Georgia Community Prepares for Disasters
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Whitfield County, Georgia is no stranger to disasters. In just two decades, the county experienced 82 weather events with high winds, 14 flash floods, and 21 winter weather events or storms that caused moderate to severe damage. This year, however, Whitfield County did something that may make a difference for their community when it comes to natural disasters. Read their story today! |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Countdown to ShakeOut
The Great ShakeOut earthquake drill is just a week away! This is a great opportunity to practice what to do during an earthquake and get prepared. Even if tremors are rare where you live, it's important to practice because they can happen anywhere unexpectedly.
More than 20 million people, schools, organizations, and businesses worldwide have already signed up to participate on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 10:15 AM local time. Visit the ShakeOut website for information about how universities, government agencies, and other organizations can participate. The website also shows how many people in each state or country will be practicing how to Drop, Cover and Hold On . This important protective action can save lives and prevent injury.
During an earthquake , you should immediately DROP down onto your hands and knees so the earthquake doesn't knock you down, COVER your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris, and HOLD ON to any sturdy covering so you can move with it until the shaking stops.
If you are unable to Drop, Cover, and Hold On, please follow these recommended guidelines .
For more information about earthquake safety, check out this Great ShakeOut video series . Get ready for the world's largest earthquake drill. You still have time to sign up, so register today !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National Preparedness Goal Refresh
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its partners released the Second Edition of the National Preparedness Goal . The National Preparedness Goal describes a vision for preparedness nationwide and identifies the core capabilities necessary to achieve that vision across the five mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. The goal itself is succinct and remains unchanged:
“A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”
The Second Edition of the National Preparedness Goal represents a refresh from the 2011 version and incorporates critical edits identified through real world events, lessons learned, and continuing implementation of the National Preparedness System. In refreshing the National Preparedness Goal, FEMA and its whole community partners, including individuals, communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and all levels of government, focused on assessing the existing core capabilities. Resulting updates to the core capabilities include changes to select titles and definitions and the addition of one new core capability—Fire Management and Suppression.
Changes made to the core capabilities will be reflected in the ongoing refresh efforts of the National Planning Frameworks and Federal Interagency Operational Plans for each of the mission areas.
For a copy of the document, go to: https://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-goal .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Does your smoke alarm work? It's Fire Prevention Week , and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has life-saving information to protect you and your family.
Smoke alarms are important tools for your home. They provide an early warning of smoke in your home, giving you extra time to escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family, and your home. According to the USFA, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries. Most cooking fires can be prevented. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe in the kitchen:
- Keep an eye on what you fry; stay in the kitchen when you are cooking at high temperatures like frying and broiling;
- Be alert when cooking. Never cook if you are tired or on medication that makes you sleep; and
- Keep items (such as kitchen towels) that can catch fire away from cooking areas.
This year, USFA is dedicating the month of October to providing daily fire safety tips to help make homes and families safer. Follow #firesafein31 on Twitter at @usfire and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usfire .
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“Ready, Pet, Go!” Preparedness Calendar
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The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently released an exciting new resource to help prepare your family, school, or office for emergencies. Their 2016 “Ready, Pet, Go!” Get Ready calendar features images of animals sharing important safety tips you can follow throughout the year, including:
- If you live in an area at risk for hurricanes, know your community's hurricane warning system. Find your evacuation routes and have supplies packed;
- If you have to go outside during a winter storm, bundle up. Wear mittens and a hat to stay warm. Limit your time outdoors; and
- Know where to take shelter during a disaster, whether you're at home, work, school, or in transit.
Images used in the calendar feature winners from APHA's recent photo contest held during National Preparedness Month. This calendar can be a great addition to your bulletin board, office space, or refrigerator. Download and print your copy today! |
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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