CLARKSDALE HAPPENINGS

January 2025

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

New Year’s Day Jan. 1st

Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19th

City Council Mtg Jan. 20th (6:30pm City Hall)

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

Clarksdale Advancement Foundation (CAF) - Next meeting Jan. 10th, at 6:30pm @ City Hall.  All are Welcome!!! 

Coming!!! CAF Valentines Dinner! Saturday February 14 a Valentines Mexican Dinner! YUM!!! All are welcome! Watch for more details to be posted online, post-office, senior center, Lawson’s, water dept. 

The Clarksdale  Lions Club - will be having our Monday night pitch tournaments at the Lions Hall at 7pm.  January 5th, February 2nd, and March 2nd.

Clarksdale Christian Church - 

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.

We are seeking ideas - As we apply for grants, we would like to gather ideas for our parks, community center, and trail system. I.E. extended walking trail, bathrooms, repairs to shelters, made ADA accessible, afterschool programs, etc.  Please email, write down, or leave a message, or tell an Alderman. 

Winter Weather - Find winter road conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map, http://traveler.modot.org/map/, visitors to modot.org can find information on plowing priorities, sharing the road with snow plows, equipping your vehicle for winter travel and much more.

Why should you be #WinterReady?

• Sixty-three percent of temperature-related deaths are attributable to cold exposure.

• Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen. 

• Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.

Resolve to be Ready  Make a Resolution

• Make an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact.
• Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
• Get to know your neighbor and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan.
• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online.
• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.
• Take a class in CPR and first aid.
• Keep and update emergency supplies; remember to include cash.
• Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.
• Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes.
• Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
• Sign up for alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and locate open shelters.
• Save for a rainy day! Start and grow your emergency fund.
• Financially prepare for the New Year. Find out how with the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.
• Spend within your means. Use a personal budgeting worksheet to help plan for holiday expenses and beyond.
• Build up your savings. Put a small amount in your account the first of every month beginning January 1.

Social Media Content

Get Tech Ready

• Download the FEMA app to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and locate open shelters.
• Sign up to receive text or email alerts about emergencies from your local Office of Emergency Management.
• Snap photos of important documents and save them online or in a secure place you can access during an emergency.
• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family at the same time during emergencies.
• Download money saving apps to help you save for a rainy day.
• Have external power sources available to charge phones and other devices in case of a power outage. #ResolveToBeReady #PrepTips

Preparedness Tips

• Include cash in your emergency supply kit. During an extended power outage, ATMs and credit card machines may not work.
• Check-in with neighbors to see how you can help each other out before and after a storm.
• Pick an out-of-town person for everyone to contact during an emergency.
• Preparing your family for an emergency is as simple as having a conversation over dinner. Make a plan tonight.
• As part of your family’s emergency supply kit, include games and toys to keep children entertained.
• Get prepared by having an emergency supply kit already stored. www.ready.gov/kit #ResolveToBeReady
• Snap pictures of your property and make an inventory for insurance purposes.
• 30: The number of days it takes for flood insurance to begin. The time to buy is when it’s dry.
• If you rely on public transportation, contact your local emergency management agency about evacuation procedures before a hurricane.
• Make a list of the things you would need or want to take with you if you had to leave your home quickly.
• Prepare your car for winter: keep your gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
• Make a plan to check on neighbors if extreme cold or winter weather knocks out your power.
• Learn how to shut off the utilities where you live, including water, electricity, and gas.
• #PrepTips: Take a first aid and CPR class. www.ready.gov/safety-skills  #ResolveToBeReady
• Plan how you will leave and where you will go if you are advised to evacuate. Don’t forget to include pets in your plans! www.ready.gov/evacuation #ResolveToBeReady
• Assemble supplies for a “go-bag” you can carry if you need to evacuate www.ready.gov/evacuation  #ResolveToBeReady #PrepTips
• Make a portable emergency kit for your car www.ready.gov/car #ResolveToBeReady
• Save. Save. Save. Your emergency savings can help you get life saving items like food, shelter, and water in an emergency. Saving tips: www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness #FinancialFuture
• 48% of people have an emergency fund, which gives them the savings to overcome simple emergencies. www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness #FinancialFuture

Planning with Pets

• Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.  www.ready.gov/pets #ResolveToBeReady #PetPreparedness
• Search online today for local pet-friendly evacuation locations in case you need to evacuate.
• Update your pet’s microchip registration info so you can be contacted if your pet gets lost in a disaster. www.ready.gov/pets #ResolveToBeReady #PetPreparedness
• Put your name and contact information on your pet’s ID tag in case you’re separated in an emergency. www.ready.gov/pets #ResolveToBeReady #PetPreparedness
• Remember to include your pets in your family's emergency plans.