Always learning from DHS/FEMA Leadership #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

Another way to increase your preparedness level is to attend various classes with DHS/FEMA leadership.

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DHS/FEMA ICPD Director Helen Lowman

Many of them are passionate about preparedness training and can provide some insight to strategic goals and national initiatives. From emergency preparedness kits to supporting the Weather Ready Nation, many have been outspoken champions in the realm of #NatlPrep #Response and #SMEM – whohoo!

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Past FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino

Keep learning. Never stop. Sponge it all from Ready.gov

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“Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

FEMA has announced the winners of the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards, recognizing the outstanding efforts of individuals, programs, and organizations throughout the country working to prepare their communities for emergencies.  These awards highlight innovative practices and campaigns that have made outstanding contributions toward making communities safer, better prepared, and more resilient. This year, FEMA asked applicants to highlight accomplishments that took place between January 1, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

“Effective emergency management requires commitment, teamwork and engagement by the entire community before disasters occur,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “I congratulate the individuals and organizations that embody these ideals. Through their hard work and dedication, they are making our nation stronger and safer.”

The 11 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award recipients will be recognized on September 8, 2015 in Washington, D.C. During the recognition ceremony, recipients will share their experiences, success stories, and lessons learned with fellow emergency management leaders.

A complete list of the recipients and the honorable mentions for each category is available at: http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards. Award recipients by category are as follows:

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award: Ready New York, NYC Citizen Corps, NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • Community Preparedness Heroes Award: Craig Wolfe and Northern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee Members
  • Awareness to Action Award: City of Henderson (Nevada) Get READY! Stay READY! Campaign
  • Technological Innovation Award: Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, Geographic Information System/Information Technology Working Group
  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness Award: Alabama Be Ready Camp
  • Fifth Annual Recipients of the John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award: Ready Montana Program and Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Management (South Carolina)
  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives Award: Orange County, California Community Emergency Response Team Mutual Aid Program
  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program Award: New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps
  • Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability Award: City of Irvine Community Emergency Response Team (California)

Congratulations to all the award recipients and honorable mentions! You continue to make your communities and the Nation proud!

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Your emergency USB drive #NatlPrep #Prepared2014

It’s the first Friday, the first week of 2014 National Preparedness Month!

“Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

Easy right? My goal is to provide actionable information so that you can better prepare you and your family.

This week’s theme is consistent with FEMA’s National Preparedness Campaign: Reconnect with Family After a Disaster.

#5: Use a small USB drive includes all key emergency documents & family communications plan #NatlPrep #Prepared2014

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These ubiquitous USB drives (aka thumb drives, jump drives, memory sticks, etc…) are so easy to find. Best part? These things are cheap! You can easily find 16G for $2…which is WAY more storage that you’d ever need to store your documents in an emergency.

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What to keep stored on this jump drive? Scanned or digital copies of your:

  • Family Communication Plan (that also includes an out-of-state contact)
  • Driver’s License/State Identification card
  • Passport
  • Social security card
  • Birth Certificates
  • Home Insurance card
  • Auto Insurance card
  • Credit card(s)
  • Copies of a recent bank statements
  • High resolution pictures of your family and individual pictures.

As you pack your one ounce USB drive, don’t forget to put it in an airtight freezer ziplock type bag. Your electronic equipment does not like getting wet.

The cost of these USB drives are so low, that it behooves you to use easy technology now to better leverage your position in a disaster. Because you won’t have time to copy/transfer these documents during a rapid evacuation, now is the time to be prepared.

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Keeping good documentation for your family is one of the most important parts of reconnecting with family during and after a disaster.

@rusnivek

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