Govenor Matt Blunt Continues Aggressive Push to Prepare State for Potential Disasters
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 20, 2005 - Gov. Matt Blunt has ordered all state agencies to examine their earthquake plans and to revise any out-dated material to ensure efficient and practical concepts are implemented after lessons learned from hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Blunt previously directed the Department of Public Safety and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to review existing emergency response plans and to make suggestions for improvement.
The review, led by Public Safety Director Mark James, found existing plans to be inadequate when faced with the statewide devastation an earthquake the size of 7.6 or higher could cause. Blunt has directed state agencies to work with local governments in the New Madrid region to develop a coordinated plan to deal with a possible natural disaster of that magnitude to help avoid problems witnessed in the Gulf Coast.
Blunt has directed all of the state agencies involved in responding to such incidents to file detailed reports to assist in future planning efforts. Specifically, Blunt wants state agencies to focus on local evacuation plans, the construction of emergency shelters, access to medical treatment, housing for evacuees, security for dangerous areas to combat looters and effective communication and coordination between local, state, federal and private relief agencies.
Blunt has asked Director James to closely coordinate his efforts with Adjutant Gen. King Sidwell to ensure that the resources of the National Guard are considered as plans are developed. Gen. Sidwell acted as Hurricane Relief Coordinator during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and is an integral part of Gov. Blunt's emergency response team.
Last Monday, Blunt signed executive order 05-42 establishing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as Missouri's new standard for emergency preparedness. NIMS will provide an across the board approach for federal, state and local governments to more effectively and efficiently work together to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters and domestic incidents.
NIMS utilizes standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities and resources and will improve Missouri's ability to use federal funding to enhance state and local preparedness.
"The devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes taught us that the unimaginable can happen at anytime," Blunt said. "I am committed to making preparation for and response to natural disasters one of the top priorities of state government. Missourians deserve the reassurance of knowing that their state leaders are going to great lengths to prepare and respond as quickly and efficiently as possible. We have taken great strides to overcome the lack of preparation from the past and I look forward to working with local officials and first responders to put a strong coordinated plan in place."
Higher Cost of Travel This Year Won't Keep People 'Home for the Holidays'
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire), November 20, 2005 - According to a recent Maritz(R) Poll, rising travel costs won't be a deterrent to family holiday gatherings this year. U.S. highways and airways will be just as congested this holiday season, as Americans still plan to travel regardless of gas prices being 33 cents higher than last year.
The consumer research survey, which polled 2,007 Americans on their holiday travel plans and spending, revealed that the percentage of people who plan to travel remained similar to the past several years.
The poll taken this past month, when gas prices were near their peak, showed that only 8 percent of total respondents planned to cancel a trip they would normally take due to higher gas prices. The majority of these consumers described themselves as less habitual holiday travelers, with only a few regular holiday travelers indicating that rising gas prices affected their plans this year. Apparently, those canceling plans were offset by approximately equal numbers who said that they were planning to take a holiday trip this year that they normally don't take.
"At a time when Americans were pumping $40 and $50 into their gas tanks every week, it's surprising to see no decline in the number of people who planned to travel over the holidays," says Rick Garlick, Ph.D., director of strategic consulting for Maritz Research Hospitality Group. "With gas prices declining, it should be a nice gift to those holiday travelers."
Consumers who value holiday travel make it a priority despite higher costs. This year, half (51 percent) of those planning to travel say they will spend more this year than last. This figure is significantly higher than previous years.
In addition, the average amount travelers plan to spend on holiday travel is up slightly, at $108 more than last year.
"Each year, inflation pushes the cost of travel up, so it's not surprising to see people saying they expect to pay more for holiday travel this year," according to Garlick. "However, when analyzing all the data, including the high percentage of people who plan to spend more and the minimal increase in the actual amount they plan to spend, it would appear that Americans are far more resigned to paying higher costs than in previous years. And, most importantly, they aren't going to let it stop them from traveling."
Online Holiday Sales Will Jingle to the Tune of More Than $19 Billion This Year
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire), November 20, 2005 - comScore Networks has released its forecast of online consumer spending for the 2005 holiday season. comScore estimates that consumer spending on non-travel goods at U.S. Internet sites will exceed $19 billion during the November through December holiday season, representing approximately 24 percent growth over the 2004 season.
"Expectations across all channels for this holiday season have been dampened slightly by high gas prices and wavering consumer confidence," said Gian Fulgoni, Chairman and Co-Founder of comScore Networks. "However, e- commerce will remain strong as consumers continue to shift more of their holiday spending to the online channel because of the Web's convenience and the savings available through its price comparison capabilities -- not to mention the ability for consumers to save on fuel costs by cutting back on the need to drive to retail stores."
"The strong growth of e-commerce in traditionally offline categories such as Apparel & Accessories, Home & Garden, and Jewelry & Watches is a clear indicator that channel switching continues," added Mr. Fulgoni. "Consumer- focused initiatives such as in-store pick-up, free shipping and hassle-free returns have helped merchants convince consumers to consider shopping in a wider array of categories online."
More than ever, consumers turn to both comparison shopping sites and traditional search engines to help them find lower prices or locate difficult- to-find products. Comparison shopping sites represent one of the fastest growing categories online, attracting more than 54.7 million visitors in October, an impressive 52-percent increase compared to a year ago. Previous comScore research has shown that online shoppers are highly likely to turn to comparison shopping engines as part of their research process before buying. For example, comScore found that 90 percent of those who purchased consumer electronics online during the first quarter of 2005 also visited a comparison shopping site during that same period.
"As consumers have gained online shopping experience in recent years, they have become increasingly open to buying from a large range of merchants, including familiar offline names, online auctions, and both large and small online-only stores," said Mr. Fulgoni. "Comparison shopping and Web search engines not only provide consumers with an efficient means for navigating this complex shopping environment, but also cause online retailers to engage in more competitive pricing."
During last year's holiday season, comScore found that familiar names in offline retail, such as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy, grew significantly more than online-only merchants. Driven by strong brands, significant online/offline promotions and in-store pick-up and returns, multi-channel retailers will likely outpace many of their online-only competitors again this year. In October 2005, three of the top five most visited retail Web sites were multi-channel retailers, including Wal-Mart, Target Corporation, and Apple Computer, Inc.
"Pure online brands will continue to do well this holiday season," said Mr. Fulgoni. "But multi-channel retailers will once again post the highest overall growth in online sales as newer online shoppers turn to the brands they trust, and consumers recognize the benefits of in-store service, including post-holiday returns."
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