Tuning in for Tornadoes
Tornadoes are one of nature's most violent storms and can cause death, injury, and destruction within seconds. Having advanced notice that a tornado is approaching your area can give you the critical time needed to move to a safe place for protection. Before severe weather strikes, pay attention to weather reports and be sure to sign up for text alerts and download smart phone apps that provide weather warnings.
While you may not always receive an official tornado alert in your area, there are warning signs that can indicate a tornado is near. Page four of the How to Prepare for a Tornado guide from America's PrepareAthon! highlights these signs, including:
- A change in the color of the sky;
- An approaching cloud of debris;
- A strange quiet occurring within or shortly after a thunderstorm; or
- A loud roar that sounds similar to a freight train.
If you experience these signs, take action immediately and go to the safest place for protection such as a FEMA safe room or International Code Council 500 storm shelter . If you do not have access to one of these structures, move to a small, interior, windowless room such as a closet or bathroom, on the lowest level of your building and cover your head and neck with your arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summer Grilling Safety
Now that summer is here you may be looking to fire up the grill at your next family gathering. While grilling is a popular way to cook food, it comes with an increased risk of home fires and injuries. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an average of 8,000 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns.
July is the peak month for grill fires. Learn how to grill safely before you throw one on the barbie with these NFPA tips :
- Only use propane and charcoal grills outdoors;
- Keep young children and pets away from the grill area;
- Never leave a lit grill unattended;
- Maintain a clean grill by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill; and
- Keep the grill away from your home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Protect your family and home this summer! Get more facts about grilling safety with this public service announcement from the U.S. Fire Administration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Webinar: Including People with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs in CERT Training
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individual and Community Preparedness Division is pleased to invite you to a webinar that focuses on practices that will help provide a positive and accessible experience for CERT participants with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
Title: Including People with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs in CERT Training
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Guest speakers:
- Gay Jones, FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC)
- Kathryn Gerk, Emergency Services Manager, Richmond, CA Fire Department
- Jennifer Fales, Emergency Management Coordinator, Kansas City, MO Office of Emergency Management
How to Join the Webinar:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ America's Communities Take Active Role in Spring 2015 PrepareAthon!
The number of communities taking an active role in preparing for potential hazards and disasters is growing significantly thanks to everyone who participated in America's PrepareAthon! This spring, registrants signed up more than 7.6 million people to participate. The following are just a few communities that came together to make a significant impact in preparedness:
As part of a statewide drill conducted during the National Weather Service's Severe Weather Week, the Spartanburg County, South Carolina Office of Emergency Management held a countywide tornado drill on March 11, 2015. An estimated 60,000 students participated, as well as multiple businesses.
On April 30, 2015, Brookfield Office Properties partnered with the Apartment and Office Building Association to conduct a virtual exercise for residents and property managers in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Houston, Texas. More than 29,500 people participated in the exercise focused on apartment and office building capabilities related to tenant safety and security following a widespread mass power outage affecting public transportation and other critical infrastructure.
Coinciding with Latino Children's Day and National PrepareAthon! Day on April 30, 2015, Los Angeles County, California planned a series of exercises aimed to prepare its Spanish-speaking community for disasters, including earthquake and wildfire workshops during which participants developed family communication plans, built emergency kits, and learned how to secure home interiors.
In May 2015, the City of Orlando, Florida kicked off its multi-month PrepareAthon! with a Lightning Preparedness Campaign, and city officials led drills at recreational facilities, theme parks and public pools. Throughout June 2015, the City of Orlando has also been promoting hurricane preparedness to its residents.
Take your disaster preparedness to the next level! America's PrepareAthon! has valuable resources to prepare for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, and winter storms at ready.gov/prepare . Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for National Preparedness Month in September 2015 and the next National PrepareAthon! Day on September 30. Be smart. Take part. Prepare.
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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