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

Add Your Event to the National Preparedness Month Calendar

Join us as a Coalition Member and post your National Preparedness Month event at www.Ready.gov to advertise and link with other preparedness activities nationwide. As a Coalition Member, you will receive information and tools in the coming months. Here are some examples of what you can expect:

• Your event will be promoted to the public on a national calendar of events.
  
  
• We will provide you with widgets, web banners, and hyperlinks to add to your website along with templates for flyers and/or posters.

In the spirit of including the whole community, we want have as many events and coalition members this year as possible, and from a wide array of issue areas. National Preparedness Month should be truly national in scope and scale! But we also want to put faces to these numbers by highlighting real stories about real people making an effort to prepare their communities and make them more resilient. The many disasters happening across the United States and throughout the world have inspired the public to take action like never before . We're counting on you to reach out to individuals, families, communities, organizations, and businesses in your area and then share your NPM activities with the nation

Join the FEMA Team as a Community Preparedness Specialist

When disaster strikes, America looks to FEMA. Now FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. There is currently an opening in the National Preparedness Division in Region VII for a Community Preparedness Specialist. In this position, you will work as a regional Community Preparedness Specialist under the supervision of the Regional Integration Branch Chief, to include serving as the designated Citizen Corps grants manager for the region. This person will also serve as a key focal point in engaging internal and external stakeholders for the promotion and development of Whole Community preparedness initiative. Click here to view the vacancy announcement and apply today. Hurry, the position closes on August 2!

Regional Youth Preparedness Workshop Held in Morgantown, West Virginia

On July 25 and 26, Paulette Aniskoff, Director, Individual and Community Preparedness Division and Jeannie Moran, Director for Youth Preparedness, hosted an “Implementing Youth Emergency Preparedness in Your Organization” workshop for an audience of potential practitioner and program director representatives from schools, faith organizations, after-school programs, community based organizations, and Citizen Corps programs. The goal of the workshop is to provide an interactive roadmap and valuable information to encourage leaders of organizations working with youth to execute a preparedness program . Would you be interested in attending this workshop? Well good news—FEMA is planning to host this workshop in each of the FEMA regions! Check the newsletter for upcoming dates and additional information on future “Implementing Youth Emergency Preparedness in Your Organization” workshops.

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Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Continues to Track Heat Wave

According to NOAA satellite imagery, much of the United States continues to be in the “red” this week as a blistering heat wave tightens its grip and creeps eastward. Unhealthy levels of heat and humidity are encompassing much of central U.S. from the Southern Plains through the upper Midwest and this sultry heat will move east this week into the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Temperatures in the 90s to near 100 degrees will feel as hot as 115 degrees or higher when factoring in the high humidity. Record high temperatures are likely to be set in some locations — adding to the more than 1000 records that have been set or tied so far this month.

Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of
fatalities each year. In fact, on average, excessive heat claims more lives each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. In the heat wave of 1995 more than 700 deaths in the Chicago area were attributed to heat. In August 2003, a record heat wave in Europe claimed an estimated 50,000 lives.

North American summers are hot; most summers see heat waves in or more parts of the United States. East of the Rockies, they tend to combine both high temperature and high humidity, although some of the worst heat waves have been catastrophically dry. Click here for additional details from NOAA on how heat impacts the human body.

Hot Weather Dictates Extra Attention for Pets: Tips from the American Red Cross

About the American Red Cross (ARC): For more than 122 years, the mission of the ARC has been to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. A humanitarian organization led by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, the ARC is woven into the fabric of our communities with 940 chapters nationwide. The ARC is empowering Americans to take practical steps to make families, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces safer, healthier and more resilient in the face of adversity.

As the temperatures get higher certain dangers for your pets become more prevalent. The American Red Cross provides steps pet lovers can use to keep family pets safe this summer.

Heat stroke is a common issue for pets during summer. Some signs your pet may be developing heat stroke include heavy panting, and being unable to calm down, even when lying down. Their gum color may be brick red, their pulse rate may be fast or they may not be able to get up. If you believe your pet has heat stroke, bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately as heat stroke can lead to severe organ damage.

Your pet is family and deserves to be cared for and protected. Follow these important steps to help keep your pets healthy and happy this summer:

• Know what is normal for your pet – their gum color, heart/pulse rate, body temperature and breathing rate - so you can recognize when something is wrong.
  
  
• Never leave a pet in a locked car.
  
  
• Give your pet plenty of exercise. Regular exercise will help your pet feel better and live longer.
  
  
• Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, cool water.
  
  
• Get to know a veterinarian and make sure your pet has yearly checkups.
  
  
• Make sure your pet is up to date on vaccines, especially rabies.
  
  
• Get your pet spayed or neutered.
  
  
• Keep dogs on leashes outside – another animal may be too much temptation.
  
  
• Know how to perform CPR and provide basic first aid until veterinary care is available.

Additional tips can be found in the Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist provided by the American Red Cross.

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 Calls for 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Submissions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce that the agency is currently accepting submissions for the 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. Formerly the National Citizen Corps Achievement Awards, the name was changed to reflect FEMA's intent to recognize the innovative and outstanding achievements of all of the individuals, communities, and organizations working to ensure that the United States is better prepared and more resilient.

The Awards showcase the work of the agency's partners at the State, territorial, local and tribal levels. This includes nongovernmental organizations in the nonprofit, faith-based, and private sector communities, as well as diverse individuals, families, and communities. It is these partners who are FEMA's most important assets and allies in the agency's ability to respond to and recover from any major disaster. FEMA would like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate all of last year's winners and finalists, which are listed at: www.citizencorps.gov/councils/awards

Submissions should emphasize achievements taking place between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2011, and can feature examples of any outstanding achievements in individual and community preparedness worthy of recognition, regardless of category. While nominations do not need to be submitted for specific award categories, below are samples of award categories to consider when recommending award candidates and submitting applications:

– CERT in Action – Local Citizen Corps Council Programs (Citizen Corps only) – Creating a Culture of Preparedness – Creative Practices and Programs, including Innovative Website Development – Collaborative Preparedness Activities – National Preparedness Month Participation – Organizational Preparedness – Public Preparedness Initiatives and/or Programs

– Resources: Doing More With Less – Rural Area Programs – Social Media Initiatives – State Citizen Corps Initiatives (Citizen Corps only) – Underrepresented Communities Programs – Volunteer Integration in Exercises, Response, and Recovery – Whole Community Engagement Initiatives – Youth Preparedness Programs

Winners will be announced in September 2011, during National Preparedness Month, and will be FEMA's honored guests at a community preparedness roundtable event in Washington, D.C. One winner will be selected to attend the 2011 International Association of Emergency Managers Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., and to participate on a FEMA community preparedness panel.

Please visit the following website to download instructions for submitting an application: http://citizencorps.gov/councils/awards/2011/awards2011.shtm .

Entries must be received by August 26, 11:59 p.m. EDT

We look forward to learning more about the excellent work being done across the Nation!

Sincerely,

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

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FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Updates

Oklahoma Frankhoma-81 Fire
Fire Management Assistance Declaration number 2940 declared on Jul 26, 2011

Minnesota Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
Major Disaster Declaration number 4009 declared on Jul 28, 2011

Kansas Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 4010 declared on Jul 29, 2011