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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. |
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DHS -FEMA Updates
Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at cert@dhs.gov
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FEMA Announces Next Meeting of the National Advisory Council
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency will be holding the next National Advisory Council (NAC) public meeting on Friday, April 26, 2013. The public meeting will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT at the Hilton Garden Inn Capitol Hill Hotel located at 1225 First Street, NE in Washington, DC.
The National Advisory Council was established to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of Federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters. The NAC advises the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of emergency management and incorporates federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private sector partners' input into the development and revision of FEMA policies and strategies.
During the April meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator and FEMA Deputy Administrator for the purpose of reviewing the progress and/or potential recommendations of its three subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection; Response and Recovery; and Federal Insurance and Mitigation. The NAC will specifically discuss:
- How FEMA allocates planning, training, and funding resources to ensure whole community response and recovery efforts are sustainable;
- National Mass Care Strategy;
- National Incident Management System (NIMS);
- National Flood Insurance Program - Group Flood Insurance Policy;
- Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012;
- FEMA Qualification System (FQS); and
- Sandy Recovery Improvement Act.
In addition, the FEMA Program Offices will brief the Council on emerging topics in emergency management. A public comment period will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. Those not attending and who wish to submit comments please visit the NAC website for additional information.
For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact the Office of the NAC by email at FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov .
For more information on the NAC please visit www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council .
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Calling All Preparedness Leaders for FEMA Awards
04/23/2013
Community Preparedness e-Brief:
Apply for the 2013 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards
Getting Colleges and Universities Prepared For Emergencies
Stay Safe on Roadways during a Tornado
Stop.Think.Connect. Commemorates National D.A.R.E. Day
It's Coming: The Community Preparedness e-Brief will unveil a new look! If you have comments or suggestions, email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov .
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Apply for the 2013 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Today
The application period for the 2013 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness (ICP) Awards is now open. Please nominate outstanding individuals, organizations, Citizen Corps Councils and programs working to make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared for any disaster or emergency event.
The ICP Awards application period is open through June 5, 2013. All submissions must feature achievements taking place between January 1, 2012 and June 5, 2013. Please submit your application to citizencorps@fema.gov . A distinguished panel of judges from the emergency management industry will select the winners in each of the following categories:
- Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives;
- Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives;
- Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives;
- Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness;
- Preparing the Whole Community;
- Awareness to Action; and
- Community Preparedness Heroes.
Winners of the 2013 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards will be announced in fall 2013. They will also be FEMA's honored guests at a community preparedness roundtable event in Washington, D.C. As you prepare your submission, don't forget to take a look at previous winners on our website.
We can't wait to see what incredible work is being done to support preparedness and awareness in communities across the nation! Visit the Awards page on our website for more information on how to apply!
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***Webinar Reminder***
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on Campuses
Wednesday, May 8
3:00 p.m. EDT
Did you know over 2,000 local jurisdictions and dozens of college and university campuses across the country have used the CERT model to prepare for disasters? Join us at 3:00 p.m. EDT on May 8 for a discussion of Campus CERT and its role in emergency preparedness. Webinar participants will learn how CERT training can improve the security of your student population and the whole community.
Guest speakers from the University of Southern California, Michigan State University and North Carolina Central University will share their experiences and lessons learned with Campus CERT. They will also outline the value-added benefits the program provides their campus community.
Sign up today to join the webinar and learn more about the unique needs of colleges and universities during disasters. To register for the webinar, please visit: https://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration.html .
Please use this link if you are already a registered Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) user and simply need to log in to the webinar: https://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration_login.html .
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Stay Safe on Roadways during a Tornado
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), nine percent of people killed by tornadoes between 1985 and 2008 were in their cars. To help warn drivers on roadways, Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota put up digital billboards last week, which display tornado warnings.
The new billboard warning system is a joint venture of the counties, billboard owners and the NWS. The system can supersede scheduled programming on the digital billboards to display tornado warnings for 15 minute increments.
If you are in a car during a tornado, you should take the following actions:
- Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion, if possible.
- If you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
- Never try to outrun a tornado in a car or truck.
For more tips on what to do when a tornado strikes, visit www.ready.gov/tornadoes .
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Stop. Think. Connect. Commemorates National D.A.R.E. Day
In recognition of National Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Day, the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign would like to thank all D.A.R.E. officers for keeping American communities safer, both online and off. National D.A.R.E. Day is a nationwide effort to promote drug abuse education for today's youth.
Stop. Think. Connect. would also like to ask everyone to follow and share these tips to help make the Internet a safer place:
- Create an open and honest environment with kids. Start conversations regularly about practicing online safety;
- Emphasize the concept of credibility: not everything children see on the Internet is true, and people on the Internet may not be who they appear to be;
- Watch for changes in behavior: if your child suddenly avoids the computer, it may be a sign they are being bullied online; and
- Review security settings and privacy policies for the websites kids visit. These settings are frequently updated so check back regularly.
D.A.R.E. America has been a member of the Stop. Think. Connect. National Network since 2011 and has worked to increase cybersecurity awareness across the country. Stop. Think. Connect. has trained over 1,500 D.A.R.E. officers on teaching cybersecurity in the community.
For more on D.A.R.E. America, click here . For more cybersecurity tips, visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect .
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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FEMA Major Disaster Declarations Updates
New York Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm
Major Disaster Declaration number 4111 on Apr 23, 2013
Kansas Snowstorm
Major Disaster Declaration number 4112 on Apr 26, 2013
North Dakota Flooding
Emergency Declaration number 3364 on Apr 26, 2013 |
