September is National Preparedness Month: Week 1
Throughout September, National Preparedness Month highlights hazard-focused themes leading up to the September 30 National PrepareAthon! Day.
Flood is the theme for Week 1 (September 1-5). During this time, talk with your family about flooding. Learn how to take action for this common hazard by using the How to Prepare for a Flood guide from America's PrepareAthon! It is particularly important to be prepared if you live in a low-lying area near a body of water such as a river or stream; along a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee. The How to Prepare for a Flood guide outlines ways to protect yourself and your property before a flood threatens your community.
You can reduce the risk of damage to your home by:
- Elevating critical utilities such as electrical panels, appliances, wiring, and heating systems;
- Waterproofing your basement and installing a water alarm; and
- Clearing debris from downspouts and gutters.
Purchasing flood insurance can help you manage any damage that might occur to your home. Just remember, there is typically a 30-day waiting period for the policy to take effect.
Be sure to follow instructions from officials for community evacuation or seek higher ground for localized flooding. One of the ways to protect yourself and your family is to evacuate early to avoid being trapped in floodwaters.
Share flood preparedness messages with your family and friends using the 2015 National Preparedness Month Digital Engagement Toolkit .
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Webinar: Local Partnerships Between the American Red Cross and CERT
The American Red Cross and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) serve communities throughout the United States in a variety of ways before, during, and after emergencies. But while both programs accomplish a great deal individually, they can do even more when they work together. As partners, CERT and American Red Cross programs and volunteers can work to advance their mutual goals of increasing the preparedness and resilience of local neighborhoods and communities and offering vital assistance and support in the aftermath of disasters.
The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division invites you to join a webinar that showcases successful partnerships between local American Red Cross regions and CERT programs. Three sets of American Red Cross and CERT programs serving three unique jurisdictions will discuss how they are working together to make their communities safer, stronger, and more resilient. Presenters will share how they established their partnerships, what lessons they learned from the experience, and how their collaboration benefitted their programs and communities. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session.
Title: Local Partnerships Between the American Red Cross and CERT
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. (ET)
This webinar will feature American Red Cross and CERT guest speakers from the following jurisdictions:
- Delaware County, PA
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
How to Join the Webinar:
We hope that you will be able to join us on September 9! If you can't make it, we will post the recording, transcript, and slide deck of the presentation on this page, under “Citizen Corps Partners/Affiliates”: http://www.ready.gov/preparedness-leader/webinar-library . You can also view our most recent webinar on including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs in CERT training at: https://icpd.adobeconnect.com/p1onuoh5wic/ .
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Special Delivery: Prep4Moms Twitter Chat
Are you a new or expecting mother? Join a special Twitter chat on Thursday, September 3, at 1 PM ET. Hear from experts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and more as they discuss ways for pregnant women and new moms to keep their babies healthy before, during, and after an emergency.
Topics will include:
- Specific items for your emergency kit and plan;
- Steps pregnant woman and new moms can take to keep their families safe;
- Recognizing and coping with stress; and
- Protecting your baby from contaminated water and other hazards.
The Twitter chat is hosted by the Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response ( @PHEgov ), and Administration for Children and Families ( @OHSEPR ). Follow along or join the conversation using #Prep4Moms .
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Take the 30 Days, 30 Ways Challenge
Make preparedness fun for the entire family by taking the "30 Days, 30 Ways Challenge" in support of National Prepearedness Month and leading up to National PrepareAthon! Day. This month-long preparedness game began in 2010 by the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) in Vancouver, Washington to encourage people to complete one simple task each day to enhance their personal preparedness.
Get game rules, daily tasks, and other information about this fun and engaging challenge by visiting: www.30days30ways.com . You can also check out this video to learn more.
Game time starts September 1, 2015. As you complete your tasks, be sure to add them to the America's PrepareAthon! website to be counted as a participant in this national effort for action to get people better prepared for emergencies.
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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