FLOOD RECOVERY/SAFETY TIPS

As the water recedes, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness reminds residents to use caution in their clean-up efforts. After a disaster, damage to property may cause unusual and additional safety hazards. In addition, water levels in streams and waterways may continue to rise.

Safety Tips:

• Stay away from damaged buildings or structures that have not been examined and certified by an inspector.
• Avoid rushing streams/waterways. Water can rise rapidly.
• Do not return to your home until local authorities say it is safe. Even after floodwaters recede, roads and bridges may be weakened and could collapse. Do not drive around barricades. They are there for your safety.
• Wear rubber boots/sturdy shoes when entering a building or walking through debris after a disaster. To protect your hands, use heavy work gloves when removing debris.
• Discard food, medicines, and cosmetics that were not in water tight containers and that were exposed to flood waters. Flood waters may carry raw sewage, oil, or chemical wastes.
• Do not allow children to wade or play in contaminated water or sand.
• Clean puncture wounds or cuts with soap and water. You may need to see your health care provider or visit a Fulton County Health Center for a tetanus shot or antibiotics. In case of serious injury, go to an emergency room or call 911. Call 404.730.1211 for health center locations.
• If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. If you must enter standing water to access the main power switch, then call an electrician to turn it off. Never turn power on or off or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
• After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.

Mold Removal Tips

* If you see mold that covers more than 10 square feet, consider getting a professional to remove it.

* If you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear an N95 mask.

* To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.

* Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and paper products).

* Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.

* Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

Bitsy Grant Adult/Senior Open Tennis Championship

2009 GEORGIA STATE ADULT/SENIOR OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

WHAT: The Bitsy Grant Tennis Center (BGTC), an Atlanta-based public park/tennis center built in 1952, hosts the return of the Georgia State Adult/Senior Open Tennis Championship, an all-inclusive adult tennis tournament for players of all ages. The tournament includes both the men’s and women’s open events as well as the senior events (ages 25-85) and players from outside of Georgia can also compete. This is the first Georgia State Championship to be played at BGTC since 2001. Singles play kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 15, followed by doubles on Sunday, Aug. 16. The finals will take place on Thursday, Aug. 20. Cost for entry is $50 per singles player and $50 per doubles team. For more information, visit www.bitsytennis.com.

WHO: Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles Players Divisions Include: Open, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s and 85s – singles and doubles. Additional doubles divisions include: father-son, mother-daughter and 45s mixed-doubles.

WHEN: Aug. 15 – 20, 2009 – Georgia State Adult/Senior Open Tennis Championship Saturday, Aug. 15 – Bitsy Grand Slam Gala (7 p.m.) The Friends of Bitsy Grant, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of BGTC, will host the Bitsy Grand Slam Gala to kick off the tournament and celebrate this historical tennis center’s re-emergence as a Championship Tournament host. Sunday, Aug. 16. – Players’ Party (7 p.m.)

WHERE: Bitsy Grant Tennis Center 2125 Northside Dr. Atlanta, Ga. 30305 Phone: (404) 609-7193 Email: phowell@oglethorpe.edu

WEBSITE: www.bitsytennis.com

CONTACT: Peter Howell, Tournament Director Email: phowell@oglethorpe.edu

About Friends of Bitsy Grant: Friends of Bitsy Grant Tennis (FBGT) is a non-profit organization working to improve and maintain the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center (BGTC), a public park, for the benefit of current and future generations of Atlanta tennis players. The FBGT works closely with the City of Atlanta, the BGTC staff, and the expanding FBGT membership base to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve the tennis center for all who use it.

Some Information About the Proposed Peachtree Streetcars

What Streetcars Are

There are many types of rail systems, the most common being heavy rail, light rail, and streetcars. Heavy rail systems such as MARTA carry the greatest number of people at the fastest speeds, but are also the most expensive to build. Since the costs of tunneling and/or obtaining rights-of-way for heavy rail can be prohibitive, many cities turn to light rail instead; it's usually less expensive per mile to build than heavy rail, but has less capacity and is somewhat slower. Light rail has an advantage over heavy rail in that it can run either at a separate grade from roadways or on streets in mixed traffic.

Streetcars are a type of light rail that are normally powered by overhead wires on ordinary streets fitted with rails. Slightly smaller and slower than conventional light rail, streetcars typically serve as internal circulators in a city rather than as means for commuters to get to and from the suburbs. Streetcar stops are usually closer together than heavy rail stations, but farther apart than regular bus stops, and can have a range of passenger shelter types. The streetcars' top speed is about 30 mph. With stops and traffic flow factored in, the vehicles in the Peachtree Street Proposal are expected to move at about 10 mph.

Different From Light Rail

Light rail is a regional transit system, with relatively fast-moving, large cars designed to transport high numbers of people rapidly between suburban and urban areas. Streetcars are intended to go shorter distances, in highly populated city neighborhoods. Streetcars are not intended to carry the same high volume of rush hour passengers as inter-urban commuter trains, and therefore the cars are smaller. They can operate in mixed traffic, preserving the traffic patterns of neighborhood streets. They can stop more frequently and offer a more flexible service appropriate for a high density neighborhood. Streetcar systems can be built more rapidly and with less disruption from construction than light rail lines.

The Proposal

The city is currently considering development of a streetcar line that would originate at Fort McPherson, make a 2.5 mile loop through downtown Atlanta, then head north up Peachtree Street to the Fulton/Dekalb line, around Club Drive. Total length would be 14 miles. Similar systems have been installed in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. As I understand it, the streetcars would likely be bought from Skoda-Inekon in the Czech Republic, a world leader in streetcar producution and design. (Click the image to the left for a larger drawing of the Skoda-Inekon model used in D.C.) It is being presented as part of Mayor Franklin's "Peachtree Project" to make Peachtree St/Peachtree Rd into an urban boulevard with wider sidewalks and a more open feel, such as cafes open to the street. (I'm betting Her Honor has been to Paris.)

Of course, people are divided over the issue. The most controversial section is the Buckhead corridor, running roughly from the south side of Buckhead to the north edge of Phipps Plaza. This is one of the busiest bits of road in the United States, carrying 40,000 cars per day. For better or worse, Atlanta is designed for the car culture, and streetcars are going to be a difficult fit. Everyone apparently agrees that if the streetcars get bogged down in heavy traffic, they will not attract enough riders to make them worth the estimated $500 million price tag (before overruns). My bet is that, if it is built, we will see right lane restrictions at least during rush hours (i.e. the right lane reserved for streetcars and vehicles turning right).

My personal feeling is that it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep some cars off Peachtree; it would certainly help the noise and air pollution levels. But clearly it will slow commute times, particularly in the afternoon, for people like my wife, whose office is on East Shadowlawn. The problem I have is the "half-in half-out" nature of public transportation. I'd be happy to take the streetcar to, say, the Kroger near Brookwood Station, but how am I supposed to get from Peachtree to my house? Even empty-handed and even with the recent sidewalk/crosswalk improvements, it's not a fun walk, especially up the Collier Road obstacle course.

Carrie Learns html

No one should read this.

Banks and Mattie are pretty friendly if they want to be.