Lightning Safety
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times each year. While lightning mostly occurs during the summer months, it can happen at any time of the year.
Talk with your family about staying safe during thunderstorms. Here are just a few lightning safety tips that the NWS offers i f you are indoors :
- Stay off corded phones. You can use cellular or cordless phones;
- Don't touch electrical equipment such as computers, TVs, or cords. You can use the remote control safely; and
- Stay away from windows and doors that might have small leaks around the sides to let in lightning, and stay off porches.
According to the NWS, if you are outside during a storm it is important to get inside a safe building or vehicle. You are NOT safe outdoors, but if you absolutely cannot get to safety, follow these tips to slightly lessen the threat of being struck by lightning:
- Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top;
- Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you're in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees; and
- If you're in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members.
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Preparedness Choices for Every Day
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Webinar: Ember Alert: Preparing for Wildfires
Are you prepared for a wildfire? To kick off the summer, FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division invites you to a webinar on Thursday, June 23, 2016 . This webinar will feature an array of dynamic nationwide programs and resources to prepare individuals and communities for wildfires.
Title: Ember Alert: Preparing for Wildfires
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016
Time: 2:00 3:00 p.m. EDT
Featured Speakers:
- Phyllis Krietz , United States Fire Administration, FEMA
- Barbara Geringer, Fire Prevention, Mitigation, and Education Program Manager, United States Forest Service
- Mark Jackson , Branch of Wildland Fire Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Cathy Prudhomme , National Fire Protection Association
- Christi Collins , Individual and Community Preparedness Division, FEMA
How to Join the Webinar:
We hope that you will be able to join us on June 23!
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FEMA Region V Seeks Applicants for Regional Youth Preparedness Council
Do you know a student in grades 8 11 who is making a difference in his or her community's disaster preparedness? If so, FEMA Region V encourages him or her to apply for the Regional Youth Preparedness Council. The FEMA Region V Youth Preparedness Council has similar goals as the national FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, but consists solely of representatives from the states within Region V's area of responsibility: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Applications must be received by June 30, 2016 11:59 p.m. CDT. Download an application form today!
The FEMA Region V Youth Preparedness Council is a unique opportunity for youth leaders to make a difference in their communities while sharing their opinions, experiences, ideas, solutions, and questions on youth disaster preparedness with the regional leadership of FEMA.
Region V Youth Preparedness Council members fill three roles while on the Council:
- Project planners : The cornerstone of Council members' service is the self-selected local projects they are required to complete during their one-year tenure on the Council.
- Ambassadors for youth preparedness : Council members spread the word about the importance of youth preparedness in their local communities and on a regional scale.
- Liaison to FEMA on the youth perspective : The members of the Council have a fantastic opportunity to meet with FEMA and its partner organizations to share their insights, opinions, and unique perspective on FEMA's efforts and initiatives and those of others.
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Dates for Your Calendar
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