water or food, then that’s something we don’t have to worry about immediately, and we can focus our efforts elsewhere. The more people who are prepared for situations like this, the easier it is for everyone to get things back on track. That’s true of businesses, too. I know Ready Georgia has a business continuity guide that can help businesses get prepared.

There’s really just a lot of hurting people in each of these situations, and each of them have their own stories, and they need to be helped. That’s what this whole system is about. We’re dedicated to helping them from right after a disaster hits until two years later when the last piece of sheet rock is hammered in place.

Many people are interested in helping after disasters, but it’s even more helpful if you are trained and prepared in advance. If you would like to get involved in an organization that helps your community respond to emergencies, like a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), visit our Local Emergency Management Links page. You can also find out more information about the organizations Mike mentioned at the Georgia VOAD website. 

Gov. Deal has proclaimed April as National Financial Literacy Month. One of the goals is to ensure that Georgians are as prepared as possible for unexpected financial circumstances, including those that can come as the result of a natural disaster.

Financial responsibilities don’t stop when disasters hit. Even if your house is leveled, your monthly mortgage payment is still due, and becoming delinquent on bill or loan payments could hurt your credit in your time of need. Even if you can’t go to work, you’ll still have to support your family, and unfortunately, you may even have to deal with medical bills. It’s easy to see how financial burdens can be one of the most stressful aspects of recovering from a natural disaster.

The good news is that there are steps you can take now to make recovery easier:

1)      Make copies of all your important documents (homeowners insurance policy, bank account information, etc.) and store them in a waterproof container in a secure location, like in your Ready kit.

2)      Keep some cash in your Ready kit. In the event of a disaster, your area may not have power. In this case credit cards would not help you, and banks and ATMs may be closed.

3)      Keep an inventory of all your valuable items with serial numbers, warranty information and photos. This will save you a major headache when filing an insurance claim.

4)      Back up important computer files. Your computer can be replaced, but the information stored on it cannot. Use online back-up storage to safeguard your files and documents.

5)      If you don’t already have one, create a savings account. Savings are a great way to be financially stable and ready for anything unexpected that comes your way.

Being financially ready for a disaster makes it easier to get back on your feet and cuts down on the stress caused by an unexpected emergency. As tax season comes to an end, many of us will be receiving a little extra money. Instead of spending your refund at a fancy restaurant or on new clothes, consider putting it in savings or using it to help you prepare financially. If the worst happens, you will be so glad you did.

When is the last time you changed the batteries in your smoke detector? Or gathered emergency supplies? Just as you’re careful not to miss a single nook or cranny, make sure you don’t overlook these important steps to keep you and your family safe.

These tips will help you keep your family safe and prepared for emergencies and severe weather:

• Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced once a year. You should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your house.
• Replace the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio. NOAA Weather Radios can be purchased at any electronics store.
• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
• Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut. Make sure security gratings on windows have a fire safety opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
• Use your vacuum hose to remove lint from behind your dryer – this is a common fire hazard.
• At the National Hurricane Conference this week, flood preparedness was a heavy topic of discussion. Keep family photos, important documents and other beloved mementos in a waterproof container and store on the top shelf of your closet.
• Make sure your home is well insulated and that you have weather stripping around your doors and window sills to keep cool air inside. This is especially helpful when during those scorching Georgia summers, and it will help with your power bills!
• Identify the best place in your home for you and your family to take shelter during tornadoes and other severe storms. This could be your basement or the most interior room in your home. Keep in mind that your safe place needs to be on the lowest floor of your home and could be a bathroom or closet. Try to avoid rooms with windows if possible.
• Create a family communications plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes. Establish a designated meeting point and develop a plan for contacting one another.
• Create a Ready kit. Collect the emergency items your family would need in an emergency. Some examples include: non-perishable food, water, a flashlight and a first aid kit. You might already have many of these items spread throughout your house, so you should have no trouble finding them now that it’s clean. Once you create your Ready kit, store it in a safe place, like your newly organized closet!

May 21, 2011, was a beautiful Saturday in Joplin, Missouri. Families were hosting barbecues. Tabatha and Aaron Garbet were getting married. Missouri Southern State University’s class of 2011 were getting their diplomas. Tragically, just 24 hours later, the small town would be devastated by an EF-5 tornado that killed 158 people, making it the seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

More recently here in Georgia, a very strong EF-3 tornado ripped through Bartow and Gordon counties on Jan. 30, killing one person and damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.

Tornadoes, perhaps more than any other type of disaster, emphasize the need to prepare in advance. The violent storms can strike quickly and with little warning. In Joplin, many residents were caught off-guard because the weather was clear and sunny for most of the afternoon before the storm hit.

Although tornadoes can strike at any time, March, April and May are the most active months for tornado activity in Georgia. There’s not a better time to prepare. To help you get ready, here are some steps to take so you won’t be caught off-guard:

• Pick a place where family members could gather if a tornado is headed your way. It could be your basement or, if there is no basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered.
• If you are in a high-rise building, you may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building.
• Assemble a Ready kit.
• Find out how you can receive severe weather alerts from your local emergency management agency. In addition, purchase NOAA Weather Radio, which is the best way to find out about tornado watches and warnings, even if you are asleep. You can also monitor commercial radio,  television and the Internet for the latest weather forecasts, or download the Ready Georgia mobile app.
• Tornado WATCHES and WARNINGS are issued by NWS. A tornado WATCH means a tornado is possible in your area. A tornado WARNING means a tornado has been sighted and may be headed for your area. Go to safety immediately.

After a tornado, many of the most pressing questions have to do with your insurance coverage. The Georgia Insurance Commissioner recommends the following tips to minimize your struggles after a storm:

• Make a list of all valuables and photograph or take video of your possessions. Keep copies in a safe place outside your home. If your home is damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, it may be difficult for you to tell your insurance agent what you lost without proof.
• Keep your insurance policy numbers and your agent’s phone number in a safe place, and contact your agent or insurance company immediately after a disaster.
• Protect your property from further damage. For example, if your roof is damaged, cover it with a tarp to prevent water damage from subsequent rain. Most policies will not cover such damage.
• Make sure you understand the difference between actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost coverage for your contents, and obtain the coverage that best suits your needs. An ACV policy replaces contents at cost minus depreciation. If you have replacement cost coverage, your contents will be replaced at today’s prices.
• For more information about insurance, visit www.oci.ga.gov.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to think about what you would do if a tornado struck your home. Today is a normal day, but so was May 21 in Joplin.

Today is Flood Safety Day, and just like every other day during Severe Weather Awareness Week, we are encouraging you to take one simple step to prepare. Today, we recommend copying your important documents and sealing them in a watertight, portable container, like a plastic bag.

Floods have the potential to cut you off from your home and catch you off guard. After a disaster, it’s important to have information about your insurance policies, identification and bank account records. By copying your documents and placing them in a secure location today, you can make sure that you will never be left empty-handed. It’s also one of the items that we recommend including in your Ready kit.

Once you’ve got your documents copied and stored, take a look at some of our other recommendations for preparing for floods, including learning about flood insurance. Finally, if you are driving during a flood watch or warning, keep in mind the slogan Turn Around Don’t Drown. Nearly half of all flood-related deaths occur when people drive into floodwaters and their vehicle is swept off the road. It only takes 2 feet of water to sweep away most vehicles, and it’s often difficult to determine how deep the water actually is.

There are a lot of myths about lightning, but since today is Lightning Safety Day, we are encouraging you to remember one important safety step: the 30/30 rule.

The 30/30 rule says you should go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. You should also stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

Does that seem a little extreme? Keep in mind that lightning is the No. 3 weather-related killer in Georgia, and that lightning bolts can strike as far as 15 miles from the thunderstorm.

Once you’ve got the 30/30 rule memorized, here are a few more lightning-related myths and facts to keep in mind:

Myth: If trapped outside and lightning is about to strike, I should lie flat on the ground.
Fact:  If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, keep moving toward a safe shelter. If that’s not possible, go to the lowest nearby area and make yourself as small a target as possible, but don’t lie flat on the ground.

Myth: Structures with metal, or metal on the body (jewelry, watches, etc), attract lightning.
Fact: Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes absolutely no difference.

Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100 percent safe from lightning.
Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity. This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows.

Myth: A lightning victim is electrified. If you touch them, you’ll be electrocuted.
Fact: The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.

Find out more about common lightning myths and how to prepare for lightning.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), tornadoes are the No. 1 severe weather-related killer in Georgia. They have proven to be some of nature’s most violent storms, appearing with little warning and generating wind speeds that can exceed 250 mph. That’s why it’s important to practice how and where to take shelter.

In honor of Tornado Safety Day, we encourage you to take one simple step today toward preparedness: identify a safe place in your home where you could take shelter during a tornado.  Do you have a basement? That’s the ideal spot for a safe family gathering during a tornado, below the deadly wind and projectile objects. If you can’t go underground, find a small interior room or hallway on the lowest level of the building, preferably one with no windows. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby sturdy building to take shelter. A mobile home is not safe in a tornado.  And if you’re in a high-rise, find a hallway in the center of the building.

Remember, a storm can strike suddenly so the best way to protect yourself and your family is to have a predetermined safe place.

More importantly, don’t wait for the sound of thunder before you take steps to stay safe in the storm. Today, take a few minutes to look around your yard and identify which outdoor objects you would need to secure when a storm is approaching. Then look up and check your trees for loose branches that could fall and cause harm in high winds. For extra credit on today’s assignment, call a tree inspection service to make sure that your trees are all healthy.

Governor Nathan Deal has declared Feb. 4-8 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia. Each day this week, Ready Georgia will encourage you to take one or two simple steps that will make sure you are ready to weather whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

Today is Family Preparedness Day. Whether your household consists of you and a pet or four kids, a grandparent and three pets, I have two simple suggestions to help you prepare:

-          Determine a family meeting place

-          Buy a NOAA weather radio

Family Meeting Place – Your family’s emergency plan should include at least two meeting places: one in your neighborhood and one outside of your neighborhood. The first one is where your family will meeting in the event that you have to evacuate your home due to a fire or another disaster that only affects your house. The other is a meeting place where your family can reconnect following a flood or tornado that affects a larger area.

Buy a NOAA weather radio – If a severe thunderstorm or tornado develops in the middle of the night, how will you know? The best way is to have a NOAA weather radio that can alert you to the threat of severe weather. This purchase could be the best investment you’ll ever make, and it pays off immediately by providing peace of mind that you’ll know when to take shelter. NOAA weather radios are available at grocery stores, discount stores and online retailers. Many models cost approximately $25-$30.