"Where's the fire?"

Thank you Uncle Ed,

 for sharing this Facebook Post

Gwendolyn Corgan

March 22, 2019

From a mother living in TX

For those living close to the border in Texas, the crisis is all too real on the boarder of the US & Mexico. This is from the perspective of someone who lives with this every day. They are not secure in their homes behind walls like all of congress is. Maybe congress should walk a mile in these people's shoes. The urgency to have a wall built at the border may not seem like a crisis for some. One such person is Kari Wade, who, with her family, owns a ranch just 50 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

The border rancher recently responded to a Facebook comment when someone asked, "Where's the fire"in regards to the urgency of President Trump to build the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border

Just read a comment on another friends post and the comment said, "Where's the fire?"...as in reference to building the wall/more technology on the border states. Let me tell you where the fire is:

• The "fire" is finding dead bodies on your ranch, 
• The "fire" is finding domestic pig ears in your drinkers when there isn't a domestic pig for 25 miles, 
• The "fire" is waking up to unknown people talking in your attic, 
• The "fire" is dogs barking all night when your closest neighbor is 7-25 miles depending on the direction to just realize there are people outside your barn, 
• The "fire" is having to come home after dark and have to carry a rifle to go feed your livestock after BP tells you that they only caught 9 of the 15 they are looking for. 
• The "fire" is making a choice. Do I take my child with me to a dark barn to feed and hold the flashlight or lock him in the house, so you lock him in the house and call a friend to let them know he's home alone and if they don't hear back from me to come check on us. 
• The "fire" is you don't feel comfortable letting your child play outside without being in eyeshot of them. 
• The "fire" is having large drug busts on your ranch. 
• The "fire" is feeling sick to your stomach every time the helicopter swirls your house because you know they are chasing people because you can hear them on the speaker talking to them. 
• The "fire" is seeing the BP camera set-up 1/2 mile from your house. 
• The "fire" is coming home after dark...your children are driving in front of you as one is of age to drive, and there are officers on your road watching illegals 1/4-1/2 mile from your house and you have to call your children and tell them to keep driving, don't stop at the house. 
• The "fire" is coming home to your backdoor wide open.

The "fire" is real for me, my family and my community.

Be Prepared

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By Terry Orr

Preparedness refers to the state of being prepared for specific or unpredictable events or situations. Preparedness is an important quality in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes. It is a major phase of emergency management, and is particularly valued in areas of competition such as sport and military science.

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September 2012 marks the ninth annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.

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10 Ways YOU Can be Disaster Prepared (from Cal EMA)

1. Identify Your Risk
2. Create a Family Disaster Plan
3. Practice Your Disaster Plan
4. Build a Disaster Supply Kit for Your Home
5. Prepare Your Children
6. Don’t Forget Those with Special Needs
7. Learn CPR and First Aid
8. Eliminate Hazards in Your Home and Work Place
9. Understand Post 9/11 Risks
10. Get Involved, Volunteer

I really like how Cal EMA has layout getting prepared for disasters, especially item one, ‘identify your risk’. What are the hazards where you live or work? Find out what natural or human caused disasters pose a risk for you. Do you live near a flood plain, an earthquake fault, or in a high fire danger area? Are you prepared for an unexpected human-made disaster that can strike any time? Does your neighborhood or community have a disaster plan?

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Be sure to include the following items in your emergency plan:

• How each person will get out of the house, if needed;
• Where to meet if you must leave the house; and
• Contact information for reaching the designated out-of-area contact person.

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Emergency management, emergency preparedness, and disaster services are common throughout the United States—we take care of each other. By whatever name, these activities encompass mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery related to any kind of disaster, whether natural, technological, or national security. Emergency preparedness means being prepared for all kinds of emergencies, able to respond in time of crisis to save lives and property, and to help a community—or even a nation—return to normal life after a disaster occurs.

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Like a good scout – Be Prepared

References and links:

http://www.ready.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/features/beready/

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/preparedness/

http://www.citizencorps.gov/

http://www.calema.ca.gov/NewsandMedia/Pages/Preparedness-Month.aspx

http://www.emergencypreparednessdepot.net/

https://www.disability.gov/emergency_preparedness#map

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National Childhood Obesity Month

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By Terry Orr

Obesity in America has reached a catastrophic level. Almost every aspect of our lives is threatened. The first step toward ending the damage is learning how to fight back.

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September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and recently HBO broadcasted a wonderful series of four episodes regarding Obesity in America called “The Weight of the Nation and the link is listed below.  They are: 1) Consequences; 2) Choices; 3) Children in Crisis; and 4) Challenges.  It is my hope that everyone who reads this post will take time to view these highly informative and solid understanding if the epidemic.

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Childhood Obesity Facts (from CDC)

• Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years.
• The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period.
• In 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
• Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat.
• Overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is a problem.

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It is going to take the entire village working together to be successful!

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The Alliance for a Healthier Generation offers five first steps parents can take to cultivate a healthier lifestyle for their family.

1. Be a Healthy Role Model
2. Make Healthy Schools the Norm
3. Ask the Family Doctor Key Questions 
4. Instill Healthy Values in Kids
5. Make a Commitment to Health 

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How to Make a Difference (from Volunteer Guide):

• Don't reward children with food. Candy and snacks as a reward encourage bad habits. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.
• Practice what you preach. If you're practicing healthy habits, it's a lot easier to convince children to do the same. Incorporate healthy activities into the time you spend with children. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.
• Limit TV, video game, and computer time.
• Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school cafeterias and vending machines.
• Bring kid-friendly, healthy snacks to classroom parties and other school events.
• Get kids to be active at your child’s next birthday party by bowling, roller skating, or playing picnic games.
• Encourage school administrators to join the Healthier US Schools Challenge. This nationwide award program, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, challenges schools to promote good nutrition and physical activity. Schools that are doing the very best work are recognized, and high-achieving schools even receive monetary incentives.
• Sign the national petition calling for an end to childhood obesity discrimination and bullying. Forward the link to five friends to encourage them to sign too.

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Let us all pitch in to help our young people and those of us as adults to also take the necessary actions to set the example for them.

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References and Links:

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/films

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/initiatives/coam

http://healthiergeneration.org/parents.aspx?id=4294967617

http://catchinfo.org/?gclid=CLKwsruKk7ICFUGo4AodPkUAxw

http://www.volunteerguide.org/minutes/service-projects/childhood-obesity?gclid=CM3n8IWMk7ICFYMRNAodSVUAvQ