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

National Preparedness Month Update Webinar TODAY

Join us for an update on National Preparedness Month today at 2pm . Please take this opportunity to learn about the recent updates to our website and the additional tools we have produced to help support your efforts as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members. For those joining for the first time we will discuss how you can be an active coalition member. National Preparedness Month has grown every year, and with your help, this will be our most successful and coordinated effort to date!

The many disasters happening across the United States, and throughout the world, have focused the public on emergency preparedness like never before. In hosting a preparedness event, you will allow your organization or business to provide your community the opportunity to take action and get Ready. As you know, this year will also mark the ten year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As we encourage citizens to prepare we want to focus on honoring the local first responders that keep us safe, promote volunteer programs that help us prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, and continue promoting the message that preparedness is a shared responsibility with the whole team, including you.

The theme for this year's National Preparedness Month is A Time to Remember, A Time to Prepare .

Learn how you can do YOUR part to prepare America. JOIN US on Tuesday for this special Update on the 2011 National Preparedness Month Webinar. DON'T MISS this great opportunity to:

• Learn about the new features of the National Preparedness Month Website and how to maximize the new features
  
  
• Find out about the additional tools and resources to help make your National Preparedness Month event successful
  
  
• Get the new 2011 National Preparedness Month Toolkit and learn how you and YOUR community can GET INVOLVED in making our homes and neighborhoods a safer place to live.
  
  
• Find out how you can PLAN EVENTS in your community to raise awareness about emergency preparedness and protect your homes and families from all hazards.
  
  
• Learn what you can do to SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS in your communities.

Click HERE to login. You may login ten minutes prior to the start of the event.

How DHS is Countering Violent Extremism

On Monday August 8 th , Secretary Napolitano posted a blog discussing the steps DHS has taken to counter violent extremism. The Secretary spoke of the manner in which DHS and our partners have worked to develop and strengthen a homeland security ”enterprise” to reduce risks, protect our nation, and respond effectively to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.

This effort is based on the simple but powerful premise that our homeland security begins with hometown security.

In other words, we are all stakeholders in the effort to keep our families and communities, our businesses, our social networks, and our places of meeting and worship, secure and resilient. Together, we're building a strong foundation to protect communities from terrorism and other threats, while safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Americans.

Today's threats are rapidly evolving, and they require our vigilance, as well as our willingness to learn and adapt. We know that terrorist groups inspired by al Qaeda's ideology are seeking to inspire and recruit Westerners to carry out attacks with little or no warning. Indeed, one of the most striking aspects of today's threat picture is that plots to attack America increasingly involve American residents and citizens.

Our approach to countering violent extremism emphasizes the strength of local communitie s. We begin with the premise that well-informed and -equipped families, communities, and local institutions represent the best defense against terrorist ideologies and violent extremists.

And while our primary purpose is to prevent a terrorist attack by individuals recruited by violent extremists, or inspired by an extremist ideology, we also support strong and resilient communities as important ends in themselves.

Click here to read the entire blog.

Leveraging Homeland Security Resources to Support Schools

On Monday, August 8 th , the US Dept of Education and FEMA convened a one-day meeting in the DC area to consider various avenues for collaboration between DHS and schools and colleges across the country. The Leveraging Homeland Security Resources to Support Schools one-day meeting was one of the pre-event training meetings to the Office of Safe and Drug-Free School's (OSDFS) bi-annual National Conference. This meeting was an opportunity to showcase Model Examples of collaboration between DHS/FEMA and education, as well as to review currently available DHS resources and potential opportunities for collaboration that may be beneficial to schools, colleges and state education agencies.

Sharing Lessons Learned at the African American Leadership Summit

On August 1, 2011, leaders from a variety of African American communities participated in a roundtable discussion at the African American Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit provided an opportunity for participants to discuss some of the biggest challenges emergency managers and responders face in traditionally underserved communities.

Administrator Fugate kicked off the Summit with an hour and a half discussion to reiterate his commitment to seeking out communities that have been underserved and underutilized in the past. He reminded the attendees that it's not enough to wait for the phone to ring, but in rural and urban communities – and everything in between – citizens have to be out pounding the pavement, dirt or gravel to find the people who need help the most.

At the summit, participants discussed how FEMA can be a better partner and what leaders from the private sector, faith communities, professional associations and other arenas can do to work more closely with FEMA and state and local partners. Participants provided concrete feedback on how FEMA can improve messaging and also helped identify some of the biggest challenges emergency managers and responders face in traditionally underserved communities.

FEMA-National VOAD's Emergency Support Function Educational Series: ESF 5 -- Emergency Management

Please join us for FEMA-National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster's Emergency Support Function Educational Series: ESF 5 -- Emergency Management , scheduled for this Thursday, August 11, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST .

We are again expecting a large turnout for this webinar, so we will broadcasting the audio portion of the presentation ONLY through HSIN Connect .

For the webinar, please point your browser to https://connect.hsin.gov/nvoadesf/ and enter as a guest. Please share this announcement with anyone you feel would be interested in the presentation.

Questions may be forwarded to: james@nvoad.org

Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates

First National Conference on “Building Resilience Through Public-Private Partnerships

The First National Public Private Partnership Conference on "Building Resilience through Public-Private was held in Washington, D.C. August 3-4. The event featured opportunities to learn, discuss, and share public private partnership practices regarding effective collaborations that will enhance our nation's resiliency.

The conference also include leading edge panelists, interactive workshops, plenary sessions, and work groups that discussed creative ways to develop a set of key public private partnership collaboration vision statements.

Red Cross Offers Tips to Keep Athletes Safe in Extreme Heat

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org

In the wake of recent student athlete deaths due to excessive heat, the American Red Cross recommends team officials, coaches and parents take steps to help ensure the safety of their players during extreme heat.

"Keeping athletes safe during extreme temperatures is as important as getting them ready for the upcoming season," said Dr. David Markenson, Chair of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. "One of the most important things athletes can do is stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids like water or sports drinks with electrolytes before, during and after practice – even if you are not thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol," Markenson added.

To avoid exposing players to the hottest times of the day, team practices should be scheduled for early in the day and later in the evening. In addition, the following steps should be observed to protect athletes:

• Allow athletes to get acclimated to the heat by reducing the intensity of practice until they are more accustomed to it.
  
  
• Make frequent, longer breaks a regular part of practice. About every 20 minutes stop for fluids and try to keep the athletes in the shade if possible.
  
  
• Reduce the amount of heavy equipment—like football pads—athletes wear in extremely hot, humid weather.
  
  
• Dress athletes, when appropriate, in net-type jerseys or light-weight, light-colored, cotton T-shirts and shorts.
  
  
• Know the signs of heat-related emergencies and monitor athletes closely.

"Knowing the signs of heat-related emergencies and how to help someone who is suffering from the heat is vital," Markenson stressed. "Coaches and parents need to be vigilant in watching for signs of heat-related emergencies. Athletes should inform their coaches, teachers or parents if they are not feeling well."

You can learn how to prevent and respond to heat-related and other emergencies by taking a First Aid/CPR/AED course. Contact your local Red Cross or visit redcross.org/training to register.

NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Season Update Calls For Increase In Named Storms

On August 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook increasing the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season.

Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active hurricane season. These factors include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña. Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season.

Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.

The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States. The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year. August 29, 2011 is also the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

"It is still early in this hurricane season and we know it can take only one storm to devastate communities and families," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino. "Many disasters come without warning, but that's not the case with hurricanes. This is hurricane season, if you haven't already, now is the time to take a few simple steps to get you and your family prepared. Anyone can visit www.ready.gov to learn more." Be prepared for the hurricane season with important information available online at hurricanes.gov/prepare and at FEMA's ready.gov.

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

Nebraska Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 4014 declared on Aug 12, 2011

Nebraska Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 4013 declared on Aug 12, 2011

Missouri Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 4012 declared on Aug 12, 2011