Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/33504
SENIOR CORNER by MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY Due to the signifi cant number of tornadoes and severe thunder storms in the country this Spring, we feel compelled to run our “Emergency Preparedness” article again. Please read it and consider getting your family ready should a situation develop in your neighborhood. This time of year in eastern North Carolina, the weather is dominated by potential tropical storms developing into hurricanes. Over the years, our state has been devastated by the impact these storms have had not only on property but the toll it takes on our citizens and communities. Preparing for natural disasters should be a priority for all families living in North Carolina. Predicting the path of these tropical storms, hurricanes or any natural disaster is not an exact science and every precaution should be taken to ensure the safety and well being of our loved ones. During an emergency or crisis — natural or man-made — hospital emergency departments rapidly fi ll up with seniors. Floods, fi res, power outages, pandemics, not to mention hot humid summers with extreme heat waves, are all potentially dangerous scenarios for seniors. They are especially dangerous if the senior lives alone. Of course, it’s critical during emergencies that agencies work together. This includes police and fi re departments, Emergency Management Services (EMS), public health units, paramedics, and hospitals. The idea is that with coordinated care and community support, seniors can live in their own homes safely and avoid hospitalization. This includes during a crisis or emergency situation. Home Instead Senior Care has devised a 10-point check list to help seniors prepare for disasters: 1. Contact the local emergency management offi ce to learn about the most likely natural disasters to strike your area. 2. Do a personal assessment. Seniors should know what they can or can’t do before, during and after a disaster. Make a list of those needs and the resources that can meet them. 3. Schedule a family meeting to assess your needs in an emergency and develop a COMMUNITY NEWS a STAFF REPORT The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center hosts its 2nd Annual Job Fair on June 8, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Headquarters Library, 300 Maiden Lane. Job seekers can learn about various opportunities in banking, manufacturing, sales, fi nance, technical, trade, information, technology and the military along with federal and county governments. Representatives from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College and PipelineNC (a BRAC task force-initiated Web-based job searching portal) will be on hand to answer questions. Workshops throughout the day include classes on interview tips, resume review, resume building basics and introduction to online job and career resources. Like all library locations, Headquarters Library provides free wireless internet access for individuals with their own laptops. Those who cannot attend the Job Fair may visit the Job & Career Resource Center on the library’s web site or in person at any location. Through “Book a Librarian,” individuals may request an appointment with a librarian for in-depth assistance. Job searching can be one of the most frustrating and humbling experiences a person has to endure. The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center offers many resources to assist you in not only making a good fi rst impression, but also in making your job search a success. For more information about the Job Fair and the Job & Career Resource Centers, contact Larry Gavin, Bordeaux Branch Manager at (910) 424-4008, text “ccplinfo” to 66746, or fi nd us on Facebook. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Social Services Distributes Donated Fans, Opens Lobby for Heat Relief The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is accepting donations of new box fans from civic organizations, churches, businesses and individuals in the community. Fans may be dropped off at the DSS building, 1225 Ramsey St., between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the Adult Services Department at 910- 677-2388 for more information about making a fan donation. Fans are currently available at the DSS building for those in our community whose income falls below 200 percent of the current poverty level, and who have a family member in the home under the age of 2, over the age of 60, or with a heat-sensitive medical condition. On days when heat advisories are issued because the heat index is expected to surpass 100 degrees, the DSS building at 1225 Ramsey St. will open an auxiliary lobby as a measure of relief to people who have no other way to escape the oppressive heat. The lobby areas will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday throughout the summer when a heat advisory is issued or the heat index reaches 100. Contact the Adult Services Department at 910-677-2388 for more information. JUNE 8-14, 2011 UCW 9 MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY, Owners of Home Instead Senior Care, Contributing Writers. COM- MENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com COMMUNITY NEWS Library Hosts Job Fair and Employment Workshops plan of action. Include in your plan neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers who could help. 4. Assemble a portable disaster kit with essential supplies, as well as photocopies of key identifi cation, a health card, and legal documents. The kit should have three days of non-perishable food and water, plus an additional four days of food and water readily accessible at home. 5. Label every piece of equipment or personal item in your kit. 6. Have at least two escape routes – one out of the home in Make a list of key phone numbers in case disaster strikes case of fi re when you must get out quickly, and one out of the area in case you must evacuate the local community. Designate a place to meet other relatives or key support network people outside the home. 7. Know when to go to a safer place or to stay where you are, and how to make the decision. In the case of evacuation, older adults should go sooner rather than later. 8. Know where to get information during an emergency, either through TV or radio. Have a battery-operated radio on hand. Special alarms are available for people with medical conditions, such as a strobe alarm for the hearing-impaired. 9. Make a list of key phone numbers that includes people on your support network, as well as doctors and other health-care professionals. 10. Call a professional caregiver if you need assistance. “Family caregivers play a critical role,” says Susan Guy. “But seniors who have no family locally can also be assisted by caregivers from an organization like ours. The most important consideration is to put a plan in place, assess what the senior needs in the event of a disaster, and implement the plan.” As part of Safety Awareness Month we have “Senior Care Resources” on www.homeinstead.com/647 and FACEBOOK! SENIOR CORNER Be Prepared for Disasters