In support of the response and recovery from Hurricane Irma, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is advising Hoosiers to be organized in their giving and volunteer efforts.

Responsible Giving

When a natural disaster occurs, many social networking sites may promote impromptu collection drives. This can lead to scams or semis with unrequested items that threaten to crowd warehouses and clog distribution channels in the impacted area.

A recommended way to help disaster survivors is with a cash donation to a legitimate relief agency operating in the area. The type and amount of items required can change hourly as needs keep pace with the rapidly evolving emergency situation. Cash is far more flexible than goods and allows volunteer agencies to more quickly acquire the supplies needed to address the most urgent needs.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security is encouraging all Hoosiers to take steps to make sure households and workplaces are prepared.

Regardless of the type of disaster, it is important for Hoosiers to take time and make sure that preparations are made. Tornadoes, storms, flooding and even snowstorms have all presented challenges in the past. Knowing how to respond to these events can not only minimize the effects, it can help save lives.

INDIANAPOLIS - Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation of Indiana will once again play host to the Veteran Stand Down, taking place at Indiana National Guard Armory, 3912 West Minnesota St., Indianapolis 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 7.

All Veterans with a VA Card or DD214 are invited.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Indiana law enforcement agencies kicked off their drunk driving crackdown, as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s national crackdown: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Nationwide in 2015, over 10,000 people were killed – and 153 on Labor Day weekend – in crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for high-visibility law enforcement as a key component of eliminating drunk driving deaths and injuries.

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Branches should resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The Indiana Conference for Women, the largest gathering of women leaders and entrepreneurs in the Midwest, has teamed up with The Startup Ladies, a membership organization that seeks to support women entrepreneurs, to sponsor the third annual Indiana Conference for Women Pitch Competition.

The competition, organized and hosted by The Startup Ladies, will take place on Nov. 7, at the Indiana Convention Center located in Indianapolis. Women entrepreneurs seeking to expand their business can apply, and three finalists will be selected to pitch at the conference. Finalists will receive free individual registration to the conference, and will have access to three Startup Study Halls, organized by The Startup Ladies.

Nearly every state has experienced fires that rage out of control in the landscape. While the largest and most devastating burn in the West, fires also spread in the East and South, where suburb meets country or housing development meets conservation land. Click on this and read how you can protect your property in two ways.

Caller ID spoofing has quickly become a common scamming tactic that can lead to credit card or identity theft. According to TDS Telecom, a simple way to prevent becoming a victim to the scam is to avoid revealing personal information.

What is caller ID spoofing? Scammers fake their appearance on caller ID displays in order to appear as if they are a reputable company such as your bank, creditor, insurance company, or even the government. They do this to get people to disclose their personal information including credit card numbers, social security numbers, passwords, and/or anything they can use or sell.

With fireworks season under way, the State Fire Marshal is reminding all Hoosiers to be aware of fireworks laws when celebrating.

“Hoosiers using fireworks this summer need to be both safe and legal when doing so,” said State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson. “Responsible use of fireworks will help contribute to safe and enjoyable celebration.”

Both fireworks users and fireworks retailers selling to the public need to abide by the law.

Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana Wesleyan University have partnered to create a statewide reverse transfer agreement for students who have transferred to Indiana Wesleyan University prior to completing their associate degree at Ivy Tech.

“We are pleased that our existing articulation partnership with Indiana Wesleyan has been enhanced by this reverse transfer agreement. This provides an alternative path to an associate degree for students who transfer prior to degree completion. Such an option is particularly valuable when an unexpected event disrupts pursuit of the baccalaureate,” says Dr. Russ Baker, vice president of academic affairs and university transfer division, Ivy Tech Community College.

The 100th lap of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 will be in honor of Bryan Clauson.

Clauson, a Noblesville High School graduate, died after a racing accident in August 2016. He raced in three Indy 500's in 2012, 2015, and 2016.

"Going into the month of May, we didn't expect anything because Bryan had only run three years in Indy Car," said Diana Clauson, Bryan's mother, "but he was a pretty impactful guy. So it didn't surprise us when they told us about it."

Bryan had his best run at the 500 in 2016 and had a "really positive experience" his mother said. Aside from Indy Car Bryan also raced dirt track races and was working to bring the dirt track history back to the motor speedway. "We're absolutely honored," said Clauson. "Last year he led the 100th lap, so we think it's a really cool way to honor him."

The NRA Foundation has awarded the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s “Meat” the Need program a grant in the amount of $1,000.00.

These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for donated large game and livestock. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to their “Meat” the Need program. Hunters and farmers may donate, at no cost to them, by taking large game or livestock to a participating meat processor in their area. The donation will be processed, packaged, and frozen. Local hunger relief agencies will be contacted for pick up and distribution of this nutritious protein back into the community in which it was donated.

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches are closed Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

Branches resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, May 30.

FISHERS - The Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission renewed grant funding for Smoke-free Hamilton County, a program of Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County. The grant will allow Smoke-free Hamilton County to continue and expand its current programming to prevent and decrease tobacco use among residents for the next two years.

“We are both excited and honored that ITPC has renewed our funding,” said Holly Wheeler, SFHC program coordinator. “We’ve worked to establish a program that addresses a public health and economic priority for this county and state.”

This month, Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter is urging the public to get to KNOW LUPUS and join the nationwide effort to raise awareness and funds to create a future with NO LUPUS. Go here to learn more: www.lupusawarenessmonth.org

According to Morgan E. McGill, CEO, Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter, “May is filled with events and activities aimed at promoting awareness and outreach. Research on lupus remains underfunded relative to its scope and devastation. We look forward to Lupus Awareness Month each May to inform the public about the many ways our Chapter serves patients and caregivers in Indiana with critical education and support.”

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and Indiana’s Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ (BMV) Commissioner Peter L. Lacy are reminding all motorists to be extra alert as warmer weather means more motorcycles on our roadways.

“In my role overseeing our Office of Tourism Development, I know that cruising Indiana’s scenic byways is a favorite rite of spring for many motorcycle riders,” said Lt. Governor Crouch. “While motorcyclists have to ride defensively, people behind the wheel in cars and trucks should do their part to help keep riders safe.”

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is partnering with all 92 counties in the state to distribute more than 2,200 all-hazard (weather) radios to Hoosiers. The radios will be distributed on the local level by each county’s emergency management agency.

“Receiving early warnings is critical to safety during severe weather events,” John Erickson, IDHS Director of Public Affairs, said. “All-hazard radios, which provide a wide range of alerts, are a valuable tool that can help citizens make decisions to better protect themselves and their families.”

The distribution focuses on citizens who are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of severe weather: economically disadvantaged citizens, residents of mobile and prefabricated homes and others who may not be able to receive weather alerts by traditional means.