Baltimore, MD (October 29, 2012) – The Maryland & West Virginia Division of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (“EDS”) are now serving persons impacted by Hurricane Sandy as her outer bands lash Maryland’s eastern shore and those counties surrounding, and west of, Chesapeake Bay.

On Maryland’s eastern shore, The Salvation Army Corps in Cambridge sheltered 14 persons Sunday evening.  The Salvation Army of Salisbury is serving meals at Salisbury Bennett High School, an emergency shelter for Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services.  On Sunday, October 28, ten volunteers and two officers (36 volunteer hours) served 100 meals and provided 200 more servings of sandwiches and soup for additional persons arriving at the shelter.

In Annapolis, The Salvation Army served dinner to the storm refugees in the Annapolis High School Shelter.  Forty meals, 120 snacks, and 96 bottles of water were provided.  The Salvation Army will be serving lunch and dinner at the shelter until it closes.

The Salvation Army in Baltimore is in close contact with the Baltimore City & County Emergency Operations Centers.  The Salvation Army also has representation around the clock at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) headquartered in Baltimore.

All Salvation Army units across the Division are on stand-by status.  Mobile feeding canteens are stocked, and Salvation Army officers and volunteers are ready to deploy as needed and requested by Emergency Management personnel.

The Salvation Army anticipates severe impact from Hurricane Sandy, and extensive need for Salvation Army services.  The Governor of Maryland’s press briefings, Monday, October 29, indicate:

• There have been several rescues in Ocean City due to high water and flooding. There has been a break in the dune, allowing the ocean to wash up on Coastal Highway. The iconic fishing pier has been destroyed.
• The storm is increasing in intensity and may become a Category 2 before landfall.  It will impact all of Maryland.
• This is a slow moving storm and will “give Maryland a beating over a period of 24 – 36 hours.”
• As of 2 PM power outages in Maryland number 24,000 statewide.
• Storm related fatalities are expected (from both surge and wind).
• Residents are asked to stay off the roads for the next 24 to 36 hours.
• The following bridges will probably be closed due to wind velocity: the Hatem Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Tydings Bridge (which is the bridge on I-95 crossing the Susquehanna). No one remembers closing the Tydings Bridge before. Traffic on I-95 will be diverted to I-83.
• There are 23 state shelters open.
• The weather forecast is worse than 12 hours ago.
• Maryland will be hit with the most intense winds of the storm.
• Wind and tidal surge will cause flooding of streams, creeks and Chesapeake tributaries.
• Winds will shift and begin pushing water UP the Chesapeake (this is the really bad news).
• The US Coast Guard Captain of the Port will be setting Port Condition Zulu at 1400 EDT today. This means that all ports/waterways in the Baltimore Zone will be closed due to gale force winds. This includes the ports of Annapolis, Baltimore, Cambridge, Ches/Del West, Chesapeake Beach, Chestertown, Cove Point, Crisfield, Curtis Bay, Easton, Havre de Grace, Kent Island, Morgantown, Piney Point, Port Covington, Salisbury, Solomons, St. Michael’s Harbor, Washington, DC.
• There are/will be blizzard conditions in Garrett County (Western Maryland) at the same time there is tidal flooding on the Chesapeake, ocean surge in Ocean City and flooding of creeks and tributaries.

The Salvation Army is asking all residents of Maryland and West Virginia to be prepared with an emergency disaster plan. Critical decisions need to be made ahead of time, before the storm makes landfall.

Courtesy of The Salvation Army

Before a Hurricane

To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Know your surroundings.
• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
• Make plans to secure your property:
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
• Consider building a safe room.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

• Listen to the radio or TV for information.
• Secure your home, close storm shutters and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
• Turn off propane tanks
• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
• Moor your boat if time permits.
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.

• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelter are particularly hazardous during hurricane no matter how well fastened to the ground.
• If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an island waterway.

Read more about evacuating yourself and your family. If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
• Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.
• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.
• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level.
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
• Avoid elevators.

After a Hurricane

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you have become separated from your family, use your family communications plan or contact FEMA or the American Red Cross.
  • FEMA has established the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS), which has been developed to help reunite families who are separated during a disaster. The NEFRLS system will enable displaced individuals the ability to enter personal information into a website database so that they can be located by others during a disaster.
  • The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
• For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing. Apply for assistance or search for information about housing rental resources
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed¬ out bridges. Stay off the streets. If you must go out watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering.
• Stay out of any building if you smell gas, floodwaters remain around the building or your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.
• Use battery-powered flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles. Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering – the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.
• Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

Courtesy of FEMA

JOPLIN, Mo., (Oct. 23, 2012) – Like most residents of Joplin, Tara Johnston’s mind is frozen in time when she thinks back to that late Sunday afternoon on May 22, 2011 – the day a catastrophic tornado destroyed thousands of homes, including her house on S. Jackson Ave.

“Losing my home was one thing; the worst part was I thought I lost my daughter,” she said. “It was horrifying.”

While her daughter and the rest of her family survived the tornado, she was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding her home – made even tougher because she had no insurance. Johnston told her story from the front porch of that very home today at a press conference. The house, which is just weeks away from being completely rebuilt, is the result of many helping hands coming together to get one more displaced family back into their home.

As part of the celebration, a partnership between Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA) and Rebuild Joplin, a local non-profit group whose mission it is to get storm survivors back into their homes, was outlined. Toyota has worked with the group the past six months in an effort to reduce the amount of time it takes to rebuild homes and get Joplin residents out of temporary housing. In addition, Toyota donated $100,000 to Rebuild Joplin and its home-building efforts.

“Rebuild Joplin helps people like me who can’t get loans; they help you either rebuild your home, or if damaged, help you fix it up at no cost or little cost to you,” said Johnston, a single mother and full-time student whose two children and grandchild live with her.

The partnership is working.

“This has allowed us to take donated dollars and donated time from volunteers and make it more efficient,” said Jerrod Hogan, co-founder, Rebuild Joplin.

Hogan said that by using lessons from the Toyota Production System (TPS), Rebuild Joplin has reduced construction time by three weeks on average. Bottom line, he said, “These improvements are making an incredible difference in our ability to rebuild homes for families in Joplin quickly and affordably.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Toyota. Now, one of our biggest challenges is securing enough volunteers so we can get people back in their homes. We not only need corporate support, we need the help of volunteers to get the job done. We still have more than 160 families in FEMA trailers and hundreds of families who don’t have funds to rebuild their homes.”

Toyota, through its non-profit arm – the Toyota Production System Support Center (TSSC) – partnered with Rebuild Joplin in May with the intent to help the group make substantial improvements by increasing quality, productivity, safety and reducing customer wait time in the rebuilding of houses.

Rebuild Joplin is just one of 189 companies or not-for-profits that have been aided by Toyota.

“We’ve seen over and over again where our manufacturing techniques can help any kind of organization – whether it’s a manufacturer or a non-profit group,” said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president, TEMA, and a managing officer for Toyota Motor Corp. “There is a lot of demand for this and we are sharing it free of charge.”

Since Toyota came on board, the time it takes for Rebuild Joplin to reconstruct a home has dropped from an average of 62 days to 41 days – a 34 percent improvement.

This time reduction can be credited to the following:

• Improved processes: the collaboration has consisted of sharing TPS know-how and working closely with Rebuild Joplin’s professional staff, skilled construction supervisors and AmeriCorps volunteer members to improve homebuilding efficiencies;
• Better scheduling of volunteers and construction contractors: while there was no organized system before, today, as you enter Rebuild Joplin’s headquarters, “management boards” track everything from volunteer/worker schedules to inventory to status reports on homes being rebuilt.

TSSC’s Sylvester DuPree, who has worked closely with Rebuild Joplin since the onset, points to another success. “One of our main goals coming into Rebuild Joplin was to reduce the amount of time it took from when a home owner applied to when construction began on their house,” he said. “Couple that with reducing the amount of construction time and we are getting people back into their homes faster.”

Courtesy of Toyota

Fortune magazine named Toyota among America’s top three most admired companies!

WHAT: The Toyota Tundra will be towing the space shuttle Endeavour over the 405 Freeway instead of the previously announced route along Bill Robertson Lane in Los Angeles. The tow will assist the California Science Center Foundation in the movement of the historic icon over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge, an area that requires a different tow mechanism than other portions of the route for weight distribution purposes. In preparation to assist in any capacity needed, the Tundra was extensively tested to meet the requirements. This tow of Endeavour by the Toyota Tundra at this location will be the only one its kind taking place along the route.

WHEN: October 12, 2012, Evening
            Exact time TBA

WHERE: Manchester Boulevard Bridge, nearly a quarter-mile span total over the 405 Freeway, near LAX

Courtesy of Toyota