CERT Volunteers: Download Disaster Reporter This Week!
A picture is worth a thousand words. As we kick off the 2014 Hurricane Season, help us highlight the CERT program and demonstrate your capacity as citizens and trained volunteers to provide accurate, on-the-ground situational awareness and augment the capabilities of professional responders during disasters.
As a CERT volunteer, you play an integral role in disaster reporting in your community . Administrator Fugate is calling upon CERT volunteers throughout the country, including you, to download the FEMA mobile app , which includes Disaster Reporter . This week, for Hurricane Preparedness Week , use the mobile app take a “selfie” with your preparedness kit or with your fellow volunteers in your CERT gear, or send in a picture of your team responding to a disaster or participating in a drill or exercise.
Why should you use Disaster Reporter? Here are our top four reasons:
- It provides FEMA responders, local emergency managers, CERT volunteers, and the public with greater visibility into disaster situations across the United States. This can help expedite emergency response efforts.
- It provides a reliable source for viewing disaster events around the country.
- It's a great free resource to download straight to your mobile phone.
- Your support efforts in an impacted area will be displayed publicly on an online map.
Learn more about Disaster Reporter at http://www.fema.gov/disaster-reporter and http://www.fema.gov/disaster-reporter-terms-conditions . To download the FEMA app, please visit http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app .
In addition to the Disaster Reporter tool, the FEMA App also has preparedness tips, an interactive emergency kit checklist, recovery safety tips, open Red Cross Shelters, open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers, and FEMA blog posts. The app is available for Android , Apple , and Blackberry . Download the app and share your photo by Friday, June 6.
Don't forget to check the latest CERT newsletter for other great resources and stories. The latest edition is available at http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-team-national-newsletter .
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Final Hours for Individual and Community Preparedness Award Submissions
You have about 24 hours to submit your application for the 2014 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards ! The deadline is tomorrow May 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Don't let your great and innovative work go unnoticed. Show us your outstanding contributions toward making your community safer, stronger, better prepared and more resilient. Click here to find out more, the clock is ticking!
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What do you know about Hurricanes?
Are you a hurricane preparedness expert? If not, let's change that this week during the 2014 National Hurricane Preparedness Week ! Start by exploring Hurricane Frequently Asked Questions to boost your knowledge!
There is nothing more important than taking steps to prepare your family, community or business for a hurricane and subsequent hazards before one strikes. Let's start preparing now! America's PrepareAthon! has provided a wealth of resources to take you step-by-step in hurricane preparedness! Take a look below and find the specific information you're looking for:
For more information on the 2014 National Hurricane Preparedness Week and daily themes, check out the National Weather Service Hurricane Center website . As always, you can use social media to follow the conversation on #HurricanePrep Week. Share how you're getting prepared for hurricane season by using #HurricanePrep.
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Building up Preparedness
This month, FEMA is supporting the 34th Annual Building Safety Month (BSM) to promote the importance of high building standards, protecting the environment, and saving energy.
BSM is a public awareness campaign offered each year to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create and sustain safe and resilient structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.
These model codes are voluntarily implemented by construction companies when a structure is built to prepare it for possible disasters in the future. There are several steps you can take today to continue to improve the preparedness of your home or business. Different hazards require different protection measures:
- Hurricane and Tornado – reinforce structures for wind and elevate for water;
- Wildfire – reduce material that can burn easily and replace with fire-resistant materials; and
- Flood – Elevate, waterproof and clear debris.
For more information click on the hyperlinked hazards above and view the America's PrepareAthon How to Prepare guides, specifically the property protection section. Further information on FEMA's Building Science Branch can be found at http://www.fema.gov/building-science .
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Keep Cool Around a Wildfire
On the West Coast, six states have declared May as Wildfire Awareness Month . With nearly 20,000 homes currently under evacuation orders in San Diego County and the likelihood of more wildfires across California and neighboring states throughout the season, it's now more important than ever for the entire nation to take necessary steps to prepare for wildfires.
A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. They can quickly burn out of control and destroy natural resources and homes or threaten the safety of the public and the firefighters who protect forests and communities.
There are several critical steps that should be taken before a wildfire threatens your area:
- Learn the wildfire risk in your area;
- Know your sources of information ;
- Prepare your home and workplace;
- Develop an emergency communications plan; and
- Know what to do when a wildfire approaches.
When a wildfire threatens your area, the best action to protect yourself and your family is to evacuate early to avoid being trapped. If there is smoke, drive carefully because visibility may be reduced. Keep your headlights on and watch for other vehicles and fleeing wildlife or livestock.
For more information, download, read and implement the How to Prepare for a Wildfire guide. This document is full of valuable information on the basics of wildfires, how to protect yourself and your property and what steps to take now. Also check out this disaster training video titled Preparing Your Home for a Wildfire .
Next week catch a follow-up article regarding campfire safety!
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Recognize Excellence in Resiliency
The application period for the 2014 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is open! The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) first national resilience award for superior leadership and innovation by an organization who exemplifies the qualities and achievements of Rick Rescorla, emphasizing leadership in effective preparation, response, and recovery in the face of disasters. DHS will present the 2014 Rescorla Award to honorees in three categories:
- Individuals;
- Not-for-profit organizations; and
- For-profit organizations.
Eligible candidates may be nominated for the award during the nomination period which closes on July 17, 2014 at 11:59 p.m (EDT) . All nominations must be submitted by email to the following DHS email address: rescorlaaward@hq.dhs.gov . The nomination form can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/publication/rescorla-award-nomination-form .
For criteria, eligibility and additional information check out http://www.dhs.gov/rick-rescorla-national-award-resilience .
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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