Disaster Relief Resources

It is an incredibly trying time for all us on and around the Island.

We have gathered some resources below to help as best we can.

We have some fundraising efforts in the works for more immediate assistance as well as some efforts for the coming months.

If you have any ideas for things DICP can do to assist, please email us at dotyisland@gmail.com.

All our Gift Shop sales profits are going to our new Tornado Fund.

Winnebago County Tornado Event Information and Resources

This is a great resource for debris clean up, resource availability, and current updates. Winnebago County will be updating this site regularly so it is a great place to begin if you have questions.

MJSD Town Hall Recording

This recording provides some information and advice from local officials. Please note this was recorded on August 6th so some resource information may be out of date.

WRF Relief Funds Approved — Applications Now Open

The Wisconsin Realtors Foundation has been approved to distribute $150,000 in relief funds. Each household is eligible for $1000. Reach out to WRF or us if you have questions. We have two WRF members on our board who are happy to help and can provide the 3rd party verification the application references.

Insurance Claim Questions & Complimentary Review

Altieri Insurance Consultants is available to help Doty Island residents with tornado-related insurance questions.

If you have questions about your carrier’s estimate, your policy, depreciation, rebuilding costs, temporary living expenses, or whether all damage has been accounted for, Altieri is offering a complimentary claim consultation and review.

There is no cost or obligation for the initial review. If your claim appears to be progressing appropriately, they will tell you that as well.

Altieri represents property owners, not insurance companies.

Jason Pruitt (352)-494-7184
Jason@AltieriAdjusters.com
www.AltieriInsuranceConsultants.com

Finding Your Steady:

A Simple, Heart-Focused Breathing Practice You Can Use Anytime, Anywhere

By Stephanie Lynn Hall, MS, RD/RDN, CSCS HeartMath Certified Professional / HeartMath Coach and Mentor

As we wake up each day and realize how the stress of the recent tornado may be affecting our ability to manage our day-to-day tasks, jobs, family and the never ending to do lists, we can learn skills that can help us to respond to the stressors rather than reacting and over-reacting. One simple practice I share with my clients is Heart Focused Breathing™, a HeartMath technique that can be practiced anywhere, anytime, on demand with our eyes open and takes just a few minutes. The benefit of this practice is that it can be used during the day when we are on the go – it is not a practice that requires you to set aside time in your day or to step away from what you are doing.

What is HeartMath? The HeartMath Institute is a research-based nonprofit organization that has spent decades studying the relationship between the heart, brain, emotions, heart-rate variability, and stress. Their research library includes peer-reviewed studies and other research related to heart-brain interactions, resilience, stress, and self-regulation. Did you know that the heart actually sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart? It is true and it is why we focus on the heart with this technique. HeartMath offers practical self-regulation techniques intended to help people build resilience, emotional regulation, mental clarity, and greater ability to manage stress. HeartMath also offers FREE resources and educational programs for children and students, helping young people develop skills for managing emotions, stress, focus, and challenging situations.

Here is the technique for you to try. Heart-Focused Breathing™ Here’s how to begin (you can do this with your eyes open or closed):

1. Bring your attention to the area your heart. Focus your attention in the area around your heart or the center of your chest. You can place your hand there if that feels comfortable. In the beginning it is ok to close your eyes while you are first learning this technique. Then, as you get more comfortable you can practice with your eyes open.

2. Imagine your breath is flowing in and out of your heart or chest area. As you breathe in and out, imagine your breath flowing through the area of your heart.

3. Slow your breathing. Breathe a little slower and deeper than usual. Finding a rhythm that is comfortable for you. Your breathing should always remain comfortable and unforced.

4. Continue for a minute or two. Simply notice what you experience. It is normal for our minds to wander as we practice this technique, when you notice your mind has wandered, gently bring the focus back to your heart area.

5. As you conclude the practice, notice how you feel What may have changed for you in that moment? You can come back to this practice as often as you wish to help you find a moment of pause.

This isn’t about making stress disappear. It’s about creating a pause—a moment in which you can become more aware of what’s happening inside you before deciding how to respond.

Why might this help?

Resilience doesn’t mean never feeling stressed, frustrated, worried, or overwhelmed. It means developing the ability to adapt, recover, and move through challenging experiences. These skills can be valuable for adults and children alike. A child having a difficult day at school, a teenager preparing for an exam, a parent managing family stress, or an adult facing pressure at work can all benefit from having simple tools for pausing and regulating their response. HeartMath’s free resources include guided practices, free apps, educational materials, research information, and courses focused on stress management and resilience.

Here are a Few of HeartMath’s Free Resources:

https://www.heartmath.org/resources

Heart-Focused Breathing: https://www.heartmath.org/articles-of-the-heart/the-math-of heartmath/heart-focused-breathing

Transforming Stress — Free Mini-Course: https://www.heartmath.org/resources/courses/transforming-stress Resources for Children: https://www.heartmath.org/resources/parenting/youth-ages-7 11 One small practice.

One small pause. One moment of steadiness. Take two minutes today. Or two minutes a couple times throughout your day. Bring your attention to your heart. Breathe. Notice. Find your steady.

Stephanie Lynn Hall, MS, RD/RDN, CSCS HeartMath Certified Professional 920-915-0744 | fvsminfo@aol.com | www.StephanieLynnHall.com

Heart-Focused Breathing is a self-regulation practice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical or mental-health care