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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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This year's active hurricane and fire seasons highlight the importance of working together before, during, and after disasters of all types and sizes. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a common, nationwide approach to enable the whole community to work together to manage all threats and hazards.
Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the refreshed NIMS to ensure that this important guidance continues to reflect the collective expertise of the whole community. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity.
Through an iterative process of engagement with stakeholders from across the Nation, FEMA reviewed more than 3,000 comments to update NIMS guidance and incorporate the collective expertise and experience of the whole community.
The refreshed NIMS:
- Retains key concepts and principles of the 2004 and 2008 versions of NIMS;
- Reflects and incorporates policy updates from lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents and disasters;
- Clarifies the processes and terminology for qualifying, certifying, and credentialing incident personnel, building a foundation for the development of a national qualification system;
- Clarifies that NIMS is more than just the Incident Command System (ICS), and that it applies to all incident personnel, from the incident command post to the National Response Coordination Center;
- Describes common functions and terminology for staff in Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), while remaining flexible to allow for differing missions, authorities, and resources of EOCs across the nation; and
- Explains the relationship among ICS, EOCs, and senior leaders/policy groups.
FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinars to discuss the updates in the refreshed NIMS and answer questions related to NIMS. The webinars will be open to the whole community.
To review the refreshed NIMS document and for additional webinar information, visit: https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system .
FEMA continues to support strengthening the security and resilience of the Nation by working to improve the ability of all to manage incidents, events, and emergencies.
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Flu season is almost here again. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tell us that influenza, or “the flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Flu viruses occur year-round in the United States, but they are prevalent during the fall and winter months.
The vaccine for the 2017-2018 flu season is current and better matches circulating flu viruses. To best prepare yourself and your loved ones for the upcoming flu season, the CDC recommends:
- Vaccination with an injectable flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older before the end of October, if possible.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may have germs.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub .
People who do contract the flu virus will often experience these symptoms:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Fever (It is important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever)
Help your family and friends stay safe from the flu this season too. Share this important health message and visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm for more flu safe information.
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During the third week of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), October 16-20, learn how to keep your personal information safe online.
To build on the theme for NCSAM - Securing the Internet is Our Shared Responsibility, this week focuses on Today's Predictions for Tomorrow's Internet. Smart cities, connected devices, digitized records, as well as smart cars and homes have become a new reality. This week reminds citizens that their sensitive, personal information is the fuel that makes smart devices work. While there are tremendous benefits of this technology, it is critical to understand how to use these cutting-edge innovations in safe and secure ways.
Follow these tips from the Department of Homeland Security's Stop. Think. Connect. ™ campaign to own your online presence:
- Treat personal information like money . Information about you, such as your purchase history and location, has value - just like money. Protect your data by being cautious about how mobile apps and websites collect your information.
- Own your online presence . Control and limit who can see your information online by checking the privacy and security settings on your accounts and apps. A cybercriminal can potentially see anything you post publically, so keep your personal information private.
- Share with care . Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it, and how someone could perceive it now and in the future.
Join in celebrating National Cybersecurity Awareness Month throughout October. Please visit www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month or www.dhs.gov/StopThinkConnect for more information. |
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This morning millions of people practiced how to “ Drop, Cover, and Hold On ” during the ShakeOut , the world's largest earthquake drill.
In order to keep the momentum going, there are further actions you can take to prepare for an earthquake.
Follow these four steps from the Earthquake Country Alliance :
- Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items like bookshelves, televisions, and water heaters.
- Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
- Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
- Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
For more information, including a video about When the Earth Shakes , visit the Prepareathon ™ Earthquake page or Ready.gov . You can also download the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Earthquake Safety Checklist . |
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If you have been impacted by the recent hurricanes or wildfires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers resources to help you recover. Apply online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov , for the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance.
Visit the pages for Hurricane Harvey , Irma , Maria , or the California Wildfires for trusted recovery information.
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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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