DISASTERS

Frans Hoffman is a disaster first responder, specializing in sheltering and rescuing animals. After participating in the animal rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina, Frans has responded to more than a dozen disasters and emergencies. He is the founder of DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) and has developed a training curriculum for animal disaster response which he and other disaster responders teach through usDART (http://usDART.org).

David is the President of Mylar Media and directs the firm's crisis communication efforts. He is a former Press Secretary for the Governor of Illinois and has served as the External Affairs Liaison to Governor Jeb Bush, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, on behalf of the American Red Cross. In 2001, David was appointed as the on-site, Deputy Communication Officer for the American Red Cross World Trade Center disaster response, Rapid Response Team member for Hurricane Katrina, and more than 60 national disasters. He has also served as the Midwest Regional Director of Communication & Government Relations for the Red Cross, managing and supporting the Disaster Public Affairs efforts of 184 Red Cross chapters in 9 states throughout the Midwest — successfully diffusing emerging issues and designing crisis communication strategies in times of disaster. David has been interviewed by Bill O’Reilly, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Good Morning America, the Today Show, NPR Morning Edition and national print media.

Mr. Montella is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on numerous topics relating to homeland security, disasters, and business continuity. With more than 26 years of direct homeland security and emergency management experience in government and private industry, Mr. Montella has worked at the local, state, and federal levels of government, as well as private industry, and with the American Red Cross. Montella is considered one of the top disaster planners in the United States. Montella is the Chief Operating Officer for Government Technologies Group, LLC, providing technology solutions and consulting services surrounding disaster preparedness, homeland security, and security for government agencies, corporations, and private individuals. Montella is the disaster and homeland security expert on the Discovery Channel Series, THE COLONY, and is on the Board of Directors of the RSQ Foundation. Mr. Montella was most recently appointed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Advisory Council’s (NAC) Public Engagement & Mission Support Subcommittee and the National Response Framework Working Group. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Mr. Montella became the first General Manager of Emergency Management for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, helping to rebuild the agency that owned and operated the World Trade Center. His experience is highlighted by serving in senior management positions on well over 100 headline disasters including Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, and Katrina as well as the September 11 terrorist attack, and the anthrax release at the U.S. Capital. In addition, He served on the State of Florida Rapid Impact Assessment Team (RIAT) and has served on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) at FEMA headquarters. His efforts in the field of emergency management earned him and his agency the presti

Retired after spending more than forty years as a television journalist. I worked in just about all aspects of TV News and Sports...anchor, reporter, manager, photographer. Over those four decades I had the opportunity to cover Presidents and political convention, natural disasters, Super Bowls, World Series, and just about every type of major sporting event. I also spent more than three years working at the BBC which provided me with a chance to visit many European cities. While I have maintained a passionate interest in all sports for more than fifty years, my real passion is golf. I don't play very well but have spent countless hours learning about the game and equipment. I have been fortunate to have attended all four major tournaments and look forward to the chance to see and play more golf going forward. Recently I got more involved in landscape photography and have visited and photographed a number of national parks. I have plans in the works this year to visit Bryce and Arches National Parks in Utah.

Jennifer Selby is a Registered Nurse living in Northern California. She has been an ER nurse for the last 12 years and also teaches in a Paramedic Academy. She classifies herself as a workaholic. One of her greatest passions in life is traveling the world, experiencing the beauty of other cultures. This love of travel, combined with a compelling need to help others, has led her to join medical missions. She has traveled the world as a nurse, privileged to be able to deliver healthcare and help improve the skills of local healthcare workers, in third world countries and areas affected by natural disasters.

Bob Weinstein is a writer, editor, syndicated columnist and author of 13 books. He’s well known as a respected workplace expert. In 2001, he created Tech Watch, the first weekly technology career column. The column was picked up and distributed by King Features (Hearst Corporation). It ran weekly in large daily newspapers throughout the United States, such as the Chicago Sun-Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Oregonian, Tampa Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Albany Times Union, and the Houston Chronicle, to name a few. A few of his published books include “Resumes Don't Get Jobs” (McGraw-Hill); “I’ll Work for Free” (Holt); “I Hate My Boss! “ (McGraw Hill); “Who Says There Are No Jobs Out There?” (McGraw Hill); and “How to Get a Job In Hard Times“ (Simon and Schuster). He also wrote “Money Hang-Ups“ (John Wiley); and “Death Row Confidential.“ (Harper Collins). Weinstein has distinguished himself in other areas. He created “Making a Difference,” a biweekly or monthly feature about people who are making the world a better place. The feature is about America’s unsung heroes. Outside their community, they’re unknown. Yet they’re all special people because they are making a difference in people’s lives. In some way, they are giving back; enriching the community; some are saving lives or working to prevent disasters; many are risking their lives to save others. Some are bona fide local heroes. And they’re from all walks of life. “Making a Difference” debuted in the Los Angeles Times’ Sunday section. Weinstein’s articles, interviews and commentary have appeared in The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Newsday, Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Star-Ledger, The Washington Post, Business Week's Career Guide, Family Circle, McCall's, Woman, King Features' Real World, Advertising Age, Ad Week, Consumers Digest, Family Weekly, Reader's Digest, and Entrepreneur, to name a few. Weinstein ha

I am a student and teacher of philosophy at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where I live with my husband and two cats. Right now, I am working on my dissertation, which focuses on the representation of ecological disasters in the media. I also suffer from fibromyalgia, a debilitating chronic illness that causes widespread pain and fatigue, and since my diagnosis in January 2010, I have been learning how to manage my symptoms while finishing up school. I practice yoga regularly, and am learning everything I can about traditional Chinese medicine. I also follow a dairy- and gluten-free diet, and find it to be a great excuse to try out new foods and learn new recipes. When I'm not philosophizing, doing yoga, or cooking, you can probably find me biking around town, gardening, or taking in a good movie.

Chris' public relations, crisis communication and reputation management skills have helped guide high profile clients through disasters and national news events. He brings a reassuring level of calm to the most stressful of situations. If that weren't enough to keep anyone busy, Chris was also integrating social media programs for clients before the term "social media" had ever been coined. As a former Emmy-winning news producer, Chris is the instructor for Media Academy, a premier media training workshop. Chris has a B.A. in speech communication from the University of Georgia, and over 18 years' experience in PR and television news production. Outside of the office, he's an accomplished singer and guitarist, published songwriter, father of four children, and certified hockey referee (which comes in handy when you're parenting four kids!).

Born 12/25/1973 in St.Petersburg Fla. I have spent most of my life in upstate NY. The majority of my career life has been in the field of human services working with the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. That led to my fascination with the history of and research into asylums in NY, of which I hope to write a book about in the future. I mainly write opinion pieces on a wide variety of topics from politics and economics to video games and natural disasters. I try to inject humor whenever it's appropriate (and sometimes even when it's not) because they way the world is today you really have three choices, laugh, cry or go insane.

Rebecca Hosking is a singer/songwriter, freelance writer and artist. She steadily walks in the creative world and feeds that energy from the many places she has traveled through out the years. She has visited over 45 different countries in 6 different continents. She has been sharing her knowledge with others through her writing for more than 12 years. She recently was signed with the licensing company APM Music out of LA for her song and title track of her debut album Love and Other Disasters. She has had numerous indie cuts and major label holds and continues to solicit her tunes for TV/Films and also on Music Row in Nashville, TN. She is currently working on her upcoming release, My Mother's Child. She has had numerous publications on Angie's Diary, Caught Magazine, a column on Examiner International Travel and continues to solicit her work to various genres.

Douglas C. Hoover, CEO of Aquamedia Corp, Master Waterfall Builder, architect, engineer, freelance writer, author, designer & builder of over 2,000 waterfall and ponds in California for 30 years. Author of "Waterfall and Pond Construction Manual," "The Ultimate Training Course" and the Digital Design Library which teaches how to professionally design and build a pond. book. He invented and manufactures the AquaFill electronic water level control system for ponds, pools, fountains & spas. (http://www.aquafill.com) He also is knowledgeable on surviving during disasters and has assembled the best information on the items needed in preparation for a natural or man-made disaster (http://www.survivallist.info.) He is the founder of the Distillation Station and the author of, The Distilled Water Book. In 1974, Douglas discovered the health benefits of drinking distilled water and was cured of a severe case of gout by drinking three liters a day. He has remained in perfect health, free from sickness and disease ever since. Douglas Hoover continues to drink and advocate distilled water. (http://www.distilledwaterauthority.com) He lives in San Diego, California with his wife, Alice.

I was a Red Cross volunteer instructor ham operator at disasters for years, and helped the people made homeless. Now, the homeless problem is economic, which is as real as any earthquake. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I taught psychology at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and at Milwaukee Free University, eventually becoming Chancellor of the latter. With an IQ of 800, a huge disability, I still manage to do business on my website at NZ9F.com, my ham radio callsign, the San Diego Homeless search engine. I found a potential cure for autism recently, do some work as a Bishop (Ancient Paganism), blog, write editorials for the major daily newspapers, and teach on-line (currently a course on homelessness). I am a psychologist, chess instructor, humorist, chef, television engineer, and air conditioning engineer, much not active right now. I publish the San Diego Homeless News, have written many published editorials under pen names for major newspapers, and am politically active, chair the San Diego Homeless Intellectuals Program developing solutions. I have an education in psychology, pharmacy, law, engineering, radio/television, air conditioning, religion, and even sexuality. I have published several books, written humor for Johnny Carson (my humor blog is on line) and I dated Janis Joplin. My complete biography is on-line at www.NZ9F.com/R, and my diary is on Home Page..

Have lived in Canada's Yukon Territory, Hawaii, Africa, and all over the United States: WA, LA, FL, GA, NC. Studied Political Science, History, Psychology, Computer Sciences. I am an artist, activist, writer, and having enjoyed my years of wandering, am now settled in the mountains, surrounded by my Great Danes; I breed them. Much is happening in such a fast pace in the world now, leaving me dismayed at the results. Political unrest, corporate corruption, climate change, mammoth disasters; I can no longer keep quiet as I watch those around me be affected so terribly. The corruption of the mainstream media is my biggest fear, as I watch the nation be rocked to sleep by their biased news and propaganda. I see it like it is, and put it like it is, to try to help others awaken to the truths surrounding us. Freedom of speech is the most important element in any nation or society, and I am seeing too many be silenced by intimidation. We cannot be a nation or world of people living in freedom unless we exercise our rights to freedom of speech.

After studying survivalism for years, Urban Alan quit his job and became a full-time Internet Marketer, blogging about self-help products and emergency preparedness at UrbanSurvivalSite.com. Like most people, he lives in the city because of work, family and other circumstances, but he believes it is possible to survive in the city through all the most likely disasters. Download free eBooks and articles from UrbanSurvivalSite.com.

Eve S. Price has been writing both fiction and non-fiction for over 40 years. She has been published in a National Veteran's Magazine and has held several editor positions in hometown newspapers. Her important interest is in the field of personal and community preparation for disasters and emergencies. Several government websites recommend disaster preparedness, but Eve has a "common sense" approach to those subjects. She is a wife, a mother and a grandmother, and lives in NE Alabama with her husband and two furry babies, Buster, a mini-dachsund, and Trent, a rat terrier. Note from the author: In my 58 years of living, I have learned a few things about life. It is amazing how the views look from this side of the life cycle. I love writing about, not only my topics of interest listed below, but also about life in general, where I have been, where I am, and where I am going. I have compiled numerous organized printouts for my family's use on the subjects of wild edibles, (plants that grow in a yard or in the woods that are also edible), backyard medicinal plants, and emergency solutions to most any problem. In addition, I have much knowledge and information about gardening without the conveniences. Including, but not limited to, natural fertilizers that do not have to be purchased. I know how to can foods, and how to dry them for long-term storage. I am online research expert, having spent over 10 years as a professional skiptracer, locating missing people, missing cars, and I know how to accurately verify any facts. I am also politically active, love America, and have definite opinions on the where we are in this country.

In today's society with crime, recession, discouragement, poverty, depression, natural disasters, and the like, we need answers; we need faith; we need change. Don't you remember when there was a sense of security and peace in your community? When the "family table" was active and our children could play in the park without being gunned down by stray bullets? People everywhere are now seeking hope and consolation in a perilous time. At 1848 Linden Boulevard, corner of Malta Street in East New York, Brooklyn, there is a family whose leader has not just a vision, but a plan that will reconnect and realign families; that will teach our youth productivity to encourage their being a part of society's solution; that will dissolve the idea of absentee parents, divorce and teen parenting. There is a God-sent man, Pastor Paul B. Mitchell, along with his beautiful wife, Yasmin Mitchell, who cares about making a difference in our world. Changing Lives Christian Center (CLCC) is a non-denominational faith-based church filled with people who believe that our vested gifts and talents are given to us to use for the building up of God's people. Pastor Mitchell teaches about extending our faith toward God and he shares how the use of common and practical sense, when applied, can make positive "life-altering" differences in humanity. Through divine inspiration, he speaks and leaves listeners not only wanting more, but wanting change for the better. It's no wonder that his "Change Your Life with Pastor Paul B. Mitchell" radio broadcast is currently the most-listened to on New York's WLIB 1190 AM station and television broadcast, bearing the same name, on local Brooklyn and Manhattan cable networks is also most popular. As his wife, Yasmin, so eloquently puts it, "Pastor Mitchell is a contemporary E.F. Hutton-type personality. When God uses him to speak, people listen." Visit Changing Lives Christian Center for yourself and see that there is EXCELLENCE in East New York!

In today's society with crime, recession, discouragement, poverty, depression, natural disasters, and the like, we need answers; we need faith; we need change. Don't you remember when there was a sense of security and peace in your community? When the "family table" was active and our children could play in the park without being gunned down by stray bullets? People everywhere are now seeking hope and consolation in a perilous time. At 1848 Linden Boulevard, corner of Malta Street in East New York, Brooklyn, there is a family whose leader has not just a vision, but a plan that will reconnect and realign families; that will teach our youth productivity to encourage their being a part of society's solution; that will dissolve the idea of absentee parents, divorce and teen parenting. There is a God-sent man, Pastor Paul B. Mitchell, along with his beautiful wife, Yasmin Mitchell, who cares about making a difference in our world. Changing Lives Christian Center (CLCC) is a non-denominational faith-based church filled with people who believe that our vested gifts and talents are given to us to use for the building up of God's people. Pastor Mitchell teaches about extending our faith toward God and he shares how the use of common and practical sense, when applied, can make positive "life-altering" differences in humanity. Through divine inspiration, he speaks and leaves listeners not only wanting more, but wanting change for the better. It's no wonder that his "Change Your Life with Pastor Paul B. Mitchell" radio broadcast is currently the most-listened to on New York's WLIB 1190 AM station and television broadcast, bearing the same name, on local Brooklyn and Manhattan cable networks is also most popular. As his wife, Yasmin, so eloquently puts it, "Pastor Mitchell is a contemporary E.F. Hutton-type personality. When God uses him to speak, people listen." Visit Changing Lives Christian Center for yourself and see that there is EXCELLENCE in East New York!

Cesar Canizales was a broadcast news producer in Washington, DC, for 18 years. He covered politics, business, natural disasters, human tragedies, terrorism and features. He now lives in London and freelances as a media specialist with a focus on visual media. He can be contacted at cesar_canizales@yahoo.com

I am a wife and mother that has seen her fair share of adventure as well as hard times. I have taken jobs that most people would never dream of accepting, such as my two year stint at New Orleans ominous Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) as a HIV counselor, just to say I did it. I suffered through one of the greatest natural disasters of our time only to come out stronger in the end. I now live a quiet life at home with my husband and children. I love to share my life stories with the world and hope to accomplish that in print one day.

I am a HAM radio operator who has a keen interest in helping to provide information on how to be better prepared for disasters. With Basic skills can make a volunteer a more valuable resource for your community.

Seasoned business man who runs a very busy real time news events website, writes content on news, sports, politics, disasters, accidents etc

I love to fly. I am currently a commercial pilot with an instrument rating. I am a student at the University of Dubuque, majoring in Flight Operations and Aviation Management and minoring in military science. I enjoy writing and taking pictures. I am also an Army ROTC cadet and I am looking forward to flying Blackhawks or Apaches for the US Army after I commission. I own my own business called "Digital Remedies JVL". We digitalize paper documents and photographs for businesses and families in order to protect them from disasters and natural aging.

I've been a photo-journalist for more than 20 years. I have spent extensive periods in developing nations in Asia and Africa. I have held senior journalism posts around the world and covered major events including wars, natural disasters, and epidemics.

I am a SAHM of 2 homeschooling kids that keep me to busy to even try to be sane. I love to try to learn self reliance and share what I learn, my disasters, and my weirdness at going againest the grain.

I am simply a concerned consumer with a need to know. I work in the medical profession as well as subcontracting during times of natural disasters within the US.

I worked for the National Academy of Sciences for 10 yrs in the areas of nuclear waste management, Everglades restoration, and natural disasters. For the last year I have written on working moms for ClubMom.com. Since 2005 I have been a stay at home mom.

I conducted my thesis research on the impact of disasters, both anthropogenic and natural, on human populations. I speak Dutch and Spanish conversationally. I have worked as a naturalist, drama teacher, science instructor, and academic advisor.

I'm a writer and a poet. Also work as a housing inspector for FEMA during declared disasters. I am currently working on a non-fiction book about my experiences in New Orleans directly after Hurr Katrina.

Tammy Lee Morris is a lifelong resident of southern Illinois where she enjoys a quiet life in a rural area. After working for a local newspaper while studying journalism at a local community college, she developed a keen interest in the news and events that happen in her region and state. She also developed a special interest in weather issues and natural disasters after a tornado swept through her hometown in 1982. She is certified as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and has served locally in this capacity after a rare derecho (inland hurricane) struck her area in 2009. She feeds her personal interests in local events, seismology and meteorology by researching and writing about news and events in her state and earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes and other natural phenomena. In her free time she loves to watch butterflies.

With more than 20 years in national, regional and local television news, I've worked presidential elections, natural disasters and manmade (911/NYC). I've freelanced for ABC News, CNN, as well as Farmers Almanac Television as a producer and writer.