SCHOOL PARKING AND OTHER THINGS
    The construction of the new school has thrown some new twists into the traffic flow around the old school. Add reduced parking spots along with pre-school and kindergarten being dropped off at the south doors, dropping off your kids can be a challenge. Here are some guidelines and tips that can aid you in dropping off or picking up your child. Remember that these guidelines and expectations have been developed for the safety of the children.
One: the area of the street just south of the elementary is drop-off only. For the consideration of others do not leave your vehicle. (even for just a minute) That minute negatively impacts a safe traffic pattern.
Two: if you need to go into the school with your child either double park your car on the south side of the street or down by the construction by the new school.
Three: when double parking on the south side of the street instruct your child to use the cross walk. Darting out between cars into the street is not a behavior that we want to encourage in a young child.

Four: do not stop or park in a crosswalk.
Five: use your blinkers. When the parking area is full I often hold traffic until a space opens. If I see someone that wants to turn away from the school I will try to help them get out of the traffic que.
Six: if you have older children that can easily walk a block or two utilize an alternate parking spot. Back when we had to occasionally pick up our children they were always instructed to go to the library.
OTHER THINGS- YOUR CHILDS SAFETY.
    When first responders arrive at an accident they position their vehicles between themselves, the victim and the oncoming traffic. The reason: to keep them safe from the actions of bad drivers. I strongly suggest you take on the same mindset when dropping off your child. Have them walk around the front of your vehicle. You would be flabbergasted by the number of people on their phones as they come up to the school. Add to that people drinking coffee, eating breakfast, dealing with fighting children, or just driving too fast on icy roads (possibly all at the same time) and the risks to your child just keep rising. If they cannot get out of the car on the curb-side ensure that they walk around the front of the vehicle.  
LAST THING
    Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath continue to bring suffering to Houston. So many good people around the country want to help and that help is greatly needed. Donation management during and after a disaster is such a problem that Emergency Managers take classes on how to deal with all of the issues that occur. So many truck-loads of donated items arrive that people and resources that are needed to care for the victims are diverted to sorting, storing and warehousing those donated items.  When companies such as Walmart and Anheuser-Busch send emergency supplies those deliveries are coordinated with FEMA and the local responders.
    So, what can you do to help people affected by a disaster? Send money to reputable organizations.  Part of that community’s disaster plan is to publish a list of local organizations that can collect funds to aid victims. If you or your group wants to help a community during a disaster and you do not know where to send those funds too, just give me a call. I will aid you directing your cash donation to the group you wish to help.
FINAL LAST THING
    How many of you noticed that it was at least 72 hours until many of the hurricane victims received any help? As emergency managers always say “the first 72 hours are on you.”