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One of the important things learned from natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina is the need to include your pets in the family’s emergency disaster plan. Images of homeowners who would not evacuate their homes because they did not want to leave a pet behind and those of abandoned pets still cause animal lovers and pet owners to cringe and wish they could have done something to help. The time to help protect your pets is now, before a disaster happens.

Smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. According to the National Fire Protection Association, two-third of fire-related deaths occurred in a home that did not have a smoke alarm or a working smoke alarm.

Holly Martinez of Kewa Pueblo witnessed firsthand how detrimental mold can be to a child’s health. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that for the first time in over two years, Holly’s child, Dominique, has slept through the night. The young mother reports that Dominique, who has cerebral palsy, would wake up on a nightly basis with difficulties breathing because of the mold in the home.

To assist Minnesota and Wisconsin residents and small business owners who were devastated by the late September 2010 floods, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing more than $1 million in Disaster Assistance Loans. So far, 22 disaster loans totaling more than $1,160,000 have been approved.

Family, football, pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberries and “the bird”: these components, and more, help make up the day we call “Thanksgiving.” In a flurry to be prepared for this special Thursday, many people focus on what they need to do to get the food on the table in time for dinner without any major culinary disasters. What many do not think about, however, is safety. Coincidentally, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for firefighters and emergency workers. Help give these workers a break and keep your family safe with the following Thanksgiving Day tips.