Unprecedented planning by state and local authorities, law enforcement and the insurance industry established what is being called a national model for protecting the public from fly-by-night contractors in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), preparation in advance of the F-5 tornado that devastated the city of Moore and surrounding areas in May 2013 resulted in a well-coordinated effort to ensure that roofers and other contractors who swarmed into the area in the hours and days after the storm were properly licensed, insured and authorized to work in the area.
Local police assisted the Oklahoma Insurance Department Fraud Unit in patrolling the area and keeping suspected fraudulent out-of-state contractors from doing work unless all protocols were followed.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7665251-nicb-limited-fraud-following-2013-moore-tornado/
General Mills announced today that by the end of 2020, oat farms that supply oats for Honey Nut Cheerios will host approximately 3,300 total acres of dedicated flower-rich pollinator habitat. It takes about 60,000 acres of oats to make Honey Nut Cheerios products each year. More than two thirds of the crops used to feed people, accounting for 90 percent of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees.1 Flower-rich habitat is critical in helping maintain the nutritional health of bees and the continued supply of crops that we depend on for food. Without bees and other pollinators, food as we know it would be forever changed.
Bees have experienced an unprecedented scale of habitat loss with more than 9 million acres of grass and prairie land converted to crop land since 2008.2 Although Honey Nut Cheerios famous spokesbee, Buzz Bee, and his honey bee friends may not be in danger of extinction like some other pollinators, in the interest of protecting our food supply, Honey Nut Cheerios is committed to helping all pollinators thrive through the planting of these habitats.
“Pollinator habitats are one of the most effective solutions in ensuring bees get the daily nutrition they need,” said Dr. Marla Spivak, a world-renowned bee scholar at the University of Minnesota who has been collaborating with General Mills on this initiative. “Every day, 4,000 species of North American bees are traveling from flower to flower, shopping for the variety of good nutrition they need in order to thrive. My hope is this partnership between farmers, the Xerces Society and General Mills will not only beautify the North American countryside with vibrant wildflowers, but also help the bees we all rely on so much get back on their own six feet!”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7803951-honey-nut-cheerios-pollinators/
For six weeks this spring, the America's PrepareAthon! Campaign and other preparedness partners will focus on different hazards and provide simple actions that people and communities should take to prepare for each particular hazard.
This fifth week highlights hurricanes. Individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and houses of worship around the country are holding preparedness discussions, conducting drills, and taking specific steps to prepare for hurricanes.
People who live in hurricane-prone coastal areas should know their vulnerability to wind and flooding, as well as what to do to reduce the effects of both. People who live inland from coastal areas may also experience high winds, power outages, and flooding from torrential rain. Protecting yourself today means having sources for information, preparing your home and workplace, developing an emergency communication plan, and knowing what to do when a hurricane is approaching your community.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7770531-fema-national-prepareathon/
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), a leading graduate institution that emphasizes health and rehabilitative sciences education through innovative classroom education, is pleased to announce the installation of SafeGait 360° Balance and Mobility Trainer® on its Austin, Texas campus. The device, which was designed in collaboration with experts in physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT), works to mitigate the risk of injury from falls, protecting both the patient and therapist. In addition, SafeGait 360°’s dynamic fall protection (DFP) distinguishes between a patient’s intentional downward movement and when a patient is actually falling, which allows therapists to easily modify fall protection sensitivity to accommodate and challenge patients at varying stages of independence.
USAHS is one of the first higher education institutions in the nation to install this innovative body-weight support and fall protection system. In addition to conducting ground breaking research with patients and students, faculty members with extensive experience in body-weight treatments aim to open a clinic which will provide new treatment options to patients in the Austin community, and will begin seeing patients in October of this year.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7743851-usahs-safegait-360-physical-therapy/
https://youtu.be/sR19T7Xvf8w “It will never happen to me!” These words have often been spoken moments before a business owner’s site gets hacked – as if the hackers were listening in on their conversations. The fact that 20 WordPress sites get hacked every minute (1 hack every 3 seconds) should wake up most people to the fact that their website could get compromised if they aren’t protecting it with PCI compliant security scans and killer passwords. Need a free scan to see how you’re doing? Visit freepciscanning.com.
https://youtu.be/Y6rIs220PXc More businesses are taking their products and services online than ever before. Consumers, for the most part, are feeling safer about completing online transactions – especially with businesses they trust.
But some entrepreneurs in the e-commerce world have never started their own business. Many are unfamiliar with how to run an e-commerce store. There’s no doubt that this is an exciting time to explore the e-commerce marketplace – especially for people who are testing it out while keeping their full-time jobs.
Having said that, business owners new to the online world should understand from the get-go that the e-commerce industry is one of the most lucrative targets for cyber criminals. News of the recent eBay hack is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with online businesses. But big businesses aren’t the only ones getting hacked. More than 20 WordPress sites are hacked every minute of every day.
But there are a few basic things you can do to help prevent losing control of your website and your customer’s private information.
Choose a Secure eCommerce Platform
More than two third of all active e-commerce sites are using either Magento or WordPress’ WooCommerce. Why? Mainly because of their sophisticated security features. There are other factors as well, but what makes them stand apart is the extensive security. PrestaShop can be yet another choice with a proven security framework.
Keep your software up-to-date and, it should go without saying, keep your passwords unique and secure. Educate your clients, as well as your workforce, about your information security practices. Let them know how you are protecting customers’ credit card information and what they should do from their end to keep the financial information secure.
Implement SSL Certificates
SSLs (secure socket layers) are the de facto standard when it comes to securing online transactions. An SSL certificate authenticates the identity of users and encrypts data while at store and transit. Implementing SSL is essential for E-commerce websites to establish secure connectivity between the end-user systems and your website.
For tech-savvy buyers, the padlock icon with HTTPS in the address bar is an essential prerequisite for providing their personal details and credit card information. If the consumers believe that a vendor is doing everything possible to secure their transactions, they are more likely to do business with them.
Scan Your Site for Security Vulnerabilities
Although SSLs protect your transactions, they don’t protect your website. No matter which platform you decide to use, ensure that your server maintains PCI compliance requirements by running PCI scans on your server to validate whether you are compliant or not. Companies like Trust Guard not only scan your site for more than 75,000 known vulnerabilities, giving you detailed reports about its safety, but they also provide users with trust seals.
These small, digital images, when placed on your home page and checkout page, have been proved to drastically increase sales and conversion rates. They show potential buyers through accompanying certificates that you are serious about their privacy and security. It gives them the peace of mind they need to make the buying decision.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just are getting started, you should understand that keeping your site safe is your most important endeavor. Hackers can (and do) cause economic, legal and reputational damage every day. Keep your site safe and protected by following these three simple website security tips for your online business.
TruGreen, the nation’s leading professional lawn care company helping people live life outside, is expanding its expert service offerings with the launch of TruGreen Mosquito Defense to help homeowners combat mosquitoes and help protect their families.
As the weather gets warmer, these backyard invaders can prevent homeowners from reaping the benefits of living life outside. According to a recent online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of TruGreen, among over 2,000 U.S. adults, 85 percent of Americans say that mosquitoes limit their or their family’s outdoor activities during the months they’re most active. The same survey also found that nearly two thirds of Americans (64 percent) are concerned about protecting themselves and their family from Zika or other mosquito-borne illnesses. Furthermore, 65 percent of Americans use bug spray on themselves/their family to combat mosquitoes outdoors at home and though it’s the top response for preventative measures, still only half (51 percent) say it is most effective at preventing mosquitoes from biting outdoors at home.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8090051-trugreen-mosquito-defense-lawn-yard-care/
Schick®Hydro® announced today its partnership with Paramount Pictures’ new movie, Transformers: The Last Knight, directed by Michael Bay, in theaters June 21, demonstrating how the brand continues to innovate the shaving category and brings to life the transformative powers of a great shave. The partnership highlights Hydrobot, the Schick Hydro iconic hero, a razor designed like no other, and leverages the platform, “Technology That Transforms” through a new TV commercial and Limited-Edition, collectible razors.
The collaboration debuts with a new TV commercial, directed by Bay, the renowned filmmaker and director of all five of the Transformers feature films inspired by the iconic brand from Hasbro. The exclusive spot features the Schick Hydro 5 razor converting into Hydrobot, with a fist bump from Optimus Prime for protecting mankind, one face at a time.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8098451-schick-hydro-transformers-razor/
The Dreaming Tree Wines, a California wine brand from award-winning winemaker Sean McKenzie and musician Dave Matthews, is proud to announce it has hit $1 Million in charitable donations to environmental organizations The Wilderness Society and Living Lands & Waters in support of reforestation and conservation, a goal it set out to achieve six years ago when the brand was launched.
The Dreaming Tree began with a mission to create sustainably produced and packaged wines, as well as ensure that a portion of proceeds from every bottle purchased benefits organizations on the front lines of environmental conservation by planting trees and protecting the nation’s forests. “The more work we can do like this in towns and cities around the world, the more we can change the outcome of the future of those communities,” says The Dreaming Tree Wines co-conspirator Dave Matthews. “I really feel grateful that there are organizations like The Wilderness Society and Living Lands & Waters that can turn this into a reality.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8127651-dreaming-tree-dave-matthews-wine-environmental-conservation-charity-sustainability/
nanobébé, a brand dedicated to revolutionizing the infant feeding industry, today announced the launch of its much-anticipated sleek and modern ecosystem of health-focused feeding essentials for today’s 21st century parents, poised to be hot baby registry items this year. Breastfeeding moms can rejoice in the company’s flagship Breastmilk Bottle, the first and only baby bottle designed specifically to preserve essential breast milk nutrients. From pumping, storing, warming to feeding, the award-winning nanobébé Breastmilk Bottle protects the breast milk and preserves its nutritional value.
“When moms warm breast milk in the traditional way, there is a good chance that they are unknowingly damaging the nutritional and immunity-boosting properties of the milk. Additionally, the milk is likely heated unevenly, causing hot spots, which can harm the baby,” said Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, nanobébé SpokesDoctor, family physician and coauthor of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year. “nanobébé’s bottles are biomedically engineered with a concave shape that spreads the breast milk into a thin layer and allows it to warm at safe temperatures, protecting nutrients from damage and preventing hot spots.” The nanobébé Breastmilk Bottle warms stored breast milk quickly, twice as fast as standard bottles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8260351-nanobebe-infant-breastfeeding-line/
https://www.zappshelter.com
The Zappshelter fabric shelter offers an unrivalled solution to protecting what matters most – your people, your products and your profits.
