FEMA Blog

Posted by: Public Affairs

Since the deadly tornadoes first struck parts of the country earlier this week, the federal government has been in constant contact with all of the impacted states as they responded to and began recovery efforts from these devastating storms.

At the request of the respective governors, FEMA currently has personnel on the ground in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, and commodities strategically pre-positioned in the region to support the states.

President Obama joined Administrator Fugate, the Governor and other state and local officials on the ground in Alabama yesterday.

On Sunday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Small Business Administrator Mills, and FEMA Administrator Fugate will travel to Alabama and Mississippi to survey the damage and meet with state and local officials.

Recap for Friday, April 29th

• An Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is on the ground in Kentucky and an additional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) arrived in Mississippi, IMATs are also on the ground in Alabama and in Georgia to assist in the coordination efforts as the states continue to respond and begin to recover from this devastating storm outbreak.
• FEMA Community Relations (CR) teams are on the ground in Georgia and Alabama to meeting with disaster survivors to explain the assistance available and to help survivors register for assistance. Additional CR teams have been deployed to Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
• FEMA partnered with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to create a joint Facebook page as an additional way to reach Alabama residents during the response and recovery efforts after the severe storms and tornadoes.
• A housing mission planning team is on the ground in Alabama to support the state in meeting its objectives. This team, comprised of housing and technical experts from FEMA, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Army Corps of Engineers, Small Business Administration and voluntary agencies, will assist the state-led housing task force in establishing housing priorities; seeking ways to maximize housing resources, such as apartments and rental units; and other resources, if needed. 
• U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to Alabama and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding this week.
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made immediately available $6 million in Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program aid for disaster recovery projects in 10 states affected this month by storms and floods.
• The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptists and other voluntary and faith-based organizations are also providing meals, shelter and other relief supplies. More than 90 American Red Cross response vehicles are fanning out through the affected areas distributing meals and relief supplies.

We’ve partnered with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to create a joint Facebook page as an additional way to reach Alabama residents during the response and recovery efforts after the severe storms and tornadoes.

And as we support multiple states that are impacted by the severe storms, I wanted to provide a list of other online resources:

Alabama Emergency Management Agency
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site
Information on volunteering

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site
Information on volunteering

Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Facebook full site / Facebook mobile site
Twitter full site / Twitter mobile site

People can also receive Twitter updates via text message from their respective emergency management agencies. You don’t need your own Twitter account to receive these updates, but keep in mind that standard text messaging rates apply:

• For the Alabama Emergency Management Agency Twitter updates text follow AlabamaEMA to 40404 (this is Twitter’s text message number).
  
• For the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Twitter updates text follow MSEMA to 40404
  
• For the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Twitter updates text follow GeorgiaEMA to 40404
  
• For FEMA Twitter updates text follow FEMA to 40404

In addition to helping us spread the word about the above online resources, please embed this widget on your website to help us spread the word for how disaster survivors can apply for assistance and other resources to assist them:




Here's the code for the English widget:

<iframe width="250" height="460" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/da_main.html" title="Are you a disaster survivor?"></iframe>




Here's the code for the Spanish widget:

<iframe width="250" height="420" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/da_main_esp.html" title="¿Es sobreviviente de un desastre?"></iframe>

As we continue to keep all of our stakeholders informed about our response and support efforts with the recent disasters, we wanted to make sure all of our stakeholders know there are three ways disaster survivors can apply for assistance:

• Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov
• Register through a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov
• Call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in designated counties can apply for assistance. For a full list of the designated counties, visit the state disasater page: Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

If you know someone in the affected area and you’re communicating with them, please share this information with them. And if you have a website, please embed this widget on your site.



Here's the code for the English widget:

<iframe width="250" height="420" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/da_main.html" title="Are you a disaster survivor?"></iframe>




Here's the code for the Spanish widget:

<iframe width="250" height="460" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fema.gov/help/widgets/da_main_esp.html" title="¿Es sobreviviente de un desastre?"></iframe>

Posted by: Elizabeth Zimmerman, Deputy Associate Administrator, Response and Recovery

Disasters not only affect community infrastructure and public works, but they often overcome family finances, making recovery difficult and sometimes impossible. Before, during and after disasters strike, we work with a number of non-profit, voluntary and faith-based groups who specialize in getting disaster survivors financially back on their feet.

As we often say, FEMA is just one part of the emergency management team that helps individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.  In this light, we’ve renewed our partnership with Operation HOPE, a non-profit public benefit corporation, to enhance financial counseling services available before, during and after disasters.



Our partnership with Operation HOPE will result in greater access to free financial counseling and information for disaster survivors, including:

• debt counseling,
• case management services, and
• workshops, seminars and manuals for those seeking help at disaster recovery centers.

In conjunction with National Financial Literacy Month and the agreement signing held on April 27, we also will be co-hosting a webinar with Operation HOPE on Emergency Financial Preparedness.  This webinar, scheduled for May 3, will emphasize the importance of what it means to be financially prepared.  We will also touch on why, in the face of disaster, failing to be financially prepared can create even more stress and anxiety than the disaster itself.

So, what can you do to be financially prepared for emergencies?

• Start by completing an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. This document can help you keep track of important documentation, like insurance policy information, so you have clear financial records that will help maintain stability in the event of an emergency.

Find additional resources on financial preparedness, more on our partnership with Operation HOPE, and information on helping your community prepare for a disaster at www.CitizenCorps.gov

Posted by: Public Affairs

Since the deadly tornadoes first struck parts of the country earlier this week, the federal government has been in constant contact with all of the impacted states as they responded to and began recovery efforts from these devastating storms.

At the request of the respective governors, FEMA currently has personnel on the ground in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee, and commodities strategically pre-positioned in the region to support the states.

President Obama joined Administrator Fugate, the Governor and other state and local officials on the ground in Alabama today.

On Sunday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Small Business Administrator Mills, and Administrator Fugate will travel to Alabama and Mississippi to survey the damage and meet with state and local officials.

Recap for Friday, April 29th

• FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour fly from Jackson, MS to Smithville, Monroe County, to survey the storm-damaged areas.
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate joins President Obama in Alabama to view damages as a result of severe storms and tornados that struck Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and other states in the southern and mid-Atlantic regions this week.  President Obama also meets with Governor Robert Bentley, state and local officials, and families affected by the storms. 
• An additional Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) is on the ground in Alabama, IMATs are also on the ground in Mississippi and in Georgia to assist in the coordination efforts as the states continue to respond and begin to recover from this devastating storm outbreak.    
• FEMA liaison officers arrive on the ground in Tennessee’s emergency operations center to state efforts.
• FEMA, its federal partners and the affected states hold a video-teleconference to discuss response efforts and to address anticipated needs. 
• Secretary Janet Napolitano visits the FEMA National Response Coordination Center where she is briefed by the federal agencies on the ongoing, coordinated federal operations in support of the current and anticipated needs of the affected states.  
• Supplies such as meals, water, infant toddler kits and tarps begin to arrive, or are en-route to an incident support base established in Maxwell, Alabama.  The support base will allow FEMA to move supplies closer to the affected area, in case they are needed.
• Nearly 1,100 National Guard men and women perform search and rescue, security, transportation, and road clearing missions in support of the Alabama tornado relief effort.
• Alabama receives additional assistance, as part of its major disaster declaration, for Marengo and Sumter counties, meaning individuals in those counties can now also apply for federal aid. Damage assessments are ongoing, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are completed in the affected areas. 
• The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announces details of the open USPS offices, along with hours of operation and services that were being provided to disaster survivors affected by the recent storms in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.
• The Department of Health and Human Services provides information on post-storm health messages, to prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning, promote generator safety and encourage safety around downed power lines.  
• The American Red Cross continues to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by these storms throughout the South and the Midwest. Open Red Cross shelters can be found on www.redcross.org. The Red Cross Safe and Well secure website provides a way for people to find information on people affected by the storms. To register, visit www.redcross.org.

For the latest updates on our role, check out the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.

Posted by: Public Affairs

On April 28, President Obama declared a major disaster for Alabama after one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history tore through the Southeast. Alabama and Georgia were hit particularly hard, with large tornadoes traveling long paths and causing extensive damage.

Yesterday, FEMA began to send supplies to a FEMA staging area in Montgomery, AL to ensure the needed supplies are located close to the affected areas. More than 2 million liters of water, 1 million meals, roughly 60,000 tarps and other supplies are either en route or have arrived at the staging area.

If the southern 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. All points of distribution are identified and managed by the local/state emergency managers.

More than 100 generators are at the staging location, and could be used to potentially assist with the restoration of power to schools, fire stations, and other critical facilities.  As the situation on the ground changes, we stand ready to send additional supplies to support state response and recovery requirements.

Check out the blog post where we talk about our Incident Support Bases (ISB) – it references our logistical support base that supports spring flooding in the Upper Midwest. The ISB at Maxwell will provide similar support to Alabama and other affected States.

Many of these supplies have come from the recently-opened, state-of-the-art Atlanta Distribution Center:

Posted by: Public Affairs

Yesterday, at the request of President Obama, Administrator Fugate traveled to Alabama to meet with Governor Bentley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner, along with other federal, state and local leaders.

Craig started the day in Birmingham where he met with Senator Shelby and Representatives Aderholt and Sewell. Together, along with members of the Alabama National Guard, and thanks to their helicopter support, the group did an aerial damage surveillance tour from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa.



Craig met up with Governor Bentley and Art Faulkner, Director of Alabama Emergency Management, in Tuscaloosa to discuss the ongoing response efforts and to ensure the Governor's team had no unmet needs, and then traveled with the Governor to a devastated part of the city, to meet with state and local officials and disaster survivors.

At a press conference following the meetings, Craig praised the first responders, non-profit and faith-based organizations, as well as members of the general public for their courage, their quick response to this devastation, and for their tireless efforts to save lives and help the disaster survivors.



He also reiterated that FEMA stands in support of the Governor and his team - who is leading the response and recovery efforts in the state.

He then did some interviews with local and national news outlets about FEMA operations in the state and discussed how the recovery efforts will take some time.

Today, Administrator Fugate traveled around the state, this time accompanying President Obama.
For continued information about how FEMA is supporting response and recovery efforts, keep visiting our blog at blog.fema.gov.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Below is a recap of our activities since the deadly outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes across the southern U.S. For the latest updates on our role, check out the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.

Wednesday, April 27th:

• Severe weather system including high winds, hail and tornadoes devastates parts of several southeastern states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Alabama is most heavily affected by severe storms, which are forecast to affect the East Coast from Florida through New England through April 29th.
• Governor Bentley submits request for a federal emergency declaration for the State of Alabama as a result of severe storms, hail, straight-line winds, and tornadoes.
• FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May speaks with both Governor Bentley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner.
• DHS Secretary Napolitano speaks with Governor Bentley to express condolences and to discuss latest status.
• President Obama declares an emergency for all 67 counties in Alabama, and orders federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by these storms. The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. Joe M. Girot is designated as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in Alabama.
• The President calls Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and expresses his deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life and suffering caused by severe storms and tornadoes in Alabama.
• President releases statement on the severe storms and tornadoes in Alabama http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/28/president-devastation-alabama
• FEMA places two National Incident Management Assistance Teams on alert, in case Alabama requests their assistance. These teams help the state coordinate response efforts.
• FEMA places Texas Task Force 1 Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) team on alert, to be available in case Alabama makes a request for assistance.
• FEMA Region IV deploys a regional liaison officer to the Alabama emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts as the state continues to respond and begins to recover from this devastating storm outbreak.

Thursday, April 28th:

• FEMA Headquarters activates its National Response Coordination Staff to Level III, which activates its emergency support functions, including transportation, public works, mass care, public health, search and rescue and others.
• FEMA Region IV deploys regional IMAT to the Alabama emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts as the state continues to respond and begins to recover from the devastating storm outbreak.
• FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) activates to Level II for increased coordination with the affected states.
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, and Alabama State Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner conduct a press conference call on the coordinated state and federal response to the severe and deadly tornadoes in Alabama.
• On this call, Administrator Fugate announces that at the direction of the president, he will be traveling to Alabama to join the governor and other state and local officials on the ground.
• FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino travels to the FEMA Region IV headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and meets with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and other state and local officials as they assess the damage.
• FEMA coordinates with the USNORTHCOM to establish an incident support base in Maxwell, Alabama. The support base will allow FEMA to move supplies such as water, infant toddler kits, and tarps closer to the affected area, in case they are needed.
• President Obama speaks via telephone with DHS Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate to discuss the continuing federal disaster relief efforts for areas affected by the devastating severe storms and tornadoes that have impacted Alabama, Mississippi and other states across the Southeast.
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate arrives in Alabama to meet with Governor Robert Bentley, and other state and local officials, to assess the damage and ensure the state is receiving all the support needed for its response and recovery operations.
• Regional IMAT arrives in Alabama to support state efforts at the Alabama emergency operations center.
• FEMA, its federal partners and the affected states hold a video-teleconference to discuss response efforts and to address anticipated needs.
• The President speaks with the Governors of Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia to express condolences and let them know that the Federal Government is ready to help in any appropriate and possible way.
• FEMA liaison officers land on the ground in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Kentucky emergency operations centers supporting state efforts.
• The President makes nationally televised remarks to address the severe storms and inform the American people what its government is doing to assist the people in need.
• FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino joins Georgia Governor Nathan Deal at a press conference at the state's emergency operations center in Atlanta.
• FEMA Administrator Fugate joins Alabama Governor Robert Bentley at a press conference in Tuscaloosa, after his meetings and surveying damage in both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
• The Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues a press release to urge workers and members of the public engaged in cleanup activities to be aware of hazards they might encounter and to take the necessary steps to protect themselves.
• FEMA deploys a mobile emergency response support team to Alabama to provide prompt and rapid multi-media communications processing, logistics and operational support to state officials.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Administrator Val Dolcini reminds crop and livestock producers in affected states that FSA programs may be available to assist with recovery.
• President Obama declares a major disaster declaration which makes federal assistance available to individual who suffered personal property damages or losses, and for public infrastructure, such as schools, fire stations, and libraries.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Early this morning, President Obama declared a major disaster in Alabama as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 15.

This makes federal funding available to individuals and business owners in Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marshall, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties, which can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans. Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments in all 67 counties in the state as they continue with debris removal and emergency protective measures, such as providing shelter and meals.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance today by:

• registering online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/,
• registering through a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by
• calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

As you may remember from soon after the storms struck, President Obama authorized an emergency declaration for Alabama, another avenue to provide federal assistance to support the state and local response efforts.  At the President’s direction, Administrator Fugate has been on the ground in Alabama since yesterday morning, in both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and will be with the President in Alabama today. Deputy Administrator Rich Serino was on the ground in Georgia yesterday, and will be in Mississippi, with Governor Barbour, today.

In all of the areas affected by the severe storms and tornadoes, we continue to work closely with the entire emergency management team, especially the state emergency management agencies in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.  As President Obama said just after the storms hit, the federal government “stands ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms”.

For the latest updates on our role, check out the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.  And if your area is at risk for severe storms and tornadoes in the future, you can take steps to get prepared at http://www.ready.gov/.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Edited: April 30, 10 pm EDT
Related Blog Post: New Widget & Alabama/FEMA Facebook Page

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that hit much of the southeastern U.S. As part of the team responding to the severe weather in the South, we continue to support communities and states as they assess the situation and provide life-saving and life-sustaining support.

Below is a list of online resources you can use and pass on to others who may have been affected. Included in this list are resources that are accessible via smartphones and other mobile devices. And if you’re looking for our latest updates, visit the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.

If you’re on a desktop or laptop computer:

• Safe and Well – American Red Cross site to locate missing family/friends. You can also report that you are OK.
• Map of open shelters
• Your Local Weather Forecast
• Tornado and Severe Storm Safety Tips
• For those of you who wish to help, our Helping Others page is a good place to start. Keep in mind, in most disasters, cash is the most needed and most efficient way of helping those impacted by disaster.
• In Alabama – Follow the state Emergency Management Agency on Facebook on Twitter and find information on volunteering 
• In Georgia – Follow the state Emergency Management Agency on Facebook and on Twitter
• In Mississippi – Follow the state Emergency Management Agency on Twitter and on Facebook and find more information on volunteering

If you only have access to a smartphone or mobile device:

• American Red Cross Safe and Well
• Your Local Weather Service Forecast
• FEMA Mobile Site With Safety Tips

Posted by: Public Affairs

At the request of President Obama, Administrator Fugate is travelling to Alabama today to meet with Gov. Robert Bentley, and other state and local officials, to assess damage and ensure the state is receiving all support needed for response and recovery operations.  Details regarding Administrator Fugate’s visit to Alabama will be posted on the blog later today.

Since the tornadoes struck, through our regional office in Atlanta, Ga., we have been in constant contact with the governor’s office and state emergency management officials, and have deployed staff to Alabama’s emergency operations center to help with coordination needs. 

And in case you missed it last night, President Obama signed an emergency declaration for Alabama, providing federal support to state and local response efforts. 

For the latest information about FEMA’s response, see the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.

Posted by: Public Affairs

As many of you have no doubt seen, devastating storms and tornadoes struck the southeastern U.S. last night.  Here’s a video update from Administrator Fugate on the latest:



Forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for more severe weather today.  If you are in the potentially affected area, be sure to stay updated with your local forecast and follow the direction of local officials.

For tips on staying safe before, during and after a tornado, thunderstorm or flood, visit Ready.gov or our mobile site (m.fema.gov).

To keep updated with our latest updates, visit the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Our thoughts are with the families and communities in Alabama and Georgia that have been affected by the severe storms and tornados that have ripped through the region this evening and continue to impact the southern states.

Through our regional office in Atlanta, GA we have been in close contact and coordination with state emergency management officials, as they work tirelessly to meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors.

When natural disasters, such as severe storms and tornados, 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.

This evening, President Obama signed an emergency declaration for Alabama, providing federal support to state and local response efforts.

• The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 67 counties in the State of Alabama.
• Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
• At the request of the state of Alabama, FEMA is deploying a liaison officer to the state emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts as the state continues to respond and begins to recover from this devastating storm outbreak.

More severe weather is forecasted throughout the south, so make sure you’re taking steps to stay safe before, during, and after the storm:

• Follow the instructions of state and local officials,
• Listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information,
• Make sure you have a safe place to go in case severe weather approaches,
• Familiarize yourself with severe weather watch/warning terms
  
  • Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
  • Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
  • Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

For complete tips on getting prepared for a tornado, severe storm, or flooding, visit Ready.gov or our mobile site (m.fema.gov).

Related blog posts: Our role in severe storms and tornadoes

Posted by: Public Affairs



The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill is tomorrow!  As we’ve mentioned several times on the blog, the ShakeOut drill is a great way to practice earthquake safety and connect with those who are also at risk for an earthquake.

So take a minute to sign up today – over 2.9 million people have registered across the 11 participating states.  And if you’re already planning on participating, check out these earthquake scenarios to practice in your home, school, workplace, or community.

After the drill, visit the ShakeOut website and share your photos or stories of how you practiced earthquake safety.

Posted by: Public Affairs

When natural disasters, such as wildfires 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 the immediate needs of survivors.

In the case of the ongoing Texas wildfires, first responders and firefighters from more than 30 states continue to battle the blazes.  We sincerely commend their heroic efforts to protect public health and safety, fighting the fire to minimize damage to lives, property and critical infrastructure.

Through our regional office in Denton, Texas we are continuing to closely partner with the state of Texas providing financial support for ongoing efforts to fight and mitigate the volatile wildfire conditions.

During this fire season, the federal government continues to support the state of Texas with 22 Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, including 16 FMAGs since the beginning of April.

So what is an FMAG, and how does it support the efforts of first responders and firefighters?

Basically, FMAG’s provide financial assistance so firefighters and first responders can focus all their efforts on reducing the negative impacts of the fire.  An FMAG authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs, under an approved grant structure.


Loveland, CO, September 13, 2010 -- Firefighting helicopter hovering over a lake. Heavy air tankers work on hot spots on the Reservoir Road Fire just west of the town of Loveland. FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Reservoir Road Fire.

Items eligible for FMAGs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

In case you’re interested in the specifics, the program allows for the “mitigation, management, and control” of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.  FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.

A note on FMAGs: These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.  A Governor must make a request for a major disaster declaration, including individual assistance, to receive federal disaster assistance for individual home or business owners.

If you’re in an area that may be impacted by wildfires, remember these safety tips:

• Listen to and follow the guidance of state and local officials. If authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately, follow evacuation routes announced by local officials.
  
• Create an area of “defensible space” around your home.  Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc.
  
• If you’re caught in the open during a wildfire, The best temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel area.  Clear fuel away from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself. Stay down until after the fire passes.

For more tips on staying safe before, during and after a wildfire, visit www.Ready.gov and our mobile site (m.fema.gov).

Posted by: Public Affairs

A strong line of severe storms, tornadoes and heavy rains are continuing to affect much of the U.S., from Illinois to Arkansas.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities struck by the deadly tornadoes, severe storms and flooding that swept through areas of the Midwest last night including Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee and face more severe storms forecasted for this week.

Through our regional offices in Kansas City, Mo., Chicago, Ill. and Denton, Texas we have been in constant contact and coordination with the state’s emergency management teams in Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee to ensure they have the support they need.

There are currently no requests for federal assistance as a result of the yesterday’s storms, but FEMA will continue to stay in constant communication with the states and stands ready to support, if needed.  (Federal disaster assistance is available to residents of Atoka County in Oklahoma, and 18 counties in North Carolina resulting from damage of tornadoes and severe storms earlier this month.)

If you are in the storm’s path and may be affected, it’s important to follow the instructions of state and local officials, and listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information. If authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately, follow evacuation routes announced by local officials, and stay away from river banks and streams.

Here are some other tips on staying safe during a flood, tornado, or thunderstorm.  You can find more safety and preparedness tips on Ready.gov or on our mobile site (m.fema.gov).

Floods

• Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.  Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
  
• Familiarize yourself with flood alerts:
• 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. 

Tornadoes

• If a tornado is possible in your area, go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Do not open windows.
  
• Familiarize yourself with tornado terminology:
• Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

Thunderstorms

• Thunderstorms can bring heavy rains, winds, and lightning.  If you hear thunder, seek shelter indoors.  Stay away from doors and windows, and move to an interior room or basement.
  
• Become familiar with thunderstorm terminology:
• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.

Posted by: Public Affairs



For weeks, we've been posting updates on this blog on the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, which is now only three days away.

Today, we’re excited to share with you where some of our FEMA senior leaders, and other officials from across the administration, plan to be on Thursday, to take part in the ShakeOut.

Secretary Janet Napolitano, along with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, will be traveling to St. Louis, to join Governor Nixon, our Regional Administrator, Beth Freeman, and other state and local officials for a ShakeOut drill at Carnahan High School of the Future.

Our Deputy Administrators, Rich Serino and Tim Manning, will join elementary schools in Georgia and Oklahoma, respectively, for their ShakeOut Drills. Rich will join students at Milford Elementary School in Marietta, Georgia, and Tim will join students at Jones Elementary School in Jones, Oklahoma.

And they’re not alone. Over the next few days, our Regional Administrators, staff and other workers across the DHS and federal families will be some of the millions of Americans participating in the drill. To date, over 2.7 million people have signed up, including over 2,016 schools, 268 businesses, and 611 local government agencies.

Let us know how you plan to join in the ShakeOut in the comments below.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Our thoughts are with the families and communities in the St. Louis area, who were impacted by the severe storms that swept through the region on Friday night, and the severe weather continues today. A strong and long-lasting spring storm continues to bring rain into the region, causing flash flood warnings for parts of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and severe weather, including Tornados, to parts of Texas.

Through our regional offices in Kansas City, MO and Denton, TX, we are continuing to closely monitor conditions as the severe storms and tornadoes continue. Since the initial storms struck, we have been in close contact and coordination with the Missouri Emergency Management Agency, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, as well as the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

We commend the heroic efforts of the state and local officials and voluntary agencies that have been working around the clock to respond to the storms and protect the affected residents and communities. As an example, check out these photos from the American Red Cross showing how they’re helping disaster survivors.

When natural disasters strike, including severe storms and tornadoes, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations (like the Red Cross), and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public's health and safety and to meet immediate human needs. (See this blog post about FEMA’s role in severe storms and tornadoes.)

If you haven’t already, now is the time to get prepared for tornadoes, floods and other disasters. Visit http://www.ready.gov/ to learn more.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Working with our partners in North Carolina, we opened the first Disaster Recovery Centers after the severe storms struck the state and we plan to open more soon in other counties.

What is a Disaster Recovery Center you ask?  Good question.

We often set up Disaster Recovery Centers to help disaster survivors navigate the federal assistance process.  But an important thing to know is that survivors don’t need to come to the DRC to register, but anyone looking for face to face assistance is welcome to stop by.

If a disaster survivor’s county has been declared, they can also apply for assistance by:

• Calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired
• Visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or m.fema.gov from a mobile device

To give you an idea of what to expect at a Disaster Recovery Center, we wanted to pull this video out of the archives.  It’s from 2009 after an earthquake and tsunami struck American Samoa.  In the video, Casey Deshong (FEMA External Affairs) gives a tour of a DRC in American Samoa and talks about the different types of assistance provided:



Here are some other things you should know:

Individual assistance can be provided to eligible individuals and households who are uninsured, or under-insured, and suffered losses due to disaster damage.

It’s important to remember that by law, the amount of individual assistance a person or household can receive is capped (just over $30,000 for this year), and may not cover losses to the extent that homeowner’s policy would. Flood insurance is another way you can protect against the damaging financial effects of a disaster, which is why we are often encouraging families to talk to their insurance agent about protecting your home or business.

This assistance is also intended to support only necessary and serious needs that resulted from the disaster. The best way to make sure you and your family are protected against the devastating impacts of flooding is to have flood insurance.

For additional updates and recovery information, please continue to visit the NC disaster page.

Posted by: Public Affairs

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

North Carolina disaster
Earlier this week, the President declared a major disaster for areas affected by the deadly tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding on April 16. Federal disaster assistance is available to individuals and eligible state and local partners as they work to recover from the disaster. (If you are in one of the 18 declared counties you can apply for disaster assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, or on your mobile device at m.fema.gov).


Raleigh, NC, April 20, 2011 -- Volunteer workers band together to help survivors clean up debris and complete temporary repairs following the severe storms and deadly tornadoes that damaged or destroyed homes and businesses across North Carolina on April 16, 2011.

Potential severe weather
Over the past few weeks, volatile spring weather has been in full force, and forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for more of the same in the next week. Here are some of the severe weather highlights:

• Southern U.S. – Drought conditions are expected to continue in Texas, New Mexico, Florida and several surrounding states. Weather conditions are favorable for wildfire outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico going into next week as well.
• Midwest – Heavy rains are expected in the middle of the country, where flooding is taking place in many states. (See how we’re supporting the emergency management team in the Red River Valley flood fight.)
• Northeast – While no spring storms are expected in the next few days, forecasters are calling for high winds in Massachusetts, Connecticut this weekend.
• West – Over the next few days, be prepared for colder temperatures, especially in Idaho, Utah and Montana. 

For more details, see the full hazards assessment from the National Weather Service and view your local forecast. If severe weather is in your area, remember to listen to local officials and follow local news reports for the latest information. For tips on getting prepared for the hazards in your area, visit Ready.gov.

Texas wildfires
Through our regional office in Denton, TX we continue to closely partner with the State of Texas and provide financial support for efforts to fight and mitigate the volatile wildfire conditions that have affected the state this season. We are in constant communication with Texas Forest Service and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and will continue to support firefighting efforts, as needed.

During this fire season, the federal government has been supporting the State of Texas with 21 Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, including 15 FMAGs since the beginning of April.

An FMAG authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Earth Day
April 22 is Earth Day – check out this blog post from Ed Connor, Acting Administrator of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration about some of the ways we’re implementing sustainable practices and encouraging the emergency management team to do the same when preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.

For tips on how you can “go green” at home, work, or in your community, visit the Department of Energy’s Earth Day page.

Sign up to shake out next Thursday
As several of our bloggers have mentioned, the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is fast approaching. Join over 2.6 million participants in 11 states as they practice earthquake safety on April 28 at 10:15 CDT.

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

As we celebrate Earth Day, it gives us a chance to clearly link the complementary concepts of sustainability and resilience, a fancy way to say how well communities bounce back after a disaster.   Everyday FEMA works to enhance the resilience of our communities to natural hazards by helping them to identify risk and develop appropriate strategies to reduce those risks. This includes adopting and enforcing stronger building codes, coordinating planning and preparedness exercises, and partnering with stakeholders to build safer communities.


Preventing losses and damage to buildings not only creates a safer community, but also reduces the environmental impact of post-disaster recovery operations, especially related to debris management and rebuilding. For more on the relationship between green building practices and natural hazard resistance, check out our publication on Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings.

A few other “green” highlights 
The growing emphasis on creating sustainable communities, whether though innovative green building practices or reducing the materials and energy footprints creates opportunities to build safer and greener, both before and after disasters.


By building green and taking steps to protect your property at the same time, you not only help protect the environment but also protect your property against the forces of nature.  One way FEMA promotes sustainable building practices before a disaster is by partnering with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Efforts to build sustainably are recognized as one part of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program application process, to promote strategic local approaches to sustainable development by combining hazard mitigation objectives with community development objectives.

Recovery from natural disasters presents a unique opportunity to consider alternatives to the damage-rebuild-damage cycle.  To learn more about rebuilding stronger, safer, and smarter after a disaster, check out our guide to Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future.

On Earth Day and every day, I challenge you to consider taking small steps to make your home, business or community more sustainable while reducing its risk of damage due to disasters.  For some tips to get you started, visit www.energy.gov/earthday.

To learn more about the role of green building rating systems in promoting green building practices and sustainable building design, visit the United States Green Building Council, a non-profit green building policy, education and research organization at www.usgbc.org.

- Ed

Posted by: Sandra Knight, Deputy Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration for Mitigation

The National Hurricane Conference, going on this week, provides a great opportunity for members of the emergency management team to strengthen their partnerships.  It also provides an opportunity to recognize individuals in front of a group of their peers.

Earlier this week, several individuals were recognized for their contributions to emergency management and hurricane preparedness.  One award recipient was Miguel Pavon, Administrator of the Texas/Mexico Borderlands Information Center, who received an Outstanding Achievement in Mitigation Award for his contributions to HAZUS, a FEMA software program widely used by emergency managers to better understand the potential impacts of natural disasters by estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes.

Pavon’s contribution expands the potential of HAZUS by developing an innovative, user-friendly spreadsheet (PDF) for use with the risk assessment software.  Through geographic information systems technology, HAZUS estimates physical, economic, and social impacts of disasters, graphically illustrating characteristics of identified high-risk locations.

In addition to the unveiling of the awards, FEMA announced the upcoming release of Hazus 2.0  at the National Hurricane Conference, which will offer a new storm surge model to aid emergency managers in analyzing the effects of hurricane storm surge and predicting the physical and economic impacts of hurricane on coastal regions.

Last month, FEMA’s HAZUS Program Manager Eric Berman was among the recipients of Federal Computer Week magazine’s 22nd Annual "Federal 100 Awards" in Washington, DC, for his outstanding leadership and work on the FEMA HAZUS Program.

We congratulate both Miguel Pavon and Eric Berman on their contributions to the development of HAZUS, and encourage the emergency management community to check out the new HAZUS 2.0 features.

Other links
Learn more about how Miguel Pavon developed his innovative Hazus spreadsheet (PDF).

Learn more about the HAZUS program.

Posted by: Rich Serino, Deputy Administrator

One week from today, at 10:15 am central, millions of Americans across the central U.S. will stop what they’re doing, whether at school, in the office, or at home, to take part in the first-ever public earthquake drill in the New Madrid Seismic Zone region. And that’s not the only "first" – this Great Central U.S. Shakeout is also the first earthquake drill ever to be conducted in multiple U.S. states simultaneously.

Earlier today, I joined several of our partners, Ernie Allen, the President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Dave Maxwell, the head of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, on a conference call with reporters to discuss the Shakeout. And just minutes before our call, we learned that 2.6 million Americans have now signed up to drop, take cover, and hold on.

This is exciting news and a great start. But, with 40 million people living in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, we know we can do better. Next Thursday, members from across the entire team will be spanning out to attend Shakeout drills in all 10 states. In fact, many of us here at FEMA’s headquarters, other federal agencies, and even cabinet-level officials, will be joining the many schools, colleges, state and local government agencies, hospitals, child care organizations and countless other groups at their drills.

Will you?

If you haven’t already, sign up to participate today at www.shakeout.org/centralus.

And if you already have signed up, keep spreading the word. Get your colleagues, neighbors, friends and family involved.

And if you live in California and want to get a head start on signing up for your 2011 Great California Shakeout this October, you can sign up today at www.ShakeOut.org.

As I said earlier today, we all know preparedness is a team effort. FEMA is just one part of this team – and the most important member is you. Whether it’s preparing for earthquakes or other disasters, learning how to protect ourselves in the immediate moments of an emergency can make all the difference when the real thing happens.

Posted by: Sheila M. Clark, Chief Component Human Capital Officer

Did you know that students make valuable contributions to FEMA every day?  In Washington D.C. or at any of our ten regional offices, students can contribute to the agency’s mission of supporting citizens and first responders as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.  Whether you are a college (or advanced degree) student yourself or know one that may be interested, I encourage you to learn more about student opportunities at FEMA:

Presidential Management Fellows Program

The Presidential Management Fellows program is a flagship leadership development program of the federal government and provides entry level full time employment for advanced degree candidates.  The program is designed for developing a cadre of potential government leaders who engage in impactful assignments during the first years of employment, including a series of projects to develop leadership capabilities.

Additional information about the program can be found on the program’s website.

Student Career Experience Program

The Student Career Experience Program gives students a "jump start" in their chosen career fields by providing valuable, paid work experience while they are still in school.   The program enriches each student’s education by providing relevant job experience while allowing the agency to continue developing the future workforce.

The arrangements for such jobs are developed under the Federal Student Educational Employment Program, and provides for work-study partnerships between the students and FEMA.  As a result of this program, many students have converted into a permanent position at the agency.

Additional information about this program can be found on the USA Jobs website.

Student Temporary Employment Program 

The program runs annually from June through September, providing college students with an opportunity to apply their skills and experience in an exciting work environment, while learning more about FEMA.  Students work to support the agency’s mission with assignments that can include conducting research on rules and regulations that guide the federal government, assisting with travel arrangements, and supporting the agency’s reporting efforts.

For June employment, applications are usually due by mid April.  However, the program also runs throughout the calendar year based on need, so interested applicants should monitor www.fema.gov/careers for the latest information on when opportunities arise and when applications are due.

Federal Work Study (FWS) Program

The FWS program provides part-time employment to current college students while assisting in financing the costs of postsecondary education. Students can receive FWS funds at approximately 3,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Students should contact their school guidance office, career planning and placement office, or e-mail fema-student-hire-me@dhs.gov for additional information.

More information about the FWS program can also be found at the Department of Education website.

Student Voluntary Employment Program

The Student Volunteer Employment Program is a government-wide program that allows students to work in the Department of Homeland Security as volunteers for valuable work experience directly related to their academic field of study. Though unpaid, students hired through the Student Volunteer Employment Program may receive educational credit for their internship.  Applications are accepted throughout the year, and interested students should e-mail fema-student-hire-me@dhs.gov for more information.

Additional information can also be found on the DHS website.

Posted by: Brad Carroll, Press Secretary

Administrator Fugate addressed members of the emergency management team at the 2011 National Hurricane Conference today, and talked about some steps to continue getting prepared for hurricane season (June 1 - November 30).



What do you think?  Share some of the ways you're getting prepared for hurricane season.

- Brad

Posted by: Dan Stoneking, Director, Private Sector Division

I’ve blogged several times about the importance of the private sector in helping our communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. While these past blog posts have focused on the role of the private sector as a valuable member of the emergency management team, I wanted to highlight one especially heroic story that came out of the deadly tornadoes that just hit North Carolina and other states over the past few days.

During the series of deadly tornadoes and severe storms, a manager at a home improvement store in Sanford, North Carolina guided approximately 100 people (employees and customers) to safety just before a tornado bore down on the store.

Read about how the manager was able to act quickly and put the company’s safety plan into action (his heroic actions also merited a call from President Obama). (Stories courtesy of WCNC.)

Every day across the nation there are other essential contributions from the private sector and potential heroes like this manager, who work hard to keep their peers, stores and customers safe. And whether you’re a business owner or employee, check out Ready.gov/business for information on minimizing the impact of disasters and keeping employees (and potentially, your customers) safe in case an emergency occurs.

- Dan

Posted by: Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA Region V Administrator

Today, the state of Indiana, through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), participated in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, a multi-state earthquake drill to teach participants the basics of earthquake safety and preparedness.

More than half a million participants throughout the state signed up for this drill. I commend the work that IDHS has done, together with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, to recruit the participation of individuals, families, schools, and businesses for this important drill, and I applaud Indiana for including the whole community in this effort.

Recent events throughout the world, including the earthquake in Japan, the fifth largest in recorded history, as well as the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand and Haiti, serve as powerful examples of how destructive these unpredictable disasters can be. They’re also reminders that none of us – no matter where we live – are immune from disasters whether natural or manmade.

Although the state of Indiana is holding its ShakeOut drill today, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee, will hold their ShakeOut on April 28 at 10:15 a.m. More than one and half million registrants in these 10 states will exercise three simple steps:

• DROP to the ground,
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

While we don't know when the next earthquake will strike, taking steps now to enhance our readiness will help the country become more resilient before disaster strikes. Knowing what to do before, during and after an earthquake can mean the difference between life and death.

Register for the ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/centralus and visit www.Ready.gov for important earthquake preparedness tips so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an earthquake.

By Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator

For months, FEMA has been working closely with 11 of our state partners and many other members of the team to get the word out about the Great Central U.S. Shakeout – the first-ever multi-state public earthquake drill taking place next Thursday, April 28 at 10:15 am central time.

And as of today, we’re less than two weeks away – which means it’s time for all of us, across the entire team, to get involved and do our part to get the word out. Why?

The recent – and tragic - earthquakes we’ve seen from Japan, the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history, to the earthquakes that struck New Zealand, Chile, Haiti and our own U.S. territory of American Samoa, that destructive disasters can hit us anytime, anywhere, and often without any warning.

And none of us – no matter where we live – are immune. In fact, earthquake activity has been felt in all fifty states. Like it or not, we simply don’t have the luxury of thinking “this couldn’t happen here.”

While we can’t prevent earthquakes or other disasters, we can take important steps to prepare for them. One way you can prepare is to join more than two million people who are participating in The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, the largest earthquake preparedness event in central U.S. history. Eleven states are participating in the ShakeOut, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee; and so far, over 2.2 million people have signed up.

It’s a great start, but with 40 million people living in the central U.S. region, we know we can do even better.

Drills like the Shakeout are among the easiest and most cost-effective ways individuals and communities can learn how to protect themselves if an earthquake strikes. It’s easy to sign up; it’s free; and anyone can participate from anywhere – whether you are at school, at the office, at home, on the soccer field, or even visiting the doctor. All you have to do is sign-up here http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/ to get simple instructions on how to participate.

So we’re challenging all of you, our partners on the team, to join us in The Great American ShakeOut. Get involved; and be prepared!

If you’re a Member of Congress in one of the 11 central U.S. states participating in the ShakeOut, help us get the word out to your constituents. Make plans to participate in an event or do a drill with your congressional office. Post ShakeOut information, including widgets, on your website.

If you’re a school, college or university, plan a "shakeout" drill on your campus. Already, over 1,526 schools and 62 colleges and universities are participating.

If you own, manage or work at a business, get your staff and coworkers involved. Already, over 200 businesses and 290 non-profits have signed up, and that doesn’t include the many state and local government agencies that are planning to do drills.

At FEMA – we’ll be doing our part, in partnership with our regional offices in the central U.S., to participate in drills on April 28. We’ll be sharing more about our plans on the FEMA blog, so stay tuned.

Learn more about how to participate here: http://www.shakeout.org/centralus.

And if you’re already participating, let us know what you’re planning. Leave a comment below or tweet me @craigatfema.

Posted by Public Affairs

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities struck by the deadly series of tornadoes and severe storms that swept through many of our southern and Midwestern states late last week and over the weekend. FEMA, through our regional offices in Denton, Texas and Atlanta has been closely monitoring the storms and their aftermath, and has been in constant contact with the impacted states. Yesterday, President Obama spoke with Governor Bentley of Alabama and Governor Perdue of North Carolina to let them know that the entire federal government, through FEMA, stands ready to support in their recovery efforts as needed.

Over the weekend we deployed a FEMA representative to the North Carolina emergency operations center to help the state with coordination and other needs. And at the requests of the governors of the respective states, FEMA has deployed teams to North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi to conduct joint preliminary damage assessments with other state and local personnel. These assessments identify the damages in impacted counties and to help the governor determine if additional federal support will be requested. As of this morning, we now have 12 teams on the ground in North Carolina, one team in Alabama and three teams in Mississippi.

And at the request of the governor of Oklahoma, we also had a team on the ground in the state over the weekend to partner with state and local personnel to assess the damage. Those assessments have been completed and the state will now review the findings to determine whether or not to seek federal assistance.

Already in North Carolina, we have seen the team that we so often talking about coming together to help the community recovery, whether it’s volunteers or neighbor helping neighbor. As the New York Times reported this morning:

Around the parts of the Southern states that were hardest hit, volunteers began organizing food drives and fund-raisers. Many people were connecting through Facebook and Twitter, and others were simply showing up to see how they might help.

In Sanford, the Salvation Army thrift store opened its doors at 3 p.m. and two hours later had already accepted about 400 bags of clothes and household goods, said Derek Oley, 29, the manager. They will start supplying food to people Monday.

“This community is just so awesome right now,” Mr. Oley said. “People are just coming out from everywhere to help out.”

And remember – as these storms proved once again – severe weather can strike anytime, anywhere. If you haven’t already, now is the time to get prepared for tornadoes and other disasters on Ready.gov.

Posted by: Public Affairs

On our blog we are always talking about the team effort that is involved when it comes to emergency management. This team effort was on display this past Thursday as multiple federal agencies, including FEMA Regional Administrators Nancy Ward and Ken Murphy, as well as our state partners in Alaska testified before the House Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations regarding Tsunami preparedness for the United States.


Washington, DC, April 14, 2011 -- (From left to right) Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere for NOAA, FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward, FEMA Region X Administrator Ken Murphy and John Madden, Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the State of Alaska


As Regional Administrators Ward and Murphy pointed out in their written statement:

Tsunami preparedness is an important part of FEMA's catastrophic planning and preparedness efforts. However, we cannot do it alone. It is important to note that FEMA is not the nation's emergency management team - FEMA is just part of the team.

We work closely with the whole community, which includes our governmental partners at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels; we leverage the resources of non-governmental entities, including private sector, faith-based, and non-profit organizations. Finally and most importantly, we work to instill a commitment to preparedness among individuals, families, and communities, who serve as our nation's 'first' first responders and the key to our success.

The tragic events in Japan serve as a solemn reminder to us of the gravity of our preparedness message. As we keep both the victims and survivors in our thoughts and prayers, please be assured we will continue to do all we can to ensure that we are as prepared as possible.

Watch the full hearing on YouTube and visit the Tsunami preparedness page on Ready.gov.

Posted by: Public Affairs

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

Severe weather outlook
FEMA continues to closely monitor a severe weather pattern as the threat of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds emerges over many parts of Alabama and Mississippi, and continued red flag warnings in Texas.  Severe storms could also affect parts of Eastern Missouri, central and southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and the Florida panhandle through Saturday.

Stay connected to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center for severe weather warnings in your part of the country.

Red River Valley flood update
Meanwhile officials in Grand Forks, North Dakota, still expect widespread flooding across the Red River Valley but have downgraded their expectations for the high water mark. The 2011 flooding will be on par with the 2009 flood, and could even surpass it as the second-worst flood in 150 years.  And in case you missed, Robin Finegan, Region 8 Administrator, provided an update on her three-day visit to North Dakota to get an up close look at the flood fighting efforts going on in the Red River Valley

2011 National Hurricane Conference
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate will be speaking at the 2011 National Hurricane Conference scheduled for next week in Atlanta GA. As the nation’s forum for education and professional training, the primary goal of the National Hurricane Conference is to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in order to save lives and property in the United States and the tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve Emergency Management. More than 2,000 attendees from around the country are expected to attend.

Posted by: David Myers, Director, DHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Throughout this week, we have been honoring the service and commitment of our nation’s volunteers. As President Obama said earlier this week:

"America's story has been marked by the service of volunteers. Generations of selfless individuals from all walks of life have served each other and our Nation, each person dedicated to making tomorrow better than today…Volunteers are the lifeblood of our schools and shelters, hospitals and hotlines, and faith-based and community groups. From mentoring at-risk youth and caring for older Americans to supporting our veterans and military families and rebuilding after disasters, these everyday heroes make a real and lasting impact on the lives of millions of women and men across the globe."

At the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, we see the president’s words ring true every day. Our center, which focuses on building resilient communities among faith-based and community organizations, works hand-in-hand with voluntary groups every day. Volunteers are critical to our mission, and are often the unsung heroes that help bring communities back together and drive their recovery following a disaster.

For example, during the aftermath of the Nashville floods last spring, an interfaith group of volunteers -- Muslims, Jews, Methodists and Baptists – came together to clean flood-damaged apartments and distributed food and other supplies. Our DHS and FEMA teams worked alongside them, along with our partners at AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps teams, to remove doors, walls, cabinets, carpeting and insulation in homes devastated by the flooding.

It took the entire team, powered by the spirit and resiliency of these volunteers and the community, to get the region back on its feet. Tennessee is one of just countless stories we could share, but it’s a meaningful reminder of what is possible when Americans come together to help communities in their time of need. Volunteerism is a part of our nation’s great legacy, and we have seen it time and again, after every disaster.

As Administrator Fugate frequently points out, faith-based and other voluntary organizations are a critically important part of the team. They are effective and efficient. And they’re good for taxpayers – each year volunteers generate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of benefits by helping individuals and families during and after disasters.

For more information about how your organization can get involved in volunteer opportunities please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/.