BLAST ZONE ZOMBIES

Every day the oil industry sends millions of gallons of highly flammable crude oil through cities and towns across North America. Our rail system was never built for this dangerous cargo.

It’s time to take action! Sign the petition: Tell the President and Congress to stop the threat of oil train disasters today! Thank you to Oil Train Blast Zone for compiling this information. http://explosive-crude-by-rail.org/

PETITION (from Oil Train Blast Zone)
To: US President Obama and Congress

It seems each month another town is facing a terrifying oil train derailment, poisoned drinking water, or a deadly explosion. Our rail system takes these trains through population centers by schools and homes. Safety standards are weak and our emergency responders are not equipped for accidents.

We are not prepared for this threat:

Oil trains are more than a mile-long with 100+ cars, concentrating the risk of an accident that could ignite the three million gallons of crude on a single train.
Oil train traffic has increased more than 4,000 percent in the last five years.
Rail routes run right through major urban areas and cross water supplies. The US rail system was not designed to transport dangerous crude oil.
Dangerous DOT-111 cars, which make up the majority of US oil tanker trains, have serious flaws that make them highly prone to puncture during a derailment.

We have the solution:

The first step: Ban unsafe oil tanker cars.
We must prepare and equip emergency responders and reroute trains around population centers and away from water supplies.
New rail safety rules must be strong and must give citizens the information they need to protect themselves and the power to say no.

We do not need the extreme oil transported by these trains. The crude oil carried by train is more explosive and more toxic than conventional crude oil; it is also more carbon intensive. At a time when our oil use is decreasing and the threat of climate disruption is growing, the risk from oil trains is unacceptable.

END OF PETITION

Please go to their website to sign.
Thanks, Ima
Copyright 2014 (c) Ima B. Musing: all rights reserved.

STORM SURGE

A huge invasion of aliens from another planet are marching from east to west and destroying all living creatures in their pathway. Would you run up to meet them? No, of course not. Logically, you would move out of harm’s way and let them pass by. The same principal applies to hurricanes and tropical storms. The National Weather Service has vastly improved its ability to predict storms and their paths. When the NWS provides information, you should take heed. They aren’t randomly or rashly indicating potential trouble. Thus, when you are instructed to evacuate – go. Do not stop to dawdle, just go. The old adage of better safe than sorry is appropriate. Period. End of discussion.

In America, we have the delightful right to live our lives the way that we want to as long as it doesn’t adversely affect others. As an adult over the age of 18, we have to take responsibility for ourselves and our dependents. I am horrified and angered by the decision of adults to stay in a Hurricane Sandy mandated evacuation zone with their children. They endangered no only their own life but the youth and vulnerable adults in their care. Unfortunately, several children were harmed or died as the result of their parent/guardian’s foolish choice. That is unconscionable. There ought to be a law that forces all children out of mandated evacuation zones. If their stupid parents want to remain, they can but at least make certain that the kids will be okay.

A friend of mine, Tracy, departed to volunteer with the Red Cross before Sandy came ashore. Tracy was placed with an ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) crew outside the expected pathway of Sandy. If they had journeyed closer to the coast they could have become a victim and unable to help anyone. That is why emergency response always waits outside the storm zone and roads must be cleared before they can get to the hardest hit areas. I was irritated that the media did not explain why it takes a couple days for responders to enter the disaster zone. I am certain that Tracy will have lots of interesting stories when she gets home in a couple weeks. Alas, I am too busy to volunteer at this time.

Please prepare your disaster kit www.ready.gov , become an emergency response volunteer www.voad.org , and/or donate www.redcross.org .

Stay safe.
© 2012 Ima B. Musing

ICE YOUR MOBILE

The weather is bloody blasted hot but I’m not talking about tossing your phone into a bucket of frozen water cubes. If you should collapse or get in an accident and a good samaritan grabbed your cell phone, whom would they call? You may have dozens of names stored in the phone’s memory but which people would know what you wanted during a medical emergency?

Hence, 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Your Phone!

The concept of 'ICE' is a method of contact during emergency situations. All you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons under the name 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency). During an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel, Hospital Staff, and Good Samaritans would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE.'

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. Make certain that you let the iced people know that they are listed as your ICE contact and what you want during a medical emergency. It’s always good to have a written medical directive on file with your will.

Let's spread the concept of ICE today! Please forward this blog. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this idea, which I learned from an emergency responder. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

Get ICED!
© 2012 Ima B. Musing