Lessons Learned: Power Outage Gives Preview of Next Emergency

On September 8th, 2011, a large scale power outage cascaded from Arizona into much of Southern California, and even into parts of Mexico, and New Mexico.

Safety Kit for Emergencies 

For me, it lasted about 6 hours, for others in stretched into the next day.

Warnings of contaminated water in some parts.  Warning of power surges when everything comes back on line.  Warnings of food poisoning.  In the end, for most it was an inconvenience and an even slower commute on the way home.

Judging by the long line outside the supermarket down the street from my house, I'm guess most weren't prepared though, or at least they assumed much worse.

American Red Cross: Workplace Disaster Preparedness Lunch & Learn

Like so many of you, when the "Big" Power Outage of 2011 occurred I was at work.  Luckily, the power was back on by the next day for everyone.  For most it was only an inconvenience getting home and a great story the next day.

But, what if the power outage had been the result of a sizable earthquake?  Many of us would have been stuck at work (3:30pm), and faced an even longer commute back home than what we faced that time.  Others might be stuck at work.

What if the freeways were closed down?  We've seen that happen in the past in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.  

On Thursday, September 29th, 2011, the American Red Cross office in San Diego is hosting a "Lunch and Learn".

"We will provide you information on how to prepare your workplace for emergencies, what to do during a disaster, and how to ensure business continuity." 

Consider sending someone in your office to make sure you're all prepared, and if not, what needs to be done.

RSVP to Wilma Llano at:

(858) 309-1435,

or e-mail: wilma.llano@sdarc.org

Red Cross Headquarters (Kearny Mesa)

3950 Calle Fortunada

San Diego, Ca  92123

You bring your lunch and they'll provide snacks, drinks, and education.

Click HERE for their Website and printable materials to deal with various emergencies:

Wildfires

Fire Prevention

Power Outages

Earthquakes

Heat Waves

Pets & Disaster Safety

& many more.

See you there!

Farmers Insurance: New Reality TV Star?

Weathering Disaster: Weather Channel Series To Profile Farmers Catastrophe Response

OK, maybe we won't be the next Kardashians or even the next "Pawn Stars", but the new series will definitely be entertaining and educational.  Using the drama of real life, viewers will learn how to be better prepared if a natural disaster strikes their hometown, and be assured that if it does, there will be someone there to help with the recover.

We all know that when natural disasters strike, no one in the industry responds as well as Farmers. An upcoming six-episode series on The Weather Channel will focus on Farmers’ catastrophe buses, as well as our responses to tornadoes, firestorms and hurricanes.


Click HERE for some trailers of the series. 

The series, Weathering Disaster, will focus on individual families affected by disasters, and show how Farmers helps them through the rebuilding process.

What’s more, numerous Farmers agents and claims team members were filmed as they helped customers through the recovery process. “One of our goals in partnering with The Weather Channel on this series was to showcase the real-life heroic efforts of the Farmers agents and catastrophe response employees who help our customers through the recovery process,” says Kristina Ferrin, advertising manager. 

“The Weather Channel is a perfect fit for Farmers, and, in addition to our original programs, we will also have various promotional elements and an advertising presence on The Weather Channel’s online and mobile sites.” Additional promotional components include a Weathering Disaster web page where visitors can view the episodes after they air, as well as "promercials" and vignettes shown on the channel.

The shows will air repeatedly throughout late September and October, with initial airings of each on Saturdays from September 17-October 22. Check your local listings for air times in your area.