Karen McPhail’s Post

ARE YOU READY AND PREPARED?? Seven days until the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season (June 1 thru November 30), and already nine days into the eastern Pacific basin hurricane season (May 15 thru November 30)! Check out/use Ready.gov and get necessary supplies and equipment ready including flashlights, fully charged batteries/phones, essential foodstuffs for at least a few days, and other needs. Have your go-bag ready prepared for ALL family members and pets including all prescriptions and medical supplies/cards, personal hygiene needs, weather-related basic clothing, (for me), extra batteries and lighting devices, bug spray/sunscreen, essential paperwork, etc. And include critical contact information including: FEMA (download app or call 800-621-3362; SBA disaster assistance loans (call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov), your State/local emergency services offices and utilities, etc). Even the IRS is ready to assist (https://lnkd.in/eprg_92j) including tips on protecting documents and equipment. Is your insurance up to date with current contact numbers with available copies of policies? [try to keep all essential paperwork electronically on a secure, easily accessible device although I keep hard copies handy of my critical to me as well…old school] And do talk with your neighbors or community members now to prepare/coordinate any assistance needed, or if you can help them in need (the whole community working together)! LASTLY but most importantly, monitor and FOLLOW all emergency notices and recommendations. Evacuation notices are real and life saving and weather reports/storm predications including paths of the storm change quickly!! If you want to comment/add insights, please do so!!

As Floridians are just recovering from Milton, the 9th hurricane in the Atlantic so far this year, it is a good time to remember to develop a Family Emergency Plan. This is not just for those who live with you (kids, pets, grandparents) but also those who live in other states and need emergency support. At Arc Aspicio, we have completed many projects for FEMA related to preparedness, readiness, outreach to the public, and mitigation (like flood insurance and mitigation!). Supporting that mission has been so important to us, so we want to encourage all of you to plan for any emergency! Having a plan for evacuations, channels for communication in case our cell phone service is down or the internet is inaccessible, and having a planned meeting place locally are all good options. Please make a plan! Here are some resources… Make A Plan | Ready.gov

We’re about to embark on another hurricane season. NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration forecasters have predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year due to a confluence of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation. NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). Forecasters have a 70% confidence in these ranges. FEMA Deputy Administrator ERIK HOOKS said “Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today…” The time to prepare is now. Download the FEMA mobile app for disaster resources, weather alerts and safety tips, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. Also visit Ready.gov to access a full suite of preparedness resources.

Alright, LinkedIn community—let’s rally to support the areas hit hardest by Helene! 🌪️💔 Our focus is on these impacted regions, each facing significant challenges: 🌊 Buncombe County, NC (Asheville): Severe flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. 🏠 Haywood County, NC (Waynesville): Mentioned in multiple posts as being severely impacted. 🏞️ Transylvania County, NC (Hendersonville): Flooding and shelter shortages reported. 🚨 Henderson County, NC (Hendersonville): Flood response plan activated due to heavy flooding. 💔 Madison County, NC (Marshall): Mentioned in multiple posts for severe devastation. 🔥 Yancey County, NC (Burnsville): Described as devastated by flooding. 🏢 Pasco County, FL: Approved for FEMA Individual Assistance due to significant hurricane damage. 🛠️ Hernando County, FL: Also approved for FEMA assistance, indicating major damage. 🏚️ Citrus County, FL: Along with Pasco and Hernando, receiving FEMA help due to severe impact. 🚁 Unicoi County, TN: Noted for emergency rescues due to extreme flooding. Let’s focus on providing aid—medical supplies, food, water, shelter, or communication services—and spread the word across all social media channels. For more on how you can help, visit Ready.gov Resources 🚨 Every share and contribution can make a difference! 💪

In our small West Virginia town, we rarely experience the aftermath of hurricane activity. That was until Hurricane Debby. Debby brought damaging tornados and extensive rainfall up the East Coast, flooding roads and farmland while leaving devastation to our local communities. With Hurricane Season 2024 in full effect, never discount the possibility of a natural disaster occurring in your area. ✅ Be prepared and plan using FEMA’s readiness platform: ready.gov. FEMA offers multiple tips while preparing for unanticipated natural disasters, including guidance on how to build an emergency kit, financial preparedness, getting “tech” ready, and much more. ⛑️ Also, download the American Red Cross’ “Emergency” app on your phone, providing you with alerts and updates on weather activity based on your location. “Plan, Prepare, and Prevail”

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch and Flood Watch for Henderson County and all of Western North due to the impacts from Hurricane Helene. The impact to Henderson County could be significant. We are dealing with two systems. The first one will come through our area today and could bring 3-6 inches of rain to parts of the County. Flash flooding and flooding could occur in low lying areas from today's rain. The rain from Hurricane Helene will arrive late in the day Thursday, with the biggest threat of heavy rain and high winds overnight Thursday into Friday morning. Henderson County remains in the 10-15 inches of rain forecast. Winds gusts between 40-50 MPH are also forecasted. We encourage you to start preparing for the storm now! If you live in a flood prone area, please make plans to seek higher ground and shelter. We encourage you to put together an Emergency Kit that includes bottled water, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable foods, medications, baby food, pet food and NOAA radio or some kind of radio. We expect power loss to be a major impact of the storm so make sure cell phones are fully charged.  www.ready.gov is a great source for information to help you prepare for the storm. We are working closely with our local partners including Fire Departments, Rescue Squad and Law Enforcement to be best prepared for the storm. Follow trusted news outlets for up-to-date information. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.hendersoncountync.gov

While Hurricane Milton is not expected to hit Southeast Florida directly, it’s crucial for all small business owners in Boynton Beach to stay prepared and vigilant. Even minor impacts can disrupt operations, so being proactive is key to ensuring your business and employees remain safe. We encourage all business owners to take advantage of the disaster preparedness toolkit from Ready.gov. This resource provides a clear, step-by-step guide to building a plan that protects your team, secures your business, and ensures you're ready for anything. Stay safe, and start preparing today! Explore the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/gJ_vsYe2

September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe. While the resources and information shared during National Preparedness Month and on Ready.gov can be used by anyone at any time to get prepared for whatever may come their way, this year, the campaign is focused on preparing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The Ready Campaign aims to ensure all of our friends and neighbors have the tools they need to prepare for disasters and build resilience before disaster strikes. Talking about bad things that could happen like a disaster or emergency isn’t always easy. We may think we’re protecting the people we love by avoiding these conversations, but they are important to start taking steps to get ready and stay safe.  Learn more about National Preparedness Month and how to start a conversation with friends and family here: https://lnkd.in/eE9ErhTz

🌪️🐾 Hurricane Preparedness for Your Pets 🐾🌪️ With hurricane season underway, it’s crucial to make sure your pets are prepared too. Here are some important tips to keep them safe during hurricanes, severe weather, and other natural disasters: ☑ Have a pet emergency kit ready with food, water, meds, and comfort items. ☑ Ensure your pet is microchipped and their ID tags are updated. ☑ Know your evacuation route and locate pet-friendly shelters in advance. ☑ Keep a leash, carrier, and any medical records handy in case you need to move quickly. Visit Ready.gov for more information on how to prepare your pets 👇 https://www.ready.gov/pets

Are you and your business prepared for Hurricane Milton? Oh, the joy of living in Florida! Yes, warmth and sunshine does have its price. It is hurricane season and as we prepare the coming storm, many of our clients are calling with lots of questions. Before I answer any of those questions, please be advised: 🌀 The school system has decided to close on Wednesday. 🌀 All universities have cancelled classes. 🌀 The Department of Transportation has lifted tolls. What does this mean for the employer? 🌀 In the state of Florida, when an office closes, the employer does not have to pay their hourly employees, but cannot dock exempt employees. Should the employer pay the hourly employees? 🌀 This should be considered very carefully as the hourly employees need their pay and the employer should give them a “hurricane” day and write it off as “the cost of doing business” in Florida. 🌀  The risk of a discrimination suit (since the exempt employees get paid, but the hourly do not) far outweighs the cost of paying the hourly employees. Yes, it is a nuisance case, but do you really want to deal with that? The insurance carriers will always tell you to settle instead of fight it out in court, even if you win. 🌀 Good morale and the safety and well-being of your employees are worth more that the cost of disruption that not paying them would cause. 🌀 For the exempt and administrative staff, you can have them work remotely (as long as they are safe and have power). Some emergency contact information and see some quick links below:         🌀 Life safety issues: 9-1-1         🌀 Small Business Administration (SBA): 1-800-359-2227         🌀 FEMA helpline: 1-800-621-3362         🌀 FEMA disaster assistance tele-registration hotline: 1-800-462-9029          For more information and further steps you can take to prepare your business, check out these free resources: 🌀 FEMA’s Business Protection Toolkit https://lnkd.in/eets8qQ7 🌀 Hurricane Toolkit from Ready Business (ready.gov) https://lnkd.in/eCJWaE5u Business Checklist from the National Hurricane Survival Initiative (hurricanesafety.org) 🌀 The FEMA App - (includes the ability to get real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide) 🌀 Business Emergency Planning Information from Ready Business (ready.gov) (includes information about creating business continuity plans, crisis communications plans and more) Hopefully you started your hurricane prep in June, as there is only so much guidance that can be given and applied in such a short time frame. At least, this is information can be a starting point to help you hit the ground running. We wish you, your teams, your family and other loved ones a safe week and remainder of the hurricane season. Sincerely- Líanne  on behalf of the Employ-EZ family