Red Cross Responds Across Massive Area as Full Picture of Helene’s Horrific Devastation Slowly Comes to Light

Donations urged to help people affected by Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene is one of the deadliest storms to ever hit the United States, leaving behind hundreds of miles of catastrophic damage and changing lives forever. The American Red Cross has launched a massive response to ensure no one faces this challenging time alone.

Across the Southeast, hundreds of people are still missing, and damaged roads and bridges have cut off entire communities, making it difficult to get help to those areas. People need water, food, medicine and medical care. Tens of thousands of homes have been affected and some 1.3 million customers — about 4 million people — are still without power.

“With massive relief efforts underway in response to Hurricane Helene, we are working around the clock to help people and communities devastatingly impacted by this storm’s path of destruction,” said Trevor Riggen, president of Red Cross Humanitarian Services. “Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected, and we want you to know that you are not alone. The Red Cross and our partners will be there to provide shelter, food and comfort in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

RED CROSS RESPONSE More than 1,200 Red Cross disaster responders from across the country are helping people across the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

The Red Cross is managing shelters where residents can get hot meals and emotional support. In these same areas, emergency response vehicles — deployed from every state — are on the roads providing meals and critical supplies as families begin to clean up their homes. In the Carolinas, we’re working with state taskforces to coordinate feeding efforts to help ensure communities are getting the help they need. And in Florida, the Red Cross is helping to assess residential damage.

More at source: American Red Cross

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COVID-19 remained at 'very high' activity levels across the US: See latest data

The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that last month nearly half of the United States have reported "very high" levels of COVID-19 activity.

As concerns with COVID have waned across the U.S., the CDC has come to rely on wastewater data to track the virus, which often lags several weeks behind current case counts.

Data collected between Aug. 25 and Aug. 31 by the CDC showed that 23 states have reported "very high" levels of wastewater viral activity nationwide. The data was published on Sept. 5.

Here are the overall numbers of the states and territories that have reported wastewater viral activity levels as of Aug. 31.

More at source: USA Today

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Parents concerned over dirty bathrooms - Janitorial Shortage at School

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Parents at Rancho Del Rey Middle School in Chula Vista are raising concerns about a lack of janitorial staff and the condition of the bathrooms students have been using since the start of the school year.

“There’s been no custodian and no janitor since the beginning of year,” said concerned parent, Arthur Loewy.

More at source: Fox 5 San Diego

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Coronavirus levels in wastewater are considered “high” or “very high” in 45 states, including California, as well as in the District of Columbia. Coronavirus sewage levels were considered “moderate” in Michigan, New Jersey, Vermont and West Virginia; no data was available for North Dakota.

New COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be available as soon as this week, a promising development amid California’s potent and enduring summer wave of the disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the distribution of the updated Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-25 season on Thursday. And in preparation for winter, when COVID typically surges again, federal officials said Americans will soon be able to register to receive four free tests in the mail.

More at source: Los Angeles Times

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Is this the biggest Covid summer wave ever?

A rise in Covid infections began in early June, and wastewater data from the CDC shows levels are still rising.

The U.S. is in what may end up being its biggest summer wave of Covid, with no end yet in sight. 

“If you just talk about infections, this is probably going to end up becoming the largest summer wave we’ve had,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and former White House Covid-19 response coordinator. “It’s still not as big as the winter waves, but it is starting to get close.” 

It's not only in the U.S. There's been a worldwide surge in infections in recent weeks, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for Covid at the World Health Organization, said in a briefing this week. The proportion of tests coming back positive for Covid in Europe is above 20%, with wastewater data suggesting case numbers may be two to 20 times higher than what's being reported, Van Kerkhove said.

More at source: NBC

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In surprise move, Ramsey County adds nonunion janitorial firms, displacing union workers - 

Ramsey County Minnesota starting Monday will use nonunion janitorial firms next week for the first time in decades.

The county opened its contract to new bids in April and by June decided to use four cleaning companies instead of one. Three of the new companies are nonunion.

The move displaces 19 employees who work for the unionized shop Triangle Services, which was the only provider under the old contract. Starting Monday, Triangle will clean only the county’s Metro Square building on 7th Place in downtown St. Paul, a job that requires just four workers, union officials said.

The employees and their union, SEIU Local 26, are upset by the move and worried they are now out of a job plus employee retirement benefits that were newly won under a hard-fought contract passed in February.

Affected employees said they were notified three weeks ago

More at source: Star Tribune MN

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*Janitorial Wages and Employment Report*

*Current Trends:*

- The median hourly wage for janitors and building cleaners was $16.84 in May 2023 ¹.

- The average hourly pay for a Custodian Janitor is $14.93 in 2024 ².

- The average hourly pay for a Cleaner is $14.69 in 2024 ³.

*Employment:*

- Employment of janitors and building cleaners is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032 ¹.

- Despite limited employment growth, about 336,700 openings for janitors and building cleaners are projected each year, on average, over the decade ¹.

*Wage Ranges:*

- Custodian Janitors:

    - Highest pay: $19.92 / hour ²

    - Lowest pay: $10.81 / hour ²

- Cleaners:

    - Highest pay: $22.79 / hour ³

    - Lowest pay: $10.43 / hour ³

*Job Satisfaction:*

- Cleaners have reported a job satisfaction rating of 3.68 out of 5, indicating high satisfaction with their job ³.

*Growth Opportunities:*

- Increasing pay as a Custodian Janitor or Cleaner is possible through:

    - Change of employer

    - Level of education

    - Managing experience ² ³

*Conclusion:*

The janitorial industry is a vital part of maintaining clean and orderly environments. While employment growth may be limited, there are still opportunities for job seekers in this field. Understanding current wages and employment trends can help individuals make informed decisions about their careers.

*Janitorial Cleaning Services Market Report*

The global janitorial cleaning services market is a growing industry driven by factors such as the rise of dual-income households, an aging population, and increased awareness of hygiene ¹. The market was valued at $375.32 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.83% from 2023 to 2030 ².

*Key Drivers:*

- *Rise of Dual-Income Households*: With more households having two working parents, there is less time available for cleaning and other household chores, leading to an increase in demand for cleaning services ¹.

- *Aging Population*: The aging population requires assistance with cleaning and maintaining their homes, driving the demand for cleaning services ¹.

- *Increased Awareness of Hygiene*: The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, leading to an increase in demand for cleaning services ¹.

*Market Segments:*

- *Floor Care & Vacuuming*: This segment holds a major market share due to increased awareness regarding maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in work areas and households ².

- *Commercial Cleaning Services*: The commercial segment is anticipated to dominate the global market as large working areas require professional cleaning services to maintain a safe and hygienic environment ².

*Regional Insights:*

- *North America*: Dominates the global market due to the rise in the use of green commercial solutions in the region ².

- *Asia Pacific*: Projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to increased employment opportunities, disposable income, urbanization, and other factors ².

*Key Players:*

- *ABM Industries Inc.*

- *The ServiceMaster Company, LLC*

- *CleanNet USA, Inc.*

*Challenges:*

- *Lack of Availability of Skilled Labor*: The lack of training programs, the aging workforce, and the changing employment landscape are the factors that result in labor shortage ².

Source: Bureau Of Labor 

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Portland area security guards, janitors sign new union contracts

SEIU Local 49 members work as security officers and janitorial staff for some of the biggest employers in the Pacific Northwest.

The Portland team bargained for about a month and gained wage increases, additional paid leave, and health and safety improvements.

Renato Quintero, an SEIU member and a janitor at Intel, said they had to work hard to make these changes, but he thinks the effort was worthwhile.

"Those things are really useful for our work and for our family," said Quintero, "being able to have more money, and also time to enjoy our family life."

The new contracts will affect nearly two thousand workers in the Portland metro area. The union expects the wage increases to add $9 million to the local economy.

In addition to pay, union leaders say the new contracts come with a sense of recognition. They note people in these professions worked through the pandemic, and their jobs were considered essential.

Michael Lindsey, a union member and security officer with GardaWorld Security Services, said he sees these contracts as a step into the future.

More at source: Public News Service

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Janitors rally for better contract conditions in Colorado, Denver metro

DENVER (KDVR) — The sweltering heat did not stop one group of workers from marching for better working conditions on Monday as sanitation workers rallied in downtown Denver.

The group of janitors from across the Front Range is urging companies to make some changes as contract negotiations are underway. On Monday, the workers told companies and area leaders that the city is changing and they need their working conditions to reflect that.

The Denver-area sanitation workers are members of SEIU Local 105, and they’re gearing up for another fight for fair wages.

More At Source: KDVR

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Cleaning crew finds 235 pounds of meth at California Airbnb

Cleaning crews at Airbnbs and hotels often find items that guests accidentally leave behind.

But a group that was supposed to clean a house in Alhambra, California was in for a surprise.

When they saw guests, who stayed at a house in the 1400 block of Ethel Avenue last month, left behind multiple boxes, they called police.

After investigators with the Alhambra Police Department responded to the call, they learned those boxes contained about 235 pounds of methamphetamine.

As authorities checked footage from the RING camera at the property, they saw people engaging in suspicious activities. 

More at source: NBC Los Angeles 

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