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.

CERT National Program Office Update

Dear State and Local CERT Program Coordinators:

National Preparedness Month 2011 is just days away. Among the local CERT programs in the national CERT registry, 201 have already signed on as NPM Coalition Members. Please join them! You deserve recognition for your hard work so share your efforts and experiences, and set an example in your community .

Many of you do exciting and innovative things year round, including September. Now is your chance to showcase what CERT is doing across the country and it only takes 97 seconds to sign up: http://community.fema.gov/

Why Sign Up?

1. Be a Leader in Your Community as a Coalition Member

2. Take Advantage of the New Features Added to This Year's Site

3. September is Your Organizing Tool to Launch a New or Year Round Initiative

You can…. support an open house at a local fire station by showing community members how to assemble emergency kits and encourage them to sign up and volunteer, host a joint demonstration or refresher training and invite the public to observe.

Thank you for the hard work you do. We will continue to develop and update the new tools in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, feedback or comments, please email us at cert@dhs.gov. And if you haven't done so already, please register your local CERT Program in the national CERT registry.

Sincerely,

CERT National Program Office
Community Preparedness Division
Federal Emergency Management Agency

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to National Preparedness Month. Are YOU a Coalition Member?

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.

Dear State and Local Citizen Corps Program Coordinators:

National Preparedness Month 2011 is only days away. Among the Citizen Corps Councils in the national registry, 87 have already signed on as NPM Coalition Members. Please join them! You deserve recognition for your hard work, so share your efforts and experiences, and set an example in your community.

Many of you do exciting and innovative things year round, including September. Now is your chance to showcase what CERT is doing across the country and it only takes 97 seconds to sign up: http://community.fema.gov/

Why Sign Up?

1. Be a Leader in Your Community as a Coalition Member

2. Take Advantage of the New Features Added to This Year's Site

We’d also like to remind you that the deadline for the 2011 FEMA Individual Community Preparedness Awards is only two days away, and that all applications and supporting materials must be sent in by 11:59 PM EDT on Friday, August 26, 2011. We know that you are doing some outstanding work, but we need you to tell us about it so we can recognize your achievements and promote them at the national level. We have recently posted a Microsoft Word version of the application, in addition to the PDF version, for your convenience.

Thank you for the hard work you do. We will continue to develop and update the new tools in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, feedback or comments, please email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov.

All the best,

The National Citizen Corps Program Office

www.citizencorps.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DHS and FEMA Updates

One Week Until the Start of National Preparedness Month—Have YOU Signed Up As a Coalition Member?

FEMA encourages all businesses, organizations, and individuals to join this national effort. Register as a Coalition Member today and make a pledge to prepare! As a Coalition Member, you will have access to resources and be able to collaborate with thousands of fellow members across the country on ways to participate and get your community involved.

With your help as a Coalition Member, we can encourage all Americans to be better prepared to face and respond to disasters and emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. As a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member, your efforts to bring emergency preparedness to your community will not just important, they will make a difference!

To date we have over 4100 Coalition Members signed up; join today to help that number grow! Click here to sign up today!

ONLY Two Days Left—Submit Your Application for the 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Today!

Family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors are vital partners in helping communities across the country to respond to and recover from disasters. More often than not, it is these individuals who are the first on the scene, providing assistance and supporting the efforts of emergency responders. Thousands of Citizen Corps Councils and Partner Programs throughout the nation empower the public to take action in making their communities safer and better prepared to respond to disaster, whether natural or manmade, by offering a wide array of education, training, and volunteer service opportunities.

To highlight the innovative practices and achievements of these groups and/or individuals, FEMA is accepting applications for the 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. The awards showcase the great work being done by individuals, families, and local communities, FEMA's partners at the state, territorial, local, and tribal levels, and non-governmental organizations in the non-profit, faith-based, and private sector communities.

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. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, August 26, 11:59 p.m. E.D.T.

Winners will be announced in September during National Preparedness Month, and will be 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 (IAEM) Conference in Las Vegas, NV, and to participate as a guest on FEMA's panel on community preparedness.

Download the instructions and guidelines before submitting an application. Applications are available in PDF and Microsoft Word formats. Remember, entries must be received by August 26, 11:59 p.m. E.D.T.

Secretary Napolitano Honors Firefighters in New York

On August 18, Secretary Napolitano traveled to New York City to participate in an International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) ceremony honoring the firefighters who sacrificed their lives following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“September 11th was a defining moment for our nation, the Fire Department of New York, and first responders in every city and community in the United States,” said Secretary Napolitano. “America was not defeated, and today there is no doubt that our nation is stronger and more secure than we were a decade ago. As we honor the memory of our fallen firefighters, and all those we lost on 9/11, we resolve, through their memory and legacy, to continue to work together to do everything we can to keep our nation safe.”

Secretary Napolitano joined IAFF delegates from across the country to pay tribute to the memories of the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who perished almost a decade ago. While remembering those that were lost, Secretary Napolitano also reiterated the important role that all first responders play in making our nation more secure, safe and resilient.

During her remarks, she underscored the resiliency of the country - noting that today, first responders nationwide are better equipped, better trained and better prepared to respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other large-scale emergencies.

Since 2002, DHS has awarded more than $6 billion in fire grant funding through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) and Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S)— providing vital support to fire departments across the country through critical all-hazards training and equipment for fire services. SAFER grants also provide financial assistance to help fire departments retain and recruit firefighters, or to rehire firefighters that have been laid off.

Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates

Red Cross Urges Preparedness For Hurricane Irene

Irene, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2011, began pounding Puerto Rico on Monday with heavy rain and winds as high as 80 miles per hour after leaving many residents on St. Thomas and St. Croix without power Sunday. Irene is expected to gain strength as the week goes on, threatening Florida and the southeast states as early as Thursday.

Irene grew into a Category 2 hurricane late Monday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said it could reach Category 3 as early as Tuesday and possibly become a monster Category 4 storm within 72 hours.

Forecasters said it could still be that strong when it slams into the United States, possibly landing in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina. Irene is expected to rake the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Most computer forecast models show Irene threatening Florida and South Carolina by the end of the week.

Forecasters said a low pressure trough over the eastern United States was expected to shift Irene's track to the east, reducing the risk of a direct landfall in densely populated South Florida but raising the risk in the Carolinas.

It's important to know what the hurricane warnings mean. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions could threaten the area within 48 hours. People should stay informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Those in the affected area should finish their storm preparations and leave the area if authorities ask them to do so.

The Red Cross has steps people can take this week as the storm approaches to help ensure their safety and the safety of their loved ones.

Before the hurricane:

• Check your emergency supplies and replace or restock as needed. Your disaster kit should contain items such as gallons of water, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food and sanitation and personal hygiene items. More information about what you should include is available on the Red Cross web site.
• Create an evacuation plan with members of your household and practice it to cut down on any confusion.
• Plan routes to your community's shelters, register family members with special needs as required.
• Make plans for your pets.

If a hurricane is predicted for your area:

• Bring items inside that can be picked up by the wind.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and keep them closed as much as possible so food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off any propane tanks and unplug your small appliances.
• Fill your vehicle's gas tank.
• Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you don't have hurricane shutters, close and board up your windows and doors with plywood.
• Listen to local authorities and evacuate if advised to do so. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

After a hurricane:

• Return home only when officials say it is safe.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you're sure it's not contaminated.
• Keep your animals under your direct control.

You can also click here to learn more about what to do before, during and after a hurricane from FEMA.

The Centers for Disease Control's Are You Prepared? Video Contest

This year during National Preparedness Month in September the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is hosting the “Are You Prepared?” video contest. CDC is asking individuals and groups (e.g., schools, hospitals, health departments) to show us how they're prepared by filming a 60 second video that demonstrates our key message “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be informed.” We encourage everyone to be creative in their videos and yes, we do accept videos with zombies.

Submissions will be accepted August 29 to September 30. The winner will be announced on October 5 and have their video featured on the CDC homepage and YouTube channel. Contest rules and guidelines, as well as the submission form can be found online at: http://prepare.challenge.gov.

USFA supports National Firefighter Health Week

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages firefighters and fire departments to focus on health and wellness through participation in the Third Annual National Firefighter Health Week. The theme for this year is "It takes a healthy heart, mind, and body to do what you do - Keep It Strong."

"Heart attack is the leading cause of firefighter on-duty fatalities year after year, making health and wellness essential to reducing firefighter deaths," said Acting USFA Assistant Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. "We support this outstanding initiative of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) with their National Firefighter Health Week and ask firefighters and fire departments to participate in the programs and activities of this week-long effort now and throughout the year."

National Firefighter Health Week is an initiative to educate the fire and emergency services community about a variety of health and wellness issues that affect first responders. The program encourages first responders to learn their risk factors and commit to making healthy lifestyle changes - not just during Firefighter Health Week - but throughout the year.

"Health and wellness of our nation's first responders is a top priority of the National Volunteer Fire Council," said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. "Heart disease results in more on-duty firefighter deaths than any other cause. First responders also face risks to their health from a number of other factors, from exposure to debris and particle matter, to stress, to poor nutrition and fitness habits, and other concerns. The NVFC created National Firefighter Health Week to encourage first responders to focus on important health and wellness issues and make the changes in their lives to get healthy so they can avoid preventable illness and stay strong for those who depend on them - their families, departments, and communities."

Further information may be obtained from the NVFC National Firefighter Health Week Resource Center's website.

For more information on USFA's firefighter health and safety initiatives, please click here.

The Annual Fire-Rescue International Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 24-27. Each August, 14,000+ of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders from across North America and around the globe come together for 5 days of learning, networking and collaboration at this conference. Read more about this year's conference here.

Other Preparedness Updates

We are providing the following links to third party sites for your reference. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, or applications

Heartland Centers' Webinar Series : Creating a Network of Workplace Points of Dispensing

The Heartland Centers' Webinar Series was developed to highlight best practices in public health around the country.

In early 2011 the St. Louis County Department of Health engaged Pan­demicPrep.Org to expand the number of residents covered by Workplace Points of Dis­pensing (also known as Closed PODs) to be activated in case of a bio-terrorism attack. With funding from a Public Health Emergency Response grant, the organization created the Bio-Defense Network and put together a small team of public health, emergency planning and business continuity professionals to focus on the effort. The campaign was an undisputed success; when the effort began, about 270,000 of the county's one mil­lion residents were covered. Four months later the number was nearly 700,000, mean­ing seventy percent of St. Louis County residents were covered by this program. Join Bio-Defense Network co-managers Harlan Dolgin and David Reddick to learn how they succeeded, and the lessons they learned.

The Webinar will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 31. Please note that you must preregister; you may click here to register.

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Update

Iowa Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Major Disaster Declaration number 4016 declared on Aug 24, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Youth Preparedness Webinar tomorrow - 2 p.m. EDT

Presenter

Regina Moran, Youth Preparedness Director, FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division

Overview

Join us as the Community Preparedness Webinar Series presents an important look at what it takes to establish a youth preparedness program in your community. Emergencies can happen at any time and often without warning. While emergency personnel do their best to quickly respond to emergencies, it could take time for them to arrive on the scene. The best way to help citizens maintain safety during an emergency is to ensure they're prepared in advance to sustain themselves and their families for the first 72 hours after a disaster strikes. Leading educators and scholars in the field of preparedness education believe that children are the best envoys to bring this message home to their families.

Establishing a youth preparedness program in your community may seem like a daunting task, but this webinar will provide you with many of the resources available that can help your organization implement an effective program.

The youth of America can play a vital role when it comes to preparedness. The youth team at FEMA predicates itself on some core principles:

This webinar will provide participants with information on how their organization can integrate preparedness education into their program offerings. You will hear expertise based on the experiences of those who have developed and delivered some of the most successful youth preparedness programs across the country. In discussing their programs, the following will be addressed:

All participants will receive a draft of a “how to” guide for implementing preparedness programs as well as a catalogue of youth preparedness resources.

Thank you for your participation!

Sincerely,

The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division
U.S. Department of Homeland Security