Never Underestimate an Emergency READY.GOV/MYPLAN

Disclosure: This post IS being shared AS PART OF a Bloggin' Mamas Social Good campaign. Social Good campaigns are voluntary campaigns in which the blogger shares the post for no monetary compensation.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Do you remember where you were when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida? BB was in her house with esposo #2 and The Trio. Thankfully La Tata was in a hospital recovering from an operation and wasn’t staying with us at the moment. Why does Babushka say thankfully? Because it was scary enough having to be brave and calm for my children, but hurricane preparedness wasn’t taken that seriously back then, and there was no way BB would have known what to do about someone with a medical condition or disability. Through the double edged sword that was Andrew we’ve all learned to take emergencies more serious and are hopefully better prepared.

http://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs.

"While each person’s abilities and needs vary, every individual can take steps to prepare for all types of emergencies. By evaluating your own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. Some items to consider:

What medical devices or assistive technology devices you need to have with you if there is an evacuation order from local officials
Your plans to remain independent if you require oxygen or mechanical ventilation
Practice your plan with your support network, just like you would a fire drill.
Discuss your needs and/or the needs of a family member; learn about their assistance requirements or the services they depend on.
Advocate including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning in your community.

All of these questions and more are covered in the free guide available for download here: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/90360

"We Prepare Every Day" PSA Info:

Created pro-bono by Free Range Studios, “We Prepare Every Day” shows whole community and individual emergency and disaster preparedness as a part of everyday planning. One of the goals of the PSA is to encourage all Americans to “Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved.” Resources and guidelines on how to do this can be found at Ready.gov/MyPlan.

Be Informed
First, you need to be informed about potential emergencies and disasters where you live, work, or visit. Then, you can go about making a plan that fits you and your loved ones.

Make a Plan
Making a family emergency communication plan with your friends and family before a disaster occurs is important. Why? Because it will help you answer questions: how will you get in touch with each other? How will your family get to a safe place? It's important to make a plan now so that you will know where to meet, how to find each other following a disaster, and how to communicate in an emergency that works for your family’s specific communication needs.

Build a Kit
While each person’s abilities and needs vary, everyone can take steps to prepare for all types of emergencies. By evaluating your own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. For example, if being without access to medications, help, or other services you need to maintain your health, safety and independence for even a couple of hours or days could be devastating, and you need to be prepared more than ever.

Get Involved
People with disabilities are encouraged to take a seat at their community and local government- level planning tables. Planning for emergencies and disasters with people who have disabilities and others with access and functional needs rather than planning for them will allow us to understand and address the needs of the whole community in a disaster.



Some more Links & Resources:
Learn how to create evacuation and emergency communication plans: www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
Download printable family communications plans for your children here: http://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan
Resources about natural disasters in your area:
Ready.gov/Prepare has information about natural disasters including Hurricanes, Floods, Earthquakes, Tornados, Wildfires and Winter Storms as well as tips about how to prepare."


There’s some excelente information there Beautifuls. Also keep in mind that those links may take you to great sites, but maybe you should print some out now while you still can. Oh Si, BB get caught again unprepared? JU SO FONII!!!

BB2U 

Cuidensen.

It's been 5 years... @HeartOfHaiti A reason for giving thanks, A reason for giving more.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US, and Babushka is sooo very thankful to live in this country, be blessed with the people in my life, and the countless moments of abundance I've had. For that reason I have joined with Macy's in their Heart of Haiti program, to give back to those who haven't been as fortunate. 

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!

Five years ago this little girl was born and BB's world would never be the same.

Almost Five years ago Haiti was hit with a devastating earthquake, 

and their world would never be the same.

Flickr pics -Top Row:HaitiDamage  coolgeography.com.uk
haiti_earthquake  csmonitor.com, Cite Soleil by mellagi,haiti_earthquake  theengineer.co.uk

Like my granddaughter La Princesa, Haiti is also developing, learning to stand on its own. 

Pero tambien como mi nieta, like La Princesa, Haiti needs help in doing so.

Macy’s went to Haiti shortly after the January 12, 2010 earthquake and realized that despite the devastation there was an artist community that existed and was eager to bring their product to market. 

They launched a product line for sale at Macys.com and in stores (listed below) which to date has employed 400 artists. 

• Macy's Herald Square, Brooklyn Downtown, Metro Center, Chicago State Street, Northland Center, Seattle Downtown, Portland Downtown, San Francisco Union Square, Biltmore Fashion Park, South Coast Plaza Home, Mission Valley Home, Dallas Galleria, Lenox Square Mall, and Dadeland Mall. 

 When you employ one artist in Haiti, the entire community benefits. Over 500 artists employed benefitting over 3,000 members of their extended family.

To put this into perspective, the average Haitian’s annual income is only $400 – for a year!  Add to that, Haiti has an estimated 400,000 artisans (out of a 10M population) who rely solely on their handcrafted goods as a source of income. No other sector of employment even approaches such numbers.

Macy’s paved the way in helping to rebuild this important sector of the fragile economy. 

The paper mache technique - practiced by many Haitian artisans - involves sourcing old, cement bags - or other paper products - to tear apart and re-purpose with glue and paint to create this unique piece. 

The blue circle vase - made in Jacmel - is hand-painted and includes a glass insert for functionality. 

Babushka was given the Blue Circle vase to show and share here, and to say it is stunning is an understatement. The quality is buenisimo, the colors rich and bold. A treasure to wake to every morning; it's a true work of art in my bedroom. Quee?? Ok si, JU SO FONII, BB's a work of art too. Actually, as I said in the Oprah post, this vase reminds me of all the beauty in the world, and how Babushka can play a very important part in it.

And you My Beautifuls can be a very big part of it too.

When thinking of gifts, think of giving gifts that help others, especially those in need. 

Give gifts that give hope, a sustainable income to Haitian artisans.

 Giving back and paying forward is the way to start this Thanksgiving and holiday season.

Have a wonderful holiday My Beautifuls.

BB2U

Heart of Haiti can be found and followed on social media at @HeartofHaiti on Twitter andwww.facebook.com/heartofhaiti on Facebook. 

For additional information about how Heart of Haiti is helping the community, visit this page.