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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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Money Talks
Disaster preparedness extends beyond storing water and supplies. Having a plan to pay bills and access your important records and accounts will avoid problems in the future. Since disasters leave many families without access to finances, store your important documents in a safe place. Using the Safeguarding Your Valuables activity module and Emergency Financial First Aid Kit will get you started.
Disasters can also leave you with expensive damages. If you do not have health, life, property or flood insurance , get them now! Remember flooding is not included in homeowners insurance.
Planning ahead for financial challenges after a disaster is also important because the road to recovery can often be a long, complex process. The Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit discusses strategies and provides tools to help you make the best financial decisions for your family. Another valuable resource is the Consumer Protection Bureau. They can guide you on how to protect and rebuild your finances , avoid loan scams and what to do immediately following a disaster.
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Ferocious Flooding
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the U.S. They can be local, impacting a neighborhood or very large, affecting multiple states. Thousands of residents in Boulder, CO and nearby towns were recently forced to evacuate after days of heavy rainfall caused mudslides and flash floods. If a flood is developing in your area, would you know what to do? Here are some tips before the flood hits :
- Conduct a household inventory;
- Build an emergency supply kit;
- Plan for evacuation; and
- Make a pet plan.
If a flood has already hit your community, follow these tips:
- Beware of hazards in your home;
- File your flood insurance claim; and
- Take proper steps to clean up your home.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes also offers valuable information to help prepare for and recover from a flood. Download the FLASH Weather Alerts mobile app today for weather warnings, alerts and tips to keep your family safe.
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National Preparedness Month Cross Country Highlights
Organizations across the country are participating in National Preparedness Month (NPM) activities to spread the message of disaster preparedness throughout their communities. This week we are highlighting NPM efforts in Great Falls, MT and Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Falls business owners got a lesson on how to keep their businesses running if a disaster strikes and learned the importance of having a plan for evacuations, severe weather, lock-downs and other threats. Check out the video of their preparedness activities here .
In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, Michigan State Police and Grand Rapids area first responders and nonprofit organizations taught residents how to prepare for flooding and other emergencies during a Prepare Fair on Saturday, September 14. First responders showed residents how to develop an emergency plan, perform basic first aid techniques and create an emergency supply kit. To view photos of the Prepare Fair, click here.
What are you doing for National Preparedness Month? Share your activities with us at #NatlPrep!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ America's PrepareAthon! Webcast
On September 5, 2013 the National Academy of Sciences hosted two special events – the unveiling of the America's PrepareAthon!; a disaster preparedness campaign and a workshop with the National Research Council and the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Catastrophic Risks designed to build resilience coalitions among decision makers, experts and the private sector. To view the webcast of the events, click here .
Please note you must register to view the webcast. To view the unveiling of America's PrepareAthon! scroll through webcast archives and select “Campaign to Build and Sustain National Preparedness and Resilience”.
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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