From winterety at sbcglobal.net Mon Jan 7 10:14:54 2008 From: winterety at sbcglobal.net (sheryl lynn gerety) Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 10:14:54 -0800 Subject: [OldNorth] Some rules for keeping safe and sane Message-ID: <5fa34df42b5558b30f0e51c6d823caf7@sbcglobal.net> Print these out if you feel they will help in the future: remember you likely won't need them unless you can't boot up your computer. For those of you who read this message, please be sure to keep your email address current with us. We are trying to build a neighborhood network of people who are ready and know more or less what to do. It's OK if the most you do is take care of your own household, and it's great if you have any resources left over to share with neighbors. I would like to receive any observations you made to yourself and others: when you knew and understood a big storm was on the way, while the power was out, when you had been without power for several hours. City and power company performances aside, did you feel you were in danger and what were the sources? Sheryl FLOODS http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_240_,00.html Reduce Potential Flood Damage By . . . ? Raising your furnace, water heater, and electric panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded. ? Consult with a professional for further information if this and other damage reduction measures can be taken. Floods Can Take Several Hours to Days to Develop ? A flood WATCH means a flood is possible in your area. ? A flood WARNING means flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. ? When a Flood WATCH Is Issued . . . ? Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home. ? Fill your car's gas tank, in case an evacuation notice is issued. When a Flood WARNING Is Issued . . . ? Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and advice. If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible. When a Flash Flood WATCH Is Issued . . . ? Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice. When a Flash Flood WARNING Is Issued . . . ? Or if you think it has already started, evacuate immediately. You may have only seconds to escape. Act quickly! ? Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. Do not drive around barricades . . . they are there for your safety. ? If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. ? BLACKOUTS http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_92_,00.html Top Safety Tips for a Blackout ? Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles! ? Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out. ? Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer. ? Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. ? If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system. ? Listen to local radio and television for updated information ? What Do I Do During A Blackout? Turn off or disconnect any appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment such as computers and motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer, or furnace. ? Leave one light turned on so you'll know when your power returns. ? Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage. See the Red Cross brochure called, "Help The Power Is Out" for more information. ? Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information -- only call to report a life-threatening emergency. ? Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion. Remember that equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators may not work during a power outage. ? Remember to provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets. ? If it is cold outside, put on layers of warm clothing. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (relative, friend, or public facility) that has heat to keep warm. ? MUDSLIDES http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_254_,00.html#plan How to Protect Your Property ????????? If your property is in a landslide-prone area, contract with a private consulting company specializing in earth movement for opinions and advice on landslide problems and on corrective measures you can take. Such companies would likely be those specializing in geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, or civil engineering. Local officials could possibly advise you as to the best kind of professional to contact in your area. Taking steps without consulting a professional could make your situation worse. ????????? Install flexible pipe fittings to avoid gas or water leaks. Flexible fittings will be less likely to break. ? What to Do Before Intense Storms ????????? Become familiar with the land around you. Learn whether landslides and debris flows have occurred in your area by contacting local officials, state geological surveys or departments of natural resources, and university departments of geology. Knowing the land can help you assess your risk for danger. ????????? Watch the patterns of storm-water drainage on slopes near your home, and especially the places where runoff water converges, increasing flow over soil-covered slopes. Watch the hillsides around your home for any signs of land movement, such as small landslides or debris flows, or progressively tilting trees. Watching small changes could alert you to the potential of a greater landslide threat. ? What to Do During Intense Storms ????????? Stay alert and awake. Many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or portable, battery-powered radio or television for warnings of intense rainfall. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather. ????????? If you are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Remember that driving during an intense storm can be hazardous. If you remain at home, move to a second story if possible. Staying out of the path of a landslide or debris flow saves lives. ????????? Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. Moving debris can flow quickly and sometimes without warning. ????????? If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for a change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Don't delay! Save yourself, not your belongings. ????????? Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flows. ? What to Do if You Suspect Imminent Landslide Danger ????????? Contact your local fire, police, or public works department. Local officials are the best persons able to assess potential danger. ????????? Inform affected neighbors. Your neighbors may not be aware of potential hazards. Advising them of a potential threat may help save lives. Help neighbors who may need assistance to evacuate. ????????? Evacuate. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow is your best protection. ? What to Do During a Landslide ????????? Quickly move out of the path of the landslide or debris flow. Moving away from the path of the flow to a stable area will reduce your risk. ????????? If escape is not possible, curl into a tight ball and protect your head. A tight ball will provide the best protection for your body. ? What to Do After a Landslide ????????? Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides. ????????? Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide, without entering the direct slide area. Direct rescuers to their locations. ????????? Help a neighbor who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations. ????????? Listen to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information. ????????? Watch for flooding, which may occur after a landslide or debris flow. Floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows because they may both be started by the same event. ????????? Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury. ????????? Check the building foundation, chimney, and surrounding land for damage. Damage to foundations, chimneys, or surrounding land may help you assess the safety of the area. ????????? Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding. ????????? Seek the advice of a geotechnical expert for evaluating landslide hazards or designing corrective techniques to reduce landslide risk. A professional will be able to advise you of the best ways to prevent or reduce landslide risk, without creating further hazard. ? -- Diana Cox Director of Emergency Services & Volunteer Development American Red Cross of Yolo & Lake Counties 120 Court Street Woodland, CA 95695 (530) 662-4669 phone (530) 662-5114 fax -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 14965 bytes Desc: not available URL: From winterety at sbcglobal.net Mon Jan 7 15:08:49 2008 From: winterety at sbcglobal.net (sheryl lynn gerety) Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 15:08:49 -0800 Subject: [OldNorth] Fwd: Housing Element Workshop January 24th Message-ID: <3ad2cdc342c10e97660ae4f573223ca9@sbcglobal.net> For anyone interested in the continuing efforts to build new housing in Davis: some of the message is quite editorial in nature (opinions galore) and I respectfully decline any responsibility for expressional prose. Sheryl > From: "Pam Nieberg" > Date: January 7, 2008 2:38:10 PM PST > To: > Subject: Fw: Housing Element Workshop January 24th > > I have been attending?General Plan Housing Element Update Committee > meetings and want to give you an update on that process.?One of the > most importanta meetings addressing our future growth is coming up in > about 3 weeks.? Attached and below are an announcement about the > workshop time and location and a map.? > ? > The City is conducting its second Community Workshop on January 24th > from 7pm until 9:30pm at Holmes Junior High School related to the > current Housing Element Update of the General Plan. The workshop will > use the same "drop-in" method as the first Workshop. This method will > allow participants to come and go throughout the workshop's two and > one-half hour period. This workshop is to get feedback on: > ?????????? The Committee?s initial ranking of future potential sites > for housing. > ?????????? Principles and tradeoffs related to ranking potential > housing sites. > ? > A workshop flier and map are attached. For more information about the > update to the Housing Element, please visit the following website: > http://www.cityofdavis.org/cdd/gpupdate/meetings.cfm > ? > Staff hopes to post more information regarding the workshop, including > the workshop's comment form within the next 1-2 weeks, please check > back. > ? > Please contact Danielle Foster (dfoster at cityofdavis.org or ph. > 757-5691) or Bob Wolcott (rwolcott at cityofdavis.org or ph. 757-5610) if > you have any questions regarding this email and the upcoming workshop. > ? > At this public workshop the residents of Davis will have an > opportunity?for input related to?future growth in Davis and specific > sites will be addressed.?? Believe it or not, the Covell Village?site > is?being considered again,?despite our landslide vote against the last > proposal. The Council majority of Asmundson, Sailor, and Sousa backed > Covell Village project, despite their original City Council campaign > promises for slow growth. We can expect more of the same from them > this time despite the overwhelming "NO" vote from the voters on > Measure X. > ? > The Covell Village developers are back with a new spin--senior > housing.? The new project would eventually be about the same size as > the old Covell Village project, but is being proposed as a > phased?development.??The first proposal is for??800 units on the > southern 1/3 of the site.? That would be followed by phasing in > another approximately 400 units?on another portion to the north.? > These two phases would cover roughly?1/2 of the current site. When > asked about leaving the northern half as open space mitigation for the > development, the developers declined to put an easement on that > property meaning they want to eventually develop that also.? So, we > end up with the same old Covell Village project we so overwhelmingly > defeated in November 2005 on a 60%-40% vote, with the same massive > problems with traffic, infrastructure costs, huge negative fiscal > impacts on the city, and large, expensive homes unaffordable to most > middle income and below residents in Davis. > ? > These developers are using the new "carrot" everyone seems to be > waving now, and that is?senior housing.??This despite the fact that > the past chair of the Senior Commission wrote a letter to the editor > and spoke at council stating the facts about senior housing in > Davis--the bottom line being that we don't need it and especially not > what these and other developers are proposing.? Senior housing should > not be huge, expensive homes, isolated from the rest of the community > and far from the city center and all its amenities. > ? > It is clear from what has been discussed at length at the committee > meetings, that we do not need?any peripheral?developments for?this > housing cycle. We can more than fulfill our state recommended growth > for this housing cycle (498 units) with infill on several open sites > through out the city.??We should not even be talking about any new > massive peripheral developments at this time.? However, the gang of > three on the council is still trying to impose their arbitrarily > chosen figure for growth of 1% per year which would require us to add > roughly 2500 units in the next 5 years.? This is a new Mace Ranch > every 5 years!? Is this slow growth? > ? > This workshop will give you an opportunity to let the council majority > know that you do not want more huge, peripheral developments in Davis. > You do not want to see Davis continue to sprawl like so many other > valley towns have done and lose its special qualities that make it > unique. > ? > See you there! > ? > Pam > ? > ? -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 7304 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Workshop 2 Flyer.ppt Type: application/vnd.ms-powerpoint Size: 546304 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Workshop Location Map.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 9545 bytes Desc: not available URL: