2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Application Period Now Open
The application period for the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is now open. The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient.
Every year we are inspired by the tremendous work being done by so many people to prepare their communities for emergencies, or to help their neighbors cope with the effects of a disaster. Our applicants consistently showcase admirable compassion for others, innovative new approaches, and a drive to make a difference in their communities.
Please help spread the word about the 2015 FEMA Individual Community Preparedness Awards! Download an application form , and apply or nominate an individual or organization who inspires you today. Applicants can be individuals or organizations, as they align with the awards categories listed below. To be considered for this year's awards, all applications must be sent to citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov by April 10, 2015 at 11:59 P.M. E.T . and must feature program activities occurring between January 1, 2014 and April 10, 2015.
Once all applications have been received, a distinguished panel of representatives from the emergency management community will select winners in each of the following categories:
- Outstanding Citizen Corps Council
- Community Preparedness Heroes
- Awareness to Action
- Technological Innovation
- Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness
- Preparing the Whole Community
- Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives
- Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program
- Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability
Winners of the 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards will be announced in fall 2015, and they will be FEMA's honored guests at a community preparedness roundtable event. As candidates prepare their applications, it is helpful to take a look at previous winners on our website.
We look forward to hearing about the incredible work that individuals and organizations are doing to make their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient! For more information on how to apply, visit: http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards .
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Village of Cloudcroft Holds America's PrepareAthon! Event
The Village of Cloudcroft, N.M., held its annual evacuation exercise March 3, 2015, with more than 15 federal, state, and local agencies taking part in the day-long event to help the community prepare for emergencies. The event was part of America's PrepareAthon! – a national grassroots campaign for action coordinated by FEMA in partnership with communities across the country.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our village,” said Erich Wuerching, Cloudcroft Fire Chief. “Being prepared for disasters is a shared responsibility. It takes the entire community working together to be prepared and respond to emergencies. It makes a real difference in our ability to take action and, ultimately, recover from the disaster.”
The Village of Cloudcroft is a remote community located in the Sacramento Mountains at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet and surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest. The village and surrounding areas have approximately 900 full time residents.
The event focused on the safe evacuation of students at Cloudcroft Municipal Schools and the Cloudcroft Methodist Preschool. This included all students pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. With more than 350 children across four schools, the goal is to have students on buses and headed out of town within 15 minutes.
“We successfully accomplished the evacuation of all three of our schools in 17 minutes. This includes getting students from the classrooms to the buses,” said Travis Dempsey, Cloudcroft Municipal Schools Superintendent.
Wuerching said another emphasis was accounting for, and possible evacuation of, all home-bound residents. The Cloudcroft Senior Center maintains a list of all residents who need transportation assistance in the event of an emergency, including residents who are unable to receive communication. There are approximately 100 residents on the list.
In addition, several businesses conducted their own drills, including the evacuation of the largest hotel in the community, and a pet sheltering exercise. During the exercise, the Reverse911 system and emergency evacuation sirens were also tested to ensure they operated properly.
Visit www.ready.gov/prepare for more information about America's PrepareAthon!
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How You Can Help the American Red Cross
Since March is Red Cross month, now is a good time to get involved with one of the nation's leading humanitarian organizations dedicated to assisting people in need throughout the United States and the world. Since 2006, the Red Cross and FEMA have worked together to help government agencies and community organizations provide food, shelter, and family reunification services for people affected by disasters.
Each year, the Red Cross responds to about 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U.S. In the past this organization and its partners have opened 1,400 evacuation shelters for disaster survivors, provided services for nearly 450,000 evacuees, and provided more than 68 million hot meals in the U.S. alone.
To provide these services, the Red Cross depends on public support. There are many ways to get involved. You can make a donation , volunteer in your community, give blood , or become a digital advocate , among other things. To learn more about how you can help, visit RedCross.org .
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Springtime Flooding
With spring comes the expectation of warmer weather and longer days. But it may also bring heavy rains and rapid snowmelt that can increase your risk for one of the most common disasters in the United States – floods . Properly preparing for this hazard can keep your family safe, minimize potential damage and speed up recovery efforts.
While everyone is at risk for flooding, many remain financially unprotected. One of the best ways to protect your home is by purchasing flood insurance because flood losses are not typically covered under homeowner's insurance policies. Keep in mind that there is a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage takes effect, so the time to purchase is now!
In addition to flood insurance, follow these steps to safeguard your home and possessions:
- Create a personal flood file containing information about all your possessions, and keep it in a secure place such as a waterproof container or safe deposit box;
- Keep a written and visual record of all major household items and valuables;
- Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if you live in an area that has a high flood risk; and
- Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up in the drains of your home.
No matter the source, a flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to be costly. Just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Check out this interactive Cost of Flooding tool from FloodSmart.gov to measure the financial impact a flood could have on your home.
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