FEMA Blog

Posted by: Public Affairs

A series of severe storms and tornadoes are moving through central and southwest Florida.  Our regional office in Atlanta continues to be in constant contact with Florida’s Emergency Operations Center, as well as our partners at the National Weather Service.

When natural disasters, such as severe storms and tornadoes, strike the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public's health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.  We stand ready to support State and local responders if Federal assistance is needed.

If you are in the path of the storm, seek shelter immediately.  Monitor your local forecast on your NOAA severe weather radio or through local news, and be sure to follow the direction of local officials.


Other links
- Get prepared for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes at Ready.gov

Posted by: Public Affairs

Last night ABC's World News Tonight featured a story on how prepared the U.S. is for a catastrophic earthquake, in light of the tragic earthquake in Japan earlier this month.  As the story says, FEMA has long been planning several drills and exercises that will help the public and the entire emergency management team better prepare for earthquakes and other catastrophic events - but this isn't just a FEMA-led effort. We are continually working with our state, local and tribal partners, along with the many other members of the emergency management team (including voluntary and faith-based organizations, businesses and committed citizens) for these exercises, which many of you have read a lot about here on our blog.

Below are more details on both and how you can get involved:

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout
A multi-state earthquake drill, hosted by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, will take place April 25 at 10:15 a.m. CDT (or April 19 for Indiana residents) to practice the proper actions to stay safe during a quake.  More than 1.5 million participants have registered, including schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and families.  Visit the ShakeOut website to learn more and sign up today.

National Level Exercise 2011
In May, we will be hosting a National Level Exercise to simulate the scenario of an earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone.  The purpose of the exercise is to prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.  The exercise is another opportunity to strengthen relationships across emergency management team and continue to improve catastrophic earthquake planning.

We regularly promote three simple steps to get prepared for an earthquake, or any disaster: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.  Leave us a comment and share how you're taking steps to get prepared for an earthquake.

What's the best advice you've ever received?  Often times, the best nuggets of wisdom motivate us to action, or inspire us to be better at what we do. We wanted to highlight a few places where you can find preparedness tips on a daily basis to keep you and your family safe.

Every weekday, we will publish a safety tip on Twitter and Facebook (in English and Spanish) with information on what to do before, during and after various natural or man-made disasters. Our primary method of publishing the daily tips will be through our Twitter and Facebook channels, however, that's not the only way you can find potentially life-saving advice:

Mobile Site (http://m.fema.gov)
Our mobile site is designed to load fast on mobile internet browsers, providing preparedness tips and disaster information on the go. Make it easier to access by bookmarking it on your phone.

Ready.gov
Our preparedness website, Ready.gov, is packed with information on how to get prepared before a disaster strikes. It breaks down getting prepared into three simple steps: getting a kit, making a plan, and being informed.

Twitter "Fast Follow"
One of the common misconceptions is that people need a Twitter account to receive updates from accounts you are interested in. In fact, you can receive updates from Twitter simply by utilizing your phone's text messaging capability (normal text message rates apply). For example, if you wanted to follow Administrator Fugate, text follow craigatfema to 40404 (Twitter’s text message number). To follow FEMA, text follow fema to 40404.

And in case you missed our safety tips the past few days, here is a sample:

• Flood safety: Do not walk through moving water. 6 inches of moving water can make you fall. Tips on your phone: http://m.fema.gov
  
  Seguridad contra inundaciones: No camine sobre agua en movimiento. Consejos de teléfono: http://m.fema.gov

• Earthquake safety: If indoors during an earthquake - drop, cover, and hold on. More tips at http://go.usa.gov/239
  
  Seguridad de terremotos: Si está adentro durante terremoto, échese al piso, cúbrase y agárrese. Más consejos en http://go.usa.gov/2YP

• Flood safety: After a flood, assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged, including cable TV feeds.
  
  Seguridad contra inundaciones: después de una inundación, asuma que todos los cables en el suelo están cargados, incluso el cable de TV.

Posted by: Paulette Aniskoff, Director, Individual and Community Preparedness Division

As we’ve highlighted several times on the blog, Citizen Corps Councils and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are a great way to get involved in preparing your community before disasters strike. If you’re involved with a local Citizen Corps Council or CERT Program please be sure to add your information to the Council Registration and CERT Program Registration pages today.

Registering will help individuals interested in Citizen Corps and CERT from your area get in touch with you. In addition, being listed in the national registry will allow you to share relevant information with other programs around the country.

Registering by March 30, 2011 ensures your Council or CERT Program will be included in reports to senior DHS leadership and Congress, which will feature all the great work that is going on in the field. You may still register after the March 30th deadline, but your information will not be a part of initial reporting.

Administrator Fugate is encouraging Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program registration, too – here’s why:



- Paulette

Posted by: Public Affairs

We often make the point that disasters can happen anytime, anywhere.  Sadly, natural and man-made disasters often happen with little to no advance warning, and result in significant damage to homes, businesses, and a community’s peace of mind.

We often promote three simple steps to getting prepared for disasters: making a kit, creating a plan, and being informed.  One element of creating your emergency plan includes thinking about how you and your family will recover from the financial damages that a disaster can cause.

As this story in the Wall Street Journal points out, purchasing flood insurance is one way to protect yourself financially in case disaster strikes. Read the full article, and talk to your insurance agent today to find out more.

Other links
Visit FloodSmart.gov for information on the benefits of flood insurance for home owners, renters, and businesses

Posted by: Public Affairs

Disasters can happen in a flash, so it's important to think about your entire family's safety - including your pet's - before an emergency occurs.  Deputy Administrator Serino said it best in this video (along with his cute canine friend), originally done to highlight Pet Preparedness Day 2010:



As a pet owner, one of the easiest things you can do is to put together a kit that includes food, water, medications, treats and other necessary items for your pet's disaster kit.

And since pets are considered members of our families, be sure to include your pet in your family's emergency plan.  This may include having an emergency contact that could take your pet in for a short period of time and knowing what pet-friendly shelters are available if you and your pets have to evacuate.

Visit Ready.gov for more tips on keeping your pets safe before, during, and after a disaster, including:

• Talking to your pet's veterinarian about emergency planning,
• Locating hotels and motels that are pet friendly,
• Having enough basic supplies for every individual and pet to survive for at least three days, and
• Creating a evacuation plan for you, your family, and your pet.

Other links
- A great place to locate shelters for pets is at Go Pet Friendly.

Posted by: Public Affairs

On a daily basis, we work very closely with our partners at the National Weather Service (NWS) as it provides invaluable information on severe weather conditions across the country. Earlier this month, during flood awareness week, Dr. Jack Hayes, National Weather Service Director, and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate blogged about three steps to flood safety.

In the aftermath of the devastating Japan earthquake and tsunami, Director Hayes and Administrator Fugate are reminding Americans that we are not immune from either earthquakes or tsunamis.  While new systems and technology have improved our detection and early warning capabilities, the bottom line is that all of us should take steps to prepare for disasters to lessen their impact on ourselves and our communities.

Today Dr. Hayes and Administrator Fugate’s published a joint op-ed -- check out what they have to say (courtesy of the Sacramento Bee).

Posted by: Public Affairs

As many of you know, last week Tim Manning, our Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness, traveled to Hawaii and American Samoa, as part of a previously scheduled trip to meet with our state, territory and local partners and to get an update on how the recovery efforts are going in American Samoa, 18 months after the island was struck by an earthquake and resulting tsunami.

Tim covered a lot of ground during his time there and got to meet with many members of the emergency management team, from the governor, to the territory's emergency medical services team, to village leaders - and we wanted to share some pictures from his trip.


Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning meets with the Chief Fuapopo Avegalio of American Samoa EMS and EMS staff. Chief Avegalio reinforced how critical volunteers are to their work and that they focus on supporting emergency preparedness efforts in their different villages on the island.


Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning talks with the Chief Fuapopo Avegalio of American Samoa EMS. (Courtesy of Bill Thomas, NOAA)



Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning and American Samoa Governor Tulafono after meeting to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts on the island. Among other things, the governor spoke about the territory’s experiences on Friday, March 11, when they and other Pacific islands were at risk of potential impacts from the tsunami. (Courtesy of Bill Thomas, NOAA)



Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning and staff from FEMA’s Recovery Office in American Samoa tour homes being rebuilt for disaster survivors in American Samoa. As part of our work to support the territory’s recovery, FEMA has been building homes, in several stages, for disaster survivors whose houses were destroyed by the tsunami.



Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning speaks to other federal, state and local members of the emergency management team at the PRiMO conference. (Courtsey of Bill Thomas, NOAA)



Caption: Deputy Administrator Manning and PRiMO partners meet with Pago Pago leadership. From left to right: Dr. Jeffrey Payne, Chair of the Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana (PRiMO); Representative Henry Sesepasara; Pago Pago Council member Pulu Ae Ae, Jr.; Senator Mauga T. Asuaga; Tim; Dr. Karl Kim, Executive Director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii; Jim Fernandez, NDPC Chair. (Courtesy of Bill Thomas, NOAA)

Posted by: Public Affairs

Information on the Japan earthquake and tsunami for U.S. citizens
Over the past few weeks, this blog featured several posts about the tragic Japan earthquake and tsunami, specifically referencing the U.S. government’s role in supporting the ongoing response and recovery, being led by the U.S. Agency for International Development.   We wanted to draw your attention to a new page on USA.gov with information on air quality, food safety, Americans in Japan, disaster preparedness, and donations.  

Also knowing that a lot of our blog readers live and work around Washington, DC we thought it was worth mentioning that the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC also starts today. 

In response to the recent earthquake and tsunami disasters, the Festival activities will kick off with a fundraising event, Stand With Japan.  People are asked to meet at the Washington Monument to walk around the Tidal Basin in the spirit of hope and rebuilding.  For more information on how to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, visit Interaction.org.

Severe weather outlook
Keeping with the pattern of active weather this past week, snow is expected to hit parts of the East coast this weekend.  Looking ahead to next week, National Weather Service forecasts are calling for heavy precipitation in the Southeast, along with colder temperatures and localized river flooding for the Upper Midwest.

Be sure to visit Ready.gov for information on getting prepared for the hazardous weather that Spring can bring, and stay up to date on your local forecast at weather.gov.

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) conference wraps up
This past week, hundreds of emergency management professionals, State and local officials, private sector representatives, and concerned citizens participated in the NEMA conference held in Washington D.C.  Bringing together so many members of the emergency management team is an important step in strengthening relationships that can help communities and individuals prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.  For more information on the 2011 NEMA Mid-Year conference, visit their website.

Posted by: Richard Hildreth, Mayor, Pacific, Wash.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Hildreth is the Mayor of Pacific, Wash., a town in Western Washington between Seattle and Tacoma.



I recently completed the Hazard Assessment and Response Management (HARM) course, at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), in Anniston, Alabama, which trains students to conduct a multi-disciplined response to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive  incident. As a mayor charged with making key decisions that impact my local response teams during a major incident, advanced, hands-on training makes me an informed member of the emergency management team in my community.

The HARM course is one of a handful I’ve taken at the CDP.  Some people may wonder why an elected official would attend training at FEMA’s CDP. I return to the CDP because of the unique training and because there is no other place civilian responders can go to validate their skills in an actual toxic chemical environment.

Specifically, the training helped me understand the challenges a first responder might face, the steps needed to ensure public and responder safety, and the working conditions within which first responders must operate.

But how does my experience at CDP training relate to you?

As Americans, we cannot afford to be caught off guard when a disaster occurs. No matter what your role is in your community, getting prepared for emergencies can ease the initial burden on our first responders immediately following a disaster, allowing them to focus on those that have been most affected.

It is often difficult to take time out of our busy schedules to attend training, or take the simple steps needed to get prepared.  In my own experience, it is easy to push disaster preparedness to the back burner and deal with the everyday issues that come with being a local elected official.

However, I encourage you to look into emergency preparedness training opportunities offered in your local community. If you are an emergency responder, visit the CDP Web site to find out more about the specialized, all-hazards training offered.

Both my community and I are better prepared after taking courses like those offered at the CDP. That’s why officials with roles in emergency response and thousands of concerned citizens from around the country participate in training each year. Our communities and businesses are worth it.  But more importantly, our citizens are worth it.

- Richard Hildreth

Posted by: Public Affairs

We’ve talked a lot about the flooding in the Midwest that’s forecasted, or is already happening, for the Midwest this spring. Previous blog posts have discussed how individuals can get prepared and what we’re doing to assist the other members of the emergency management team.

However, we wanted to specifically highlight some of the actions being taken by those team members --- State and local governments, voluntary and faith-based organizations, local businesses, and committed citizens --- in the Midwest flood fight.

The stories below are only a small sample of the many preparations being taken by individuals and communities across the Midwest:

• Brookings, South Dakota: Governor flood preparation meetings
  The Brookings Register (South Dakota) 
• Fargo-Moorhead (North Dakota and Minnesota): Fargo-Moorhead brace for potential flooding
  USA Today 
• Davenport, Iowa: Flood fight a team effort
  Quad City Times (Iowa)
• Clara City, Minnesota: Residents pitch in with sandbagging efforts
  West Central Tribune (Minnesota)
• Savanna, Illinois: Businesses prepare for flood
  KWQC (Illinois)

If you haven’t taken steps to get prepared for a flood, visit Ready.gov today.

Posted by: Shayne Adamski, Senior Manager, Digital Engagement

As we've mentioned before on the blog, social media is becoming increasingly important to disaster survivors and emergency managers. 

Tomorrow, I will be attending an event on social media in emergency management with colleagues of mine, as part of the annual National Association of Emergency Managers Mid-Year Conference.  The goal of the social media event is to bring together the team --- emergency managers from the Federal, State and local levels, technology volunteers, private sector, and others who are involved in the social media space --- to continue the dialogue about using social media and technology in emergency management and beyond. 

Just like we saw after the Tennessee floods and just like we're seeing in Japan, the recovery process from any disaster can be long, and getting information out throughout the whole recovery process is just as important as during the response.

If you're completely new to social media, want to learn more, and/or want to start using social media in your emergency management capacity, I encourage you to follow the conversation on Twitter from tomorrow's event by following #smem11.  After tomorrow, you can participate in the conversation by following #smem and share your thoughts, ideas and experiences.

And as always, on Twitter you can follow @fema and Administrator Fugate @CraigatFEMA (see this article in Computer World for more information on Administrator Fugate's view of social media and technology at FEMA).

I look forward to hearing from you, either on Twitter or by leaving a comment below.

- Shayne

Posted by: David Kaufman, Director, Office of Policy and Program Analysis

Over the past year the agency has undertaken efforts to consider its foundations and to think strategically about the outcomes it will achieve over the next few years. This self-examination has resulted in the creation of two guiding documents: FEMA Publication 1 (Pub 1) and the 2011 – 2014 Strategic Plan.

Pub 1 outlines the agency’s principles and culture while describing its history, mission, purpose, and philosophy. Pub 1 also serves as the operational link to, and provides the context for, the implementation of the new strategic plan for the agency.

The strategic plan will serve as a guiding document for the agency as it looks to the future of emergency management. The strategic plan includes four initiatives to build the capabilities of FEMA as an organization and the emergency management team as a whole. These initiatives are:

• Fostering partnerships and engaging the entire community in the practice of emergency management;
• Establishing priorities to stabilize communities after a catastrophic event and contribute to a full recovery;
• Building a shared understanding of risk among our partners; and
• Enhancing the agency’s ability to learn and innovate.

These documents will have a significant impact on setting a direction for the future of the agency, and I’m excited about our direction. More information about the Strategic Plan or Pub 1 is available online at www.fema.gov/about/strategicplan2011-2014.

- David

If you are thinking about getting trained in basic disaster response skills and becoming part of your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or if you are already a CERT member or trainer, I encourage you to check out our updated CERT Basic Training course materials.

For those that don’t know, CERTs are a committed group of local volunteers who have received training in emergency response and preparedness who can play a vital role in assisting the community after a disaster. The updated CERT course materials cover topics ranging from first aid to search and rescue. We made some updates to improve the clarity of the training content, along with making sure that all of the procedures are up-to-date. We worked with multiple stakeholders, including local CERT trainers and technical experts, to update the Basic Training materials.



In addition to checking out the updated materials online, I encourage you to attend a webinar on the new and updated material on Tuesday, March 29th, 2011. Ensuring that communities are prepared before disaster strikes is a top priority for our agency, and making sure communities have the most up-to-date training curriculum is one piece of promoting individual and community preparedness.

If you have taken a CERT course recently or are interested in getting trained, I welcome your feedback on putting CERT training into action. As you are coming up with ideas, check out my last blog post about a CERT success story.

-Rachel

Other info
- CERT is a FEMA program sponsored by local government to train and involve community members in disaster response and relief efforts. For more information on CERT and to access the updated training, go to www.CitizenCorps.gov/cert.

Posted by: Public Affairs

As rescue and recovery efforts continue in Japan, this tragedy should also serve as an important reminder that disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. This week happens to be National Tsunami Awareness Week, and our partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association are urging all Americans who live along U.S. coastlines to take the threat of tsunamis seriously.

There are a few simple tips to remember:

Warning signs of a tsunami

• A strong earthquake, or one that persists for 20 seconds or longer
• The ocean withdraws or rises rapidly
• A loud, roaring sound (like an airplane or a train) coming from the ocean
• Tsunami warnings broadcast over television and radio, by beach lifeguards, community sirens, text message alerts, National Weather Service tsunami warning center Web sites and on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

What you should do if you see these signs

• Keep calm
• Immediately move to your local tsunami shelter using defined tsunami evacuation routes
• If there are no evacuation routes defined, move to higher ground that is at least 100 feet in elevation, a mile inland, or to the highest floor of a sturdy building and STAY there
• If you are already in a safe location, STAY there
• Move on foot when possible - do not drive - this keeps the roads clear for emergency vehicles
• Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or news broadcasts for changes in tsunami alerts
• Stay away from the coast and low-lying areas until local officials say it's safe to return

This week should also serve as a crucial reminder for all Americans, no matter if you live near the coast or not, to take the time to get prepared now, before disaster strikes. Anyone can visit Ready.gov to learn how.

For more information visit Ready.gov or http://www.tsunami.gov/.

Posted by: Corey Gruber, Assistant Administrator, National Preparedness

The tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan have resulted in extraordinary loss of life, injury, and property damage. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those affected by the disaster. When international disasters occur, they often raise questions about how we would deal with a similar event here at home.

Keeping nuclear facilities safe in the U.S. is a coordinated effort among the plant’s operator, federal, state, local and tribal government agencies. Following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, Congress established emergency planning and preparedness as a condition for licensing and operations. With any commercial nuclear facility within the U.S., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has regulatory oversight for onsite activities within the plant. FEMA, in turn, has responsibility for working with state, tribal and local governments for offsite emergency planning and preparedness. Specific planning standards and evaluation criteria exist that must be satisfied in order for NRC to issue an operating license. This process is designed by law to ensure plans and preparedness “adequately protect the public health and safety by providing reasonable assurance that appropriate protective measures can be taken offsite in the event of a radiological emergency.”

FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REPP) provides state, tribal and local governments with processes to review and approve preparedness measures (e.g., plans, procedures, personnel, training, facilities, and equipment). It offers support and resources such as site assistance visits, planning guidance, and helping conduct exercises to ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants, in the event of a radiological accident.

Here are some facts on the REPP:

Working with state, local and tribal officials
We work in close coordination to ensure plans and preparedness measures are in place to protect public health and safety. We ensure these plans can be used by emergency response personnel, and that they include sufficient resources and equipment. Planning and preparedness measures employ tools such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Framework (NRF), and Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans.

As part of the REPP, we also evaluate the alert and notification system for nuclear power plants in case an accident should occur, including outdoor warning sirens and back-up systems.

We cooperate closely with the NRC and provide all findings from these evaluations to the NRC to use when making its licensing decisions.

Informing the public
As we do with all hazards, we are focused on making sure the public is aware of the various risks in their communities and providing preparedness and safety information about the potential impact of a radiological threat.

Families that live near or around nuclear power plants should become informed about steps they can take to protect themselves before an incident occurs by contacting their local Office of Emergency Management, referring to information in the local telephone directory and regular publications they receive by mail about emergency preparedness, or visiting Ready.gov.

Over a week ago, two Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams were deployed to Japan by the U.S. Agency for International Development, at the request of the Japanese government.  The teams were sent to support search and rescue efforts after the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.

Yesterday, Virginia Task Force 1 and Los Angeles Task Force 2 safely arrived home after their nine day mission.  Here are some links to local news coverage about the teams' mission and return home:

• Virginia Task Force 1 home from Japan (WTTG, Washington DC)
• Members of LA Search and Rescue Team Return From Japan (KABC-TV, Los Angeles)

Join us in saying "thank you" to the US&R team members and their families.  For more information on US&R teams and FEMA, check out these blog posts:

• Tsunami Update 4: Urban Search & Rescue deploying to Japan
• In Photos: Urban Search and Rescue Team Deploying to Japan
• U.S. Urban Search & Rescue Team Deploying to New Zealand

Posted by: Eric Smith, Assistant Administrator for Logistics Management

As Flood Safety Awareness Week continues, yesterday, the National Weather Service issued forecasts indicating communities in the Dakotas, Minnesota and other states in the Midwest are at a significant risk for major flooding this spring, and Montana, South Dakota, New Jersey and other states are already dealing with significant floods.

We have written a lot on this blog about what individuals can do to prepare, and how we are working with the entire team to get the word out, but we wanted to take a second and let you know about one of the steps we are taking here at FEMA to be ready – establishing an Incident Support Base in the upper Midwest.

What’s an Incident Support Base?

At all times, FEMA has commodities (like water, food, blankets, cots and generators), at our eight distribution centers that are strategically located throughout the United States. These centers contain millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, just to give you some sense of their size.

Often times, when we see the threat of disaster, in the form of flooding, hurricanes or other phenomenon, in anticipation of requests from our state partners, we will send some of our commodities forward from our distribution centers closer to the impacted areas and set up what we call an Incident Support Base (ISB).


Fayetteville, NC, September 3, 2010 -- FEMA generators are staged for rapid deployment to support emergency facilities and public buildings if needed. FEMA is one part of a team supporting North Carolina's preparations for and response to Hurricane Earl.

You may remember last summer, when Hurricane Earl threatened the east coast. We set up two ISBs, one in the Northeast, and one in the Southeast, in case they were needed to support the states’ response.  Here is a video about one of the ISBs we stood up to prepare for Hurricane Earl:



And this week, in anticipation of potential flooding across the Upper Midwest, FEMA has a team on the ground in Minnesota, proactively establishing an Incident Support Base, to further enhance our ability to quickly move needed supplies throughout the Upper Midwest states affected by spring flooding, should they be needed and requested.

The Incident Support Base has already begun receiving supplies this past Monday that includes meals, water, cots, hygiene kits, infant and toddler kits and other items intended to support state requirements. Check out this video from local news.

If the Midwest states request supplies, items from the Incident Support Base will be sent forward to a Federal or State staging area, and ultimately transferred to the state for distribution to survivors. All points of distribution are identified and managed by the local/state emergency managers.

And as we often say, FEMA is not the team, FEMA is part of the team, a team that includes the entire federal family, state, local and tribal officials, the faith-based and non-profit communities, the private sector and most importantly the public. Individuals living in the affected areas need to take precautions and to continue to heed the information and warnings coming from their state and local officials.

If you haven’t already, visit www.ready.gov/floodawareness to learn more.

- Eric

Editor's Note: On May 16, 2011, we removed an image of the National Weather Service Hazards Assessment map.

Japan earthquake and tsunami
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan as they recover from the tragic earthquake and tsunami that struck last week. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) remains the lead federal agency when it comes to responding to international disasters, so visit USAID.gov for additional information on the Federal response.

Check out this blog post to see you how can help those affected by the disasters.

Potential severe weather
In the U.S., severe weather is forecasted to affect much of the country, from high winds on the west coast to heavy rain and possible flooding in the Midwest. In the south and southeast, drought conditions are expected to continue, and weather conditions are favorable for wildfires for parts of the southwest through the weekend.

For your local forecast and the National Weather Service (NWS) hazards outlook (pictured below), visit weather.gov.




The outlook for spring
In case you missed it, the NWS released its Spring Outlook yesterday. This year's outlook predicted major flooding for the Red River of the North, along with an above average risk of flooding across portions of the Northeast. For information on what we have been doing to prepare and what you can do, see our blog posts:

• Video: Couple shares their flooding preparedness tips
• Answers to Some Common Questions on Flood Insurance
• Flood Insurance Provides Lifeline For Business Owners
• Spring is Coming: Red River Teaches a Lesson of Preparedness
• The Disaster Declaration Process, Spring Flood Edition
• Recent flooding serves as a reminder
• All of our blog posts on Floods
  

Posted by: Public Affairs

Although Flood Safety Awareness Week comes to an end today it is just the beginning of a very busy flood season, as announced yesterday by the National Weather Service (NWS) in their annual spring outlook.

As flood season continues, you can share flood safety tips directly from FEMA on your website by using our flooding widget.  The widget provides current flood conditions, links to Ready.gov, interactive flood risk resources and other critical flood insurance information to help citizens get prepared for potential flooding.  And as the year goes on, the information and links in the widget will automatically update to reflect the flooding risks of the current/upcoming season.

Sounds great – how do I use it on my website? 


A widget is simply a piece of reusable code that can be embedded on a website – allowing multiple sites to display the same graphic and information.  So if you manage your own website, simply insert the code onto a web page that has sufficient space to display the widget.  If your site is managed by a web manager, then send them the code below, along with the place you would like the widget to display.




Copy this code for the Are you prepared for flooding? (English) Widget:
<iframe width="240" height="400" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/prepared_flooding.html"></iframe>





Copy this code for the Are you prepared for flooding? (Spanish) Widget:

<iframe width="240" height="400" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/prepared_flooding_esp.html"></iframe>

Posted by: Tim Manning, Deputy Administrator, Protection and National Preparedness

Tuesday was my first full day here in Pago Pago, American Samoa. I started out the morning meeting with the many members of our emergency management team here on the island, beginning with the chief of the Emergency Medical Services unit. We toured their EMS facility and I was very lucky to have a quick chance to speak to some of their EMS workers. The chief told us how critical volunteers are to their work and that they focus on supporting emergency preparedness efforts in their different villages on the island. What the chief explained – that having a strong grassroots capacity is key for American Samoa – was echoed in all of our meetings throughout the day.

Next, we went to meet with the governor. FEMA has worked closely with him and his team through every step of the recovery from the tsunami in September 2009, and our meeting reinforced how critical this strong partnership is to this ongoing effort. The governor spoke about the territory’s experiences on Friday, when they and other Pacific islands were at risk of potential impacts from the tsunami. While they were very lucky to have been spared, the governor underscored that what’s happening in Japan only heightens the importance of being prepared for earthquakes, tsunamis and other hazards. And as he put it best, we can all learn from each other. And that’s really what the Pacific Area Risk Managers ‘Ohana meeting is all about.

We then met with some of the chiefs who lead the villages on the island, and the director of Homeland Security and his team. Each of these meetings underscored two important principles for us at FEMA – the importance of engaging the entire community in preparedness and that we have to make sure that all of our efforts to plan for, respond to and recover from disasters reflect the needs of the actual communities. American Samoa, for example, has an incredibly strong community preparedness effort that starts in each of their villages – and is supported from the ground up.

In the afternoon, we toured some of the homes that have been or are being built as part of the ongoing recovery work – one of the many types of assistance FEMA is providing to disaster survivors. While progress has been made, there is still a lot of work ahead. Our recovery office in Pago Pago is overseeing these and other recovery efforts, and has been working to communicate regularly with the families whose homes are being rebuilt, and keep them informed of every step in this process.

In every meeting today, and in every encounter I have had here so far, I have been struck by the resilience of the people of American Samoa. Their determination and commitment to continuing to rebuild, and to becoming better prepared for all hazards, is inspiring.

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to speak at the PRiMO conference. The PRiMO conference is all about building partnerships and strengthening the emergency management team – two ways we can build our resiliency in the Pacific region and elsewhere.  Everything I have seen, or listened to in the last day is sure to help add to the important conversations we will be having. I look forward to another day of learning, and discovering how we can further build the team and strengthen our work, taking into account the many lessons learned in Samoa, Japan, and from other recent disasters.

- Tim

Posted by: Public Affairs

The National Weather Service (NWS) released their annual spring outlook today to help citizens take the necessary steps to prepare. This year’s outlook predicts spring flooding will worsen beginning as early as this week, affecting almost half the country from the North Central U.S. through the Midwest and the Northeast, causing an above average risk of flooding across portions of the Northeast, including Southern New England and parts of eastern NY State.


(U.S. Spring Flood Risk Map for 2011. Photo: Courtesy of NOAA)

Some specifics from the Spring Outlook include:

• For the third consecutive year, forecasters predict major flooding along the Red River of the North, which forms the state line between eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
• Other areas of the Midwest primed for major flooding include Devils Lake in North Dakota, the Milk River in Northeastern Montana, the James and Big Sioux Rivers in South Dakota, the Minnesota River, and the Mississippi River from its headwaters near St. Paul, Minnesota, downstream to St. Louis.
• There is an above average risk of flooding across portions of the Northeast, including Southern New England and parts of eastern NY State.

In a conference call today with the National Weather Service, Administrator Fugate reiterated that there are a few simple steps every family should take now, before disaster strikes: be aware of your risk, make an emergency kit, get a family communication plan and get flood insurance before flooding occurs.

At FEMA, we have been working closely with all our state partners on incorporating lessons learned from the past flood seasons into our emergency planning for this year, as well as conducting aggressive outreach with our federal, state and local counterparts, and emergency managers. For more information on these efforts, check out:

• Video: Couple shares their flooding preparedness tips
• Answers to Some Common Questions on Flood Insurance
• Flood Insurance Provides Lifeline For Business Owners
• Spring is Coming: Red River Teaches a Lesson of Preparedness
• The Disaster Declaration Process, Spring Flood Edition
• Recent flooding serves as a reminder
• All of our blog posts on Floods
  

You can continue to monitor the latest forecasts from your local National Weather Service office, visit our Flood Safety Awareness page for additional preparedness tips, and remember, if you come across a flooded road, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Posted by: Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator ; Dr. Jack Hayes, Director of NOAA's National Weather Service

Our agencies, along with other Federal, State, local agencies, volunteer and faith-based groups, and the private sector, are emphasizing flood safety this week.

Since last year’s flood season, FEMA has been working with all our state partners on incorporating lessons learned from the past flood seasons into our emergency planning for this year, and emphasizing the important role that the public has in those emergency plans.

And since February, our regional offices have been conducting aggressive outreach, along with our federal, state and local counterparts, emergency managers, and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about the importance of personal preparedness.

It’s of particular importance this year because many communities have already experienced flooding as snow melts and spring rains come. National Weather Service forecasts are calling for a particularly busy spring flooding season for the upper Midwest eastward through New England, but this message isn’t only for that area of the country.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the U.S., and causes billions of dollars in damage each year for families and businesses. Whether you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner, there are steps you can take to reduce the damage a potential flood may inflict.

We challenge you to take these three easy steps to get prepared for flooding:

• Know your risk – Look for the updated NOAA Spring Outlook tomorrow on http://www.weather.gov/, and understand the current flood risk in your area by monitoring National Weather Service river forecasts and flood warnings. Another useful site for learning your risk for flooding is FloodSmart.gov, where you can enter an address and learn its flood risk profile.
  
  And as always, when severe weather strikes, we urge all individuals in the region to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and follow the directions provided by their local officials.
• Make an emergency kit – If you wait until your community has a flood warning to prepare for flooding, it’s unlikely you will be able to take the necessary precautions in time. FEMA’s preparedness website, Ready.gov, has tips for how you and your family can prepare before a flood strikes. Specifically, an emergency kit (containing non-perishable food items, flashlight, hand-crank radio, airtight container for important documents, and other items) can prove invaluable if your home is flooded.
• Insure your property by purchasing flood insurance – Many people may not think of insurance as a way to be prepared, but it can be crucial in helping individuals and communities recover quickly. Homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover damage or losses from flooding, so contact your insurance agent to find out more. Flood insurance policies normally take 30 days to become effective, so it’s important to consider flood insurance before flooding hits.

Floods occur somewhere in the United States or its territories nearly every day of the year. So be prepared and be FloodSmart by taking action on the three steps above to reduce the impact a flood will have on you, your family or your business.

- Craig and Jack

Posted by: Tim Manning, Deputy Administrator, Protection and National Preparedness

As the U.S. government continues to offer support to the people of Japan, and FEMA continues to stay in close contact with our state partners along the West Coast that were impacted by Friday's tsunami, I am traveling to Hawaii and American Samoa this week to meet with our partners in emergency management from across the pacific, and discuss how together, we can build more resilient communities.

Although this trip had been scheduled for quite some time, long before Friday, what just happened in Japan underscores the importance of building strong relationships, across the entire emergency management team. I started out my trip yesterday in Honolulu, where FEMA has our Pacific Area Office, also known as our PAO. The PAO, along with our regional office in Oakland, CA, was in constant contact with Hawaii state officials throughout Friday, and continue to work closely with them as they begin to conduct assessments of the damage the tsunami caused. While in Honolulu, staff from our PAO and regional office and I met with Governor Abercrombie and his staff, where we discussed the aftermath of the tsunami and how the state was faring. While there have been no requests for federal assistance yet, the Governor and I both agreed that our strong partnership helped during the state's immediate response. We were ready to help any way needed, and FEMA will continue to work to support the state as recovery efforts get underway.

For the next three days, I'm in American Samoa, where FEMA has been working to support the territory's ongoing recovery from the devastating tsunami that struck in September 2009. Today, I'll be meeting with Governor Tulafono and other territory and local officials and touring some of our ongoing recovery projects. Tomorrow, I'll be participating in the O'hana Pacific Area Risk Managers Annual Conference, which many of our federal, state and territory partners are attending. There's no doubt that the devastation in Japan will be on all of our minds -- and make our discussions all the more relevant.

The bottom line is, as the people of Samoa learned a year and a half ago, none of us are invincible to a catastrophic disaster. The recent earthquakes in Chile, in New Zealand, which I experienced firsthand, and in Japan should be an important reminder to all of us that earthquakes and other disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. We all need to do our part to be prepared.

I'm looking forward to a week of constructive meetings and dialogues that will help us continue to build on our efforts at FEMA. I'll continue to check in from the road - so stay tuned to the blog for more updates.

- Tim

Posted by: Public Affairs

As the tragic events in Japan have made clear, earthquakes can strike with no notice and cause devastating consequences.  In the U.S., many areas are at risk for an earthquake, which is why preparing is so important.

In addition to creating your family emergency plan and getting a kit, earthquake drills can enforce how to stay safe during and immediately after a quake.  One such drill is the Great Central U.S. Shakeout, a multi-state earthquake drill that focuses on the potentially life-saving actions of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during/after an earthquake.

The drill will only be effective if people participate and, so far, over 1 million people have signed up.  That’s great, but if you haven’t signed up for the Shakeout, do so today, and if you have already, take the time to tell a friend to sign up.

While we don’t know where or when the next earthquake will strike, we can all take steps to lessen the effects of a quake.  And wherever you live in the U.S., check out these earthquake preparedness tips from Ready.gov to get started.

The Northeast, and particularly the State of New Jersey, has been hit with significant flooding over the past few days. 

We’re continuing to closely monitor the situation along with our state and local agencies, as well the National Weather Service forecast offices.  At the request of Governor Christie, we will be assisting the State of New Jersey with preliminary damage assessments, examining the extent of the damage from the recent floods.  (See this blog post about the disaster declaration process and spring flooding.)

As Flood Safety Awareness Week continues, the recent flooding in the Northeast serves as a great reminder of the importance of being prepared for floods.  This is especially true if you are in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam.  Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding.

I encourage you to take steps to get prepared for flooding, and visit Ready.gov/floodawareness to learn more.

- Lynn

Posted by: Edward Connor, Acting Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration

National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 14-18, is an excellent opportunity for all Americans to become more educated about the dangers that flooding can cause and what steps to take to be prepared for the risk of flooding.  

The current flooding occurring in parts of the Midwest, Southern and Northeastern parts of the nation  are a very real reminder that floods can happen anywhere and at anytime in the United States. Flooding, the nation's most common natural disaster can and does happen in every U.S. state and territory.

All floods are not alike, though. Some develop slowly during an extended period of rain, or during a warming trend after a heavy snow. Others, such as flash floods, can occur very rapidly, without warning or even any visible signs of rain. That’s why it’s critical to be prepared for flooding no matter where you live.

Here are some actions that you and your family can take today  to become better prepared:

• Get an emergency supply kit - This includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car, which would include copies of prescription medications and medical supplies and copies of important documents like a driver's license, Social Security card, etc.
  
• Create a family emergency plan - Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so you should know how to contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.  Plan places where your family will meet, notify caregivers and make plans for your pets.
  
• Purchase flood insurance – A flood insurance policy can protect your home, property, or business from the financial damages of flooding.  Most homeowner’s insurance does not cover damage from flooding, so visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more.  Flood insurance policies normally have a 30-day waiting period before they go into effect, so make sure you’re protected before flooding occurs.
  
• Be informed about your flood risk – As snow melts and spring rains fall, the National Weather Service uses several terms to help you identify the stages of flood hazard:
  
• Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information 
• Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information. 
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately. 
• Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

For more information about flood safety, visit www.Ready.gov/floodawareness.

Posted by: Public Affairs

The White House released an overview of the United States' response in support of Japan:

Any U.S Citizens in need of emergency assistance should send an e-mail to JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov with detailed information about their location and contact information, and monitor the U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov.

U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) is coordinating the overall U.S. government efforts in support of the Japanese governments response to the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami that hit Friday and are currently directing individuals to www.usaid.gov for information about response donations.

USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) set up a Response Management Team in DC and sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Tokyo, which includes people with nuclear expertise from the Departments of Energy (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS) as well the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Two Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Teams (LA County and Fairfax County teams) which total 144 members plus 12 search and rescue canines and up to 45 metric tons of rescue equipment are also on the ground in Misawa, Japan and will begin searching at first light March 14.

The Department of Defense has the USS Reagan on station off the coast of Japan and the USS Essex en route, and is currently using an air facility in Misawa as a forward operating base.

The American Red Cross (ARC) International Services team is supporting the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) to assess the impact, determine response efforts, and assist the people of Japan.

Officials from the Department of Energy, NRC, and other agencies have maintained contact with Japanese officials and will provide whatever assistance the Japanese government requests as they work to stabilize their damaged nuclear reactors.

With regards to the United States, the NRC has released information stating that Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.

Read the full update on whitehouse.gov.

Posted by: Rich Serino, Deputy Administrator

As we spring forward an hour for Daylight Savings, it’s a great reminder to make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home.  Smoke alarms significantly increase your chances of surviving a deadly home fire, so we’re encouraging everyone to take simple steps to be prepared:

• Test and clean your smoke alarms today and on the first of every month
• Replace the batteries at least once a year
• Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence and in every bedroom
• Check the manufacture/expiration date on the smoke alarm (yes, smoke alarms have expiration dates)

And I also wanted to turn your attention to this article from the Portland Fire Department that tells the story of how a family’s fire escape plan saved the lives of two young girls and their mother, so please remember to practice your family escape plan --- it can literally save your life.

For more information about home smoke alarms and fire sprinklers, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.

Please share these tips with your friends and family, and if you're on Twitter, join in the conversation by using the hashtag #imprepared after you test your smoke alarm.

- Rich

Posted by: Public Affairs

From the National Weather Service:

All Tsunami Warnings and Advisories have been canceled for the U.S.

Damaging tsunamis are no longer expected to impact the U.S. west coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. As local conditions can cause a wide variation in tsunami impact, the all clear determinations must be made by local authorities.

Visit this interactive map to see the latest, official NWS watches, warnings and advisories currently in effect for all types of hazards.

Bookmark mobile.weather.gov/ and m.fema.gov/ on your smartphone so you're always prepared when you're on the go.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Yesterday, one of our updates about the Japan earthquake and tsunami highlighted the two Urban Search and Rescue teams deploying to support search and rescue operations. The teams are deploying at the request of the Japanese government, under the direction of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The photos below are courtesy of the Virginia Task Force 1 team (VA-TF1) as they make final preparations. See more about the VA-TF1 team on Facebook or their website:



A VA-TF1 team member prepares his gear. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)


Search and rescue equipment of the VA-TF1 team. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)



One of six Virginia Task Force 1 dogs being deployed on search and rescue efforts in Japan. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)


Al Jazeera, CNN, local news media and others visited with the team before it departed. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)


Some of the gear of the VA-TF1 team. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County)

Posted by: Marcie Roth, Director, Office of Disability Integration & Coordination

Today's earthquake and the resulting tsunami are another reminder of the need to plan for the entire community and not just plan for the easy scenarios following a disaster, as Administrator Fugate often says. Along with the National Disability Rights Network and other leaders and advocates from across the disability community, we signed a memorandum of agreement today at the White House.  This agreement solidifies a partnership in working together to make sure we are planning for and meeting the needs of people with disabilities before, during, and after disasters strike.

Here's an excerpt from the White House Blog:

Under the leadership of President Obama and Administrator Fugate, we are changing all of this. We have taken several concrete steps already. And as Administrator Fugate said at today’s MOA signing – we must plan for the whole of community up front, with FEMA as just one part of the emergency management team.

Today’s agreement helps strengthen the relationship that Administrator Fugate and his team have already developed with the National Disability Rights Network and other key stakeholders. It will help FEMA do two critical things:

• First, it helps us plan for the needs of the entire community, for any disaster. That means planning for the needs of people with disabilities, young children, seniors, and all members of the “real” community.

• Second, it’s another step toward bringing the collective resources of the entire community to the table to help meet those needs.

Read the full blog post at Whitehouse.gov.

Posted by: Public Affairs

At the request of the Japanese government, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is deploying two Urban Search and Rescue teams to assist in search and rescue efforts in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.

As you may have seen in the news, the California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) and Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) teams are deploying due to their direct agreement with USAID.  The teams consist of 70 multi-faceted, cross-trained personnel who serve in six major functional areas, including search, rescue, medical, hazardous materials, logistics and planning. In addition, they are supported by canines that are specially trained and qualified to be able to conduct physical search and heavy rescue operations in damaged or collapsed reinforced concrete buildings.



So how does FEMA fit into the picture? Here's part of our blog post when the CA-TF2 was deployed to New Zealand in response to the Christchurch earthquake:

You often hear US&R and FEMA in the same sentence, and the reason is because FEMA has developed disaster response agreements with 28 urban search and rescue teams located in various cities throughout the United States.   The teams are locally managed, but FEMA provides funding and program development support for the teams.

Other links
- CA-TF2 website, Facebook and Twitter
- VA-TF1 website

As Administrator Fugate said this morning, our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the tragic earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan earlier today. If you would like to help the survivors, or families of the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, please visit Interaction.org for information on how to donate.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) remains the lead Federal agency when it comes to responding to international disasters, and we stand ready to assist if called upon. Within the U.S., we're working closely with other members of the emergency management team to support State and local response operations from the tsunami if needed.

Other links
- If you're looking for a friend, relative, or loved one in Japan, visit the Google Person Finder on the Google Crisis Response page.

FEMA and Federal Partners Support States, Territories in Tsunami Response

Alongside our federal partners, we are closely monitoring the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early this morning and stand ready to support state and local response operations if needed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued Tsunami Warnings and Watches for a number of countries, including parts of U.S. territories in the Pacific as well as coastal areas along California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

At the President’s direction, FEMA is leaning forward to assist our state and territory partners. And as we often say, FEMA is not the team, FEMA is part of the team, a team that includes the entire federal family, state, local and tribal officials, the faith-based and non-profit communities, the private sector and most importantly the public. Individuals living in the affected areas need to take precautions and to continue to heed the information and warnings coming from their state and local officials.

Earlier this morning, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Administrator Craig Fugate briefed President Obama on the Department’s ongoing coordination activities with potentially affected states and territories.



Under the direction of the President, we are in close coordination with state and local officials, through regional offices in Oakland, California and Bothell, Washington, and the pacific area office in Honolulu, Hawaii. In addition, we have commodities, such as water, meals, blankets and cots, prepositioned in Hawaii, Guam, and the Bay area of California should a request be made.

There have been no requests for federal assistance from U.S. states or territories at this time, however, we and our federal partners stand ready to provide support if a request is made by a Governor. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) remains the lead federal agency when it comes to responding to international disasters.



Here is additional information on the coordination efforts from our Federal partners:

U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews are making preparations through the main Hawaiian Islands to provide post-tsunami support following any potential impacts.

The Department of Defense has positioned National Guard personnel in county emergency operation centers in Hawaii, additional aircraft and personnel have been placed on standby if needed.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is deploying a Disaster Medical Assistance Team of more than 35 healthcare professionals and an Incident Response Coordination Team to Travis Air Force Base in California, as well as caches of medical equipment and supplies. From the Air Force base, the teams and equipment can deploy quickly wherever they are needed if requested by states or territories in the region or by the government of Japan.

The HHS Administration on Aging is monitoring the situation through its state, tribal and local Agencies on Aging, in impacted areas, to ensure safety of older adults in potentially impacted areas.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is closely monitoring conditions near the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, located near San Luis Obispo, CA. The NRC is working closely with its resident inspectors who are on site to ensure safe operating.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its Pacific Tsunami Warning Center are monitoring conditions and issuing warnings and advisory updates as available.

The U.S. Department of State has a call center established for Americans seeking information about family members in Japan. The number is 1-888-407-4747.

While tsunami watches and warning remain in effect, we urge the public to listen to the instructions of state and local officials, and if told to evacuate – evacuate. We urge everyone in the regions who could be impacted to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and directions provided by their local officials.

Posted by: Craig Fugate, Administrator

(Updated with a video, 8am EST)



FEMA is closely monitoring the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early this morning, and through our regional offices in the West Coast and in the pacific area, we are in close contact and coordination with state and local officials and stand ready to support them in any way needed.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.

Tsunami warnings and watches have been issued for the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, as well as portions of coastal areas in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.

Our immediate priority is the safety of the people and communities in the affected areas.  We remind everyone who lives in the region to monitor their local news for instructions from their state and local officials and if told to evacuate - evacuate.

Posted by: Public Affairs

For the last few weeks, we’ve worked with our partners to raise awareness of children’s fire safety. We wanted to highlight this story on ClintonNews.com (Mississippi), showing how one community is helping to spread the word.

Have you shared fire safety tips with your children, or those that you come into contact with? Ready.gov/kidsfiresafety has some great tips on getting children prepared so they know what to do in case of a fire. And if you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #kidsfiresafety to share how you’ve been getting children engaged.

Also, check out some of our recent blog posts on kids fire safety:

• Keeping our Kids Safe From Home Fires
• News of the Day: Sharing Kids Fire Safety Tips
• Kids Fire Safety in Photos

Posted by: Shayne Adamski, Senior Manager, Digital Engagement



Cell phones are becoming more and more valuable to our lives – providing internet access, the latest weather forecast, and access to our favorite social networking sites.  While cell phones can be a great convenience, they can also be a lifeline after an emergency.

As Administrator Fugate often says, a cell phone is a data center, with the ability to store and access a large amount of information quickly.  So why not tap into the power of your cell phone, whether it's the latest-and-greatest model, or a phone that’s been around a while, and be ready to use it in case a disaster strikes?

In recent disasters, like the aftermath of the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010, cell phones have been an invaluable resource for disaster survivors.  I sincerely hope no one finds themselves in the dire situation that many Haitians did following the earthquake, but we can all take steps to make our cell phones a handy resource before, during, and after an emergency.
 
Here are some tips to making your cell phone an emergency resource:

• Store useful phone numbers – Check the numbers for your emergency contacts to make sure they’re up to date.  Be sure to save the contact information for your local police and fire departments, as well as your utility companies.  That way, you’ll be able to quickly report any service or power outages following an emergency.
  
  
• Create a group for your emergency contacts – Some cell phones allow you to create contact groups or lists, making it easy to send a single text message to a group to let them know your status after an emergency.  Many social networking sites allow you to create a list or group of contacts as well, making it easy to share your status with your emergency contacts following a disaster.
  
  
• Stay up to date via Twitter without an account – Twitter is becoming an important vehicle for information before, during and after a disaster.  One of the common misconceptions is that people need a Twitter account to receive updates. In fact, you can receive updates from Twitter simply by utilizing your phone's text messaging capability (normal text message rates apply).  For example, if you wanted to follow Administrator Fugate, text follow craigatfema to 40404 (Twitter’s text message number).
  
  I encourage you to receive updates from the local/state emergency management agencies in your area, along with any other accounts that could provide you with meaningful information before, during, and after a disaster.
  
  
• Bookmark useful mobile sites – If your cell phone has internet access, take advantage of mobile websites that are formatted to display information within a mobile browser.  The National Weather Service (http://mobile.weather.gov), Center for Disease Control (http://m.cdc.gov), and FEMA (http://m.fema.gov) are mobile sites you can bookmark today.
  
  
• Backup your battery – This may not be a tip for using your cell phone, but having an extra battery for your phone (or a solar charger) in your emergency kit will ensure you can use your device if the power stays out for an extended period of time.

The items outlined above are a great place to start, but let me know if you have other tips for using your cell phone or other mobile sites that you have found useful.

- Shayne

Other links
- For information on creating your emergency plan, getting an emergency kit, or becoming informed about potential disasters in your area, visit Ready.gov.