Duluth News

Duluth Uncertain About Flood Relief

While Governor Sonny Perdue seeks $16.35 million in disaster assistance resulting from severe storms that ripped through Georgia, Duluth residents and others throughout the state are uncertain whether or not help will arrive soon enough.

Road closures, rising water, contaminated wells and back-up sewage is only the tip of the ice-burg when it comes to flood damage repair and restoration needs throughout Georgia. Unfortunately, thousands of homeowners are in need of clean-up services putting a strain on local resources.

State Insurance Commissioner Jon Oxendine estimates $250 million dollars in damage; far in excess of federal funds requested by Governor Perdue leaving local residents to wonder where the rest will come from. Unfortunately, many of the hardest hit areas were outside of the "flood prone zones" leaving many homeowners without flood insurance creating the potential for even greater hardship in the weeks and months ahead.

According to local experts, one of the most important steps homeowners can take is to remain positive and take a proactive approach to flood damage and water remediation. Research has shown that for every dollar spent in mitigation, four dollars are saved in long term repairs. That is a significant return on investments especially when you consider the potential consequences and health threats associated with water damage. Mold and mildew thrive in the hot, humid environment while contaminated water poses a serious threat of infection or illness.

Fortunately, commercial water damage and repair services are able to extract water, sanitize contaminated surfaces and perform other necessary adjustments designed to keep your family safe. However, authorities caution against hiring fly-by-night or unknown out of town cleaning companies. Don't' make a bad situation worse; instead, insist upon a provider that provides a complete guarantee on all water damage repairs and is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. Not only will it assure that all work meets or exceeds industry standards but it often saves time and money in the long run. Not only can your family return to their home sooner but working with a reputable provider helps protect your real estate investment from future losses by assuring the work was done right the first time.

Remember, time is of the essence. The sooner water extraction and repairs begin the better. Reduce the risk of mold, mildew, fungal or bacterial contamination by working with a nationwide name you can trust; Kiwi Services provides 24/7 Duluth water damage and flood damage support including all ancillary services, mold testing and even temporary storage for your valuable possessions.

Construction of Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge Is Making the News in a Fairly Big Way

Proposed 2012 budget issues are restricting cuts to staff currently working on Duluth's Aerial Lift bridge. The bridge is one of Duluth's most significant landmark, the first of two of its kind constructed in the United States. First built in 1905, the bridge has undergone several upgrades - the latest of which is occurring to ensure better structural support.

The result of the latest construction efforts on the Aerial Lift bridge have resulted in commuter interruptions, including less passage for transport boats and other ships underneath. Now, Duluth city officials are proposing budget cuts that would result in less staff working on construction and upgrading of the bridge next year.

Bridge upgrades are scheduled to continue throughout 2012, and staff, foremen and officials who are part of construction fear that less workers mean less safety on the job for those who won't be cut.

Bridge operators are staunchly opposed to cuts, which would eliminate part of the 9 member workforce that currently monitor and perform Aerial Lift bridge upgrade operations. Key staff are concerned that an accident could affect a working member of the crew, crew of a ship crossing below the bridge, or even pedestrians on the bridge.

City officials feel that the budget cuts leave an adequate amount of funding left over for 2012 to perform upgrades on the Aerial Lift bridge, and cite other major bridge operations in the US which have only one functioning crewmen on the bridge at any one time. City officials claim that accidents can happen regardless of the size of operation or crew members preset on the Aerial Lift bridge. Some officials feel that reducing crew will not interrupt safe operations of the bridge upgrade.

The last word will come from Duluth city council, who are expected to vote on the proposed budget cuts in an upcoming meeting. Naturally, all involved want to do what's in the best interest of workers and those who use the bridge for transportation. Duluth officials will take into consideration the assurance of safety on the Aerial Lift bridge, along with the amount of workers and the money necessary to continue the safe operations of the upgrade.

With so many famous US bridges in disrepair, the first priority of Duluth city council members is to ensure that safe conditions are present for anyone using or around the Aerial Lift bridge. Hopefully a decision will be reached that will make it a safe 2012 for Duluth and one of their most famous landmarks. The Aerial Lift Bridge is truly a sight to behold, and the upgrades are expected to yield further improvements.

Meghan writes press releases and informative articles about OSHA training, OSHA compliance, construction companies and construction sites.

Are You Ready? The Middle East and You

Most of us have been watching the news coverage of the recent protests, civil unrest and government breakdowns in many of the Middle Eastern nations. My local newspaper, the Duluth News Tribune, gave an account of the events in Egypt, seen through the eyes of American tourists from Minnesota.

For most of the visit, they had a great time. Touring the pyramids, and cruising from Luxor to Aswan on the Nile River.

They returned to Cairo, and heard about the demonstrations happening downtown. Then they realized all internet and cell phone service was shut down. They saw army tanks drive into the neighborhood. The next day, they were told to stay indoors. Their hosts (niece and her husband) went to a grocery store and saw looting. The couple began packing to leave.

The couple made it to the chaotic airport, and after much trouble, they were able to join a small group of Americans and Canadians. The group stayed there all night, with the men in the group taking turns standing guard while others in the group tried to sleep. They were able to be flown out, after some arrangements were made with the U.S. State Department.

Emergency preparedness for a disaster can be for many different situations, and these riots point out another reason to be prepared in advance. Earthquakes, hurricanes, blackouts, civil unrest, tornadoes, pandemic disease, blizzards, floods and unemployment are just a few examples of things that could happen. Survivalist gear, storage food, water and proper shelter are some of the basics that could help you ride out these troubles, while keeping you safe and relatively comfortable.

Also, as mentioned in the story, you need to be prepared to stay in place or evacuate. You may have to stay at your home, office, school or you may have to grab and go. It is best to have an emergency plan for these situations, with storage food, water and survival kits designed for different locations. These supplies can also be a great source for bartering or helping others, if needed. When chaos hits, people need the basics, but they also crave the things they love. Candy, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, household necessities all make great items to stock up on for barter goods. Hand tools, nails, tarp and other hardware store items are also needed during power outages or emergencies.

U.S. grocery stores have a just in time supply of food, enough for two days maximum. Any disruption of supply chains could cause shortages, especially if people panic. Just how much food you should stock is going to be up to you. Also, it is important to consider the shelf life of the foods. Purchasing long term storage food means less care is needed in rotating the supply. The longer the shelf life of the food you store for an emergency, the less time you have to spend replenishing and rotating it. If you buy storage food with a nearly infinite shelf life, you can put it away and forget it.

Having emergency survival kits at home, the office, school or grab and go gives you a great advantage during an unexpected disaster. Should a dangerous situation arrive, this will permit you to remain in place instead of facing crowds of frantic shoppers. As people panic and get reckless, it is often safer to remain in place. Once an emergency starts, it is often too late to gather items for your checklist.

We live in a beautiful, but sometimes dangerous world. Just like insurance, we hope for the best but plan for the worst. There are many more areas to consider for emergency preparedness, such as: medical needs, security, heating and cooking to mention a few. Those are topics for another time. Remember, the most important resource you have is your brain. We are vulnerable to the dangers of this world, but with some advance preparation, we can learn to help ourselves and others.