Coastal Reconstruction Group

Today Marks Sixth Anniversary Of Hurricane Katrina

August 29th, 2011

By Ashleigh Coran

NEW ORLEANS, Lousiana – Today marks the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on the Gulf Coast.

The force of the hurricane wiped out entire communities in the region. Then, the levees broke in New Orleans, setting off catastrophic flooding.

Thousands of displaced families sought shelter at the Superdome.

More than 1,700 people were killed in the storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency called Katrina “the single most catastrophic natural disaster in U.S. history.”

(Original Source: http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/15350170/sixth-anniversary-of-hurricane-katrina)

Tags: anniversary, hurricane, Katrina, Louisiana, New Orleans
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Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale

August 24th, 2011

All Hurricanes are dangerous, but some are more so than others. The way storm surge, wind and other factors combine determines the hurricanes destructive power. To make comparisons easier and to make the predicted hazards of approaching hurricanes clearer to emergency managers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane forecasters use a disaster-potential scale which assigns storms to five categories. This can be used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast with a hurricane.

The scale was formulated in 1969 by Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer, and Dr. Bob Simpson, director of the National Hurricane Center. The World Meteorological Organization was preparing a report on structural damage to dwellings due to windstorms, and Dr. Simpson added information about storm surge heights that accompany hurricanes in each category.

For a more detailed chart from NOAA, CLICK HERE.

Tags: category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4, category 5, damage, hurricane, NOAA, Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, wind
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NARPM Central Florida Volunteers at Habitat for Humanity

August 16th, 2011

Volunteers from NARPM Central Florida spent time last Saturday helping out at the local Habitat for Humanity! Thank you to everyone who took the time to assist this worthy cause!

Tags: Central Florida, charity, Habitat for Humanity, NARPM, NARPM Central Florida, projects, volunteer
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FALA Conference 2011

August 11th, 2011

Join us at the annual FALA Conference and Trade Show! Scott is speaking TODAY at 3pm and we would love to have you! Plus… someone WILL win an iPad 2!

Click HERE for details!

Congrats to Scott McCurdy for being elected to the Florida Assisted Living Association Board of Directors for another term!

Tags: conference, CR University, CRU, FALA, Florida Assisted Living Association, ipad 2, R U Prepared, trade show
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‘Typical’ Caregiving Scenario Defined in New Report

August 3rd, 2011

A new Gallup poll aims to describe the life of an average caregiver and shines light on the vast amount of time family caregivers spend each month caring for a loved one.

The Gallup poll is part of a three part series, which aims to describe what it means to be caregiver. Researchers surveyed 2,805 adults, aged 18 and older, who self-identified as caregivers and were working at least 15 hours per week. Most respondents reported caring for someone 75 or older, and 72 percent of these caregivers were providing care for a parent. A majority of these caregivers did not live with the person to whom they provided care, but 66% of individuals not living with the person they cared for lived within 10 miles.

The poll finds that caregiving is generally a long-term commitment and is often a major time commitment, with more than 19 days per month devoted to providing care. 13 or these days were spent with tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and taking medicine, while 6 of these days were spent assisting with personal tasks such as toilet visits, eating, dressing, grooming, and bathing. Caregivers also spent 13 hours per month coordinating physician visits, managing financial matters, and researching care services for their loved one and an average of 5 hours per day in which they provide care devoted to companionship.

CLICK HERE to read the full results and Gallup’s methodology.

(Original Source: http://www.alfa.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=1895)

Tags: assisted living, care, caregiver, elderly, Gallup
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CMS Issues Final Rule on Medicare Payments to Skilled Nursing Facilities

August 2nd, 2011

Late Friday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the Final Rule addressing Skilled Nursing Facility payment for federal fiscal year 2012. After months of effort by advocates for long term care, CMS is moving forward with their plan for significant reductions in SNF payment rates effective October 1, 2011.

In the Final Rule, CMS estimates that the aggregate impact for the FY 2012 updates would be a net decrease of $3.87 billion in payments to SNFs, resulting from a $600 million increase from the update to the payment rates and a $4.47 billion reduction from the recalibration (12.6%) of the case-mix adjustment.

The recalibration adjustment is offset by the update of 1.7 percent, consisting of the market basket increase of 2.7 percentage points, reduced by the 1.0 percentage point Multifactor Productivity (MFP) adjustment. CMS projects that aggregate payments will decrease by 11.1 percent, assuming that facilities do not change their care delivery and billing practices in response.

American Health Care Association is conducting a more thorough analysis of the 300-plus page final rule, which we will share with you once completed. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL President Gov. Mark Parkinson, as well as AHCA Chair Robert Van Dyk and NCAL Chair Nicolette Merino, will be on hand at the FHCA Annual Conference at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on Monday, August 15th, so you can expect to hear more about what this means for the profession moving forward.

Federal Agency Drastically Reduces Skilled Nursing Facility Payments

J. Emmett Reed, Executive Director of Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), issued the following statement in response to the release of the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System final rule for FY 2012 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

“In its Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will cause long term care facilities to see a significant reduction in Medicare funding for skilled nursing care of nearly $4 billion beginning October 1, 2011. Facilities in Florida are already experiencing a drastic $187.5 million cut to state Medicaid funding that went into effect July 1. The CMS reductions will threaten our facilities’ ability to continue delivering quality care to Florida’s seniors and puts thousands of long term care jobs at risk, particularly since Medicare funding helps to prop up Medicaid, which has historically underfunded nursing home care. FHCA will continue advocating on behalf of Florida’s long term care facilities in hopes that lawmakers at the state and federal level will see the importance of preserving much-needed funding so seniors can have access to quality long term care both today and in the future.”

(Original Source: http://fhcacapitolconnection.blogspot.com/2011/08/cms-issues-final-rule-on-medicare.html)

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JFRD to encrypt radio frequencies: Disaster groups concerned

July 28th, 2011

Reported by: Amanda Warford

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s not just media groups that worry what will happen when emergency radios go silent. Some local disaster response groups believe their clients will suffer as well.

Asher Lohman, of Coastal Reconstruction Group, says his disaster reponse team can’t respond to emergencies if they don’t know about them.

“Getting there quickly is the name of the game. We come in and we address the situation, stop the bleeding, tarp roofs and put together a scope of work.”

Coastal Resconstruction serves more than 250 commercial and 7,000 residential clients in Duval County. When natural disasters occur, they’re on hand to help, but they only know about disasters because they monitor activity on the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s radios.

“Whout the radios we would be waiting for a call, or have to find out later after the event’s happened which can add to the confusion and destruction of the property.”

But soon, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department will encrypt frequencies, making activity nearly impossible to hear by media and recovery teams alike.

Tom Francis says JFRD is a rescue department, and information like addresses and patient vitals that are broadcast over those channels are subject to federal HIPPA laws. He says encryption is part of a Department of Homeland Security system upgrade that has been in the works since HIPPA passed in 1996.

Francis says it is not a decision associated with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office removal of police radios from newsrooms that was annouced last week. While Francis says he understands safety concerns that disaster teams and the public may have, he says a new JFRD plan for emergency communication is forming, although still in the early stages.

Encryption of JFRD radio activity is set to begin in four to six weeks.

(Original Source: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/actionlocal/story/JFRD-to-encrypt-radio-frequencies-Disaster-groups/blQhj5XX3Ey4UPMGDxmPDQ.cspx)

Tags: disaster, encrypt, Fire Rescue, FL, frequencies, homeowner, Jacksonville, JFRD, radios, safety, scanners
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Home Safety Showcase

July 25th, 2011

Please join us this Thursday, July 28th, for the Home Safety Showcase!

WHEN: July 28 – 3pm
WHERE: One Senior Place / 8085 Spyglass Hill Rd. Viera, FL 32940

Suntree Pharmacy & Suntree Medical Equipment Present Home Safety Showcase at One Senior Place

Viera, FL — Suntree Pharmacy & Suntree Medical Equipment are partnering with One Senior Place to host a Home Safety Showcase on July 28th, 2011. Speaking at the event will be Scott and Lucas McCurdy from Coastal Reconstruction Group to present on Hurricane Preparedness, and Charlie Hoffhine from Family Home Health Services to discuss Fall Prevention and ways to keep you safe while in your home. With so many forces affecting our health and safety, it’s important to know who are your reliable resources. There will be door prize raffles and light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Southland Suites of Melbourne.

Tags: Brookdale Senior Living, disaster preparedness, Family Home Health Services, home safety, Home Safety Showcase, home security, hurricane preparedness, Lucas McCurdy, One Senior Place, scott mccurdy, Seminar, Southland Suites, Suntree Medical Equipment, Suntree Pharmacy
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FEMA Encourages Americans to Participate in September’s National Preparedness Month

July 21st, 2011

Eighth Annual National Preparedness Month in September: “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare,” Encourages Americans to Take Simple Steps to Prepare for Emergencies

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready Campaign, in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Ad Council, today announced the launch of new web tools that will make it easier for individuals and organizations throughout the nation to join the 2011 National Preparedness Month (NPM) coalition and pledge their support to help prepare their families, businesses and communities for emergencies of all kinds.

The eighth annual NPM will kickoff this September, using the slogan: “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.” The campaign seeks to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

“As we move forward with planning for this year’s events and activities, we also recognize that this September marks the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “By doing what we can to ensure that our communities, and our nation, are prepared to respond and recover from all types of disasters and hazards, we honor the memory of those who were lost that day.”

Individuals and groups can now register to become NPM coalition members by visiting http://community.fema.gov. Once registered, members have access to a toolkit that includes suggestions for activities and events, templates, articles, banners and customizable materials. Coalition members also have access to an events calendar allowing them to post and promote preparedness events, share success stories, and participate in national and regional discussion forums to engage with fellow coalition members and FEMA representatives.

By hosting events, promoting volunteer programs and sharing emergency preparedness information, coalition members can help ensure that their communities are prepared for emergencies. Becoming a coalition member is easy and free, so register now to get started. Nearly 2,000 coalition members have already joined this year’s campaign.
While NPM is held each September, FEMA’s Ready Campaign promotes individual emergency preparedness at home, in the workplace, and throughout America’s communities throughout the year. Ready is a national campaign, produced in partnership with The Ad Council, designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The Ready Campaign’s websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish. Additionally, through FEMA’s partnership with the Ad Council, public service announcements are available to increase the American public’s involvement in preparedness.

Tags: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare., FEMA, national preparedness month, Preparedness Month, Ready.gov; preparedness, September
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Revised Regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

July 15th, 2011

By William C. Bracken, PE, SECB CFM

On September 15, 2010, the United States Department of Justice published revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the Federal Register. These newly adopted regulations replace the 1990 edition and are called the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design or more commonly, the “2010 Standards”.

On March 15, 2012, compliance with the 2010 Standards will be required for all new construction and alterations. In the period between September 15, 2010 and March 15, 2012, covered entities (such as States and municipalities) may choose between the 1991 Standards (without the elevator exemption for Title II facilities), the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (Title II facilities only), and the 2010 Standards.

Currently, a number of States and municipalities operate under locally developed and Federally approved “deemed to comply” versions of the ADA. The Florida Accessibility Code for example is a “deemed to comply” versions based on the requirements of the 1991 ADA standards. As such, the changes in the Federal standard will end the deemed to comply status of the current Florida Accessibility Code on March 15, 2012. For that reason the Florida Department of Community Affairs has been busy holding hearings and revising the Florida Accessibility Code so as to comply with the new requirements of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The needed revisions were finalized and then added to S.B. 396 which was passed during the recent legislative session.

If you would like a copy of the 2010 ADA Standards for accessible Design you can download it at http://www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm. There is also an Analysis and Commentary which outlines and discusses all of the changes from the 1991 ADA Design Standards to the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. You can access this document at http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/reg3_2010_appendix_b.htm.

As for Florida, its new Accessibility Code is being finalized into a printable format with hopes that it will be available in July. The effective date of Florida’s new Accessibility Code has not yet been set, but will most likely coincide with the effective date of the 2010 Florida Building Code at the end of this year. Once Florida’s new Accessibility Code has been finalized into a printable format, we will pass along the information on availability. We will also provide a rundown on the significant changes in subsequent eNewsletter articles.

For more information, feel free to contact William C. Bracken, PE, SECB, CFM at: wbracken@brackenengineering.com or via the web at http://www.brackenengineering.com/

Tags: Accessibility Code, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, Bracken Engineering
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