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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
Update: Volunteer to Gulf
Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:59 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote: We couldn't accomplish this work without the help of our members and sponsors and I want to take a few minutes to highlight some special businesses who have helped us through the last 4 months with professional services and fundraising events. Optera Creative, Inc. - Based in Baldwin County, Optera Creative has provided IT support to ACF since our Oil Release work began. From rebuilding elements of our website to providing near-constant technical support over the telephone, Optera Creative has proven to be an essential partner in our Oil Release Response Efforts. Logical Computer Solutions- IT Support- thank you George and Sam for coming to our aid every time we call! First National Bank of Baldwin County - Branches in Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Gulf Shores are selling pins featuring species of the Gulf Coast and donating 100% of proceeds to ACF. Visit a location today to get your very own for a suggested donation of $5. Serda's Coffee- Located in downtown Mobile, Serda's Coffee created a special Coastal Clear roast in response to the Oil Release. $2 from each bag sold will be donated to ACF. Moe's Original BBQ - Eagle, Colorado - With the help of Alabama native and bluegrass musician Patrick Padgett, Moes' BBQ in Colorado hosted a Crawfish Boil with five bluegrass bands, with proceeds benefiting ACF, proving that our friends throughout the country are looking out for the Gulf Coast. Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce- Thanks to the Chamber for selling beautiful brown pelican posters to support our work! Ridgeways- printing maps and inserts for the Volunteer Field Observer Program Gulf Distributing, Inc.- Miller Lite Fundraiser at Veet's Rojo- Dodge Ball Tournament in Birmingham Ink Works - Donated shirts for ACF staff -thank you!
Quote: The Volunteer Field Observer Program (VFOB) is recruiting additional volunteers to monitor shorelines for oil and affected wildlife over the next several months. Based on ACF's existing Shoreline Assessment Program, ACF partnered with Mobile Baykeeper and the State of Alabama to implement the program, which uses trained volunteers to monitor shorelines for oil impacts. Upon finding evidence of oil, VFOB's report their findings to Incident Command, then document their findings with GPS coordinates and photographs. Help is still needed! We have a lot of coastline that is still being impacted by oil- your eyes and ears are critical to finding the oil as soon as possible so that the clean-up crews can respond. We have trained over 270 volunteers over the past months -if you see one of our VFOB's out, please thank them for their time and dedication to protecting our shorelines
Saturday, August 28, 2010 10:30 AM
FREMDFIRMA
Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:35 PM
KANEMAN
Sunday, August 29, 2010 6:31 AM
Quote:Meanwhile, since 2006, FEMA has sold over 130,000 of the trailers for a total of $279 million; at one auction in January 2010, the agency sold 93,000 of them for $133 million. The sales prompted massive controversy, partially for the poor resale cost: the January sale yielded approximately seven cents on the dollar. More importantly, critics worried that the formaldehyde-emitting trailers, many of which were outfitted with labels declaring them unfit for human habitation, would be passed along to bargain-hunting home buyers. During the BP oil spill cleanup, an even more insidious development occurred: as the New York Times reported in June, the trailers -- often missing their government-mandated warning labels -- were re-purposed as temporary housing for cleanup workers. The shelters may have lacked proper documentation, but they still had the formaldehyde. For example, Alpha-One, a disaster contracting firm in the Gulf area, sold dozens of the trailers to cleanup companies. Asked about the sale, the company's owner, Ron Mason, dismissed the formaldehyde threat: "Look, you know that new car smell? Well, that's formaldehyde, too. The stuff is in everything. It's not a big deal."
Sunday, August 29, 2010 8:11 AM
Quote:CNN ran a story last night about how FEMA coached disaster victims whose trailers had failed formaldehyde tests about how to retest and get lower numbers in order to buy their trailer from FEMA. The Picayune couple profiled in the story initially tested at 77 ppb when the limit for being able to purchase the trailer was 40 ppb. FEMA came out to retest and told them to open all the windows, and keep it cool and aired out while testing. The test was taken at only 56 degrees, and came in below 40 ppb. Formaldehyde levels greatly increase with heat and humidity. But people can't live comfortably at 56 degrees with all the windows open. When the Syries were tested by CNN this week when it was hot and humid, they tested at 117 ppb--which is over the limit for what you should be exposed to for even 15 minutes. It is three times over the limit set by FEMA. The Syrie's have been living in a formaldehyde fog now for five years, and both are sick. They have nowhere else to live. Some FEMA trailers failed three tests even with FEMA coaching people how to get low numbers. And guess what happened to those trailers? They were auctioned off to the public and given to Native Americans. They are being used to house oilfield workers on the Gulf Coast and North Dakota. Many people are at risk because of the government's negligence in selling these trailers government testing had proved was hazardous.
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