I received the following press release today, and had the compunction to share with you, our dear PlusPoint reader, this one example of the vast amounts of ridiculous nonsense our public relations counterparts fill our inboxes with each day. 

MEDIA ALERT: Local Business Donates Truckload of Pork Rinds to Birmingham
WHO: Southern Recipe
WHAT: Southern Recipe, Dallas-based and the world’s largest manufacturer of pork rinds, and is donating $10,000 of their signature snack to The Today Show’s Lend a Hand Tour in Birmingham, AL. Southern Recipe is sending volunteers to help with the secret pork rind delivery as a surprise to the Alabama Soup Kitchen to aid the tornado disaster relief.
WHEN: June 16 at 7:00 a.m. EST

MEDIA CONTACT: To arrange an interview with an executive from Southern Recipe LIVE from Birmingham, or for more information on Southern Recipe donation, please contact Kate Finley, 614-794-2008 or email Finley@rmdadvertising.com.

Yes, Southern Recipe thinks that the one item victims of the recent storms need is pork rinds.

With recent disasters worldwide, including the most recent devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri, and the tornadoes that blew through North Texas and Oklahoma this week, this article proves timely. What are the best ways to reach people during a disaster?  What is the best equipment to have on hand? There are 14 services and tools listed in this PC Magazine slideshow, including Twitter sites, agencies on Facebook, radios, various apps to have during a disaster, as well as a cell phone to have in case there is no service.

Let's hope this doesn't happen during your next event.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has prepared an emergency plan, be it for zombies or natural disasters. These are geared for individuals and their families, but I'm sure meeting planners have their own similar kits and emergency plans. Your plan should include "where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step. You can also implement this plan if there is a flood, earthquake, or other emergency."  The CDC also outlines what steps they take to ward off the spread of disease. 

Quick to the aid of those displaced by the Great Tohoku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, hotels across the Central Japanese city of Kyoto dug in deep to donate valuable supplies. These supplies are even more valuable in that they were already in Japan so the delay of importation was not an impediment.

MPI member James Kent, international marketing coordinator for the Kyoto Convention Bureau, reports that area hotels have donated the following as of March 17:

11,000 towels 
10,000 tooth brushes
8,000 bars of soap

6,000 face masks (for preventing the spread of airborne diseases)
3,700 disposable razors 
3,600 sets of shampoo and conditioner 
1,000 hair brushes
900 rolls of toilet paper 
600 slippers
200 blankets

Way to go, Kyoto!

Now it's time for you to get involved!

Image (CC) robertpaulyoung

Diverse disasters may have impacted the leisure side of travel to Louisiana, but business travel is set to soar, the Times-Picayune recently reported.

The expected continuing decline in the leisure market is expected to be softened significantly with a serious investment in securing business travel.

"The net impact of the financial loss to the state from the oil spill through 2013 will be about $295 million."

Yet, business travel to the state is expected to grow by $395 million in that same time frame.

The city of Nashville's tourism industry swiftly returned following severe floods in Spring 2010 due to near heroic efforts from government and industry leaders in conjunction with the region's musicians and community members. In December, One+ spoke with several Nashville leaders about their successes and challenges following the flood. Here are their stories.

BUTCH SPYRIDON. “Nashville didn’t wait to respond. Nashville picked itself up. We’ve got work to do. We’re not waiting on the president, on the feds. We’re not waiting on FEMA or the state. We’re going to take care of ourselves. And that message permeated on every level of the community.”

The CVB office lost power on the second day of floods in the city of Nashville, which meant no phones, no lights and most importantly no servers, without which there could be no meaningful communication to the outside world. 

ANDREA DILLENBURG. A total 5.52 million gallons of water (25 feet) filled the Schermerhorn Symphony Center the day Andrea Dillenburg took office as the organization’s vice president of external affairs.

PETER WEIEN. Gaylord Opryland GM Peter Weien made the final decision to evacuate about 7:30 p.m. Sunday. But he had more than just guests to be concerned for—there were also his 3,000 stars (employees)—all of whom would desperately need the help of their employer in the coming days and weeks.