Earth Month
Dear Editor,
April is Earth Month-a time to savor the wonderful planet that gives us bright blue skies, breathtaking mountains, wideopen plains, serene river valleys and lakes, captivating forests, and an endless variety of plants and animals. Earth Month is also time for considering what more should be done to protect it.
Climate scientists agree: human activity has caused rapid warming of Earth. Warming occurred before, but over thousands of years. Current global warming started less than 200 years ago, when we began burning coal, oil, and natural gas, polluting the air with too much carbon dioxide and methane. These gases act like greenhouse glass that lets in sunlight but hold heats. This changes atmospheric moisture flows, thus, some areas get more moisture (more rain, floods, stronger storms), and others get less (more heatwaves, droughts, wildfires) harming people, animals, and plants by disrupting habitats.
To stop climate change we must use more clean energy--wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and nuclear. America needs to be the clean energy leader--not Chinaand create the jobs that go with it.
Write or call your members of Congress (202)224-3121 and remember the proverb, 'Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.'
Gary Jump, Itasca, IL Volunteer, Citizens' Climate Lobby
Emergency Management
Dear editor,
I had some FEMA training years ago, had to function as the Emergecny Manger for Cibola County one year until they found a replacement. They went through two local folks that got into trouble and ended up with one who, if I recall correctly, went to County Manager, he was surprisingly good but ended up leaving too. The current Cibola County EMO is taking care of Emergecny Management Duties, the local volunteer fire departments, about 14 of them, the ambulance service, and a Search & Rescue Team trying to get volunteers is always a struggle. The current Water Emergecny in Ramah asks the question should Native Tribes ask for help from County Government’s first? From a Goggle search, “Native tribes should not necessarily ask for help from county governments first in emergencies. Instead, they can initiate emergency declarations and request assistance from regional and federal partners. Tribes can also apply for federal or state grants in collaboration with other local governments. It is important for tribes to have their own emergency management systems and to be proactive in seeking help when needed at FEMA.gov.” If I remember the rules correctly “If a county declares an emergency and not the state, they may still be eligible for reimbursement under certain conditions. Local governments can formally declare an emergency to quickly make emergency expenditures and potentially access state and federal reimbursement. However, reimbursement from the state lies with the state, local declarations should be in accordance with state laws and regulations at FEMA.gov.” I was told the best way to get around all this red tape was to make government to government agreements in advance. This came up with the Acoma Tribe years ago when they needed Cibola County Road Department heavy road equipment to help clear a road on tribal lands from a bad flood. As usual, most people in charge do not worry about stuff until it’s too late. David Ulibarri, a past Cibola County Manager, told me once “it is like trying to get people to buy insurance they don’t want.” We hope Cibola County will be reimbursed from the DHS which at this time seems to be shut down by the Democrats, so maybe the Navajo Ramah Chapter may have gotten help quicker than waiting for our congress in Washington DC.
Signed Mr. Harry Hall USAF Veteran LE Retired Police/ Sheriff Lt.