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 -FEMA Updates

* * * Webinar Reminder * * *

Fire Prevention and Preparedness: Activities and Events to Engage Your Communities

Don't forget to join us TODAY for our next FREE fire prevention and safety webinar! Much like preparing for any disaster or emergency event, fire prevention and safety is a year-round activity. Fires are the most common hazard and it's smart to know your risks and appropriate protective actions, especially with the holiday season approaching.

Speakers from the United States Fire Administration and Hope World Wide will discuss their efforts to prepare communities for fires before taking questions from participants.

• The USFA will discuss their “Have Two Ways Out” campaign, which encourages individuals to develop and practice a fire escape plan.
• Hope World Wide will discuss their “Protecting Our Neighbors” campaign, which encourages fire prevention education projects in neighborhoods at risk for house fires and give an overview of their fire preparedness outreach efforts during the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Register/Log in -- http://www.citizencorps.gov/resources/webinars/fireprevention.shtm

Register if this is your first time joining the Community Preparedness Webinar Series.

Log in if you have already registered for this webinar, have registered for a previous webinar or if you're a HSIN.gov user.

If you have questions regarding this event, please contact citizencorps@dhs.gov

President Extends Greeting to October 18 ShakeOut Participants

With the Great ShakeOut scheduled for tomorrow, now is your last chance to register to take part in the ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:18 AM local time . Join more than 13 million people across the country and around the world who will participate by taking 90 seconds to Drop! Cover! and Hold On!

On October 9, 2012 President Obama extended greetings to those planning to participate in the October 18 ShakeOut. You have one more day to ensure that you are one of these participants, whether in your home, school, or business. Improving your preparedness and practicing how to stay safe during an earthquake and aftershocks can help your whole community become more resilient to any type of disaster.

Twelve states and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, British Columbia and Southern Italy will hold official ShakeOut drills on October 18. If you're not a resident of one of these states or territories have no fear! For the first time in ShakeOut history you'll be able to Drop, Cover and Hold On anywhere you are! Find your location at ShakeOut.org or if not officially listed, click “Other States and Countries” and register today !

Week Three: Cybersecurity for Businesses a Critical Issue

As we observe the third week of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month it is critical to remember the threat cyber attacks pose to the private sector. For today's business owners, protecting against information security risks is part of protecting their bottom line. According to the 2011 Global Economic Crime Survey released by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, nearly half of all surveyed businesses reported suffering some form of fraud in the past year, up 10 percentage points since 2009.

While the vast majority of the nation's cyber infrastructure resides in private hands, the risks to national and economic security associated with the compromise or failure of these assets means that their protection requires a concerted public-private partnership. Working closely with its federal partners, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is helping small and medium-sized businesses to develop cybersecurity plans to protect themselves, their employees and their customers. There are many resources available to business to help combat cyber threats, including:

• National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center
• Stop.Think.Connect.
• Build Security In – Software Assurance Program

Also, be sure to review cybersecurity tools, tips and guidance on Ready.gov! These are great resources Citizen Corps Councils can promote to businesses throughout communities across the nation.

Communities Across the Nation Moving from Awareness to Action

We all know how important it is to not just know what your local hazards and risks are but to also practice what to do in the event of an emergency. The word has spread, and the month of October has seen many drills and exercises geared toward promoting community preparedness and activity! Check out these great stories featuring Citizen Corps Councils, partners and volunteers:

• Franklin County, New York. The Franklin County Public Health staff engaged volunteers – including the local Medical Reserve Corps – in an anthrax exposure drill designed to gauge how well prepared the county was to respond to such an event. The drill was part of a larger state effort to evaluate how well counties have benefitted from state-issued disaster preparedness funding.
• Temecula, California. The Temecula CERT recently participated in a drill which “…called for a 7.2 earthquake followed by a school bus crash, with dead and possibly injured students,” said Joanna Szuksztul, public relations coordinator for the Temecula Citizen Corps.
• Newport, Oregon. This coastal community recently participated in its annual tsunami evacuation drill designed to “…safely escort several hundred people across the Oregon Coast's busiest highway.” A second drill will occur on October 18 in conjunction with the statewide Great Oregon ShakeOut drill.

These are just a few examples of many great efforts across the country. It's so inspiring to see communities and individuals practicing preparedness to build, strengthen and sustain local resiliency! What drills and exercises does your community have coming up? Let us know by posting an event on the Coalition for National Preparedness calendar and/or contributing to a discussion on one or more of the discussion forums. Additionally, if you have a great idea to help make your community more resilient, submit it to the CRI Challenge for the chance to win up to $35,000 in grant funding!

FEMA Wants Your Feedback on Mass Care Services

FEMA has released for public comment three guidance documents on mass care job titles and qualifications. The guidance provides a standardized set of criteria for use by the whole community when delivering mass care services. These job titles and qualifications will also serve as interim guidance to support mass care operations across the nation. They are:

• State Mass Care Coordinator
• Shelter Manager
• Field Kitchen Manager

Additionally, FEMA has released for public comment two mass care-typed resources. The resources will also serve as interim guidance to support Mass Care professionals across the nation. They include:

• Field Kitchen Unit
• Shelter Management Team

To review and offer public comments, download the documents at: www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system . Comments must be received by November 13, 2012 . Questions can be submitted via e-mail at: FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov or telephone: (202) 646-3850.

Dates for Your Calendar!

• October is Crime Prevention Month
• October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
• October 18: Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
• October 22 – 26: National School Bus Safety Week
• October 26: Deadline to Submit Applications for CRI Challenge
• October 30: FEMA Think Tank Conference Call

FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Update

Florida Hurricane Isaac
Major Disaster Declaration number 4084 on Oct 18, 2012