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

February is Earthquake Awareness Month - Earthquake Mitigation Saves Lives
See this video showing two separate earthquake mitigation activity testimonials from California business owners/operators. Mr. Hoyt Fields of Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA and Mr. Jim Saunders of Pasa de Robles, CA both provide brief explanations of the earthquake mitigation activities that they have taken to protect their businesses. Click here to see the video. For additional earthquake preparedness resources please visit:http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm to learn what you can do before an Earthquake strikes and http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/earthquakes.html.  Also, be sure to go to http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/ to learn about the 2011 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut being held on April 28.  You can practice how to protect yourself during an earthquake and learn how to get prepared.

This is Burn Awareness Week - Get Educated on Burn Prevention
This is Burn Awareness Week (February 6 - 12).  One of the main areas of focus for this year's Burn Awareness Week is the prevention of scald burns.  This is a great opportunity to get educated on burn prevention and safety.  View a list of burn prevention tips on the Fire Corps web site, learn more about Burn Awareness Week at www.safekids.org, and find prevention campaign materials from the American Burn Association.

Important Tips to Ensure Safety When Using Generators
While we hope the strong winter storm last week is not a regular occurrence, the use of portable generators when storms knock power out is common.  FEMA is reminding people to practice safety measures when using portable generators.  Storms have the potential to knock out power for prolonged periods of time, and generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed - but can also be extremely hazardous and even life threatening.  Potential hazards when using a generator include carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, and electrical, fire and noise hazards.  Click here to read the full article and learn how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical hazards, fire hazards, and more.

Remember To Join Our Webinar Today!  Citizen Corps Council Successes - Tapping Your Community's Resources
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.  Join the webinar here:  https://connect.hsin.gov/r30538047/

Important reminder! Need to Register Your Council or CERT Program
FEMA is asking all new and existing local Citizen Corps Councils and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Programs to register on the National Citizen Corps and CERT websites.  FEMA has two improved online registries that will demonstrate community readiness efforts of local Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs.  This effort will recognize the tremendous work accomplished to date and serve as a baseline for future individual and community preparedness and resiliency projects.  Every Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program is required to register if they wish to have a listing in the Citizen Corps and CERT directory on the National Citizen Corps and CERT Program websites.  Please note that only Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs may register. The registry is not for individual CERT Teams that are organized within a CERT Program.

More information and guidance documents for registration are available on the Councils and CERT Program registration support pages located at http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/registry.shtm and http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm. The websites provide a registration fact-sheet, registration questions and contact information for technical assistance and support.

Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates

ARRL Atlantic Division to Host Webinar on Filing for 503(c)(3) Status
On Thursday, February 24 at 9 PM (EST), The national association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) will present a 90-minute webinar on 503(c)(3) organizations. While this webinar will give basic information about why organizations may want to file for a tax exempt non-profit status, how to file for it and how to keep the tax exempt status in good standing. While this webinar focuses on ARRL stakeholders, the information is valuable to all in the emergency management field.  Speakers will include Bill Edgar, the Atlantic Division Director for the ARRL, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, Southwestern Division Vice Director and CPA Marty Woll, and Western Pennsylvania Section Emergency Coordinator Larry Keller.  Click here to read the full announcement and to register for the webinar.

These news stories and other Individual & Community Preparedness news can be found on our website at www.citizencorps.gov

Sincerely,

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

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FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Update

Utah Severe Winter Storms and Flooding
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:09:05 -0600

Major Disaster Declaration number 1955 declared on Feb 11, 2011

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