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5-7-2008
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Site Index 1. Advertisers 3. Health News 9. Hotlines 10. The Ozone 11. FEMA 16. NASA info 17. Politico 18. The U.S.Decl of Independence 19. Marriage 21. U.N. Info 23. Pet Gallery 28. Other News 30. Help Information 32. Int'l Car Show & News New Photos 34. Pride Gallery B 36. Travel Photos Diane Knaus New Photos 37. About Us
Hurricane Contracts The Department of Homeland Security is the aency that contractors have to go through to be awarded contracts to get work in the hurricane affected areas. According to the Security Website The agency is supposed to assist the business community and they provide links to contracts, grants, small business oppportunities, research and the development and contacts. They provide links to Federal Business Opportunities Procedures, subcontracting opportunitites, and FEMA direct contracting as well. See their contract information World Health Assembly The Assembly Opens With Appeals for More
Ambitious Approach to Health Problems GENEVA -- The 58th World Health Assembly opened today with a series of appeals from senior figures in the health world for a more ambitious approach to the health problems affecting poor people around the world. Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General of
the World Health Organization, urged countries to work together "to
ensure that our action is well-informed, and our knowledge is well-used.
Health work teaches us with great rigour that action without knowledge
is wasted effort, just as knowledge without action is a wasted resource,"
he said. The WHO Director-General also drew attention
to what he called the "most serious known health threat the world
is facing today, which is avian influenza." He pointed out that
"The timing cannot be predicted, but rapid international spread
is certain once the susceptible virus appears. This is a grave danger
for all people in all countries," he said. "We must do everything
in our power to maximize preparedness. When this event occurs, our response
has got to be immediate, comprehensive and effective." Guest speakers at the World Health Assembly
were: His Excellency, Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Maldives,
Bill Gates, Co-Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and
Ms Ann Veneman, the new Executive Director of UNICEF. Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the
Maldives, invited the Assembly to imagine a day when "all of a
sudden, and without warning the sea swells to some four metres, and
crashes through the whole island. Within a matter of minutes, the waters
recede as the tsunami rips through the Indian Ocean, In its wake, loved
ones go missing, never ever to be seen alive again, the whole island
is turned into rubble, and the entirecommunity is left in shock." Mr Gayoom expressed his gratitude to the
international community for its swift response, but said he was concerned
that donors have been slow to provide assistance for the cleanup operation
and for "the important task of reconstructing the damaged water
and sewerage infrastructure." He also spoke of the major
changes in the world over recent years: "Globalization, fast air
travel and trade have increased the opportunities for partnerships and
socio-economic integration. But these have also opened windows for the
rapid spread of infectious diseases from one part of the world to another
within a matter of days." Bill Gates says "
Science and Technology Offer Hope for the Future". In his speech, Mr Gates spoke
of the "heroic efforts" of health workers in situations where
"disease is rampant and resources are scarce." But he warned
the delegates that "The world is failing billions of people"
because people in rich countries do not have to face the health problems
that are killing millions of poor people. Mr Gates went on to underline
his hope for the future, which rests on what he called the "astonishing
miracles" of science and technology. "We are on the verge
of taking historic steps to reduce diseases in the developing world,"
he said. "Never before have we had anything close to the tools
we have today to both spread awareness of the problems and discover
and deliver solutions." In order to build a world
where "all people, no matter where they're born, can have the preventive
care, vaccines, and treatment they need to live a healthy life,"
Mr Gates said everyone has to play a role: Ann Veneman of UNICEF reminded
the delegates that "There are still nearly 11 million children
who die every year of preventable causes. Almost always they are the
poorest and most marginalized." "In the two weeks I have
been at UNICEF; I have heard lots of numbers," she said. "But
that one
11 million
stands out." |
Un Aid to Myanmar 5 May 2008 The United
Nations has offered its assistance to Myanmar authorities in responding
to the deadly cyclone which struck the South-East Asian nation on
Friday, leaving death and widespread devastation in its wake. According to the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Cyclone Nargis
made landfall in the Irrawaddy delta region, some 250 kilometres southwest
of Yangon around 4 pm on 2 May. Buildings have been badly
damaged throughout Yangon, and a significant number of people have
been left without shelter. Electricity is unlikely to be restored
for several days and water supplies are expected to be a major problem.
Many roads remain impassable and the airport has been closed until
further notice. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
said today he is very much alarmed by the news coming
out of Myanmars Foreign Ministry that casualties have risen
to over 10,000. Speaking to reporters in New York, he added that lack
of communications has made it difficult to ascertain the extent of
the casualties and damage. A UN Disaster Assessment
and Coordination (UNDAC) team has been organized and is on stand-by
to assist the Government in responding to humanitarian needs, according
to a statement issued by the UN on Sunday. The most immediate needs
include food, plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, cooking
sets, mosquito nets and emergency health kits. In addition, Mr. Bans
chief of staff today discussed possible UN assistance with Myanmars
Ambassador to the world body, who stressed the need for the immediate
delivery of supplies. The two conferred on communications and coordination in providing assistance as well as the possibility of the release of funds from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). FEMA ACTS ON FORMALDEHYDE KATRINA TRAILER FINDINGS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today February 14,2008, its intent to expedite the agency's plan to provide for the safety and well being of residents living in FEMA provided temporary housing units. The re-doubling of efforts come amid preliminary findings from formaldehyde testing of temporary housing units in the Gulf Coast conducted for the agency by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "As a result of preliminary
findings FEMA will be taking additional actions to provide for the
safety and well being of the residents of these travel trailers by
finding them alternative housing," said FEMA Administrator David
Paulison said. "FEMA is leaning forward and will continue to
act and to provide information to our residents in an expedited manner." FEMA is taking steps to
expedite the relocation of residents from temporary housing units
to apartments or other alternative housing such as hotels, motels,
and "Katrina cottages." As part of the relocation
system currently in place, and its expansion, FEMA will carry out
the following actions where necessary: The priority in relocation
will be those occupants expressing a health concern and those most
susceptible to health risk such as the elderly, households with young
children and those with respiratory challenges. FEMA previously
announced a plan to close all group sites and relocate residents by
June 1 of this year and will continue this activity as part of our
ongoing efforts. In providing proper health
information to residents, FEMA will coordinate with CDC to provide
occupants with additional public health information. Specifically,
CDC and FEMA teams will also visit "each" of the 519 CDC
tested units to provide occupants with the specific results for their
home and advise them on a course of action. In addition, FEMA will provide
caseworker assistance to occupants to ensure best access to information
and programs that can lead to self sufficiency and a sustainable future. The indoor air quality assessment
is one of several actions CDC has initiated to assist FEMA in protecting
the health of temporary housing residents. The other public
health activities include: The two agencies have established toll-free hotlines to respond to public inquiries. FEMA employees are available to discuss housing concerns at 1-866-562-2381, or TTY 1-800-462-7585. CDC specialists will respond to health-related concerns at 1-800-CDC-INFO. Red Cross Assistance to Oregon, Washington state WASHINGTON, Tuesday, December 04, 2007 The Red Cross is responding to severe flooding in Oregon and Washington State caused by back-to-back storms on Sunday and Monday. Bringing hurricane force winds along with inches of rain, the storms have caused mudslides and extensive power outages in addition to the flooding. Current reports estimate that several thousand homes have been affected by either power outages or flood waters across both states., and with sections of major roads unsafe for travel, residents and responders alike are challenged to move to shelters or send needed resources into the affected areas. With careful pre-positioning
of supplies and by working with local businesses, Red Cross chapters
were able to respond immediately, opening shelters, or supporting
community shelters with supplies. The Red Cross is coordinating with
officials at state and county emergency operation centers to monitor
the changing situation and commit and ensure the movement of additional
supplies and people into the affected areas. Even without additional
rainfall, the flood waters and inaccessible roadways will continue
to have a serious impact on residents for the foreseeable future. Residents who have been,
or may be impacted by these floods should take additional safety precautions.
For those who must, or have already evacuated their homes, register
on the Red Cross Safe and Well site, where you can leave behind a
message for your loved ones. If you are unable to register, but are
able to contact a family member, ask them to register on your behalf.
Family and friends will be able to search the Safe and Well site with
specific identifying information and view the message you have left
behind. To register a family member
on Safe and Well, visit www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767)
for assistance from a Red Cross agent. In addition to registering
on the Safe and Well site, residents should complete these additional
steps to prepare for flooding: Head for higher ground
and stay away from floodwater. For detailed information on what to do in case of flooding and power outages visit www.redcross.org. If you are in the impacted areas and need assistance, call your local Red Cross chapter, or 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767. Our Natural Heritage at Risk New Report Shows Critical Need for Land Conservation Funding Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center released its new report, Our Natural Heritage at Risk: Threats Facing Seven of Marylands Most Special Places. The report highlights seven places across Maryland that are at risk from development, and the environmental importance of preserving those places before they are lost forever. This report demonstrates
the critical need for a renewed focus on preserving our open spaces
in every region of the state, said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, staff
attorney for Environment Maryland. Our forests, farms,
and parks are essential, whether to improve the health of the Chesapeake
Bay, to sustain our drinking water supplies, or to protect natural
habitat. The seven locations include
the Prettyboy Reservoir, a key source of drinking water for the Baltimore
region; the Annapolis Neck, which helps protect the Chesapeake Bay;
Assawoman Bay and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both critical
sources of habitat; Terrapin Run, which flows through one of Marylands
largest forests; and Cayots Corner and the Patuxent River Rural Legacy
Area, both farming districts of historic and environmental significance.
All seven of these areas are threatened by development. Development is one
of the most significant threats facing the Chesapeake Bay, said
Terry Cummings, Manager of Advocacy for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Poorly planned growth paves over our open spaces, creating polluted
runoff and destroying natural filters that help clean the Bay.
We must do more to better manage development and protect our open
spaces. These programs protect not just forests and farms, but help create public parks and recreation centers as well. Program Open Space is an essential tool in preserving and protecting park and recreational opportunities for future generations of Marylanders. Our quality of life is directly tied to our parks, our recreation, and our natural and cultural heritage, said Tom Ross, Director of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association. Red Cross and California Wildfires 10-24-2007 Members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program help provide the funding to rush relief to disaster victims before the first donations have been given in response to a disaster. Since the first sign of trouble in Southern California, Red Cross volunteers and employees have opened shelters, providing displaced residents with a safe place to stay, and have mobilized tens of thousands of cots, blankets and comfort kits to the affected areas. Volunteers are staffing
75 Emergency Response Vehicles, providing hot meals and snacks to
residents, firefighters and first responders. Red Cross mental health
counselors are also available to help residents and emergency workers
in the affected areas manage the stress and fear that accompanies
all disasters. As winds are forecasted
to spread flames across the state over the next several days, the
Red Cross will remain on the ground providing emergency assistance.
In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue working with community
partners to identify resources that can aid in the recovery of individuals
and families affected by the wildfires. "Donations from our Annual Disaster Giving Program members enable the Red Cross to have the resources to respond to disasters before they even strike and to deliver hope to disaster victims," said Kathleen Loehr, interim senior vice president of Development at the American Red Cross. "These funds are essential to the organizations ability to provide life-saving support in affected communities like Southern California." Red Cross Heavy rain and flooding continued to plague the Midwest and South Central US submerging thousands of residences and businesses and leaving 22 people dead. The American Red Cross was among the first on the ground and continues to respond to the torrential storm systems throughout Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin
by providing food, shelter, counseling and other assistance made possible
by funds from the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Red Cross asks the public
to please give generously to the Disaster Relief Fund in support of
these disasters. The Disaster Relief Fund is the financial resource
through which the Red Cross can provide immediate relief to disaster
victims before the first donations have been given in response to
these disasters. Donations from the Disaster Relief Fund have enabled
Red Cross volunteers and employees to be stationed across the affected
areas providing flood victims, families, children and elderly with
essential resources needed to cope with the immediate aftermath of
the floods. The Red Cross has opened
shelters, providing residents with a dry place to stay and hot meals.
Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are driving through flooded
communities distributing food, clean-up kits and comfort kits to families,
individuals and rescue workers who cannot make it to a shelter or
are involved with clean-up efforts. Licensed Red Cross mental health
professionals are helping families and individuals cope with the fear
and stress from the trauma of flood disasters. Financial contributions
are still needed to support Red Cross relief efforts, and more hazardous
weather is forecasted for already flooded areas. The Red Cross response
in Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin is expected to cost
millions of dollars. "The Red Cross will
continue to work with community partners to identify resources that
can aid in the recovery of individuals and families affected by the
floods," said Kathleen Loehr, Interim Senior Vice President of
Development at the American Red Cross. "It is only through the
public's continued support of the Disaster Relief Fund that we are
able to provide lifesaving services during these times of multiple
disasters." Americans can support the Disaster Relief Fund and help provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by visiting www.redcross.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS to make a donation. September is National Preparedness Month yet only 7% of Americans have taken the steps necessary to get prepared, according to the American Red Cross 1 . Why? Many people just don't have the time. In fact, an American Red Cross survey indicates that 82% of Americans say they would get prepared if it were easier to do 2. Additionally, among Americans who had not put together a disaster kit, 65% agreed that they would be more likely to have a kit if one were available for sale and contained basic items to get them started 3.The Red Cross is using
National Preparedness Month to urge every family to "Be Red Cross
Ready": to get a kit, make a plan and be informed. One way the
American Red Cross has made it easier for families to get prepared
is by offering a variety of first aid, health, safety, and emergency
preparedness items. "We've tried to make
it as simple as possible for everyone to get prepared," said
Laura Howe, spokes-person for the Red Cross. "In purchasing these
items, the public can feel good about not only preparing their families
but also supporting the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross." Red Cross items available to the public include first aid kits, disposable and heavy-duty work gloves, hand sanitizer, emergency preparedness kits, hand-crank radios, auto safety kits, and a variety of essential education guides. Additionally, the Red Cross
has a line of infant health and wellness products that help par-ents
get prepared, encouraging them to take Red Cross courses in infant
first aid and CPR. These items are available online, at many Red Cross
chapters, and at a variety of retail locations nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of
these items go directly back into supporting the mission of the organization.
Over the last few months, the Red Cross has responded to meet the
needs of thousands of disaster victims affected by severe summer floods
in nine different states; every dollar helps. The public is also invited to take a free online education module available at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady, which walks visitors through the three simple preparedness actions: to get a kit, make a plan and be informed. The Red Cross Reports
Response operations continue
in Peru following the massive 8.0 earthquake that struck on Wednesday,
August 15. The latest reports estimate: Red Cross and Red Crescent
action The American Red Cross is
deploying Corey Michaud, a delegate in Ecuador, to Peru to assist
with the relief operation. Michaud will work closely with the Peruvian
Red Cross to conduct assessments and distribute relief items. His
deployment is in addition to a contribution of 1,500 hygiene kits
and 1,000 tarps, which arrived in Peru today. The Peruvian Red Cross (PRC)
has deployed 60 volunteers to the field. PRC response activities include
ongoing needs assessments, search and rescue, distribution of relief
items, and medical care. Four vehicles are available to be dispatched,
and four ambulances are in Pisco in support of medical activities. The International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has allocated an initial $205,000
from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to immediately start
relief operations. The Federation's Pan American Disaster Response
Unit (PADRU) has deployed two disaster management delegates, a disaster
management officer, two regional logisticians, a regional telecommunications
specialist, a regional relief delegate, and a communications officer.
A logistics coordinator and the head of PADRU will be arriving in-county
today. Ten national Red Cross societies are also in-country assisting the PRC response activities. Two planes containing pre-positioned relief items were sent from Panama to Peru. President Bush Declares Maine as a Federal Disaster Area WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The
head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid
has been made available for the state of Maine to supplement state
and local recovery efforts in the area struck by flooding during the
period of March 16-18, 2007. FEMA Administrator David
Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster
declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The President's
action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing
basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities
damaged by the flooding in the counties of Hancock, Knox, Lincoln,
and Waldo. Paulison named Albert L. Lewis as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Lewis said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are complete. WHO Water Shortage and Sanitation Issues More than 1.1 billion people
in both urban and rural areas currently lack access to drinking water
from an improved source and 2.6 billion people do not have access
to even basic sanitation, the report shows. The health impact of this
can be seen particularly in children. WHO estimates that in 2005,
1.6 million children under age 5 (an average of 4500 every day) died
from the consequences of unsafe water and inadequate hygiene. Children are particularly
at risk from water-related diseases such as diarrhoeal and parasitic
diseases. Lack of sanitation also increases the risk of outbreaks
of cholera, typhoid and dysentery. The populations of urban
areas in the developing world are growing rapidly and, if the MDGs
are to be met, a huge amount of work will have to be done simply to
maintain the proportion of those living in cities with access to improved
drinking water and adequate sanitation. Currently, 95% of city dwellers
have access to an improved source of drinking water, while 80% have
access to sanitation services. Meeting the water and sanitation
targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be one of
the most effective means of raising the health and general living
standards of many of the world's poor. But reaching the water and
sanitation targets will require much greater efforts by policy makers,
funding and training agencies, planning and construction. These solutions
must focus on poor and underserved people worldwide, WHO warns. In
2000, the world pledged to reduce by half the proportion of people
without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
According to the report, MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation Target
- The Urban and Rural Challenge of the Decade, to meet the sanitation
MDG will require a doubling of current efforts. A one-third increase
in efforts will be needed to meet the MDG drinking water target. "It is a tragedy that
the world may not reach the water and sanitation MDGs. Safe drinking
water and basic sanitation are so obviously essential to health that
they risk being taken for granted," said Dr Anders Nordström,
Acting Director-General of WHO. "Efforts to prevent death from
diarrhoea and other diseases are doomed to failure unless people have
access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. This report underlines
the importance of the new WHO strategy on public health and environment
to radically reduce the global burden of disease through preventive
health measures. Only by tackling the root causes of diseases such
as water and sanitation can we reduce the 24% global burden of global
disease caused by the environment." Sub-Saharan Africa is still
the main focus of concern. An estimated 80% of people without access
to an improved drinking water source live in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern
Asia and Southern Asia. Due to population growth over the period from
19902004, the number of people without access to drinking water
in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 23%. Currently, just 56% of the
population has access to an improved water supply. Just 37% of people
in sub-Saharan Africa had access to basic sanitation in 2004, compared
to a global average of 59%. In rural areas, access to
an improved source of drinking water and to basic sanitation services
was very low in 1990 (the baseline year for measuring the MDGs): only
an estimated 64% had access to a drinking water source, while 26%
had access to sanitation services. While those percentages rose substantially
by 2004 - to 73% and 39% respectively - these numbers still fall way
short of what is needed to achieve the MDGs. From the report comes one
example of a success story in terms of raising coverage. In Ethiopia,
the Amhara region had a coverage rate for access to sanitation services
of only 3.8% in 2003, and only 100 latrines were being constructed
annually in each district. In that year, the government initiated
a social marketing campaign which increased community knowledge and
understanding of sanitation and its linkages to health. Community
demand for latrines sky-rocketed, and by 2005, the average number
of latrines constructed per district was 26 400. For more information contact:
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NASA Satellite Captures
Image of Cyclone Nargis Flooding in Myanmar The first cyclone of the 2008 season in the northern Indian Ocean was a devastating one for Myanmar (Burma). According to reports from Accuweather.com, Cyclone Nargis made landfall with sustained winds of 130 mph and gusts of 150-160 mph, which is the equivalent of a strong Category 3 or minimal Category 4 hurricane. News reports stated that several thousand people have been killed, and thousands more were missing as of May 5.
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Myanmar coast on April 15, 2008, before Tropical Cyclone Nargis flooded the region. Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team Flood water can be difficult
to see in photo-like satellite images, particularly when the water
is muddy. This pair of images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Terra satellite use a combination
of visible and infrared light to make floodwaters obvious. Water is
blue or nearly black, vegetation is bright green, bare ground is tan,
and clouds are white or light blue. On April 15, rivers and lakes are sharply defined against a backdrop of vegetation and fallow agricultural land. The Irrawaddy River flows south through the left-hand side of the image, splitting into numerous distributaries known as the Mouths of the Irrawaddy. The wetlands near the shore are a deep blue green. Cyclone Nargis came ashore across the Mouths of the Irrawaddy and followed the coastline northeast. NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Myanmar coast on May 5, 2008, showing the devastation of flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the
Myanmar coast on May 5, 2008, showing the devastation of flooding
caused by Tropical Cyclone Nargis. Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response
Team The entire coastal plain
is flooded in the May 5 image. The fallow agricultural areas appear
to have been especially hard hit. For example, Yangôn (population
over 4 million) is almost completely surrounded by floods. Several
large cities (population 100,000500,000) are in the affected
area. Muddy runoff colors the Gulf of Martaban turquoise. Disaster Response Center
Opens in Suffolk 5-2-2008 RICHMOND, Va. - A Disaster
Response Center to help people The center houses representatives
from several state and local People visiting the center
also will be able to pick up Services available at the
Disaster Assistance Center include: Hours of operation for the
center are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. Tornado Safety Saves
Lives 4-30-2008 Virginia Twisters Remind
Residents to Get Ready -- "This is the time for
all of us to review basic tornado safety," Tornado warning: A tornado
has been sighted or has been If a Tornado is Headed Your
Way: Take precautions if you
can not get to a substantial buildings. If you are in: Families and businesses
should practice yearly tornado drills. 911 for Your Mortgage 4-26-2008 WASHINGTON - Nearly
a quarter of a million more families could be eligible this year to
purchase or refinance their homes using affordable, FHA-insured mortgages,
thanks to the economic growth package signed into law by President
Bush last month. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will allow HUD's
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to temporarily increase its loan
limits and insure larger mortgages at a more affordable price in high
cost areas of the country. "The stimulus is providing
immediate relief to homeowners," said HUD Secretary Alphonso
Jackson at a Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors keynote speech.
"It raises the Federal Housing Administration's loan limits,
enabling more families to qualify for a safe, affordable FHA mortgage.
This is important. Families in high-cost states have been priced out
of FHA-backed loans. This has created a vacuum, filled by exotic subprime
loans. Families with home loans up to $729,750 will now qualify for
an FHA loan, depending on where they live." HUD will offer temporary
FHA loan limits that will range from $271,050 to $729,750. Overall,
the change in loan limits will help provide economic stability to
America's communities and give nearly 240,000 additional homeowners
and homebuyers a safer, more affordable mortgage alternative. The
maximum amount of $729,750 will only be applicable to extremely high-cost
metropolitan areas such as: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Washington, D.C. HUD also calculated new limits for loans to
be purchased by Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac. "Many families all
over the U.S. will benefit from this access to credit, and increasing
these loan limits will inject much-needed liquidity into the housing
market," said FHA Commissioner/Assistant Secretary for Housing
Brian Montgomery. "Even moderate-cost areas like those in
the South and Southwest such as Dallas, Houston, Augusta and Tallahassee
will be helped, with most loan limits there rising to $271,050." There are 75 areas in the
U.S., out of a total of approximately 3200, that will be eligible
for the highest loan limit of $729,750. Previously, FHA's loan limits
in these very high-cost areas were capped at $362,790. The Economic Stimulus Act
of 2008 permits FHA to insure loans on amounts up to 125 percent of
the area median house price, when that amount is between the national
minimum ($271,050) and maximum ($729,750). The new minimum and maximum
loan limits are based on 65 percent and 175 percent of the conforming
loan limits for Government-Sponsored Enterprises in 2008, which is
$417,000. The FHA used a combination of existing government data sets
and available commercial information to determine the median sales
price for each area, and released the data approximately two weeks
after the President signed the stimulus bill. The change in loan limits
are applicable to all FHA-insured mortgage loans endorsed after HUD
publishes the increased loan limits today, and it lasts until December
31, 2008. By increasing loan limits
nationwide, FHA will provide much needed liquidity and stability to
housing markets across the country. Already, as conventional sources
of mortgage credit have been contracting, FHA has been filling the
void. From September to December 2007, FHA facilitated more than $38
billion of much-needed mortgage activity in the housing market, more
than $15 billion of which was through FHASecure, FHA's refinancing
product. By focusing on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, FHA helps homeowners
avoid and escape the risks associated exotic subprime mortgage products,
which have resulted in rising default and foreclosure rates. In January 2009, FHA's maximum
loan limit will return to $362,790, unless the U.S. Congress approves
bipartisan legislation to permanently increase loan limits as part
of the FHA Modernization bill, which is still awaiting final approval
on Capitol Hill. "In January 2009 the
loan limits will return to their previous setting," Jackson said.
"We need a more permanent solution. So our next step must be
to modernize the 74-year-old FHA. Two years ago, before the downturn,
we introduced an FHA modernization bill to Congress. Our plan offers
flexible down payment requirements and higher loan limits. It would
also enable the FHA to fairly price premiums, taking risk into account
so the market makes rational decisions. We don't want anyone caught
by surprise again. FHA modernization could help a quarter of a million
families this year alone. It passed the House and Senate in overwhelmingly
bipartisan fashion. But a final bill has yet to reach the President.
Congress must act-now!" Jackson noted that the Administration
could not wait for Congress to act. "Last August, the President
and I introduced FHASecure. It helps responsible families who, having
paid their bills on-time under the original interest rate, find themselves
falling behind under the reset rate. For the first time, these delinquent
families would be able to qualify for an FHA loan. 'Underwater' borrowers
and those in the process of foreclosure may also qualify." Since
August, FHA has helped 110,000 homeowners who were current or past
due on their loans refinance with an additional 200,000 expected by
year's end. "We can create the
conditions for recovery," Jackson said. "We can make the
boom-bust cycle shorter and shallower. We can replace gimmicks and
shortcuts with transparency and honesty. And we can take the necessary
steps to prevent foreclosure. That's right, foreclosure is not inevitable,
it's preventable. And we have the tools to prevent it." Discussing recent efforts
in Congress to bail out lenders, which the Administration opposes,
Jackson said" Americans are a fair people. They want to help.
But they understand that the answer to an economic challenge must
ultimately come from the people who drive the economy. They want the
tools of recovery in their own hands. And they do not want to kill
the spirit of opportunity that made this country great." FHA loan limits are based
on the county in which the property is located. However, for properties
located in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas, the limit
is set at that of the county with the highest limit within the metropolitan
or micropolitan area. Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Prime Minister of New Zealand Environmental Leaders 4-22-2008 Singapore/Nairobi, 22 April 2008 - Seven leading lights in the battle against global warming who are also catalyzing the transition to a greener and leaner global economy were acknowledged as the 2008 Champions of the Earth. The winners, ranging from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Prime Minister of New Zealand to a Sudanese climate researcher who has been successfully piloting climate-proofing strategies in some of the most stressed communities on Earth, received their trophies at a gala event in Singapore. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) who presented the awards which are hosted in conjunction with the annual Business for the Environment Summit ( B4E ) said: "The golden thread that links each one of tonight's winners is climate change, the challenge for this generation and the disaster for the next unless it is urgently addressed". "Our winners for 2008 light an alternative path for humanity by taking responsibility, demonstrating leadership and realizing change across a wide range of sustainability issues. These include more intelligent and creative management of natural and nature-based resources from waste and water to biodiversity and agriculture," he added. "Thus each one is living proof that the greening of the global economy is underway and that a transition to a more resource efficient society not only makes environmental sense but social and economic sense too. I am sure their leadership and their achievements will inspire many others to act as it inspired us at UNEP to name them the 2008 Champions of the Earth," said Mr Steiner. In thanking UNEP for awarding the prize, the His Serene Highness pledged to "carry out missions to raise the alarm and heighten awareness in the field. The world is facing an unprecedented threat. We must assume our responsibilities without delay and rise to the challenge that history has placed upon our path". Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, the former Prime Minister of Yemen who was awarded the prize for West Asia, said it was vital to make the connection between improved management of nature and natural resources and the "upgrading of peoples quality of life". A staunch advocate of more intelligent management of water resources and the need to address sustainable agriculture in dry-lands, he said the awarding of the UNEP prize was not only a personal delight but a "high responsibility". Timothy E. Wirth of the United States, whose professional and public life has been shaped by climate change and fostering support in his home country for greater action to cut emissions, said: "With each passing month, each passing year we learn more about the urgency of the task". Fishwatch 2-25-2008 American consumers seeking information about which seafood is sustainable, safe,and healthy need to look no further than the new government-run online consumer education tool, http://www.fishwatch.noaa.gov. Visitors to the site will learn about sustainable seafood and how to distinguish science-based fact from fiction. retired Vice Admiral Conrad
C. Lautenbacher, NOAA administrator. Consumers are rightfully
confused given all the misleading and conflicting information available
to them, but FishWatch will help them become better educated and prepared
seafood consumers. Volunteers Support
Each Other through Emotion, Stress of Tennessee Tornado Response Red Cross Bay Area, San
Francisco There are a great
number of people affected here because its a small community,
said Ternasky, herself a Red Cross volunteer from Gilroy, Calif. Even
if theyre not personally touched, a neighbor was affected or
a friend or a brother. The entire community is sharing in the sorrow. For first-time responders,
witnessing the devastation caused by tornadoes buildings and
trees smashed and tossed like toothpicks, childrens toys, cribs
and clothing littering a field, hearing story after story of family
members missing or dead can be overwhelming. Red Cross volunteer Sandy
Loftis hugs a girl affected by tornadoes in Macon Country, Tenn. following
one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. (Photo credit:
American Red Cross) I didnt think
that I was going to be as emotionally involved as I was, said
Jamie Kendall, executive director of the Southeastern Coastal Georgia
Chapter, who is in Tennessee on her first disaster assignment as a
public affairs service associate. Visiting the scene of a
house, six days after it was destroyed by the tornadoes, Jamie and
a photographer came upon a young woman searching the rubble near the
cement-block foundation where her home had stood. The woman survived
with cuts and lacerations, probably thanks to her husband of three
months who threw her into a bathtub moments before the tornado hit
and protected her with his own body. Emergency response vehicle
(ERV) drivers have been making rounds through devastated neighborhoods
for more than a week now, providing meals and comfort to families
working to clean up their homes and yards. At every stop, they hear
about a grandfather who died after being pulled from the rubble or
a four-year-old child next door who didnt survive. They offer
what comfort they can and try to sort out the impact at night, when
they are alone with their thoughts. Shelter manager and volunteer
Marione Gaines own home in Lucedale, Miss., was battered by
Hurricane Katrina. She started performing community service afterward
and is currently working at the Red Cross shelter at the armory in
Lafayette, Tenn., with her friend Gloria Lawrence, also a volunteer
from Lucedale. Everyone in this community has been running on adrenaline, and now that things are settling down, they really need our help, said Marione. I have been there. I know what theyre feeling and I can tell them that it does get better. Red Cross Efforts Continue
After Storms Monday, February 11, 2008
A line of thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the midsection
of the United States last week, killing more than 50 people, injuring
scores of others, and destroying dozens of homes and buildings. To date, the Red Cross has
opened 14 shelters, welcomed 492 overnight guests, and served 9,263
meals. While many of the shelters have since closed their doors, information
is still available on a blog (http://redcrosstn.wordpress.com) dedicated
to the tornado relief effort. While the majority of Red
Cross disaster assessment has been completed, Red Cross volunteers
will remain hard at work in the region to assure that everyone who
needs support can receive it. Several Red Cross service centers are
open throughout the affected areas of Tennessee for individuals and
families who need assistance. At the service center, each
individual or family will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with
a trained interviewer to help determine needs and provide urgently
needed assistance. Assistance may include providing them with the
means to pay for what they need most from groceries, new clothing,
and rent to emergency home repairs, transportation, household items,
medicines, and tools. Red Cross may also be able to refer victims
to other agencies which can assist with their needs. Local chapters were truly at the heart of this disaster response and continue to work with support from the Red Cross' national network of resources and supplies. |
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