Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard move through flooded Houston streets as floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey continue to rise, Monday, August 28, 2017. More than 12,000 members of the Texas National Guard have been called out to support local authorities in response to the storm.

By Judy Reed

Hurricane Harvey swept into Texas last weekend, and at least 25 people have died as the storm battered the southeast region of Texas and nearby Louisiana. Houston has been hit especially hard. Floodwaters have begun to recede, but thousands of people and pets have been left homeless in the storm’s wake. Some 18,000 people have been rescued from the flooding in SE Texas; at least 32,000 people are in shelters, with thousands more seeking to get in.

How can you help?

Hurricane Helping Hands: There are some people right here in Cedar Springs organizing relief for both humans and their pets. Friends Jamie Garcia, Melissa Lombard, and Tiffany Rop are asking for physical donations—not monetary—though gas cards would be accepted. Jamie will be driving some things down to Texas, and someone else has offered one or two semi tractor trailer to drive items down. There are many items needed such as flashlights, batteries, lanterns, socks, bandaids, trash bags, toilet paper, biodegradable wipes, rubber gloves, peanut butter, etc. Please see their Facebook page for the entire list. https://www.facebook.com/HurricaneHelpingHands/

Melissa posted on the Facebook page that there is also a big need for baby items—formula, diapers, wipes, etc. They are also putting together personal care packs and are in need of combs, razors, pads/tampons, tissues, toothbrushes, hair ties, etc. She is also making natural soap to go into the bags, so is looking for donations of lard, coconut oil, sunflower oil and olive oil, but would need those this week. Her goal is to make 100 pounds of soap.

The friends are also collecting items for pets that have been rescued.

The Post will have a drop box for donations, and other drop off points will be announced on their Facebook page. Please email them or send a message through their Facebook page for more information.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/ Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax-deductible flood relief donations for victims that have been affected by the recent floods. The fund will be housed at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

Workers with the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescue a horse in rising floodwaters.

Houston Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: The Houston SPCA is the lead nonprofit animal-related agency responsible for disaster rescue, recovery and relief efforts. You can donate online at http://www.houstonspca.org/.

UMCOR – The United Methodist Committee on Relief is currently working with disaster coordinators and early response teams in Louisiana and Texas to provide relief to the many people whose lives have been impacted by hurricane/tropical storm Harvey. They give you five things you can do at http://www.umcor.org/umcor/resources/news-stories/2017/august/0825umcorrespondstoharvey. One is to make relief kits. You can download the packing list and shipping label from their website. You can also donate online or by mail.

Save the children: This organization is delivering family-friendly relief supplies including cribs, strollers, changing tables, baby shampoo, diapers and baby-safe portable tubs. They are also setting up child-friendly spaces in shelters where kids can play and learn while parents manage their family’s emergency needs. Go to www.savethechildren.org to learn more and to donate.

American Red Cross: Visit the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org to donate.

Blake Shelton helps kick off Pepsi’s “Hype Your Hometown” program in Corpus Christi, TX. Fans who visit Pepsi.com/halftime and share how they get hyped for halftime will be entered to win tickets to the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show in Arizona and a Pepsi halftime extravaganza in their hometown.

(NAPS)—This holiday season, don’t forget to add your hometown to your gift giving list. Thanks to Pepsi and its “Hyped for Halftime” Super Bowl campaign, you could win a Pepsi Halftime Show for your entire hometown along with scoring tickets to the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show live in Arizona.

As you count down to Super Bowl XLIX, Pepsi’s “Hype Your Hometown” contest will bring excitement and the spirit of a Pepsi Halftime Show to unexpected places, including a very special hometown.

Here’s how it works: Visit www.pepsi.com/halftime, register by specific location, and share a photo or video of yourself demonstrating how you get “Hyped for Halftime.” Showcase your best touchdown dance, paint your face with the colors of your hometown team, grab your friends to film your version of your favorite halftime performance or share your pet’s funniest party attire—the only requirement is your Hometown Hype! And hurry…the contest ends on Dec. 27.

Blake Shelton lands on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, TX to deliver a surprise performance to America’s veterans to launch Pepsi’s “Hype Your Hometown” campaign—a call to action for the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime halftime experience.

By showing off your hometown hype, you could walk away with tickets to the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show in Arizona to watch global superstar Katy Perry perform, along with bringing a Pepsi halftime extravaganza directly to your hometown prior to the game.

Already in the spirit of halftime, Pepsi recently brought the hype to America’s veterans on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas, with a special performance by country music superstar Blake Shelton.

To find out how you can unlock the spirit of halftime for your hometown, visit www.pepsi.com/halftime. May the most hyped hometown win!

Health Department & Emergency Management monitors Ebola situation 

GRAND RAPIDS – The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) and Kent County Emergency Management (KCEM) continues to monitor the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the case in Texas, where a man from Liberia who came to the U.S. died from Ebola Wednesday. Ebola is a severe, often fatal disease in humans. KCHD and KCEM are regularly receiving updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on this emerging outbreak.

The outbreak involves several countries in West Africa: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Currently, those at highest risk include healthcare workers and the family and friends of a person infected with Ebola. Area health care providers have received information from the KCHD based on CDC guidance.

“The death in Texas today is a tragic reminder that Ebola is a serious illness,” said Adam London, Health Officer of the Kent County Health Department. “But it also has been an excellent reminder of how well our public health system works in the United States. There have been no additional reports of illness as a result of this one case at this time, because of the emergency response and precautions taken by health care providers and epidemiologists.”

“The level of cooperation and information-sharing between emergency agencies helps keep local municipalities like Kent County informed and well-prepared,” said Jack Stewart, Emergency Management Coordinator for Kent County. “Keeping community leaders, first responders and our local emergency departments updated has been our top priority.”

A person infected with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear, which can take up to 21 days. Signs and symptoms of Ebola are quite flu-like in nature. They typically include:

Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)

Severe headache

Muscle pain

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Stomach pain

Unexplained bleeding or bruising

No one in Kent County has met the criteria for testing at this time, and no cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Michigan.

Darcey and Sandra Raymond recently visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas with their grandchildren, Cory and Cortney Myers.

“We are spending a couple of weeks with each daughter in Texas. The weather has been in the high 60s to low 80s, and gas prices are running $3.15 to a high of $3.29 per gallon. People here are real friendly and helpful. We’ll bring you all back some warm weather,” wrote Darcey and Sandra.

Thanks so much for taking us with you!

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!

Sue and Phil Harrison recently returned from a 3,200 mile round trip to San Antonio, Texas to see their son and his family, and they were good enough to take along a copy of the Post.

“We wanted to find a very unique place to shoot a picture of the Post and it couldn’t have been any better than Luckenbach, Texas, population 3,” explained Sue. “The town’s population soars to thousands when bikers and country and western fans from all over the US come for concerts there. The general store/post office/gift shop/saloon is the oldest building. Luckenbach’s claim to fame is being featured in a song by Waylon Jennings and Willy Nelson, both of whom have held sold out concerts in the dance hall.”

Sue said that although they didn’t see Waylon or Willy, they got to sit on Tumbleweed, the longhorn steer, and have their picture taken as they read the Post. They also got a great shot of Sue, Phil and granddaughter Emma in front of the Luckenbach General Store.

Thanks so much for taking us with you!

Will you be traveling? Take along a copy of the Post and get a photo. Send the photo and some info about it to news@cedarspringspost.com. We will print them as space allows.

Michigan DNR staff and equipment return from 22 weeks in Texas

After spending 22 weeks in Texas, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is happy to welcome home state firefighters that have been diligently working to stem the wildfires that have burned throughout Texas.
Under an interagency agreement that all 50 states participate in, the Michigan DNR sent four tractors/plows and eight staff to Texas in mid-June.  Staff rotated through every two to three weeks, with over 40 DNR staffers having spent time in Texas.  The last of the crews and equipment returned home on Nov. 18.
“Fighting wildfires is dangerous, which is why we are happy to report that all of the Michigan DNR staff returned unharmed,” says Scott Heather, section manager for the Resource Protection & Cooperative Programs of the Michigan DNR.  “Additionally, the State of Texas will reimburse the department for all of the costs associated with having the staff and equipment down there for 22 weeks.”
Firefighters from 43 states fought more than 29,000 blazes across almost 4 million acres of land since wildfire season began on Nov. 15, 2010.  Michigan firefighters battled two of the largest fires – the Bastrop County Complex and the 101 Ranch, saving many homes.
“The unprecedented wildfires in Texas this year were just another example of why these types of interagency agreements are so important,” says Heather.  “Due to the favorable weather in Michigan this summer and fall, the threat of wildfires was low, allowing us to lend our services and equipment to Texas for an extended period of time.”
This was the longest period of time that Michigan has lent staff and equipment to another state for the purpose of fighting fires.  Michigan has a long history of providing equipment and staff to other states and has also benefited greatly from the interagency agreement.  Most recently in 2007 during the Sleeper Lake fires in Luce County, over 230 firefighters from around the Midwest battled the 18,500-acre fire.