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DHS and FEMA
Updates
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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.

DHS -FEMA Updates

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Communities Begin Recovery Efforts in Sandy's Wake

Downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone system , Sandy left a high level of damage in her wake along the east coast and up into Western New York State Monday. Making landfall in New Jersey on Monday evening with 80 mph sustained winds, Sandy cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses from the Carolinas to Ohio. The massive storm gradually made its way inland, with bands reaching well into the Midwest where Chicago officials warned residents to stay away from the shore of Lake Michigan as the city prepares for winds of up to 60 mph and waves exceeding 24 feet well into Wednesday.

If you've been affected by Sandy, here are some tips you might find useful:

  • Visit FloodSmart.gov – Given the severe flooding many communities have experienced, individuals are encouraged to visit FloodSmart.gov for important tools, tips and guidance for recovery after a flood. FloodSmart is the official Website of the National Flood Insurance Program .
  • Follow the direction of local officials – continue to heed the guidance of local elected and emergency management officials. If you've evacuated they'll let you know when it's safe to return. They'll also provide you with guidance on how to access local disaster help resources if needed.
  • Keep up to date with local conditions – while the immediate danger of the storm may have passed, many areas are still experiencing heavy rains, winds and snow. Continue to follow TV and radio reports from your area or visit www.weather.gov ( http://mobile.weather.gov on your phone) for the latest forecast.
  • Remember food safety – you may be experiencing power outages and flooding as a result of the strong winds and heavy rains so be sure you are keeping food safe . Use a cooler to keep food cold and group food together in the freezer so it stays cold longer.
  • Volunteer or Donate - After disaster strikes, many around the country want to offer their support in whatever way they can, so we will continue to get the word out about where you can volunteer or donate to help disaster survivors. Be wary of scam artists that show up after a disaster as well, and be familiar with these tips .

Prepare for hazards in YOUR area

Although you may not have been affected by Sandy, now is a good time to review the potential hazards where you live. For example, this weekend's reported earthquake off the coast of Canada which “triggered” a tsunami warning in Hawaii reminds us how disasters can strike at anytime and anywhere.

Knowing likely risks for your area, whether wildfires , earthquakes or tornadoes and knowing what to do when a disaster strikes is a critical part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds matter. Local emergency management offices can help you identify hazards in your community and can outline the local plans and recommendations for each. Be sure to share this information with family, neighbors, colleagues and friends – talking about preparedness helps everyone be ready, “just in case.” Use the links in this article to make your family, business and community safer, more resilient and better prepared for any disaster event.

***Webinar Reminder***

Engaging Families in Community Service and Preparedness
Wednesday, November 7
3:00 PM EST

Plan ahead and be prepared for National Family Volunteer Day on Saturday , November 17 by joining the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division and Ready.gov for a FREE planning Webinar on Wednesday, November 7.

National Family Volunteer Day is the start of National Family Week and embodies the spirit of family and community service by engaging relatives, children and community members in service projects, including those efforts focused on helping communities prepare for disasters.

Join and listen as our guest speakers discuss ways you can:

  • Capitalize on this Family Volunteer Day event;
  • Engage families in your community; and
  • Encourage those who haven't made a family service-day commitment to do so.

Additionally, speakers from the Hands On Network and Serve Alabama will share their own service initiatives and efforts to engage the public in volunteer opportunities and service projects.

Sign in here if this is your first time joining the Community Preparedness Webinar Series.

Log in if you have already signed up 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 mailto:citizencorps@dhs.gov

Wrapping up CyberSecurity Month: Cybersecurity for Businesses a Critical Issue

As National Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to a close, it is critical to remember the threat cyber attacks pose to businesses. 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 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:

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.

Halloween Safety Tips

While many continue to closely watch Sandy, even more are still looking forward to a spooky Halloween this Wednesday, October 31. In addition to the spookiest time of the year, Halloween is historically a time when there is an increase in fires, especially fires related to the use of candles. So as you're partaking in Halloween preparations, decorating, and trick-or-treating, remember these safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration to stay fire safe:

  • Avoid using candles inside and out, as they are the most common fire hazard around Halloween. Use a flameless candle in your Jack-O-Lantern – they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Pick a few up when you're at the store this weekend
  • When creating a costume, choose materials that will not easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame.
  • Wear light-colored, flame retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers.
  • When purchasing items, make sure that all costumes, wigs and props are labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant.

Dates for Your Calendar!

Disaster Assistance Post-Sandy, Important Safety Tips to Follow, and Helping Those Affected by Sandy.

Follow us on Twitter for more tips and recommendations!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. As individuals and community members wait for flood waters to recede; the power to be turned back on; and schools, businesses and transit to re-open, it is important to remember some of these important safety tips:

  • Continue to listen to your local officials – If you evacuated and are returning home, make sure local officials have deemed the area safe to return to.
  • Stay off the roads - Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way.
  • If your power is out, safely use a generator or candles - Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner's manual and follow the instructions. If using candles, please use caution. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire.
  • Avoid downed power or utility lines - They may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.
  • Don't drive or walk through flood waters – It only takes a small amount of water to move people or vehicles. If you encounter a flooded roadway, don't attempt to pass through water – turn around, don't drown . And if your home has flood water inside or around it, don't walk or wade in it. The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.

How to help those affected by Sandy

We've had a number of questions come in on our Facebook and Twitter accounts about how to help those who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy. A few pointers to remember:

  • Cash is the most efficient method of donating – Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover.
  • Volunteer or donate through a trusted organization – At the national level, many voluntary, faith-based and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted sources to donate to disaster survivors. In addition to the national members, each state has its own list of voluntary organizations active in disasters.

Numerous blood drives have been canceled as a result of the storm and the Red Cross has a need for blood donations. To schedule a blood donation or for more information about giving blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Disaster Assistance

As we continue to keep you informed about our response and support efforts, we want to ensure you know how to apply for assistance :

  1. Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov
  2. Register through a web enabled mobile device at http://m.fema.gov

In addition to these three ways to apply, you can visit a disaster recovery center in their area and search for disaster recovery centers on your smartphone .

FEMA's activities

The President declared major disasters for New York and New Jersey, making disaster assistance available to those in the heaviest hit areas affected by the storm. Individuals and business owners in the declared areas in New York and New Jersey can begin applying for assistance by registering online or on your phone at www.DisasterAssistance.gov:

  • Declared counties in New York: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Suffolk, & Queens.
  • Declared counties in New Jersey: Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean & Union Counties

Those impacted also may apply for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

In addition to federal disaster assistance being available in several counties, states and localities, the American Red Cross has emergency shelters in many states. You can search for open shelters by visiting the Red Cross website, downloading the FEMA smartphone app, or by texting the word “ shelter ” and a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA). For example, if you're searching for a shelter in the 01234 zip code, you would text Shelter 01234 .

Finally, we continue to work closely with our emergency management partners and are embedded with state teams to support response efforts and assess unmet needs. Our priority focus remains on life-saving and life-sustaining activities. Currently, more than 1,500 FEMA personnel are positioned along the East Coast working to support disaster preparedness and response operations, including search and rescue, situational awareness, communications and logistical support.

Please share these important safety reminders and we hope you're taking every precaution to stay safe.

We want to hear your suggestions on how we can improve our communications to you, be sure to email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov .

Helping Children Cope and Stay Safe after Sandy - Helpful Tips & Resources for Parents & Caregivers

The Super storm known as Sandy has passed, but some children may still be coping with its aftermath. We are asking you to do the following:

  1. Read and share this blog post by Sarita Chung MD, FAAP, member, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council;
  2. Like and share this story on FEMA's Facebook page posts ; and
  3. Follow and re - tweet @ReadyDotGov tweets

Although Sandy has passed, for millions in states along the east coast there are still many hazards. It is important to take steps to protect children, as they are especially vulnerable to the environmental hazards that may be present. Here are some tips parents should keep in mind:

Flood Water Safety

  • Parents or other caregivers should directly supervise children - this prevents them from playing in or around floodwaters. It doesn't take long and it doesn't take much water for children to drown.
  • Watch for live wires or power sources - electricity from streetlights and downed power lines may be active and may cause a deadly shock through contact with standing water or direct contact with live lines.
  • Keep children from playing around drainage ditches, storm drains, river channels, or any place with moving/standing water - children can fall in, get stuck, or drown.
  • Be aware of what's in the water - standing or flood waters can be contaminated and cause children to become sick. Playing in water could also result in being bitten by snakes, rodents or other wildlife.

Home Safety

  • Lock the door - In preparation for the storm, many people filled bathtubs and buckets with water to use for drinking or washing. If this is the case, keep everything in one room and lock it away from young children, as they can drown quickly in very small amounts of water.
  • Be mindful when using candles or heat sources - Make sure to watch small children around lit candles, and don't forget to blow them out when leaving the room. Supervise children directly when there are portable grills or sources of heat or fire.
  • Turn off vehicles - In order to recharge cell phones and other electronics, people may leave their cars running. Be sure children don't climb or play in the car. Don't leave vehicles running inside garages or in any closed area where carbon monoxide can collect.
  • Leave it out in the open - Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using them are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. For tips on using generators safely, visit the U.S. Fire Administration website .

Addressing the Emotional Impacts from Sandy

Sandy was very frightening for many adults, so imagine how scary the storm was for children who experienced it firsthand, or even those who simply watched it on television. For kids, no amount of time or statistics really explains the weather event that just occurred or provides comfort in its wake. They may have lost pets, favorite toys, or other cherished treasures, and they may not understand why parents must dispose of their contaminated belongings during the clean-up process.

Here are some helpful tips to support children in recovering and coping with the situation:

  • Limit TV and other media coverage of the storm and its impact (such as Internet, social media, and radio interviews of victims) - Listening to stories about the impact of disasters can cause further distress to children and adults. Realize that children should not be exposed to the same amount and level of media coverage being viewed by adults.
  • Keep to a routine - Help your children feel they still have a sense of structure, making them feel more at ease or provide a sense of familiarity. When schools open again, help them return to normal activities including going back to class and participating in sports and play groups.
  • Make time for them - Help kids understand they are safe and secure by talking, playing and doing other family activities with them. To help younger children feel safe and calm, read them their favorite book, play a relaxing family game or activity. For other ideas, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network website.
  • Encourage and answer questions - Talk with your children about the event and what is being done to keep them safe and help with the recovery process. Realize that children's concerns may be very different that those of adults, so be sure to ask them what they are concerned about. When children ask about whether another storm may occur, realize that their underlying question is likely whether or not they need to worry that a storm as bad as Sandy is likely to occur. Help them understand that while storms are common, Sandy was a particularly devastating storm and that other bad weather that may occur in the near future is unlikely to cause as many problems. Help them understand what is being done to protect them and their families from future harm and why other storms are unlikely to be as destructive.
  • Provide realistic reassurance - Children's worries may be based on misunderstanding or misinformation. When possible, provide realistic reassurance. But if their concerns are real, acknowledge their concerns and help them think through strategies to deal with their distress. Remember, if children feel they are worried – they are worried.

Here are some other useful resources to help children cope with a disaster:


American Academy of Pediatrics

Other Resources

Promoting Youth Preparedness

Posted by: Sarita Chung, MD, FAAP, member, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council

(The views expressed by Ms. Chung do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities, or services.)

Fun for the Kids

Sandy has many schools closed leaving parents, guardians and even shelter coordinators wondering how they will keep the kids occupied, indoors and in some cases, without power. Remember, batteries are not just for flashlights, they also bring life to handheld video games and tablets, but when they need to be conserved for evening hours or stir-crazy moments, don't be afraid to look for things to do or to fall back on some of the classics:

  • Board games: Pick games that don't end too quickly. Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and Monopoly are great games to play at any age. Even cards games such as Go Fish, War or Concentration can bring hours of fun.
  • Musical Chairs: If you have power and three or more kids you can play a game of musical chairs. Bean bags, folded blankets or pillows can be used as chairs if space is limited.
  • Simon Says: A game of Simon Says helps kids work on their listening skills and can help relieve some of the energy that's bottled up inside.
  • Exercise: Include activities kids may do in gym class, including jump rope, push-ups, jumping jacks and stretching exercises. This is great for expelling energy for those kids who are stuck indoors.
  • Build a fort: Pile up those pillows and blankets, and let them build their fantasy fort freely. This could relieve their stress, and yours.
  • Draw or pain t: Every child, young or old, enjoys being creative.

Our Nation's Youth and the Impact they have on Preparedness

Children comprise approximately 25 percent of our nation's population and are the future of our communities. They play an important role in disaster preparedness and each have the unique ability to help their communities be safer, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster or emergency event. As such, we all have a vested interest in engaging and empowering youth to become active participants in individual, family and community preparedness. Research states that:

  • Youth who are trained in preparedness are more resilient in actual disasters.
  • Youth are highly effective messengers for reaching and influencing parents and other adults.
  • Youth who are engaged today will ensure a future generation of prepared adults.

Youth preparedness is a priority at FEMA and is why the agency recently introduced the first ever Youth Preparedness Council . This select group of youth leaders from across the country will lend their voices, opinions, experiences, ideas and solutions to help strengthen the nation's resiliency for all types of disasters. Bring youth preparedness to the forefront of your community by implementing a youth preparedness program . Much like FEMA, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) recognizes the importance of engaging youth in preparedness and for the past two summers has held a summer camp for youth focusing on Teen CERT training, youth emergency preparedness, leadership and action planning. What is your area doing with youth preparedness? Share your story and/or ideas on the NPM Coalition Website today!

We want to hear your suggestions on how we can improve our communications to you, be sure to email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov .

Elmo Explains Hurricane Sandy

Elmo, resident of Sesame Street, along with Dr. Rosemarie Truglio of the Sesame Street Education and Research Department talked to kids about Hurricane Sandy on the radio on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. Listen to Elmo reassure kids on the Brian Lehrer Show.

For additional information, plan together with Sesame Street at Let's Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies. Sesame Street offers emergency tips and activities for parents and children to better plan for emergencies.

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