Welcome

The likelihood of a natural disaster occurring in Alabama is high. Hurricanes, floods, droughts, and winter storms are possible. In addition to what we see from nature, we also can expect some man-made disasters in Alabama. Among the list of potential man-made disasters are wildfires and accidents involving hazardous materials and chemical stockpiles.

Disasters come in many forms and may happen when we least expect them. But you can be prepared. This site has many resources intended to help you prepare for disasters such as those listed above. Spending a few hours in preparation for a disaster can make recovery easier and may even save lives – your own and those of loved ones – not to mention companion animals and possessions.

Ready Tip

Start Your Engines!

Imagine this. You have just completed a full day at the office and are ready to go home. You walk your dressed-up self (in my case, heels, hose, nice dress) across the hot street and parking lot to your car, get in, and turn the key in the ignition. The sound coming from the front indicates that the battery is not well, so you get out of the car, walk back across the hot lot into the cool building, and ask for help to jump start your car. No problem, so you walk back to your car to get the jumper cables. But there are no jumper cables. Turns out that none of the people you asked for help had jumper cables, and it is possible that even if someone with jumper cables had been available, the car would not have started.

Batteries take a beating in this hot weather with the leading cause of battery failure being corrosion caused by heat. Signs that a battery may be failing include headlights and interior lights dimming, slow engine starting, or accessories failing to operate. Under the stress of normal city driving, the average life of a vehicle battery is about three years, according to a report in the August 13, 2007, Auto News.

If your battery is more than three years old, get it tested. If the battery is more than four years old, replace it or you may find yourself in the same dilemma that I was in. My battery lasted five years, but I was driving on borrowed time and was lucky. I could have been traveling out of town when it died. My good luck was that my husband was in town and reachable. He replaced the dead battery with a new one, and I was back in driving business. Just as he was putting the new battery in place, a colleague with jumper cables showed up.

The moral of this story is that you should test your vehicle’s battery at three years and replace it if it is failing. And, in addition to your first aid supplies, carry an emergency car kit that includes jumper cables.

And then start your engines!

Summertime and the living is—HOT—especially for outside workers. Summer is also hurricane season.

Heat

Coping with Hot Work Environments (Extensión en Español publication, available in English and Spanish)

Heat Stress: Hazards and Possible Solutions (A collection of fact sheets on the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Web site)

Heat Stress Card (OSHA publication)

Heat Stress Card (OSHA publication, Spanish version)

Skin Cancer: Protect Yourself (ACES brochure)

Sports Nutrition for Young Adults: Hydration (ACES publication)

Sun Safe (ACES brochure)

Your Dog in Your Community (ACES publication)

eXtension resources

Hurricane Preparedness

Alabama State Agriculture Response Team has information on disaster preparedness for your pets and large animals

Hurricanes (Sea Grant documents)

Hurricane Preparedness tips from the National Hurricane Center

Reducing Damage in Future Storms Issue Page (EDEN, hurricane-resistant building tips)

H1N1 Swine Flu information

Alabama Department of Public Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

EDEN Topic Pages

Influenza

The Nation Prepares

Learning Opportunities

EDEN Offers Pandemic Preparedness for Businesses

and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for Faith-Based Organizations

Disaster Kits are for all seasons. What does it take to build a kit?

Disaster Relief Web Site

DisasterAsisstance.gov was launched December 31, 2008 with links to 17 U.S. Government agencies providing disaster assistance. You can apply for assistance with a single, online application. This website is intended to speed the application process and allow you to check the progress of your application online.

January 2009 Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak

Peanut Butter Product Recalls -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration Site is updated as new information is received.