PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU CALL US:

DISCLAIMER

Homeless To Independence Inc. is an All-Volunteer, Faith-Based, 501©3 non-profit organization. We do NOT receive any grant funding what-so-ever to pay bills for anyone in any situation. We do not give away money. We do not give out loans against any money.

This ministry is supported with generous financial donations that are used to help keep us functioning. Our purpose is to help supply individuals and families with personal needs such as food, toiletries, clothing, household items, furniture and baby/adult diapers/wipes both locally and to areas effected by disasters . At this time, we do not offer any shelter or transitional housing services. Again, we DO NOT pay any bills. We DO NOT pay any rents or mortgages.

If you are actually homeless, or about to be homeless or need emergency assistance of any kind, DIAL “211″ from a land-line telephone. This will not work from a cell telephone. Tell the receiver your situation and what you need. They will give you information specific for the location you are currently in plus any referrals you may need. They have the most up to the minute information for your specific area. Dialing “211” will get you help and much more info than this office can provide. Homeless to Independence wants you to have all the information you need to get through the situation you are in.

Don’t have a land-line telephone??? Go to your local police department, library, or house of worship and ask to use their land-line telephone. They may even make the call on your behalf.

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For those of you looking for employment through-out the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, simply send me an email to:

Ann@homelesstoindependence.org with:

1) the name of your State/Commonwealth, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico and
2) if you have a conviction on your record more serious then a traffic conviction within the past 7-years. We do NOT need to know what the conviction was, we do not want to waste your time with opportunities you will not be qualified to apply for at this time.

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Homeless To Independence Inc. is not responsible for misprints or cancellations of events by the event holders, landlord and/or their agent, or ourselves. Homeless to Independence Inc. also reserves the right to “NOT” offer services to people and/or persons that are rude, unpleasant, and untruthful in any way shape or form, belligerent and the like.

OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, BUT WE DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

OFFICE INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS:

OFFICE NUMBER IS: 1-732-264-7500

Please note that our office does have very limited volunteer staff and if we are one telephone line we cannot answer the other line. There is simply not enough time in the day to answer and/or return each and every telephone call.

IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, NO ONE WILL CONTACT YOU BACK.

Thank you!

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You are more than welcome to send in information on your on your emergency preparedness events…..
to puertorico@homelesstoindependence.org

Thank you!

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In Route to Be Better Prepared
Main Content
Release date:
March 5, 2013
Release Number:
02

SAN JUAN, PR – They are young, enthusiastic and prepared to respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards in their school and communities. A few weeks ago a group of teenagers in Humacao, led by Gabriela Rodriguez-Boria, completed their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training as part of Gabriela’s project as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Youth Council Representative.

While seeking opportunities to prepare youngsters to be ready before and after a disaster strikes, Gabriela’s project includes CERT training for teenagers. CERT is a program that educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. With a solid commitment to encourage that generations are better aware of emergency preparedness, FEMA counts on programs, such as CERT and projects like Gabriela’s to help communities become smarter and more resilient sooner.

“As we prepare our plans, we have to keep in mind the importance of including younger audiences in the process. Youngsters have a significant influence on their peers and families, and we see Gabriela and her project as a good example. She drives this preparedness message further on,” said FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director, Alejandro De La Campa.

Thirteen-year old Gabriela, organized a CERT of approximately 15-20 students at the school she attends, the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in Humacao. Her parents and this private school have been very supportive and involved in Gabriela’s activities to the point of completing various emergency preparedness courses.

“We are organizing a Preparedness Day at our school and plan to replicate the Teen CERT training in other schools in neighboring communities. We can get our schools, neighbors, churches, families and friends involved in similar activities so they can learn surviving techniques for future emergencies. This is my goal,” said Gabriela, who represents FEMA Region II in the Youth Preparedness Council. Puerto Rico is one of the jurisdictions under this Region, which also includes New York, New Jersey and the US Virgin Islands.

This week, March 3-9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA have partnered again for the National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, futhering the readiness message and encouraging every one in our communities to get better prepared for severe weather events. Gabriela’s project represents an innovative and personal approach to improve emergency preparedness in her community.

There is additional information about Gabriela’s project and the Youth Council at www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex. If you are interested in becoming a CERT member, locate the nearest CERT team or check for upcoming training opportunities, visit www.citizencorps.gov/cert. Learn more about emergency preparedness and how to improve your community resiliency to emergency situations by visiting www.fema.gov, www.weather.gov or www.ready.gov.

FEMA News Desk (787) 296-3554, 3560

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Updated:
March 22, 2013 – 09:09
State/Tribal Government or Region:
Puerto Rico and Region II

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It Pays To Have Flood Insurance
Main Content
Release date:
March 5, 2013
Release Number:
01

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last year, Puerto Rico endured numerous severe weather events including flooding, heavy rains and storm surges which affected families and businesses in various degrees, but were not extensive enough to justify a federal disaster declaration. However, more than half a million dollars were paid to flood affected business owners, renters and families who own flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

“Buying and maintaining flood insurance assures you that assistance will arrive when you have to deal with a flood damaged property. Take steps now to protect your property and financial well-being,” said Alejandro De La Campa, FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director. “Buy flood insurance now and be covered by the start of hurricane season, because when you purchase a flood insurance policy there is a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect.”

Through the NFIP, homeowners can insure their homes for up to $250,000 and its contents for up to $100,000. Renters can buy coverage for personal property for up to $100,000. Nonresidential property owners can insure a building and its contents for up to $500,000.

Currently, 56,572 policy holders in Puerto Rico participate in the NFIP. This insurance can be purchased through your local insurance agent or company. Also, you can go online at www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419 for general flood insurance information.

Furthermore, FEMA advises residents to contact their local floodplain management officials to view current local flood maps. Additional information is also available online through FEMA’s Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov or www.jp.gobierno.pr/avi/ to see the updated flood map for your community.

Decide to be ready for any type of disaster, visit www.ready.gov and www.fema.gov for tools and resources to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency events.

FEMA News Desk (787) 296-3554; (787) 296-3560

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Updated:
March 18, 2013 – 17:39
State/Tribal Government or Region:
Puerto Rico and Region II

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Earthquakes and Tsunamis: The Time to Get Ready is Now
Main Content
Release date:
March 18, 2013
Release Number:
03

SAN JUAN, PR – Every year approximately 800 seismic events occur in the Puerto Rico region. While some of them are imperceptible, others remind us of the urgency to prepare ourselves better to survive no notice emergencies, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emphasizes the role of prepared communities that become stronger and smarter by planning and practicing what to do to survive and recover faster from this type of events.

This week FEMA joins efforts with the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency, the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the Puerto Rico Broadcasters Association and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) through LANTEX 2013, an exercise that will take place this Wednesday, March 20, 2013. This drill will test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) during an earthquake/tsunami event and the communications and response processes of local, state and federal governments, as well as the private sector during an activation of this kind.

“A destructive earthquake can occur anytime and once it happens, it’s too late to prepare ourselves. We encourage everyone in our communities to be ready NOW as you might not be with your family, your children might be at school or you could be at work,” said FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division Director Alejandro De La Campa. “This exercise provides everyone with a great opportunity to practice their emergency plans and become involved in their emergency preparedness.”

A great first step to include in your emergency plan is to look for information about emergency plans in places where you and your family spend time: work, daycare and school. If no plan exists, the following simple steps can help you begin developing your family emergency communications plan:

Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
Teach family members how to use text messaging (also known as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

In addition to being aware of your risks, learn what to do during diverse emergency situations. Here are a few tips to remember:

When an earthquake hits:

DROP to the ground;
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk, table or other piece of furniture. If there is none around to get under, get down near an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands; and
HOLD ON to the furniture or to your head and neck until the shaking stops.

Pay attention to some of these tsunami warning signs:

A strong earthquake, or one that lasts for 20 seconds or longer
The ocean withdraws or rises rapidly
A loud, roaring sound (like an airplane or a train) coming from the ocean
Tsunami warnings broadcast over television and radio, by beach lifeguards, community sirens, text message alerts, National Weather Service tsunami warning center Web sites and on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

When a tsunami hits:

Keep calm;
Immediately move to the local tsunami shelter using defined tsunami evacuation routes.
If there are no evacuation routes defined, move to higher ground that is at least 100 feet in elevation, a mile inland, or to the highest floor of a sturdy building and STAY there.
If you are already in a safe location, STAY there.
Move by foot when possible – do not drive – this keeps the roads unobstructed for emergency vehicles.
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or news broadcasts for changes in tsunami alerts.
Stay away from the coast and low-lying areas until local officials say it’s safe to return.

For more information on earthquake safety, including what to do before, during, and after an earthquake and how to check for earthquake hazards, visit http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/. Further information regarding tsunami safety, evacuation, safe relocation and the tsunami ready program is available at www.tsunami.gov and http://prsn.upr.edu. For emergency planning information and how to put together an emergency kit and other preparedness initiatives to be ready for disasters, visit www.ready.gov.

FEMA News Desk (787) 296-3554, 3560

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Updated:
March 18, 2013 – 17:39
State/Tribal Government or Region:
Puerto Rico and Region II

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Formidable Footprint – A Community / Neighborhood Exercise

Description The Formidable Footprint exercise series has been developed in accordance with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) protocols. The objective of the exercise series is for CERTs, Neighborhood Watch Programs, Neighborhood Associations, Community / Faith Based Organizations, Citizen Corps, Fire Corps and others to work as a team to become better prepared for the next disaster their community may face. There is NO CHARGE for participation in any of the Formidable Footprint exercises. For additional information or to register for up-coming exercises please access the following web site today: www.FormidableFootprint.org

Dates:

• Saturday April 27th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday May 25th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday June 29th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday July 27th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday August 31st 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday September 28th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday October 26th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday November 30th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• Saturday December 28th 2013 from 9am to 5pm
• 2014 dates will be posted in November of 2013

On the last Saturday of every month until Dec 31st 2014

This is a Virtual Event –

Contact Information (Name / Phone / Weblink) Chris Floyd / 850-241-3565 / chrisfloyd@drc-group.com

Here is the PDF for this exercise: FFExerciseFlyer

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WE LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OTHERS!!