During 2008, most of us will attend or plan a large number of meetings. Take time at every meeting – even sixty seconds! – to further safety and preparedness. Here are some suggestions:

- Teach and/or practice a preparedness skill (first aid tips; whistle & flashlight safety code; Drop Cover and Hold)
- Point out safety features (shutoffs, exits, supplies)
- Gather information from staff (emergency contacts; special needs; helpful skillsets)

By making it a regular part of your normal staff meetings, you can help preparedness become an expected and respected part of your organizational culture.

From all of us at CARD, we wish you a safe, prepared and prosperous 2008!

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For many people, the last week of December often offers some downtime. Whether it’s a slower pace at work or just taking some time off, there are many enjoyable ways you can further your preparedness at a leisurely pace. Some suggestions:

1) Enjoy some quality Couch Potato Preparedness by watching some old MacGyver episodes. Being resourceful is often more important than having resources.

2) Learn how to mediate, relax, breathe deeply and let go of stress. Being able to get calm and focused in a crisis is an overlooked preparedness skill.

3) Take some extra time to reconnect with, and appreciate, the special people in your life. Being part of a united, supportive community is one of the greatest emergency resources you can have.

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As 2007 comes to an end, there’s still time to transform the level of safety and preparedness at local nonprofits with a tax-deductible donation. If you have leftover funds in your personal or business charitable donations accounts: PLEASE consider earmarking them for nonprofit readiness! Your dollars can help your favorite local agencies prepare their staff, volunteers and vulnerable consumers. As little as ten dollars can provide whistles for everyone in a small agency. A $50 donation can provide a loudspeaker for a nonprofit with no other mass-communication system. If you don’t have a favorite agency to support with your preparedness dollars, call CARD and we’ll be happy to recommend agencies that truly need and will welcome your support.

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Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of his radio equipment in London on December 12, 1896. Exactly 5 years later, Marconi sent the first transatlantic radio signal from Cornwall, England, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, ushering in a new era of speedy and accurate communication.

Radios can be extremely important in an emergency. They can provide immediate information about what happened, where to go, and how to secure help or supplies. Include a portable radio in your emergency supplies, along with fresh batteries. Mark the frequency of your local emergency radio station with a sticker, and program pre-set buttons on car radios. Hand-crank and solar powered radios are battery- and stress-free, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional models.

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In 1992, the UN established December 3rd as “International Day of Disabled Persons” to increase understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. The UN hopes the observance of this day will raise awareness of the benefits of fully integrating persons with disabilities into society.

View your office from the perspective of disabled consumers. Is it easy to reach and enter your office? Are pathways clear and navigable – with no hazards or obstructions? Are escape exits clearly labeled and accessible? Are staff and volunteers properly trained to assist people with disabilities in an emergency? If you answered no to any of these questions, take action! Aspire to move beyond being ADA-compliant to being ADA champions!

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On November 26, 1973, Rose Mary Woods (President Nixon’s personal secretary) testified in federal court that she accidentally erased 18 ½ minutes of the Watergate tapes. With no backup system, this potentially critical data was lost forever. Losing critical information due to human errors and disasters can cause great financial loss, create breaches in trust and otherwise undermine your efforts to serve your community.

Check to see that key organization and personal information — especially computer files — are adequately backed up. Have one or more places off-site to store data; invest in jump drives or other alternate storage devices; and ensure that your files won’t be lost if a single system or network goes down. Always make sure all crucial data exists in multiple places.

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In November 1960, a patent for an alkaline dry-cell battery (still common today) was issued to its 3 inventors. This new battery offered a significantly longer life span than older technology. Today’s alkaline batteries are 60% more powerful than that original generation.

Check out the batteries you have on hand, making sure you have the right kind and right amount of fresh batteries available. Label their dates: common alkaline batteries have a shelf life of 5-7 years (refrigerating doesn’t help much). Over time, alkaline batteries leak. Reduce the chance of leakage by not mixing different battery types in the same device, replacing all batteries at the same time, storing them in a dry place, and removing batteries from devices for storage. For a greener approach, use rechargeables!

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On November 12, 1936, the Bay Bridge from Oakland to San Francisco opened to traffic. Today, many commuters rely heavily on the bridge, and issues from minor bottlenecks to major breakdowns happen whenever it is not usable. If you have bridges, tunnels or similar potential bottlenecks in your community, be sure you have viable alternatives worked out before an emergency. Map out the different routes in to and out of your area. Have the schedules and information numbers for transit alternatives such as buses, trains, ferries and ride-sharing opportunities readily available. Make your organization more resilient by sharing and posting these solutions and resources with all staff, volunteers, partners and vendors.

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The organization One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has developed a simplified, $200 laptop (the XO) in order to spread educational tools among the world’s poorest children. These laptops, which are not for public sale, have limited size and speed, but are highly durable — and can run on solar, crank or other power sources.

In November 2007, OLPC will allow donors in North America to pay for two laptops and keep one (the other goes to a poor child in a targeted country). If your circumstances are such that even a limited laptop could be crucial during power outages, learn more about this potential resource. Be sure to investigate the details of the XO, and the program, at laptop.org and xogiving.org

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On October 28th, 1998, the internationally-acclaimed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa released its report on the Apartheid era. The report emphasized responsibility, honesty and forgiveness as keys to a better future. Both victims and perpetrators of decades-long violence and abuse were ultimately given opportunities to speak openly about their experiences, and the environment created by the TRC is credited with helping to move the nation forward. Disasters often cause breaks in trust, with little attention given to the need to reconcile, so future preparedness efforts are built on a broken foundation. Consider using the TRC approach and set aside a time and place for your staff and those your organization serves to air their grievances, resolve issues and create a new future — without shame, blame or anger.

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