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| 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. |
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DHS and FEMA Updates
Reminder: Webinar Today at 2:00 EDT - "Disaster Training Opportunities Available to the Public"
In times of disaster, a trained and informed public is better prepared to protect themselves, their families, their workplace and their neighbors. This webinar will showcase several disaster training resources that are available in communities across the nation. FEMA recognizes that it takes a “whole community” approach to meet the needs of the public before, during and after a disaster. Learn how your community can train and educate its citizens to be better prepared and involved in your community's disaster response and recovery efforts. Join us for brief presentations by representatives from the American Red Cross, the Community Emergency Response Team program, Medical Reserve Corps, Meals on Wheels, HandsOn Network, Fire Corps, USAonWatch Neighborhood Watch program, SkyWarn and more! Go to https://www.citizencorps.gov/news/webcasts/publictraining.shtm to join in.
Even During Tornado Recovery Be Cautious Against Severe Weather and Flooding
As FEMA and its federal and other partners continue supporting recovery efforts from deadly tornadoes in the Southeast, FEMA urges caution, especially against flooding, as more severe weather is expected in different parts of the country. Excessive rain and flooding threats continue across the lower Mississippi and Ohio river valleys into the Northeast. The southeast is also expected to experience rain and thunderstorms today. Stay up to date on the latest weather hazards in your area by visiting the National Weather Service, which is the official source for severe weather information. Americans Should Follow State and Local Officials for Emergency Instruction and Latest Updates; Families can Visit Ready.gov for information on how to Prepare. Read more here.
Below are other helpful links for you to share with networks regarding the disasters in the south. These links and more information can be found on blog.fema.gov:
Funding to Strengthen Interoperable Emergency Communications Along and Across U.S. Borders
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced $25.5 million in grant funding under the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project (BIDP)—a one-time competitive grant program focused on developing innovative solutions to strengthen interoperable emergency communications along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. “The projects funded through the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project strengthen the security of our northern and southern borders, and our nation's overall preparedness and emergency response capabilities,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These BIDP grants provide our state, local, and tribal partners with resources to explore innovative, effective, and adaptable solutions for improving emergency communications.” Read the full press release here.
Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates
NOAA Releases Aerial Imagery of Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage
NOAA's National Geodetic Survey dispatched the NOAA King Air 350CER aircraft, equipped with specialized remote sensing equipment, on a mission to collect aerial photography at 5,000 feet from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, Alabama. Before and after shots show damage caused by the tornado that hit near 15th Street and McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa. Photos will be used to assist federal and local officials in response and recovery efforts. NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. See more here.
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps Responding to Natural Disasters Across Southern and Midwestern U.S.
AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are helping communities respond in the wake of the devastating tornadoes and flooding across the Southern and Midwestern United States. The tornadoes that ripped through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia in April were the deadliest in 37 years, causing nearly 300 deaths and billions dollars of damage. They came as communities in other states are reeling from the effects of flooding and severe storms. The Corporation for National and Community Service is working closely with FEMA, state emergency officials, state service commissions, and nonprofit organizations to assess the dynamic situation and determine the most effective role for national service participants in response to these disasters. Click here to read a summary of current national service responses to natural disasters.
Rocking Springtime Safety - Exercising Safely
Finally, spring is here! You can go outside and exercise when "the sun is out, trees are blossoming, and you can spend time outside without wearing a 30 pound winter jacket." The National Crime Prevention Council has put together some tips to consider for your personal safety when exercising outside. Click here to learn more.
New Online Respository from USFA for Fire Prevention Education & Public Safety
USFA has created a Prevention and Public Education Exchange which aims to serve as a centralized location for national, state and local fire prevention practices and public education materials that fire safety organizations may wish to share with other communities. Anyone with personal or professional interest in fire prevention education and public safety will find the Exchange invaluable in assisting them to create a workable program for their community or organization. See the Exchange here: http://www.lrc.fema.gov/exchange.html
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 Fire Management Assistance Declarations Updates
Texas Matt Loop Fire
Fire Management Assistance Declaration number 2908 declared on May 09, 2011 Arizona Horseshoe Two Fire
Fire Management Assistance Declaration number 2907 declared on May 09, 2011
North Dakota Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 1981 declared on May 10, 2011 Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 1982 declared on May 10, 2011
Mississippi Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 1983 declared on May 11, 2011
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Engage Virtually in National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE11) This Citizen Corps Notice 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.
Dear Colleagues;
We invite you to participate in the Engaged National Level Exercise (NLE 11) which will begin on Monday, May 16th thru Thursday May 19th:
Engage Virtually in National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE11)
Overview
Join the hundreds of private sector organizations that will participate virtually in the White House directed National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 11) next week (May 16-20.) Virtual Engagement provides participants with a flexible and meaningful way to participate in NLE 11 – whether they are a business owner, a responder, or an individual interested in how they can prepare for and help respond to an incident of significant magnitude. This selection enables participants to follow the flow of the exercise and afford them the opportunity to consider the impact on their own environment.
How it Works
During the week of May 16 th , participants will receive a daily email with a link to an NLE 11 specific website that provides scenario and exercise updates, a short series of questions, and a feedback mechanism.
The questions are designed to provide an opportunity for input and feedback to FEMA from individuals and organizations that historically have not been able to participate in National Level Exercises. FEMA will utilize a “Whole Community” approach to encourage identification of novel alternative solutions and unique capabilities that could be utilized during the life saving and life sustaining challenges of a catastrophic disaster response. The input from the virtual engagement will be analyzed for applicability for future response planning.
Sample questions include:
1) What would you be most concerned about during an incident of this magnitude?
2) How would you be communicating with your employees to determine the impact on them?
3) Do you have specific hazardous or fragile materials in your facility/business location that you would need to retrieve or stabilize immediately? If so, what would you be doing to access your location?
Registration Process
FEMA's GovDelivery system is being used for registration as a Virtual Engagement participant. In order to register, the participant must click on the following link:
https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=USDHSFEMA
Once the pop up box opens, enter a valid email address and click on the “Go” button. This will bring the subscriber to the FEMA.gov subscription page.
Scroll down the topic list until the NLE 11 topic and eight respondent categories are listed.
Select which of the respondent categories (you may select up to eight) you fall into and therefore want to provide feedback and input into during the NLE 11 Functional Exercise week (May 16-20).
Registration Questions
Please send all questions regarding Virtual Engagement to NEP@dhs.gov . Please include Virtual Engagement in the subject line of the email.
Sincerely,
The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division
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FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Updates
South Dakota Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 1984 declared on May 13, 2011
Oklahoma Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm
Major Disaster Declaration number 1985 declared on May 13, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Webinar Tues. May 17: Engaging Communities in Exercises
Community Preparedness Webinar Series presents...
Engaging Communities in Exercises
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 2 PM EST
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR
You may join 5-10 minutes prior to the start. No RSVP is needed and you may login as “Guest”
Overview
The Community Preparedness Webinar Series invites you to join us for a webinar highlighting the efforts of local emergency management practitioners who have participated in the designing and execution of exercises that had a focus on community preparedness and participation.
Emergency managers recognize the value of partnering with various community organizations that have the resources and capacity to provide services that are in need during disasters. FEMA recognizes that real life emergencies involve a “whole community” approach to emergency management, because support is often needed from volunteer organizations, schools, businesses, faith-based institutions, and other organizations. Because of this dependency, it is important that emergency management agencies partner with community-based organizations and integrate them into their emergency plans and exercises.
We hope the ideas, strategies and practices share during this webinar will help other communities design and conduct exercises that enhance community preparedness and participation.
Presenters
- Tom Crane, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Individual and Community Preparedness Division
- Mary Foley, Volunteer Prince William
- Marcelo Ferriera, Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management
- Rachel Coles, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Brenda Emrick, Costa Mesa Fire Department
- Mary Jo Flynn, Anaheim Fire Department, Emergency Management Division
How to view our webinars
The Community Preparedness Webinar Series is conducted via DHS's HSIN Connect system. You do not need to register in advance, nor do you need a HSIN account in order to view our webinars. Audio for this webinar will be broadcast within HSIN Connect; there will not be a concurrent, phone-based teleconference. Questions and answers will be moderated via text-based chat inside the webinar. In order to ensure that your computer is capable of viewing our webinars and webcasts, we highly recommend that you read the below documents and perform the compatibility test prior to the start of the event. In addition, please ensure your computer's speakers are working prior to the webinar. If for any reason you have trouble accessing the system, please send an email to citizencorps@dhs.gov.
Using HSIN Connect (PDF) | Perform Compatibility Test |
