Do You Know This River? It's the largest subbasin in the Allegheny River. Answer in Stories Invited. Photo by Karen Hohman

Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Rita are bringing into sharp focus the need for individuals, communities and businesses to be prepared in the event of both natural and manmade disaster emergencies.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, a time set aside every year to encourage citizens to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies.

Lots of resources are available to help you prepare. The www.Ready.gov website has information and checklists for everything from preparing family emergency kits to the questions businesses should ask in planning for continuing operations in the face of a disaster.

In Pennsylvania, the most common disasters occur from flooding. If you live in an area susceptible to flooding, your regular homeowners or business insurance policies do not cover damages caused by flooding.

To find out how to buy a policy or renew an existing one, visit the National Flood Insurance webpage. There is a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins.

The most frequent cause of deaths during flooding is from people trying to drive vehicles through flood-covered roads. Go to Turn Around Don’t Drown to find out more.

Review the Floods and Flash Floods fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to learn about how flood warnings are issued, what emergency supplies to keep at hand and how to develop a family communications plan in case of separation.

Information on how to recover from a flood is available on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Flood Recovery Information webpage.

Checkout PEMA’s other emergency fact sheets for tips on dealing with other kinds of emergencies. And review the Family Disaster Supplies Kit to be prepared for a variety of emergencies.

PEMA also has other preparedness guides available for all types of facilities and schools in the publications section of their website.

Communities can also use a variety of planning tools to help reduce the threat from flooding by restoring floodplains, better managing stormwater and even moving homes and businesses out of the way to prevent damage.

Better Models for Development in Pennsylvania presents tools and concepts communities can use to grow and redevelop. Checkout the Land Use webpage on DCED’s website for more information.

Growing Greener-Conservation By Design by the Natural Lands Trust is also an excellent resource along with the Smart Communities Network webpage.

Of course some communities are having the opposite problem now, lack of water with some water systems in the central part of the state running short.

A composite map of current surface and groundwater conditions over the last 90 days is available online if you want to keep track. Stream level charts covering the last 30 days that are updated daily are also available. More information is available at the Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring webpage.

Get prepared now, before it begins to rain! (Or doesn’t.)

Session Schedule

The Senate and House both return to session September 26.

Contents – On the Hill

· Senate, House Hold Hearings on Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy

· Senate Adds Equine Operations to Ag Preservation Program

· House Committee Hears Update on State Forest Management Plan

· House Environmental Committee to Hold Hearings on PA Energy Blueprint

· Ross Introduces Alternative Energy Tax Credit Legislation

Other News

· Coldwater Heritage Partnership announces Opening of Grant Program

· Farms In Chesapeake Bay Watershed In Precarious Position

· Registration Extended for Stormwater Management Symposium October 12-13

· Looking for Ways to Save Gas? Try This New Commuter Services Website

· U.S. DOE Seeks Applications for New Energy Conservation Technology

· Children’s Environmental Health Conference October 1

· Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Summit October 4 & 5

· Lake Erie’s Seaway Trail Becomes Latest National Scenic Byway, First in PA

· DCNR Seeks Recommendations on Tourism/Recreation in Pine Creek

· Lukas Petre PA CleanWays Sue Wiseman Scholarship Winner

· National Public Lands Day Celebration September 24

· Game Commission Offers Solutions to Wildlife Nuisance Problems

· President Names PA’s Stickler Head of Federal Mine Safety Program

· Reisinger Named Director of DEP's Bureau of Waste Management

· Governor’s Council Seeks Candidates for Game Commission Director

· HELP WANTED: Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

9/23/2005