Georgia Power Urges Customers to Prepare for Winter Storms

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has crews on standby statewide, as well as mutual-assistance crews from around the country en-route, to mobilize and restore power outages caused by the anticipated winter storm.

The company urges its customers to have their emergency plans in place as there may be lengthy delays in power restoration if severe weather coats ice on roads, tree limbs and power lines.

To learn more about how ice and snow can interrupt power, visit our website to watch an interactive video. Major outage information will be available on Twitter, @georgiapower.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits:

* Anyone with a life-threatening medical emergency should dial 9-1-1.

* Always avoid downed power lines. Any downed line should be considered energized and therefore dangerous. Report downed lines immediately to local public safety authorities and stay out of the immediate area.

* Avoid debris on the ground that may conceal downed power lines and make sure there are no downed lines before allowing children out to play. Do not attempt to make repairs to Georgia Power's electrical system or pull limbs off lines.

* Watch out for falling trees, tree limbs and power lines.

* Steer clear of Georgia Power crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area that could create a safety hazard.

* When driving, watch for crews working along the roadways, and obey all traffic signs and directions around work areas.

* When leaving your home and power is off, turn off the main breaker as a precaution to avoid a power surge once the power is restored.

* Be patient. When major outages occur, Georgia Power crews must first restore power to transmission lines and distribution circuits before working on distribution lines that feed directly to homes and businesses. However, be assured that Georgia Power crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.

* Customers are reminded to be careful when using portable heaters or other supplemental heating. Never place heaters near flammable materials or where they might tip over. Use fire screens to prevent sparks and embers from causing problems.

* Customers should exercise extreme caution if using candles during a power outage. Always keep candles away from flammable objects and never leave them burning unattended. Make sure flashlights have fresh batteries.

If the weather interrupts electrical service, customers are urged to report outages by visiting our website, www.georgiapower.com or by calling the Customer Care Center at 1-888-891-0938. This line is answered by an automated system designed to handle power outage calls quicker than speaking to a person; however, customers may also talk directly with a customer service representative.

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AT&T Offers Winter Storm Tips for Georgians

Editor's Note: Brrrr... The chill is on. Here are some great tips as Georgia looks at continuing cold and winter storm weather over the next few days.

/PRNewswire/ -- With freezing temperatures and an expected forecast of snow across metro Atlanta and Coastal, Middle and Southern Georgia this week, AT&T* is providing important communications tips for use before, during and after a storm.

AT&T realizes the important role that communications plays in an emergency situation, and has invested millions of dollars to toughen its networks and further bolster its disaster recovery capabilities. AT&T is committed to keeping its customers connected, and has taken steps to ensure its wireless networks are ready.

AT&T Winter Storm Tips:

Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact, and make certain that all family members know whom to contact if they become separated. Most important, practice your emergency plan in advance.

Use text messaging. During a peak emergency situation, text messages will often go through quicker than voice calls because they require less network resources. All of AT&T's wireless devices are text messaging capable.

Take advantage of weather text-alert programs. AT&T participates in a number of text alert school closing notification programs. AT&T's customers should check their local news websites to see if weather related text alert programs are available in their area.

Make sure you have a "Winter Storm Phone." It is a good idea to have a wireless phone on hand and at least one corded (landline) telephone that is not dependent on electricity in case of a power outage. Cordless telephones usually have receivers that require electricity, so they won't work if you lose your power.

Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will be attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and business associates.

Program all of your emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses into your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire station and hospital, as well as your family members.

Keep your wireless phone's battery charged at all times. Have an alternative plan to recharge your battery in case of a power outage, such as charging your wireless device by using a car charger or having extra charged mobile phone batteries or disposable mobile phone batteries on hand.

Keep your wireless phone dry. The biggest threat to your device during a storm is water, so keep your equipment safe from the elements by storing it in a baggie or some other type of protective covering.

Track the storm and access weather information on your wireless device. Many homes lose power during severe weather. If you have a wireless device that provides access to the Internet, you can watch weather reports and get regular updates on your phone.

Take advantage of location-based mapping technology. Services such as AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines, as well as track a family member's wireless device in case you get separated.

Use your camera phone, take photos -- even video clips -- of damaged property for your insurance company from your device.

AT&T monitors and maintains its networks 24/7 and conducts readiness drills throughout the year to ensure that the networks and personnel are ready to respond in a moment's notice.

AT&T's wireless network storm preparations include:

-- Adding capacity to the wireless network to accommodate increased call
volume.
-- Routine testing of high-capacity backup batteries located at every
cell site.
-- Topping off generators with fuel at cell sites and central and
field-level switching facilities.
-- Staging mobile cell sites and portable generators in safe locations
for their immediate deployment once a storm has passed.
-- Expanding the number of fixed power generators at our wireless cell
sites. These permanent generators are in addition to the battery
backup power that we have at every wireless cell site across Georgia.

AT&T representatives at any of its more than 60 Georgia retail store locations can provide additional tips for charging extra cell phone batteries and learning to text. More information on AT&T's disaster preparedness can be found at: www.att.com/vitalconnections

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

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Seeking Work? Why HR Recruiters Embrace Job Fairs

With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering at 9.4% for May, it would seem that companies could do without attending job fairs to attract job prospects. Yet the large number of applicants flooding each advertised position actually prompts many employers to attend job fairs, says Tom Smith, assistant professor in the practice of finance at Emory University's Goizueta Business School.

“With so many people out of work, employers have a better candidate pool, but there’s a lot of noise too,” he says. “Are these people unemployed just because of the economy, or do they have other problems? One way to cut through the noise is meeting with them and talking with them briefly.” Smith adds that attending a job fair can be less expensive for the company than posting an employment ad, and it is also a way for the companies to advertise themselves to jobseekers.

This last point was echoed by Yolanda Hawkes, director of talent acquisition for packaging company RockTenn, who attended Goizueta’s Alumni and Executive MBA Career Fair in March, seeking to fill a director of benefits position, among others. “It’s good branding and you may get in front of someone who did not see your posting on an internet site,” she says.

Kerry McArdle, a Goizueta MBA alum and director of category planning at Coca-Cola Enterprises who also recruited at the fair, agrees. “It’s an efficient way to be exposed to a lot of people in a short time. This job fair worked out well for us. We found people who were a potential fit for the open position [category analyst] and for other positions at our company.”

Vital to sustain the talent pool

Another reason recruiters still flock to career fairs, says Earl Hill, senior lecturer in organization & management at Goizueta Business School, is to maintain ties with prospective employees. “If you turn off the pipeline when you have employees, it’s harder to start it up again when you need people,” Hill observes. “Plus you never know when you will run into a superstar.”

“I’ve had clients come back to me three or six months down the road and ask if candidate A is still available,” says David Shelly, senior vice president at executive search firm firstPRO and a Goizueta career fair attendee. “So you can look at [job fairs] two ways: there may be an immediate need, or you’re planting seeds for the future.”

Shelly’s clients have become more selective, he notes. “It used to be that having six to seven out of 10 job requirements would get you an interview. Now it’s gone up to eight to nine.” Nevertheless, he says clients have a misperception that with so many job seekers out there, they can take their time and lowball salaries. “The standout candidates still get snapped up and command high salaries and multiple offers.”

One drawback to traditional job fairs is the sheer size of the crowds, which can number in the thousands during a time of economic downturn. “Often, you get a mix between people who are qualified and those who just want to drop off a resume,” says Hawkes. “And you have to assess someone in three to five minutes, which is hard.”

Indeed, Goizueta prefers to involve its students in forums, where companies post for specific positions and students apply ahead of time for them. “This is more concrete and focused,” says Wendy Tsung, associate dean and executive director of Goizueta's MBA Career Management Center.

At Goizueta’s Alumni and Executive MBA Career Fair, about 115 students and alumni participated in a “speed dating” format, where a small group of candidates spoke with two or three company representatives for 20 minutes and then moved on to another table. Danielle Rubenstein, associate director, alumni career services, says this style of job fair offers an opportunity for more intimate conversation than the traditional standing in line.

The format seems to have paid off. “People are still in the interview process with some companies, but it looks like at least 10% to 15% may have gotten jobs through the fair,” she says.

Jobs are available

In truth, job fairs continue to flourish because employers still have positions to fill. According to firstPRO's Shelly, there is still a need for employees in the supply chain job market. Another recruiter at Goizueta's Alumni and EMBA job fair, Marcia Englefield of AXA, a financial protection company, says her firm is seeking financial advisors. Englefield, a Goizueta MBA alumna, is actively participating at other job fairs, as well, and she says she thought finding eager candidates would be easier. “Interest is up, but the position is 100% commission-based, so some people, even if they do not have a job, may not want to take the risk.”

Tsung notes that while companies’ hiring goals for MBA grads have decreased overall, there have been increases in the areas of healthcare and nonprofits.

“A lot of students think getting an MBA is a safe haven on the sidelines until the market gets better,” she continues. “But that’s not the reality. Recruiters are looking for people who are extremely proactive, self-starters who really have a passion for their area of specialty. Jobs are out there. You just have to find them.”

For those hoping to stand out at a job fair, recruiters offer these tips:

Research the companies and the positions they are recruiting for ahead of time. “Having to explain what our company does lessens the time we have to talk about you,” says Hawkes. Not to mention the poor impression it gives the recruiter.
Bring a resume and an addendum, advises Shelly. The latter is a page with 5 –10 bullet points showing career highlights that directly relate to the position you are interested in.
Pitch two specific previous experiences that directly relate to the position you want. “If someone says to me, ‘here’s something I did before at another job or in class that will fit in with your needs,' that would really stand out,” says McArdle.
Before getting in line, pick up some of the glossy material at the company booth and take a few steps back, advises collegegrad.com. Not only do you have some valuable pre-interviewing material in hand, you also have an opportunity to hear the conversation between the recruiter and another job-seeker. This is excellent preparation for your turn at the booth.
Don’t give up. Get the recruiter’s business card and follow up if you don’t hear anything. “Have faith and be persistent,” says Hawkes.

From Knowledge@Emory

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Prepare Now for Bad Weather

A rash of tornadoes and severe weather made a trek across Georgia Feb. 18, putting residents on high alert. Schools and offices normally have plans in place for weather emergencies. Families should also have prepared emergency weather plans, says a University of Georgia meteorologist.

“Families should practice their emergency plan well before the impending threat of a tornado or other weather emergency,” said Pam Knox, Georgia’s assistant state climatologist and a researcher with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Emergency plan of action

To develop a home emergency plan, Knox offers some guidance.

During a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning, the basement is the safest place to go if you live in a traditional frame home, Knox said. If you don’t have a basement, seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest level of the home. The room shouldn’t have windows and should be the smallest interior room.

“Typically, this will be either a bathroom or a closet,” Knox said. “A bathroom is best because the plumbing will provide extra structural integrity should the tornado hit.”

If time allows, Knox recommends bringing a mattress and pillows into the room to use as protection from flying debris.

Alternative shelter

If you live in a mobile home or trailer, seek alternative shelter, she said. “Some mobile home parks have storm shelters available for severe weather conditions,” she said. “If not, have an alternate plan in place before severe weather occurs.”

Seeking shelter outdoors should be a last resort.

“People should not be out in the open during a tornado,” she said. “If a tornado can blow a board into a tree, just imagine what it can do to a human.”

If you are in your car, resist the urge to drive away. You are much safer in one spot than you are on the road. If you have time, get out of the car and into a reinforced structure.

“And don’t try to seek shelter under an overpass like the people you see in videotapes,” Knox said. “The wind can be stronger under these structures due to the wind tunnel effect. And if the bridge falls, your risk of injury is significantly higher.”

Otherwise, the National Weather Service recommends that you get out of the car and into the lowest possible site. The strong winds can pick up your car and fling it long distances.

If your safe haven is a ravine or ditch, however, Knox warns to be aware of possible flooding.

“Buy a battery operated weather radio and keep it with you,” she said. “Most tornadoes only last about 15 minutes, but it will seem much longer if you aren’t aware of what to expect.”

By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia

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Georgia Southern University Expert Offers Tips on Going Green in 2009

“Going green” in the New Year doesn’t have to take a lot of time or a lot of money. Dr. Lissa Leege, who heads up Georgia Southern University’s sustainability programs, offers five easy ways to help save the environment and save money.

1. As each incandescent bulb burns out in your house or office, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb. CFLs use one-fifth the energy of incandescents and last 10 times longer, allowing you to save 670 pounds of carbon dioxide and $55 over the life of a single 60-watt bulb equivalent.

2. Replace old shower heads in your home with new, lower-flow shower heads. By law, all shower heads are now required to release no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute – a significant savings over the older five-gallons-per-minute models.

3. Choose water from the tap over bottled water. Eight of 10 plastic water bottles end up in crowded landfills, and the oil required to make a year’s supply of new bottles in the U.S. is enough to fuel 100,000 cars a year.

4. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. They are much sturdier than the film plastic bags and they'll never end up as litter in a river!

5. Give someone a nice travel mug to carry to Starbucks. That will save 10 cents a cup, but better yet it will save landfill space and trees by not trashing 365 cups a year.

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Shop Smart this Holiday Season

It starts soon after the Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie are gobbled down, the football games are over and the family is headed home. That is when serious shoppers – with adrenaline pumping - sort through all the advertisements to plan for the big after-Thanksgiving-Day sales.
More than ever, it is important to shop smart. That means developing a sound spending plan. With economic conditions still shaky, now is not the time to pile up a lot of holiday debt. Know how much money you can spend. To avoid problems in 2009, limit your spending to the cash you have set aside for the season.

Think creatively. Everyone is tightening their belts this year. Remember, it is the thought that counts. Homemade gifts, food, clothing or crafts may be appreciated more than a mass-produced item purchased at a local store.

Give the gift of time. Things like babysitting, car washing or housecleaning may also be well received.

When you get to the stores, keep your spending plan and shopping list in hand. Think carefully about each and every purchase. Avoid deciding on an item in the spur of the moment.

Take your time. Think about your needs and the amount of money you have.

Use the ads that appear in newspapers and mailboxes around Thanksgiving to plan your purchases. Compare offerings to find the best values. Once you decide on a particular item, compare features, quality, prices, installation fees, delivery charges and service rates.

Sometimes the cost to use and maintain the item makes selecting a more expensive model the cheaper option.

Look in the newspaper classified section for items, too. Person-to-person buying often saves money.

Running from store to store may not be feasible. Instead of driving around town, use the phone and Internet to find information, particularly for gifts you will send out of town. You may find that it is cheaper to order the desired items and ship them directly to the recipients.

Shopping online can also be an easy way to locate special or unique gifts. Do be careful. Use a secure browser. Shop with companies you know and keep your passwords creative and private. Pay particular attention to shipping charges. Be sure to print out and keep records of your purchases.

With a possible recession looming, retailers started sales earlier this year than in years past. That means plenty of bargains, but you will need to shop carefully to find them. As the holidays approach, many will slash prices so the best deals may be still to come. Waiting for last-minute price cuts makes sense for items that are not in short supply.

This might be the year to avoid buying gift cards. If you buy a gift card at a store that then goes out of business, you may as well have flushed your money down the toilet. If you do buy gift cards, make sure you understand the terms. Some companies begin charging fees after a relatively short time. These fees can eat up the value of the card.

Bargains that sound too good to be true are usually just that. Expect a fair and reasonable price for goods and services. Read labels, seals, tags and instruction booklets.

Ask questions. Get the facts before you buy. Find out what is promised, who stands behind the promises and what you must do to benefit from any warranty.

Your holiday spending plan is not just about the gifts you plan to buy. Remember to allow funds for parties, greeting cards, charitable giving and clothing to wear to holiday functions, along with other things that make the holiday season joyful for you and others.

By Michael Rupured
University of Georgia

Michael Rupured is a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension financial management specialist with the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

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End Dogfighting and Reap the Reward

(NAPSI)-To keep animal fighting--and what can be done to stop it--in the minds of Americans, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has an Animal Fighting Rewards program.

The organization will give up to $5,000 for information leading to an animal-fighting conviction, turning the information into busts of what it calls some of the nation's most significant illegal dogfighting and cockfighting operations.

"Because animal fighting is conducted in the shadows among a tightly-knit network of criminals, it has been difficult to infiltrate," says John Goodwin, the HSUS's manager of animal fighting issues. "With our new rewards program, we've found a perfect tool to counteract this."

People who suspect dogfighting or cockfighting activity should call the animal fighting tip line at (301) 258-1459. They should also call the police and mention the reward program.

For more information, visit www.humanesociety.org/rewards.

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Sallie Mae Offers Tips, Tools for Successful Student Loan Repayment

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Another important milestone is approaching for last spring’s college graduates – at least those who took out student loans. As the end of the six-month, post-school student loan grace period approaches, Sallie Mae offers tips and tools to help newly minted alumni begin student loan repayment and build a healthy credit history.

“I was able to pay down part of the principal balance of my loans every month, and at one point, I even increased my monthly payment,” said Sallie Mae customer, Coelise Martin Taleb, now a registered nurse. “I also want to buy a house one day and realize that good credit is the way to accomplish this goal.”

In addition to a standard repayment plan that allows federal student loan customers to make level payments of principal and interest over a 10-year repayment term, Sallie Mae offers graduated repayment, extended repayment and income-sensitive repayment options to allow consumers to customize their federal student loan payments to suit their financial situation. To help make repayment even simpler, Sallie Mae gives customers the convenience of one bill for all of their Sallie Mae-serviced loans, including their private loans, so they can make a single monthly payment.

Sallie Mae offers these 5 tips to help customers get off on the right path for student loan repayment:

Automatic debit: Set up monthly loan payments with automatic debit as an easy way to make on-time payments. Your monthly student loan payments are electronically deducted from your checking or savings account, saving you time and stamps.

Run the numbers: Sallie Mae's Loan Repayment Calculator estimates the monthly payments and total interest costs under the different repayment plans available. Before selecting a repayment plan, run the numbers and see which repayment plan gives you a monthly payment that fits into your budget.

Link your loan to Upromise: Join Upromise, then link your Sallie Mae loan account to your Upromise account and use your Upromise rewards to transfer savings automatically to help pay down your eligible Sallie Mae student loans. Upromise helps students and families save money for education expenses by earning rewards on everyday purchases from participating companies. Visit www.SallieMae.com/upromise to learn more.

Stay in touch: Immediately notify your student loan servicer(s) of any change to your name, address, telephone number, employer, or Social Security number. This will ensure that you receive all communication from your loan provider and that you are aware of your payment amount, payment due date and repayment options.

Prepay or pay extra when possible: You may prepay your loans in part or in full at any time without penalty. This will lower the overall cost of the loan. Adding a little extra to each monthly payment can help.

“I was so proud of the fact that I had paid off my student loan, I placed a copy of the ‘Congratulations’ letter from Sallie Mae on the wall of my cubicle,” said Angelique Tellis from Lafayette, La., a Sallie Mae customer who recently paid off her student loan. “For me, the key to paying off my loan faster was to add a little extra to the payment each month.”

A recent study by Sallie Mae and Gallup on “How America Pays for College” found that the median monthly payment that students with loans expected to pay once they began repayment was $200. Respondents, however, offered a wide variance of estimates, especially for similar loan values.

Sallie Mae’s new Education Investment Planner can help students and families more accurately forecast their monthly student loan payments. The free tool, available online at www.SallieMae.com/plan, enables families to estimate the total cost of a college degree, build a customized plan to pay for college, forecast monthly student loan payments, and even estimate the salary a graduate would need to keep repayment of student loans manageable.

In addition, the Education Investment Planner educates users on debt-to-income ratios and offers debt management guidance as part of Sallie Mae’s commitment to helping families understand the total cost of college and how to pay for it without going beyond their means. A general rule of thumb is that total monthly debt payments (including payments for student loans, credit cards, car, and housing, whether renting or buying) should be no more than 36% to 40% of one’s monthly gross income.

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