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DHS and FEMA
Updates

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This Citizen Corps News Digest is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners.

DHS -FEMA Updates

Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at cert@dhs.gov

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Georgia Community Prepares for Disasters

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!


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Please Update Your Citizen Corps and CERT Profiles

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has improved the online Citizen Corps/CERT Registration System and needs you to update your information by Friday, December 4 . This will help FEMA provide you with better support. You can use this link log in to the system . A slide presentation is also available to help guide you through the update process.

On September 15, FEMA removed several questions and clarified and simplified others. This should make it easier and less time-consuming to make updates. However, please log in and take a look, even if you updated your profile earlier this year.

There are several reasons to update your program's information over the next several weeks:

  • You will soon be able use the registration system to generate a printable report that will feature your specific program's information. If your information in your profile is up to date, the information in your individual program report will be, too. 
  • We use this information to develop reports, presentations, and talking points to promote Citizen Corps and CERT to internal and external stakeholders. The numbers that we use are far more effective and reliable when more programs update their information.
  • We have begun sharing some CERT registration data through Open FEMA . Please help us to ensure that this information is accurate and up-to-date.  
  • By updating your information, you ensure that your program's information is accounted for in the National Preparedness Report.
  • When members of the public and other stakeholders look up your programs online, much of the information you provide through the system is visible on your public-facing online profile.

We value all of the information that you provide, but the following data points are of the highest priority for the December 4 deadline:

  • Number of Volunteer Service Hours (Citizen Corps and CERT)
  • Number of Volunteers (Citizen Corps only)
  • Number of Individuals Who Have Completed CERT Basic Training Since Start of Program
  • Average Annual Deliveries of the CERT Basic Training
  • CERT Classes Graduated Since Start of Program
  • Citizen Corps Council Membership
  • CERT Response Activities

We look forward to seeing (and sharing) the tremendous impact you've had in your communities over the past year!

If you have any questions, please direct them to your state point of contact . If they are unable to resolve your request, you can also contact us at citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov or cert@fema.dhs.gov .

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It's Still Hurricane Season

In the wake of recent severe weather events like Hurricane Joaquin, now is a good time to review hurricane safety information with your family and get prepared.

Before a hurricane hits your area, there are things you should do to prepare:

  • Assemble your disaster supply kit and gather critical documents in the event that local authorities issue an evacuation order;
  • Monitor weather reports provided by your local media;
  • Sign up to receive text or email emergency alerts;
  • Consider buying a NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) All Hazards receiver, which receives broadcast alerts from the National Weather Service; and
  • Have extra batteries for a battery-operated radio and your cell phone in case of a power outage.

For more ways to stay safe before, during, and after a hurricane, check out the How to Prepare for a Hurricane g uide from America's PrepareAthon!


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Sesame Street Fire Safety Program Update

Are you an educator, parent, or caregiver of a preschooler? The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and its friends at Sesame Street have new fire safety information you can share with children.

The updated Sesame Street Fire Safety Program shows you how to teach kids ages 3-5 about essential fire safety information and skills that can be useful during an emergency. The program includes easy-to-use lessons, games, songs, and activities featuring familiar Sesame Street characters to help reinforce important fire safety and prevention messages.

To learn more about the Sesame Street Fire Safety Program and access program materials, visit the USFA website . Materials are available in English and Spanish.


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Preparing Your Pets for Shelter

When you prepare for disasters, be sure to make arrangements for your pets too! In the event that you have to evacuate to a public shelter, keep in mind that for health reasons, some facilities cannot accept pets, so it's important to prepare them for an alternative shelter. However, service animals are allowed in general population shelters.

The Ready Campaign offers the following tips when seeking a pet shelter :

  • Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information; and
  • If you're unable to return to your home right way, you may need to board your pet. Find out the location of boarding facilities and research some outside of your area in case local facilities are closed.

Once you've found an alternative shelter, follow these tips to keep your pet safe while they are away from you:

  • Make sure microchips and identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and phone number of your evacuation site;
  • Take a current photo with your pet for identification purposes; and
  • Pack a “pet survival kit.” The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a checklist of emergency supplies to include in the kit.

For more information about pet preparedness, check this Ready resource guide .


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Dates for Your Calendar!


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Disclaimer: The reader recognizes that the federal government provides links and informational data on various disaster preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal events, entities, organizations, services or products. Please let us know about other events and services for individual and community preparedness that could be included in future newsletters by contacting: citizencorps@dhs.gov

About FEMA

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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