Bixby Community Emergency Response Team Activates for Flood Incident
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding across parts of the southern Plains in recent weeks, leaving many communities devastated and in need of assistance. In response to flooding in their community, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Bixby, Oklahoma sprang into action to help residents evacuate their homes.
To assist with the flooding, Bixby police asked CERT volunteers to put up barricades and help residents leave their neighborhoods. Bixby CERT has helped the local police and fire departments with previous events, but this was their biggest incident and first activation for a natural disaster.
According to Bixby CERT Assistant Program Manager, Laura Konshak, the team was in the field supporting the incident for 13 hours. They also train twice a month in first aid, search and rescue, and disaster response.
Created nearly two years ago, Bixby CERT has 30 volunteers who are always on call and ready to assist the community during an emergency . In fact, one volunteer left his honeymoon early so he could respond to the incident.
Learn more about Bixby CERT's recent flood response efforts with this clip from FOX23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
CERT programs educate the public about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their community and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Looking for a CERT in your area? Be sure to check the listing of state programs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEMA Joins Home Depot Hurricane Preparedness Workshops
On May 30, 2015, Home Depot conducted hurricane preparedness workshops to help homeowners prepare for hurricane season. The free workshops were held at more than 700 Home Depot locations around the country.
Several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional offices participated in the workshops, including FEMA Regions II, III and IV, who supported 23 events. Home Depot provided tables with displays promoting hurricane preparedness information and materials from FEMA, the Ready campaign, and America's PrepareAthon! Many of the displays showcased emergency equipment, such as flashlights, lanterns, batteries, first-aid kits, water, generators, dust masks, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that could be purchased at the store.
Home Depot offered a virtual workshop for customers who could not attend so they could learn what to do before and after a hurricane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disaster Supply Kits: Budget-Friendly and Fun
Do you think preparing for disasters is too expensive and boring? Think again! Being prepared doesn't have to break the bank. You can create a budget-friendly basic disaster supply kit using items you may already have at home. You can also make preparedness enjoyable for the entire family!
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Preparedness on a Shoestring activity guide suggests organizing a family scavenger hunt to locate items around your home such as first aid supplies and food. After you've built your kit, there are several ways to maintain its low-cost quality. For example:
- Purchase items from your local dollar store or discount retailer;
- Take advantage of “Buy One, Get One” deals at your local supermarket; and
- Trade extra supplies with family and friends.
FEMA advises to prepare your disaster supply kit with enough items to survive for at least three days. If you are packing a kit for more than just yourself, be sure to make necessary accommodations to fit each person's needs . Also, remember to check your kit for expired items every six months.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join the Youth Preparedness Faith-based Webinar
Learn how to connect faith-based and community organizations to tools and resources for youth preparedness activities during this special webinar hosted by the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division, the Department of Education Center for School Preparedness, and Save the Children.
Title: Getting Youth Involved In Emergency Preparedness
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm (EDT)
How to Join the Webinar:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dates for Your Calendar!
|
