BE SAFE IN 2008 AND MAKE A DISASTER FREE WORLD: HAPPY NEW YEAR

The beginning of the New Year provides us an opportunity to reflect on the past and make resolutions to fulfill new goals in the coming year.

The recent devastating hurricane at Bangladesh, earthquake at Indonesia, fires in California and other national and international disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Southeast Asia remind us that disaster can come at any time and in any form. As the Founder of MAINAKSWORLD, I know that there is much more work to do in disaster preparation, especially with the added threat of human-induced disasters. I am also keenly aware that even the most prepared Government response will not be enough if citizens have not prepared themselves for times of emergency.

Let’s take an example, regardless of how a flood occurs; the rule for being safe is simple — head for higher ground and stay away from flood waters. Even a shallow depth of fast-moving flood water produces more force than most people imagine. The most dangerous thing one does is to try walking, swimming or driving through floodwaters. Two feet of water is enough to carry away most automobiles. Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.

So, Lets learn the ways to save oneself and share this useful life saving knowledge with your near and dear ones. Let’s all join hands and create a Safer, Stronger, Greener and a Disaster Free World.

I want to thank all of my readers, my well wishers in this New Year, whose wishes have helped me to move forward with my dream of creation of a disaster free world. Thank you so much for being with me always.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008.

Regards,

Mr. Mainak Mazumder

Environmentalist and Specialist in Disaster Management

(Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing)

Founder of the website on disaster management: MAINAKSWORLD

World Wide Web address:  www.mainaksworld.com  

Our E-mail:     admin@mainaksworld.com

Here is an example, which I want to share with you in this New Year:

Transportation is so basic that many of us overlook its overwhelming importance in our daily lives. Practically everything used in our homes, offices or schools across Tennessee (United States of America) - from furniture to food items to clothing - requires a large and complex transportation network which is why keeping Tennessee moving is the primary goal of the Department of Transportation.

In the winter, transportation maintenance crews sometimes get up at 3 a.m., or may stay out all night, keeping roads clear of snow and ice. In the spring and summer, they stay busy filling potholes, cutting grass and picking up litter. These functions all coincide with the department's mission to plan, implement, maintain and manage an integrated transportation system for the movement of people and products, with emphasis on quality, safety, efficiency and the environment.

Today, Tennessee's road system stretches 87,259 miles, enough to circle the world more than three times. Of that figure, 13, 752 miles are on the state-maintained highway system, representing 16 percent of the total highway miles within our state and carrying 72 percent of the traffic. Included in the state highway system are 1,074 miles of interstate highways. Although the interstate system makes up just over one percent of the total highway mileage, it carries one quarter of all the traffic in Tennessee.

Experience has shown that communication and coordination are the keys to a successful emergency response. With this in mind, in December, TDOT invited members of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to join them in a winter weather training exercise. As everyone have seen many times, a serious blast of winter weather can lead to major power outages and can paralyze the transportation network. During a major winter storm, it is important for all responding agencies to coordinate and work together for the best possible response. By assembling these key agencies for our first winter weather drill, each organization is able to better understand individual responsibilities and how they can work

TEMA, of course, is the lead agency in responding to emergencies in Tennessee. TDOT employs three primary Emergency Service Coordinators (ESC), one of whom is embedded at TEMA headquarters, in addition to their team of regional Emergency Services Liaisons who work with the TEMA regional offices. These employees, as well as TDOT's Public Information Officer and four Community Relations Officers, are all trained in the National Incident Management System. Keeping the lines of communication open is clearly critical in emergency situations.

During a major disaster, TDOT will touch almost every aspect of the response, including search and rescue, evacuation, law enforcement, debris management, and health services. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that Tennessee's transportation infrastructure is fully operational as quickly as possible. This includes not just highways, but also airports, rivers and ports, and railroads. TDOT coordinate transportation resources, such as buses, trains, aircraft and watercraft, to assist in the movement of evacuees and critical supplies, as well as emergency responders themselves. In addition, TDOT work with a number of outside entities, including Federal Express, Civil Air Patrol, US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard, who can provide specific resources in reconnaissance or response missions. These are but a few of our areas of responsibility in the event of a disaster, but they do illustrate the broad role TDOT plays in any response.