This Citizen Corps News Digest is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners.

DHS and FEMA Updates

CUSEC, IBHS and FEMA Announce 2011 Earthquake Outreach Tour
In recognition of the bicentennial of the 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes, the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) are teaming with state and local partners to bring residents and organizations in the affected region an educational campaign to help reduce their earthquake risk.  The Earthquake Outreach Tour will be conducted in five states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, during the week of Feb.7-11, 2011. The tour will conclude at the Earthquakes Mean Business event, which marks the official kickoff of the New Madrid Bicentennial.  The theme of the tour is “Identify your Risk, Make a Plan, and Take Action.” Messages will be tailored for business and residential audiences, who will walk away with the tools they need to become better prepared and resilient should another earthquake occur.
Read more about this here.

National Burn Awareness Week - 6-12 February 2011
Each year on average 18,300 Americans are injured, and more than 3,500 die in fires, with children age 14 and under making up 10-15 percent of all fire deaths.  National Burn Awareness Week is traditionally observed the first full week in February, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, it's the perfect calendar observance to focus on preventing fires and protecting children.  "Children under the age of 5 account for fifty-two percent of all child fire deaths, and home fires tend to spike in winter months, placing younger children and toddlers at even greater risk,” said Murphy.  “Many children are unable to escape from fire on their own, and I encourage parents and caregivers to use National Burn Awareness Week as an opportunity to take actions that keep their loved ones, and particularly children, safe from fire and burn hazards.”

Click here to read the full news release including top tips to avoid fire and keep kids safe around the house. 

Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates

NOAA Satellites Aid in the Rescue of 295 People in 2010
In 2010, NOAA satellites were critical in the rescues of 295 people from life-threatening situations throughout the United States and its surrounding waters. The satellites picked up distress signals from emergency beacons carried by downed pilots, shipwrecked boaters and stranded hikers, and relayed the information about their location to first responders on the ground.  NOAA's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia's COSPAS spacecraft, are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, called COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress signals from emergency beacons onboard aircraft and boats, and from smaller, handheld personal locator beacons called PLBs. 
Click here to read the full article.

A Step to Preparedness: Giving Blood
The American Red Cross (ARC) often talk about the 3 steps to preparedness: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed. These steps go a long way towards keeping you and your family safe, but there's another step that you can take to help keep your entire community safe: Give Blood.  Nationwide, an average 41,000 blood donations are needed each and every day. The American Red Cross collects more than 40% of the nation's blood supply, so they must collect and process thousands of units every day to keep up with the demand.  The ARC national inventory system allows them to move blood to where it is needed most during shortages, or in times of natural or man-made disasters.  In order to help immediately after a disaster, the Red Cross uses blood that is already on the shelves to support disaster victims. Without a regular flow of donations, this supply may not be readily available. Additionally, accident victims, transplant and cancer patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment. If collections are impacted by a disaster, their long-term care needs could be affected.  You can play an important role in helping the Red Cross and other emergency organizations be prepared for any disaster by regularly donating blood.
Click here to learn more.

Sincerely,

The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division

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FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Updates

Maine Severe Storms And Flooding
Tue, 01 Feb 2011

Major Disaster Declaration number 1953 declared on Feb 01, 2011

Oklahoma Severe Winter Storm
Wed, 02 Feb 2011

Emergency Declaration number 3316 declared on Feb 02, 2011

Missouri Severe Winter Storm
Thu, 03 Feb 2011

Emergency Declaration number 3317 declared on Feb 03, 2011

New Jersey Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm
Fri, 04 Feb 2011

Major Disaster Declaration number 1954 declared on Feb 04, 2011

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Citizen Corps Council Successes; Tapping Your Community's Resources - webinar, February 8

This Citizen Corps Notificaton is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners.

FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division is excited to announce the next webinar in the Community Preparedness Webinar Series: Citizen Corps Council Successes – Tapping Your Community's Resources. The Community Preparedness Webinar Series provides up-to-date information on community preparedness topics and resources available to citizens, community organizations, and Citizen Corps Councils. This LIVE webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8 at 2:00 EST and will introduce participants to three award winning Councils with best practices to share. The three outstanding Councils, Cedar Park (TX) Citizen Corps Council, New Lenox (IL) Citizen Corps Council, and the Fresno (CA) Citizen Corps Council, were recognized for their amazing contributions during National Preparedness Month 2010.

Webinar login will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the webinar and registration is not required.  A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

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Live Webinar:

Citizen Corps Council Successes;
Tapping Your Community's Resources

February 8 @ 2:00 EST

https://connect.hsin.gov/r30538047/

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Fresno, CA Citizen Corps Council (FCCC) received the Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award – Serving a Population over 750,000. Their Council focuses on sustaining and growing its programs based on the “five-R's”—respect, reciprocity, resourcefulness, resiliency, and results. Carla Glazebrook, Executive Director of the Fresno Citizen Corps Council, will discuss how they involve a diverse group of community and governmental organizations in the activities of the Council.

The New Lenox, IL Citizen Corps Council received the Newcomer Award and has spent considerable effort in starting its new council and addressing the following needs within the community: special needs, training, shelter management, community service/volunteerism, emergency preparedness/public information, equipment and communications. Dan Martin, Public Safety Division Chief for the New Lenox Police Department, will discuss their CERT Program and the Village of New Lenox being designated a “Safe Community” by the National Safety Council

The Cedar Park Citizen Corps Council received the Preparing Community Organizations Award and is known for developing the Teen Advocates for Community Safety (TACS) Program in conjunction with the Cedar Park Fire Department (CFPD) to expose teens to potential careers in fires service, other emergency service sectors, medicine, and teaching. Yvonne Lane will present “T apping into The Youth Movement”

The Community Preparedness Webinar Series features new community preparedness topics several times each month and is free to the public. Each webinar will accommodate the first 500 visitors that enter the website at the time of the webinar. In addition to airing live, the webinar will be recorded and viewable at your convenience on the Citizen Corps website (www.citizencorps.gov) usually within 24 hours after the live webcast.  To join the webinar live simply go to https://connect.hsin.gov/r30538047/ 15 minutes prior to the webinar and sign in as a guest.

If you need special accommodations or require additional assistance to view or listen to this webinar, please email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov no later than 5pm EST on Monday, February 7 th and we will provide you with additional resources so you may participate.

More details on this webinar and upcoming webinars in the Community Preparedness Webinar Series are available at http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/webcasts.shtm

The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division