The application deadline for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council  has been extended until Friday, April 7.

Teens from across the nation have the opportunity to work with local and national emergency preparedness projects. Council members represent the youth perspective on emergency preparedness and share information with their communities. Members also engage with FEMA regularly to discuss their thoughts and ideas on preparedness strategies, initiatives, and projects throughout the duration of their two-year Council term.

All students in grades 8-11, who are engaged in community service or are interested in being an ambassador for emergency preparedness, are encouraged to apply.  Adults working with youth or emergency management are encouraged to share the application with youth who might be interested in applying.

Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 7, 2017.  Applicants must submit a completed application form, two letters of recommendation and academic records. However, applicants may submit their letters of recommendation and academic records after the deadline if they are unable to get them by April 7 . 

You Are The Help Until Help Arrives is a new program dedicated to educating and empowering the public to take action in emergency situations and provide lifesaving care before professional help arrives.

You can assist your community by sharing the You Are The Help Until Help Arrives program and its resources, which are available at ready.gov/untilhelparrives :

1. Interactive video : Viewers have the opportunity to make lifesaving decisions for injured amusement park patrons.
2. Web-Based Training : A 25-minute, online, video tutorial explaining the steps people can take to help someone with life-threatening injuries.
3. Instructor-Led Training : Materials for a hands-on, instructor-led course that covers five topics in depth and includes videos and activities.

These tools aim to educate and empower the public to act in an emergency situation before professional help arrives by taking five You Are The Help Until Help Arrives key actions:

1. Call 911 and provide your specific location.
2. Stay safe by protecting the injured from harm and moving them away from any ongoing danger.
3. Stop the bleeding with firm, direct pressure, or a tourniquet.
4. Position the injured: Let someone who is conscious position themselves; put an unconscious person into the recovery position.
5. Provide comfort to the injured while keeping them warm and offering encouragement.

Be sure to register your You Are The Help Until Help Arrives activities on the Prepareathon (formerly America's PrepareAthon!) event calendar and join the movement to strengthen emergency preparedness across the nation!

You Are The Help Until Help Arrives was developed through a multi-agency effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response , the Medical Reserve Corps , the Uniformed Services University's National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individual and Community Preparedness Division.

The SafePlaceSelfie event is designed to help individuals and communities know where the best place to take shelter is during extreme weather. The #SafePlaceSelfie is an opportunity to take a picture of your “safe place” and share your pictures with others on Twitter during the week of April 3-6, 2017. 

The #SafePlaceSelfie event is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather-Ready Nation along with Federal Emergency Management Agency and other partners to encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to be ready, responsive, and resilient during extreme weather events. 

To learn more about staying safe and taking shelter click on Ready.gov and take a look at the tips below:

• The safest locations to seek shelter vary by hazard.  Be Informed  about the sheltering suggestions for each hazard.
• There may be situations, depending on your circumstances and the nature of the disaster, when it's simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside by “sheltering in place".
• The length of time you are required to shelter may be short, such as during a tornado warning, or long, such as during a winter storm or a pandemic. It is important that you stay in shelter until local authorities say it is safe to leave. Additionally, you should take turns listening to radio broadcasts and maintain a 24-hour safety watch.
• During extended periods of sheltering, you will need to manage water and food supplies to ensure you and your family have the required supplies and quantities. Read more about  Managing Water  and  Managing Food .

Additional guidelines for sheltering in place are available on Ready.gov/shelter .