Pet Planning

Our pets aren't just pets--we consider them family members. That is why we always think of our furry friends!

In planning for hurricane season, do not forget your pets. If an evacuation is necessary, the Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to make arrangements to evacuate their animals. Official shelters do not allow pets. If you have to evacuate, make other plans for your pets, such as staying with family, friends, veterinarians, or kennels in safe locations.



The following are some planning tips for pets, prior to an evacuation:

• Be prepared to take your pets with you. Animals depend on us for their survival, much as children do. It could be days or possibly weeks before you are able to return home. This type of delay could cause the death of your pet by starvation or dehydration.
• Identify your pet. Securely fasten a current identification tag to your pet's collar. It's a good idea to also attach a phone number of a friend or family member who is well out of disaster range to your pet's collar.
• Be sure your pet's rabies and other vaccinations are current. Boarding kennels will require proof of these vaccinations before accepting your pet.
• Photograph your pet. Carry a photo of your pet for identification purposes.
• Transport your pet safely. Use secure pet carriers and keep your pet on a leash or in a harness.
• Find a pet-friendly hotel. Because most emergency shelters do not admit pets, call hotels in a safe location and ask if you can bring your pet. If the hotel has a no-pets policy, ask the manager if the hotel can waive the policy during the disaster.
• Foster your pet. If you and your pet cannot stay together, call friends, family members, veterinarians, or boarding kennels in a safe area to arrange safe foster care.
• Have supplies on hand. Be sure to pack a week's worth of food, water, medication, cat litter, or any other supplies your pet needs on a regular basis.
• Plan your evacuation and leave in plenty of time. Do not wait until the last minute to evacuate. When rescue officials come to your door, they may not allow you to take your pets with you.
• Remember emergency responders are trained and required to save human lives, not animals. They may be taking physical and legal risks if they stop to help your animals.
• Carry a list of emergency telephone numbers with you. This should include your veterinarian, local animal control, local animal shelters, the Red Cross, and any other individual or group you might need to contact during the disaster.

Content Credit: http://www.scdhec.gov/administration/ophp/hurricane/pets.htm

-Denea Duran

Hurricane Preparedne​ss Week

Are you prepared for a hurricane? What would you do? These are questions that you should have answers to because hurricane season is fastly approaching. This week is Hurricane Preparedne​ss Week and we will give you safety tips on what to do in case of an emergency!

Two keys to weather safety are to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials. These are essential pieces to the Weather-Ready Nation.

Refer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) ready.gov/hurricanes for comprehensive information on hurricane preparedness at home and in your community.

Gather Information-

Know if you live in an evacuation area. Assess your risks and know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. Understand National Weather Service forecast products and especially the meaning of NWS watches and warnings.

Contact your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office. Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond.

Contacts

Keep a list of contact information for reference:
Local Emergency Management Office

• County Law Enforcement
• County Public Safety Fire/Rescue
• State, County and City/Town Government
• Local Hospitals
• Local Utilities
• Local American Red Cross
• Local TV Stations
• Local Radio Stations
• Your Property Insurance Agent

Plan & Take Action

Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if water, gas, electricity or phone services are shut off?

Supplies Kit

Put together a basic disaster supplies kit and consider storage locations for different situations. Help community members do the same.

Emergency Plans

Develop and document plans for your specific risks.

• Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan - [PDF] [Google Docs]
• Be sure to plan for locations away from home
• Business owners and site locations should create Workplace Plans
• Make sure schools and daycares have School Emergency Plans
• Pet owners should have plans to care for their animals. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offer information on animal health impacts in evacuation shelters.
• Prepare your boat and be aware of marine safety if you are on or near the water.

 

Evacuation

• Review the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines to allow for enough time to pack and inform friends and family if you need to leave your home. FOLLOW instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!
• Consider your protection options to decide whether to stay or evacuate your home if you are not ordered to evacuate.

When waiting out a storm be careful, the danger may not be over yet...

Be alert for:

• Tornadoes – they are often spawned by hurricanes.
• The calm "eye" of the storm – it may seem like the storm is over, but after the eye passes, the winds will change direction and quickly return to hurricane force.

Recover

• Wait until an area is declared safe before returning home.
• Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process.

Resources

• FEMA - Are You Ready? Guide
• National Weather Service Weather Safety
• Be a Force of Nature with NOAA's Weather-Ready Nation
• NWS Storm-Ready Sites & Communities
• Ready.gov Kids
• American Red Cross

Content Credit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php

-Denea Duran

10 tips to stay motivated

If you're like me then you're probably kicking yourself now that summer is right around the corner. I really wanted to have a beach body but it has been a task getting motivated to go to the gym. If I'm not going to a Zumba class then, let's be honest, I really don't want to be there. Here are some tips that have kept me motivated (and, believe it or not, really good at going to the gym! ).

This also helps with motivation to conquer the treadmill! 

1. Make it a Routine: The nature of a routine is that after a while it becomes mechanical, or just something you do, which eliminates the need for daily internal pep talks. Maybe that's what Nike meant when they said, "Just Do It."

2. Set Goals: For runners training for a marathon, a regular exercise routine is essential to success, and is therefore motivating. This can be true for more moderate goals, such as running a mile or increasing the amount of weight you're lifting from five to eight pounds.

3. Reward Yourself: You are your own teacher, so give yourself a gold star for a job well done (or a well-deserved pedicure?).

4. Make it Fun: Exercise doesn't have to be boring. Spice up your treadmill experience by making a playlist of your favorite music, or by downloading a personal training session online. Or forget the gym and turn up the music and let loose in your own living room.

5. Switch It Up: A sure way to lose motivation is to do the same exact thing everyday. Keep it interesting - take a belly dancing class, a martial arts course or just take a nice long walk to a new area of town.

6. Keep Going: Push through those off weeks when nothing seems to be going your way. Go easy on yourself, but don't give up entirely, even if that means taking a 15-minute walk or going to the gym and sitting in the sauna for 20 minutes; just stay in the game.

7. Be Positive: Focus on feeling good and the high that comes from an intense, sweaty workout. Don't concentrate on how much it hurts, how tired you are or how much you would rather be lying on the beach with a frozen drink.

8. Visualize Success: Take a few minutes before your workout and see yourself enjoying the exercise; visualize it coming naturally and easily to you. Top Olympic athletes practice this technique regularly with great success.

9. Feed Your Soul: Exercise not only your body, but also your mind. Yoga is a great way to engage both - it can stabilize your mood, and even improve your endurance. Or get outside and take a walk, touch the leaves and breath in the fresh air.

10. Know the Benefits: Remember that exercise gives you energy; it strengthens your bones, muscles and joints; it lowers risk of heart disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes, and helps control blood pressure, prevent weight gain and fend off depression and anxiety. In short, exercise makes you feel good and on the inside and out. Remembering that should make it easy to stay motivated.


Content Credit: http://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/exercise-10-ways-stay-motivated

-Denea Duran

Myth-busting: Lightning

After seeing my dog Charlie shove her face (the only part of her body that would fit) under my bed during the storm last night, I found myself with inspiration for today's blog. You see, I wish I could have told my terrified pup that we were completely safe and that she was not facing her final hours. As silly as she seemed, though, I couldn't help but think that we act similarly. We often approach storms with too much or too little fear because we don't know the facts. So please take a moment to test your knowledge and enjoy some lightning myth-busting.

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place twice, especially if it’s a tall, pointy object. The Empire State building is struck nearly 25 times per year!
Myth: If clouds aren’t over my head and it isn’t raining, lightning poses no threat to me.
Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles outside of the thunderstorm and has been known to travel as far as 10-15 miles before striking the ground.
Myth: “Heat lightning” occurs after a very hot summer day and poses no threat.
Fact: “Heat lightning” is just a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away to be heard.

*Don't forget to fill out the poll on our home page about how you heard about SERVPRO. We'd love to hear from you!

Sandy Hayden

We're ready for whatever happens. Are you?

The best way to handle an emergency is to be ready before it happens. In no way does this require a worrisome worst-case-scenario mindset, but simply a few steps of preparation.

In the case of a serious emergency, you may be in a situation requiring you to survive on your own. It may be a few hours or even days until help arrives. This is why it is imperative to keep an emergency kit on hand in case of such an emergency. Here are some suggestions for what to keep in your kit:

1. Water – You want enough for three days. Be sure to allow a gallon per person per day.
2. Food – At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food.
3. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert – Be sure to have extra batteries for both.
4. Flashlight and extra batteries
5. First aid kit
6. Whistle – This is valuable for signaling for help.
7. Dust mask – This helps filter contaminated air.
8. Moist toilettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
9. Wrench and pliers to turn off utilities.
10. Can opener – This is only necessary if you have canned food in your food supply.
11. Local maps
12. Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
13. Waterproof matches

*Photo courtesy of http://www.presentationmagazine.com/newimages/be-prepared-510.jpg

Fun Friday!

Happy Friday! In the spirit of a penny saved is a penny earned, check out this recipe for homemade laundry detergent, brought to you by Why Not Sew (my domestic playground).
*It is advised to use these utensils for detergent making only.
You will need:
1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers
Grate your bar of soap into your pot.
Fill the one gallon jug and pour water into the pot with grated soap. Cook until the grated soap dissolves.
Add the Borax and washing soda.
Bring to a boil. It will coagulate.
Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water. Stir well.
Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container. A funnel helps tremendously.

Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. 1/2 cup per load is suggested. With the prices of detergent being outrageous, a batch of this goes a long way.
This won't make many, if any, suds. Suds don't necessarily mean something is cleaned. This detergent cleans wonderfully!
$6.00 per 576 loads isn't half bad...

-

Sandy Hayden



Call Me Maybe?!

 Which video was better? Was it the SMU Womens Rowing Team or Harvard Men's Baseball! 

OR...............

-Denea Duran



Happy Wednesday!

We thought you might need to laugh today! It sure made us giggle!

-Denea Duran



National Peace Officer Memorial Day

Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. We want to pay our respects to each and every fallen officer. Also, we would like to thank every officer that has to put their life on the line everyday for our safety. THANK YOU!

Today is especially close to me because in 2009, California suffered a massive lost when 4 police officers were killed. This was said to be one of the worst days for law enforcement in California history.  Sergeant Ervin Romans, a personal family friend, lost his life doing what he loved "protecting citizens."

Sergeant Ervin Romans and Sergeant Daniel Sakai, SWAT team members, were killed when they attempted to apprehend a suspect that had earlier in the day shot and killed Sergeant Mark Dunakin and mortally wounded Officer John Hege during a traffic stop.

At approximately 1:15 pm, Sergeant Dunakin and Officer Hege, patrolling on motorcycle, pulled over a car on a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing the officers. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.

The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

At approximately 3:30 pm, the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.

Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but when that failed a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend him. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fired with a rifle, killing Sergeants Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.

It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. At the time of the incident he had a no-bail parole warrant.

             
Seregeant Ervin Julius Romans, II

Sergeant Mark Thomas Dunakin

Sergeant Daniel Takashi Sakai

Police Officer John Raymond Hege



Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/19879-sergeant-ervin-julius-romans-ii#ixzz1uxTT37o7




-Denea Duran

Fun Friday: Happy Mothers Day

First and Foremost, I would like to acknowledge all of the mothers in the world. Happy Mothers Day and may your day be filled with the love you bring into your childrens lives.

"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love." ~Mildred B. Vermont


Here are a few DIY projects that everyone can make for their Mothers Day Gift. The best part about it is that it is afordable and cute!

Photo Vase DIY

They will have several colors to chose from…just pick your favorite! I found the product to be easy to work with and quick. I love a quick transformation. A few bare wood picture frames and some wood glue is all you will need….here we go…



A soft cloth, rubber gloves and a work surface you don’t mind getting messy is helpful. Squirt your Color Express out and dip your cloth in the stain. Rub onto the wood…wiping off the excess. What I love about this product is the ability to have a rich color…but yet still see the grain of the wood. I found it to be smooth and even too. It is water-based…so easy cleanup! The stain also dry’s quickly. I only did one coat…but you could do a few to make the color more intense.



When the 4 frames are dry you can glue them together. A thin bead of wood glue does the trick.

I stood mine up on newspaper and allowed it to dry. You can touch up any spots you may have missed with a sponge brush.


I picked out four pictures (from past summers…oh their little faces…sigh…) and popped them in the frames.

A favorite flower in a glass jar or vase…can be placed in the center.





http://cleverlyinspired.com/2012/05/diy-photo-vase-sponsored-by-minwax-express-colors/

Easy Candle Upcycle

Do you have candles that look like this? If the answer is yes then you can do something with

your candles that are so creative.

This was such an easy project to do. I can't believe I never did this before.

All I needed to get were these wicks from Michael's and one new glass container. I decided to get a new glass container because it was only $1 and I needed something clean to pour the first candle in. Then you can start cleaning out the old ones and reusing those glass jars.

Step 1: Melt your first candle down completely. I put mine in a pot of boiling water. It only took about 5 minutes for the candle to turn to liquid.

Step 2: Place the new candle wick in your clean jar. I wrapped it around a popsicle stick so it wouldn't fall over.

Step 3: Pour melted wax into new jar. Let cool completely.

Step 4: Once the first layer of wax was completely hard, I melted the next candle down on the stove and poured it over the first layer. Repeat with one more layer or until your glass container is full.

Step 5: Cut the wick. Burn and enjoy your new candle!!

Hope you all enjoy!

-Denea Duran

Fight the Flu

 

Don’t be fooled, influenza (or, the flu, as we commonly call it) is fairly likely to impact your holidays, as one in five Americans suffer from it every single year. According to Pride Staff, the flu, combined with pneumonia, is the nation’s 8th leading cause of death. So what can you do take preventive actions to stop the spread of germs and shield yourself (and others) against the flu?

• One of the first and most important preventive actions you should take is getting a yearly flu vaccine. Don’t know where to get one? Flu.gov has a flu vaccine finder that is very helpful!
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. No tissue? Aim your cough/sneeze into the bend of your arm.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. This, my friends, is how germs are spread.

Those are the basics, but what about everyone else? How can you help others do the same? Try these actions:

• Encourage great hygiene among your family members and coworkers.
• Put up posters addressing prevention: how to stop germs from spreading, how to recognize cold/flu symptoms, etc.
• Identify local resources for flu shots and make this information available to coworkers.
• Stock up on hand sanitizer/anti-bacterial wipes and make these available to others.
• Wipe down all flat surfaces: keyboards, mouse, phone and common areas daily.
• Use hand sanitizer after shaking hands with others.
• Contact your office janitorial service to see if they offer any special treatment or processes to prevent the spread of cold/flu germs.

Don’t wait.

Sandy Hayden

Image Credit: My Home Remedies
Content Credit: Pride Staff

8 Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips

Why wait to make a New Years resolution to go green in the laundry room? You might find it’s easier than you think! Check out these great tips on how it’s done:

Control the Temperature

About 90% of the energy associated with doing laundry involves just heating up the water. Simple fix: Just turn that dial to cold.

Wash Full Loads

Even the most energy-efficient loads use 40 gallons of water. Reducing the number of loads you do each week will save water and money. If you find yourself doing eight or more loads of laundry each week, skipping just one will save over 10% on your laundry costs.

Upgrade to Energy Efficient Washer and Dryer

This is not permission to go out and replace your current machine that’s running just fine. (But nice try!) If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer, buying an energy efficient model can save both water and energy (and did I mention lower your bills).

Switch to Natural Detergents and Stain Removers

Natural products tend to be free of chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrance, dyes, and optical brighteners. What’s in them? They’re usually plant (not petroleum) based, contain biodegradable surfactants, and are often specifically formulated to perform well in cold water. Be sure to read the fine print when shopping.

Choose Non-Chlorine Bleach

Use in the home isn’t quite as detrimental for the environment as industrial use (like bleaching paper), but chlorine bleach can irritate skin and eyes. Most non-chlorine bleach is hydrogen peroxide. You can buy branded versions, or just stick to the 3 percent version sold in drug stores. And doing so will really add up. In fact, if every U.S. household replaced just one 64–ounce bottle of chlorine bleach with non-chlorine bleach, we could prevent 11.6 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment.

Rethink Dryer Sheets

The chemicals (including synthetic fragrances) found in conventional dryer sheets and fabric softeners are similar to what is found in conventional detergents. They’re largely questionable for human health and the environment. Plus, don’t even think about recycling those dryer sheets. Either skip them entirely or choose eco-friendly ones like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day lavender dryer sheets.

Hang Clothes to Dry

Keeping your clothes out of a dryer extends their life (my little fashionistas), reduces energy use, and cuts costs. Whether indoors or outside, line drying can be done year round. Just don’t put dark colors in bright sunlight or they’ll fade. Bonus: Indoor rack drying during the winter doubles as a humidifier.

Make Your Own Laundry Products

The only real way to know what’s going into your laundry is to whip up your own solutions. Use safe-for-the-environment ingredients that are already in your pantry like vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Many of these DIY formulas have been used for generations and get the job done. (For those of you who didn’t see, we posted the money-saving recipe here.)

Content Credit: Real Simple