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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. |
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DHS -FEMA Updates
Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at cert@dhs.gov
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Deck the Halls: Fire Safe Edition
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Holiday decorations may be visually appealing, but they also increase your risk for a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical problems cause 38 percent of home Christmas tree fires.
As you deck the halls of your home this season, follow these tips from NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to prevent serious electrical and fire hazards:
- Check light sets for frayed or damaged wiring before using;
- Connect no more than three mini light sets for decorating;
- Keep your tree at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles or heat vents;
- If you have a live tree, remember to add water to the tree stand daily; and
- Always turn off holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.
Give the gift of safety this season. For more holiday safety tips, download and share USFA's “Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires” infographic with family and friends. |
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A Winter Ready Home
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You might wear gloves and a hat to protect yourself from cold temperatures outside, but did you know that your home needs protection, too?
With the proper maintenance, you can prepare your home for the winter season and reduce heat loss during a power outage.
Follow these tips from America's PrepareAthon!, including:
- Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of your roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow or ice;
- Insulate pipes with insulation or newspaper and plastic;
- Allow faucets to drip during cold weather to avoid freezing; and
- Have a professional inspect your chimney or heating equipment.
For added warmth, you may choose to use indoor space heaters. If you purchase a space heater, look for one that has an automatic shut-off or tip-over switch. Place the heater on a level surface away from high-traffic areas and flammable items such as curtains, bedding, or furniture. Make sure the room has enough ventilation to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning . |
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Winter Care for Pets
Winter weather can be dangerous not only for humans, but for pets too! Taking extra precautions throughout the season can ensure your pets stay healthy and happy. The Humane Society of the Unites States offers tips to keep pets safe, including:
- Protect paws from salt . This and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Be sure to wipe off their paws with a damp towel;
- Keep pets warm and indoors . No matter the temperature, windchill can threaten a pet's life. Pets are sensitive to severe cold and are at risk for frostbite when outdoors during extreme cold snaps; and
- Avoid antifreeze poisoning . Antifreeze has a sweet taste that may attract animals but is a deadly poison. Don't allow pets to wander unattended near driveways, garages or other places when they may come into contact with antifreeze.
It only takes a few tablespoons of highly toxic antifreeze to injure your pet. Learn the signs of antifreeze poisoning.
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Reminder: Preparing for a Winter Storm and the Holidays Webinar
Are you prepared for the holidays? The Federal Emergency Management Agency is pleased to invite you to join a webinar on how to prepare for winter weather and discuss holiday preparedness safety tips.
Title: ‘Tis the Season: Preparing for a Winter Storm and the Holidays
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2015
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Speakers:
- Matthew Lyttle , from the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division, will discuss America's PrepareAthon! and ways to prepare for a winter storm.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , National Weather Service will present on the winter seasonal outlook, El Niño, Winter Weather Safety Campaign and driving safety.
- Judy Comoletti , from the National Fire Protection Association, will present on holiday safety and the risk of Christmas tree and cooking fires.
- Sandy Facinoli , from the FEMA U.S. Fire Administration, will present on holiday safety, the risk of electrical and candle fires, the danger of New Year's fireworks and heating safety.
How to Join the Webinar:
We hope that you will be able to join us on December 10!
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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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