In just five hours overnight on October 18, Times Square was transformed from a concrete jungle into a woodland paradise by LightStream, the national online lending division of SunTrust Bank. Nearly 200 live trees, shrubs and plants -- oak, maple, and purple plum trees, as well as rhododendron, mountain laurels and more – provided a magical setting for thousands of visitors to enjoy and have their photo taken and shared on a Times Square billboard. The Forest of Dreams event kicked off LightStream’s effort to plant 10,000 trees in October, one for each person who participated in Times Square or who signs up at LightStreamForests.com before November 1.
The Forest of Dreams will benefit wilderness areas and green spaces across the U.S., including areas decimated by wildfires and hurricanes in Houston, Miami and California.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7740051-lightstream-forest-of-dreams/
The National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts in the United States concludes that warmer and drier conditions have already contributed to increasing wildfire events across the western United States, and future increases are projected in some regions. Already this year, there have been over 44,000 wildfires that have damaged or destroyed almost 8.5 million acres. Long periods of record high temperatures are associated with droughts that contribute to dry conditions and drive wildfires in some areas.
USDA Secretary Vilsack recently stated, “This year, we are experiencing yet another devastating wildfire season, particularly in the drought-ravaged West. Climate change, drought, fuel buildup, insects and disease are increasing the severity of unprecedented wildfire in America's forests and rangelands, which impacts the safety of people, homes and communities. Development close to forests has also increased the threat to property, with more than 46 million homes in the United States, or about 40 percent of our nation's housing, potentially at risk from wildfire.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7607931-fema-national-prepareathon/
Wildfires are a serious risk to property and lives in every state in the country. Last year alone the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported there were 63,212 fires in the U.S. and Puerto Rico that burned 3,595,613 million acres – that’s roughly the size of Connecticut! In an effort to help raise community and homeowner awareness about preparing for wildfires, State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are working together and encouraging residents to take action during national Wildfire Community preparedness Day.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7452831-state-farm-weather-preparedness/
In the wake of the horrific winter wildfires in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area, thousands of residents were displaced, many of whom lost their homes. Clayton, one of the nation’s largest builders of manufactured and modular homes, has helped one family in their efforts to recover from the tragedy by guiding them through their home buying process and delivering a new home to the family less than two months after the wildfires destroyed their old home.
Clayton produced a video highlighting the plight of Sandra and Trevor Cates, whose original Clayton home was destroyed in the fires. In the video, the Cates discuss the night of Nov. 28, when the fire took their home and many of the buildings in the Gatlinburg area. The family discusses evacuating Gatlinburg, how organizations and volunteers rallied to help support victims of the fires and the process for getting into a new home through a local Clayton home center.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8011652-clayton-homes-gatlinburg-cates-family/
