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BRIEFS National
Political
Texas
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS
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HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS Experts recommend coastal residents take the following steps in order to be ready in case Texas is in the way of the predictions: · Buy the materials needed to secure property and minimize losses. Don’t wait until storm warnings are posted to buy tapes, nails and plywood or shutters for covering windows. · Inventory personal property to prove what is lost if there is an insurance claim. Use receipts and color photos or videos as backup. Include model and serial numbers of such items as electronic equipment and guns. Update former inventory and keep a copy of the inventory and backup material in a secure place such as a security box or the home of an inland relative. · Evacuation is the smartest move a coastal resident can make when a hurricane nears the Texas coast. It is the best option for providing safety and security for coastal Texans. It is the best way to protect lives and property and ease the disaster recovery process.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management advises people to prepare for evacuation by doing the following: · Protect the home and do not tape windows. It is ineffective and only makes large fragments of flying glass. · Move patio furniture, hanging plants and grills and if structures may sustain damage from rising waters, move valuables to a higher level. · Confirm reservations if staying in a hotel. · Notify relative and friends about evacuation plans and routes. · Know other places between home and the destination to stop in case roads are closed and returning home is not an option. · Make a list of telephone numbers for each place. · Before leaving, turn off electricity at the main circuit breaker or fuse box. This will protect appliances from power surges, and reduce the risk of people being electrocuted after the storm. · If the house is supplied with natural or propane gas, turn it off at the meter or tank and wait for help from the gas company to turn it on again. · Make a final walk through inspection of the home before closing the door. Look for needed items such as keys, checkbook, and credit cards.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency says the following are steps business owners can take to help prevent business losses from the destruction of hurricane force winds: · Clear out areas with extensive glass frontage as much as possible. If you have shutters, use them; otherwise, use precut plywood to board up doors and windows. · Remove outdoor hanging signs. · Bring inside or secure any objects that might become airborne and cause damage in strong winds. · Secure display cases. Use plywood to protect glass display cases or, if possible, turn the case’s glass side toward an inside wall. · Store as much merchandise as high as possible off the floor, especially goods that could be necessary to survival and in short supply after the storm. · Move merchandise that cannot be stored away from glass and cover it with tarpaulins or heavy plastic. · Secure all goods in warehouse off the floor, and place sandbags in spaces where water could enter. · Remove papers from lower drawers of desks and file cabinets and place them in plastic bags or containers on top of the cabinets.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT:
ON THE ROAD IN AN EVACUATION:
FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS IN EMERGENCIES:
LEAVE EARLY WITH FRAGILE FAMILY MEMBERS:
LEAVE EARLY IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS:
TRAVELING WITH EXTRA VEHICLES? LEAVE EARLY:
HURRICANE WATCH AND HURRICANE WARNING:
KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ALERT SOUTH PARK NEGLECTED?
MANY PEOPLE MAY REMEMBER THE NICE AREA CALLED SOUTH PARK. This was back in the days where things in the area were up to par. Many of us, who now live in other areas, also attended school in South Park. The area is the only community some residents know. So much has now changed in the area. Years back many businesses were lined up on about every other block. Business was so good and residents were very proud of their community. The main street was named South Park Boulevard and is currently Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and the area is known as the MLK and the South Park areas. Now I’m wondering what happened to the community’s pride. Did it fade out with South Park or do the residents care about the MLK area? If you were to drive down MLK Blvd. you will not find any super markets, fruits stands or malls, etc… Why do you think the investors will not invest into the MLK area? Is it because they don’t want the residents’ money or is it the way the community looks?
What are city leaders doing about this? The community needs to use their voting power to take care of this matter. This area should look like the Bellaire community, where the residents support their businesses and keep city leaders working hard for them. Now I’m also wondering will the community let this area die or bring it back to life. Where are Wal-Mart, Kroger, Foodarama, and HEB? They’re always saying that they are here for the community. Are city council members trying to get any of them in the area? Most of the MLK residents have to drive to Pearland just to shop at Wal-Mart. The nearest Kroger store is on Telephone Road. The nearest HEB is in the Gulf Gate Mall area and the nearest Foodarama is on South Post Oak. Now my question to the residents is are you spending more on gas than what you are getting from the store? Let us stop focusing on what was tried to be done in the past. We need to focus on what we are going to do now. I drove down MLK on June 6, 2008 just to take a few pictures of my concerns. The pictures I took really touched me, because I’m thinking if I were an investor would I spend my money in this area. Go to Top
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NATIONAL
WASHINGTON –– The
Internal Revenue Service announced a special
telephone line will be available for taxpayers affected by the
Gulf oil spill.
Individuals with BP payments questions or who
are experiencing filing or payment hardships because of the
oil spill should contact the IRS at
866-562-5227 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays
local time.
In certain cases, the IRS can assist oil spill
victims by suspending collection and examination actions. Taxpayers who need
this assistance must request it. Others may decide to continue making
payments because interest will continue to accrue on outstanding balances,
even if some penalties are abated.
In addition to postponing collection actions,
the IRS continues to have a number of other ways to help taxpayers deal with
oil spill issues or other economic hardships, including:
Taxpayers and tax
preparers will be able to work directly with IRS employees to resolve
tax issues, including specific topics related to the oil spill. The IRS will
hold the Gulf Coast Assistance Day in the
following cities:
NASA To Fly Into Hurricane Research This Summer
WASHINGTON, D.C.
-- NASA aircraft DC-8, WB-57 and a remotely piloted Global Hawk will begin
flights on Aug. 15 to study tropical cyclones on a six-week field mission
during the agency's first major U.S.-based hurricane field campaign since
2001. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes mission, or GRIP, will
study the creation and rapid intensification of hurricanes.
The DC-8 will fly out of the Fort
Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The WB-57 will be
based at the NASA Johnson Space Center's Ellington Field in Houston. The
Global Hawk will be piloted and based from NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center, in Palmdale, Calif., while flying for up to 20 hours in the vicinity
of hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
The aircraft will carry a total of 15 instruments,
ranging from an advanced microwave sounder to dropsondes that take
measurements as they fall through the atmosphere to the ocean surface. In
order to determine how a tropical cyclone will behave, the instruments will
analyze many factors including: cloud droplet and aerosol concentrations,
air temperature, wind speed and direction in storms and on the ocean's
surface, air pressure, humidity, lightning, aerosols and water vapor. The
data also will validate the observations from space. |
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MUST READ helpful hints when shopping for countertops ARE CHECK CASHING FEES NECESSARY?
RECENT NEWS
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CLEAR LAKE PARK/CLEAR LAKE
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POLITICAL Senate Passes Wall Street Reform The Senate passed Wall Street Reform, which makes sure Americans will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street’s mistakes. The bill represents the boldest financial regulations since the aftermath of the Great Depression -- and the strongest consumer protections in history. It will crack down on abusive practices and unscrupulous mortgage lenders, reinforce the new credit card law we passed banning unfair rate hikes, and ensure that folks aren’t unwittingly caught by overdraft fees when they sign up for a checking account. It will also give students who take out college loans clear information and make sure lenders don’t cheat the system and ensure that every American receives a free credit score if they are denied a loan or insurance because of that score. It puts in place the strongest consumer financial protections in history and it creates a new consumer watchdog to enforce those protections. The bill will become law the moment President Obama signs it.
OBAMA announces administration posts WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:
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TEXAS Operation Lone Star Offers Free
Medical Care in
South Texas
Operation Lone Star will offer free health clinics during its annual two-week effort to provide health services to people in South Texas. The clinics will provide health screenings and treatments, immunizations, physicals for students, hearing and vision exams, and limited dental care from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. For more information call the local health department or dial 2-1-1. Week 1:
July 26 – 30
Week 2:
August 2 – 6
BUSINESS TAX CREDIT WILL GIVE SECOND CHANCE TO MANY HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT WORKING TEXANS AUSTIN, TX – Gov. Rick Perry, who said a single dropout is one dropout too many and it’s a must to continue pursuing sensible education options that give every Texan a shot at a better life, proposed an initiative that will provide a business tax credit that will help working Texans who never finished high school return to school to earn a diploma or GED. The proposal requires legislative action and would provide a tax incentive to employers who grant their employees two hours a week of paid time off to return to school or study for their GED. Once the employees have received their diploma or GED, the employer is then eligible to receive $1,500 per student in credit toward sales tax liability. Over the next biennium, the proposal would grant an estimated $15 million in sales tax credits, based on an estimated 5,000 dropouts a year taking advantage of the program. The program would be restricted to high school dropouts age 18 and over who are legal residents of the state. All employers who pay sales taxes or directly remit sales taxes to the state, and are in good standing, will be eligible to participate.
Texas is America’s Top State for Business A CNBC study that scored each state based on 40 different measures of competitiveness reveals Texas is America’s Top State for Business. Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the designation reinforces the fact that the Lone Star State is the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family thanks to its low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulations and skilled workforce. CNBC scored each state using publicly available data to determine the rankings. States received points based on 10 broad categories including: cost of doing business, workforce, economy, education, quality of life, technology and innovation, transportation, cost of living, business friendliness, and access to capital. Texas created more private sector jobs than any other state in the nation over the last 10 years. Additionally, Texas’ unemployment rate remained steady at 8.3 percent in May, well below the national average.
FREE BUILDING SUSTAINABLE HOUSING MARKETS SUMMIT AUSTIN – The City of Austin and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will offer a one-day summit housing experts and stakeholders to discuss regional strategies to create and sustain affordable housing needs in Texas, Aug. 13. The working session will bring together leading housing officials from across the state to develop regional housing action plans and attendees will have a realistic and achievable plan for sustaining affordable housing in their community. Register for the free summit at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/summit.htm.
MISSOURI CITY ADOPTS NO-SMOKING ORDINANCE MISSOURI CITY – Missouri City Council adopted a no-smoking ordinance taking effect Oct. 1 during a regular meeting, July 6. The ban covers: *Most enclosed public places, including workplaces and restaurants *Youth sporting events held in city parks *Outdoor areas within 25 feet of entrances to public places *Violations will be punishable by a fine of up to $500 Signs announcing the ban will be posted and the city will conduct a public awareness campaign. Smoking will not be regulated in outdoor seating areas of restaurants, private residences except those used for adult daycare and childcare, certain private and semi-private rooms in nursing homes, retail tobacco stores, tobacco bars and during certain stage performances.
CITY OF PEARLAND HOST OPEN HOUSE PEARLAND – The City of Pearland is sponsoring an open house meeting at the Knapp Senior Center located at 2424 South Park Avenue from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. July 20 in an effort to provide local property owners with the latest information regarding the Walnut Street Roadway and Drainage Improvements project, a four-lane roadway with medians and sidewalk, traffic signal, storm drainage and water main systems. The informal public information meeting will give attendees an opportunity to ask questions and view the construction plans. City of Pearland and Design Engineer representatives will be available to answer questions about the construction sequence and project improvements.
GULF PROJECT GEARED TO RESERVE TEXAS AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry announced the Gulf Project, a coalition of the state’s top energy and environmental scientists, policy experts, academic researchers, private sector research scientists and state officials will focus on protecting and ensuring Texas never endures the environmental and economic disaster currently occurring in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. The University of Texas, Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), Texas General Land Office and Texas Railroad Commission are participating in the effort, and other experts and institutions of higher education may join later. Each participating institution is already involved in significant oil and gas drilling research, and already has the facilities – such as Texas A&M’s Offshore Research Technology Center and Rice’s National Corrosion Center – but none is able to test a full drilling system to ensure it can safely operate under all deep sea conditions. James T. Edmonds Reappointed as Port Commission Chairman
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the confidence Harris County Commissioners and the Houston City Council have expressed in me since I was first appointed chairman in 2000,” Edmonds said. “I will work even harder over the next two years to ensure that confidence is well-placed.” Houston Mayor Annise Parker said she was pleased to join Harris County Commissioners and Houston City Council in reappointing Edmonds. Parker said he is a proven leader who has guided the port through a period of unprecedented growth and environmental advances and keeping him at the helm will help ensure continued progress.
“CLICK IT OR TICKET” FRONT AND BACK SEAT MANDATORY TEXAS – Drivers and front and back seat passengers need to remember to always wear their seat belts in moving vehicles.. It's the law. Unbuckled drivers and front and back seat passengers could face getting a ticket fine up to $250 from law enforcement officers. “Click It or Ticket”. |
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KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ALERT IKE IS STILL HERE
GETTING CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY IKE AND THEN BY INSURANCE COMPANIES LEAVE PEOPLE CONFUSED. The day after Ike came to Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and surrounding counties, many of us were affected by roof damages, and debris from the storm. As we look today at several of the pictures with this article, it’s 2010 and yet some residents are still affected by Ike’s issues. Many of the insurance companies did not meet consumers’ expectations of handling the business after the storm. People pay their deductibles and monthly high premium payments on time to prepare for the unexpected, but are still affected by the storm due to certain insurance companies. FEMA put the tarps on some of the homes in the pictures. Even after FEMA provided the tarps, the long nails went through the roofs and damaged them and made leaks. Roof repairers are not going to put a warranty on them. You are just getting it repaired at your own risk. Legitimate licensed roofers are not going to repair it if they are unable to put a warranty on it and guarantee it’s fixed. The checks some insurance companies disbursed were not enough to cover the damages for people to get proper roof repairs. Therefore, they should contact their attorney general’s office, other state agencies, and the govt. to see how they may make complaints against the insurance companies. Just think, if you pay insurance on time every year and are unable to get anything done and have to put up with the insurance adjusters not writing the checks for the amount of the damages when something like this happens, it’s time think about the saying ‘you get what you pay for’. Getting a half job done will probably lead to having problems in the future. Why aren’t the insurance companies putting new roofs to insure you’re protected? Is it all about the money and not the people’s protection? Consumers need to find out what legal actions may be taken against the insurance companies. I’m sure the govt. will listen to many people’s complaints. The govt. will be able to take control of the situation and maybe some of the roofs will get done the proper way.
I think you should be able to get satisfaction when making your monthly payments on time to an insurance company. It’s like if you go to a car lot and look at a BMW based on another lower car brand, you will want the best vehicle money can buy and won’t take a cheaper vehicle that will not last as long as a better vehicle. Contact your insurance company and say you’re not going to accept what they are doing and don’t want a half job done, but a complete job done. Insurance companies send adjusters out to protect them, not the consumers, and know they can’t get the job done for the amount of money the adjusters make the claims for. Some people can’t get the work done or the quality done for the amounts. Business Pros is currently working on finding the names of these companies and will release them later in one of our issues. Residents need to get together with their local and state leaders and get a plan to where consumers may have money taken out of their pay checks to go towards their home fund. That way it’s guaranteed to go towards your home. Never touching the money may then be used for retirement. For example, your home is worth $100,000 and you’re paying $450 a month for insurance. In one year you have accumulate $5,400. If you multiply that by 30 years, you would pay more than your house is worth. Just think, if that money is in your special account and you never touch it, you will have accumulated $1162,000. Again, that’s more than your house is worth. I’m sure the insurance companies will be forced to lower their prices if that bill were to pass. Go to Top |
