April 2024

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." – Coretta Scott King

Election Day (Clarksdale NOT having election) April  2nd

City Council Mtg (6pm City Hall)  April 18th

Lions Club Auction       April 20th

City-wide Clean-up       April 27th

https://clarksdale-mo.com/ Find this newsletter, pay your bill, official minutes, reports, agendas, news about current projects, and more!

Notice of Election -The City of Clarksdale will  NOT be holding a municipal election April 2, 2024.

No one registered to run against anyone, so we can save on the expense of an election.

Jon Bunse -Born April 18, 1975. Passed away Wed, March 20, 2024. He served as Alderman from April 2016 to Sept. 2017, then Mayor Sept. 2017 to Jan.2020. He was a  talented cabinet maker and local business owner of Custom Crafters Cabinets, along with his most important roles of husband, father, and friend. He was a caring, encouraging, loving person who impacted many, many lives in Clarksdale and he left a hole in our hearts. He will be missed.

Clarksdale Advancement Foundation  is looking for great people who want to make Clarksdale fantastic and help us achieve our goals. Come to our next meeting Thurs., April 11th at 6:30pm at City Hall. Snacks provided. “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in”.~Author Unknown

Dog Clinic – May 4^th – 9am until 12 – City Park

Cash or check. Separate payments for City of Clarksdale and Maysville Veterinary clinic.

*Proof of rabies shot required to receive dog license.

Fresh Mobile Pantry - Second Harvest Community Food Bank - Wed., April 17th , 2024. Clarksdale City Park - 10am - 12pm  - While Supplies Last- Open to the Public. Please tell your friends and neighbors. Everyone is welcome. {NOTE: mandate from 2nd Harvest, we have been limited to three families per vehicle.} To sign up for our text alert system email your full name, phone number, and zip code to info@shcfb.org. This is the quickest and most effective way to get information on schedule changes. Visit www.shcfb.org  for more assistance options.The 2nd Harvest Food Pantry, sponsored by the Clarksdale Lions Club and the Clarksdale Christian Church.

Chic- Chat Group - April 15th All ladies welcome! 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 pm. Bring a snack if you want, but not required. Enjoy an evening of fellowship and no children. Meeting at Meta Sampsel’s, 103 S. 4th Street, Clarksdale.  

Men’s Movie Night - Same time as women’s Chic-Chat group. At the Baptist Church, 213 N. 2nd Street, Clarksdale.

The Clarksdale  Lions Club meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month and we welcome anyone to come and hear what our club does for the community and we are always looking for new members.

Lead Service Line Grant - Total H2O Solutions is the company that received the grant to complete our Lead and Copper Service Line Inventory. They may be contacting you to get the information required to complete the inventory.  Please give them a warm Clarksdale welcome and help them help us make the deadline for completing the survey. ????

Financial Preparedness Tips

Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful times, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process quickly and efficiently.

1. Gather financial and critical personal, household and medical information.
2. Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food.
3. Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health and life insurance if you do not have them. Not all insurance policies are the same. Review your policy to make sure the amount and types of coverage you have meets the requirements for all possible hazards. Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
4. For more helpful financial preparedness tips, download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to get started planning today.

Be Safe

• Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or credit card number.
• Do not click on links in texts or emails from people you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites.
• Remember that the government will not call or text you about owing money or receiving economic impact payments.
• Be aware that scammers may try to contact you via social media. The government will not contact you through social media about owing money or receiving payments.
• Keep in mind that scammers may try to take advantage of financial fears by calling with work-from-opportunities, debt consolidation offers, and student loan repayment plans.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint if you receive messages from anyone claiming to be a government agent.

Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation HOPE and FEMA, can help you prepare financially and provides tips to reduce the financial impact of disasters on you and your family.

For more information on the EFFAK visit the EFFAK Community Page. 

At Home - Store important documents either in a safety deposit box, an external drive or on the cloud to make it easy to access during a disaster. 

Take time now to safeguard these critical documents. Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or credit card number.

Household Identification

• Photo ID (to prove identity of household members)
• Birth certificate (to maintain or re-establish contact with family members)
• Social Security card (to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)
• Military service
• Pet ID tags

Financial and Legal Documentation

• Housing payments (to identify financial records and obligations)
• Some individuals and households may experience financial difficulty because of the pandemic. If you do not think you can pay your loan payments on time, immediately contact your bank and discuss your options before skipping any payments or taking any other actions contrary to the terms of your loans.
• Insurance policies (to re-establish financial accounts)
• Sources of income (to maintain payments and credit)
• Tax statements (to provide contact information for financial and legal providers and to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)

Medical Information

• Physician information (in case medical care is needed)
• Copies of health insurance information (to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted)
• Immunization records
• Medications

Insurance Information

Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to make sure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged. Document and insure your property now.

Household Contact Information

• Banking institutions
• Insurance agents
• Health professionals
• Service providers       
• Place of worship

Get Your Benefits Electronically

A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is a simple, significant way to protect yourself financially before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends two safer ways to get federal benefits:

• Direct deposit to a checking or savings account. If you get federal benefits you can sign up by calling 800-333-1795 or sign up online.
• The Direct Express® prepaid debit card is designed as a safe and easy alternative to paper.

Apply for government-funded unemployment, healthcare, and food and nutrition benefits to supplement your income or savings.

Consider using online and mobile banking services, if you are able. These services enable you to practice social distancing and conduct banking transactions at the same time.

Tornadoes

If you are a disaster survivor, please visit FEMA.gov for up-to-date information on current disaster declarations. If you have questions about your disaster assistance application, you can call (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA mobile app.

Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris.

A tornado can:

• Happen anytime and anywhere.
• Bring intense winds, over 200 miles per hour.
• Look like funnels.

If you are under a tornado or severe weather warning:

• Go to NOAA Weather Radio and your local news or official social media accounts for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials. 
• Go to a safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or a small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Do not go under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
• Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• If you can’t stay at home, make plans to go to a public shelter.

Preparing for a Tornado

Know your area’s tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a greater risk for tornadoes.

Know the signs of a tornado, including a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train.

Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If your community has sirens, then become familiar with the warning tone.

Pay attention to weather reports. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.

• Identify and practice going to a safe shelter such as a safe room built using FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
• Plan for your pet. They are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan.
• Prepare for long-term stay at home or sheltering in place by gathering emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, water, medical supplies and medication.

Staying Safe During a Tornado

Immediately go to a safe location that you have identified.

Pay attention to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.

Protect yourself by covering your head or neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around or on top of you.

• Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle if you are in a car. If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.
• Staying Safe After a Tornado

Save your phone calls for emergencies and use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends.

Pay attention to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information.

Stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines.

Contact your healthcare provider if you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and continue to shelter in place.

Wear appropriate gear during clean-up such as thick-soled shoes, long pants, and work gloves, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.

Lightning: What You Need to Know

• No Place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!!
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in a safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reductions Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Never shelter under an isolated tree
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)