FEMA Blog

We've got some good news, some "not so good" news, and some more good news regarding hurricane season.

The first bit of good news is that today marks the official end to the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.  And lest anyone forget, this year's hurricane season was very active.  2011 tied for one of the busiest tropical seasons on record in the Atlantic.  Since keeping records as far back as 1851, this season tied with 1887, 1995, and 2010, where there were a total of 19 tropical storms of which seven became hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.  

In fact, to get a good visual of the busy tropics, take a look at the 2011 season as viewed from space courtesy of our friends from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Each storm in the video loop is named.  Pay particular attention to the monster that became Hurricane Irene, the lone hurricane to hit the U.S. this year causing severe damage along the entire east coast.

Now a bit of "not so good" news.  No matter how hard we try to stop them from coming, there will be another hurricane season around the corner next year beginning on June 1, 2012 – and many other types of disasters in between.

So as always, we wish to remind you it is never too late to prepare, either for next hurricane season or for any type of disaster that may impact where you live, from severe winter weather to wildfires to flooding to tornadoes.  In fact, why not take advantage of the holiday gift giving season and help loved ones prepare by purchasing a gift of preparedness (i.e., flashlights, fire extinguishers, go-kits for the car, or an emergency supply kit).

But let's wrap up on a little bit of good news.  We're happy to let you know that when preparing for next year's hurricane season, due to 2012 being a leap-year, you’ll have one additional full day (February 29th) to get yourself prepared.  So instead of having the usual 181 days until the next hurricane season, you'll have 182 days.  Use them wisely to prepare.

As we say goodbye to this hurricane season and continue to prepare for all hazards, we also want to thank the entire team, including our state, local, tribal and territorial partners, the faith-based community, non-profits, the private sector, volunteer groups and of course the public. Each of these partners played a critical role in helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from the different storms that made landfall this year and many of them are continuing to work hard on the ground as rebuilding efforts continue.

And don't forget to visit the new ready.gov for more information on how you can get ready today.

As bargain hunters take to the Web this Cyber Monday in search of holiday deals, the Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign reminds online shoppers to be wary of the cybersecurity risks of theft, fraud and abuse. While many businesses offer great deals during the holiday season, cyber criminals may try to take advantage of unsuspecting online shoppers.

Follow these simple steps to protect yourself and your personal information online – and remember: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• Pay close attention to website URLs. Pay attention to the URLs of websites you visit. Malicious websites sometimes use a variation in common spelling or a different domain (for example, .com instead of .net) to deceive unsuspecting computer users.

• Protect your $$: When banking and shopping, check to be sure the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with "https://" or "shttp://", which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. "Http://" is not secure.

• Use a credit card - There are laws to limit your liability for fraudulent credit card charges, and you may not have the same level of protection when using your debit card.

• Check your statements - Keep a record of your purchases and copies of confirmation pages, and compare them to your bank statements. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately.

• Check privacy policies - Before providing personal or financial information, check the website's privacy policy.

• As always, keep your operating system, browser, anti-virus and other critical software up to date. Security updates and patches are available for free from major companies.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and each of us has a role to play. For more basic tips to stay safe while shopping online, visit www.dhs.gov/files/cybersecurity.shtm.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect. We are grateful and thankful at FEMA this year for the entire team and all of the work they have done over the past year to protect our communities and the American people.

We’re thankful for...

…all of our state, local, tribal and territorial partners, who constantly handle many incidents (big and small) that don’t always make headlines.

…all of the emergency personnel and first responders who are the front lines of disaster response.

…all of our private sector partners for their innovation and lessons learned.

…all of the faith-based and voluntary organizations that are often some of the most dedicated individuals facilitating disaster response or recovery.

…everyone in the disability community who pushes and encourages the entire team to be fully inclusive in all planning, preparedness, response and recovery efforts.

…everyone here at FEMA for their hard work and commitment to carrying out our mission, day in and day out.

…and all of the members of the public who have done heroic work before, during and after emergencies – whether it was taking a few simple steps to get prepared or helping a neighbor evacuate in the face of a coming storm.

This year was an incredibly active one for all of us on the team and an incredibly challenging one for the survivors and the communities that were affected by many devastating and costly disasters. I want to thank you for the hope you gave the rest of us – for reminding us that rebuilding can be a powerful and inspiring process. Your stories of tragic loss, bravery and resilience remind all of us why we are in this line of work – and carry powerful lessons about what is possible.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, our friends at The Weather Channel have put together a compilation of what this year’s survivors are thankful for and I encourage everyone to watch it.

So as we reflect on our blessings, I ask that you take a moment to thank those around you who inspired you to support our neighbors in times of need. We mean it when we say that FEMA is just one part of the team. This year has been proof of the importance of the entire team and we thank all of you for your tireless efforts, your partnership and your service.

Share with us why you are thankful by making a comment below.

Craig

El Día de Acción de Gracias es tiempo para reflexionar. En FEMA estamos agradecidos por todo el equipo y el trabajo que han realizado durante todo el año al proteger a nuestras comunidades y las personas de nuestro país.

Estamos agradecidos por…

… todos nuestros colaboradores del gobierno estatal, local, tribal y territorios, los cuales constantemente manejan muchos incidentes (pequeños y grandes) que algunas veces no se han anunciado.

… todo el personal de manejo de emergencia y los primeros en respuesta en cada desastre.

… todos nuestros asociados del sector privado, sus innovaciones y lecciones aprendidas.

… todas las organizaciones basadas en la fe y organizaciones voluntarias que a menudo son los individuos mas dedicados en facilitar el proceso de respuesta y recuperación de desastres.

… todos en la comunidad de discapacitados que trabajan para que todas las personas sean incluidas en el proceso de los esfuerzos de planificación, preparación, respuesta y recuperación.

… todos los empleados de FEMA por su trabajo arduo y compromiso de llevar a cabo nuestra misión día a día.

… y a todos las personas del público que han hecho trabajos heroicos antes, durante y después de una emergencia; al seguir los pasos para estar preparados o ayudar al vecino en su proceso de desalojo cuando se avecina una tormenta.

Este año fue bien activo para todos nosotros en el equipo y un reto increíble para los sobrevivientes y las comunidades que fueron afectadas por desastres fuertes y costosos. Quiero darle las gracias por las esperanzas que nos han dado a todos al recordarnos que el proceso de reconstrucción puede ser un proceso poderoso e inspirador. Las historias de sus pérdidas, valentía y resistencia nos recuerdan a todos porque estamos en esta línea de trabajo y proporciona lecciones poderosas sobre todo lo que puede ser posible.

Para celebrar el Día de Acción de Gracias nuestros colaboradores del Canal de Noticias crearon una recopilación sobre los agradecimientos de los sobrevivientes de este año. Le insto a todos a que vean la recopilación.

Mientras reflexionamos en nuestras bendiciones. Le pido a que se tome un momento para agradecer a los que están a su alrededor, quienes le inspiraron a ayudar al vecino en tiempos de necesidad. FEMA es solo parte del equipo. Este año ha sido la prueba de la importancia de un equipo en conjunto y agradecemos a todos por sus esfuerzos incansables, colaboración y servicio.

Comparte con nosotros porque estas agradecido al hacer un comentario abajo.

Craig

During the Thanksgiving holiday, many families gather in the kitchen to spend time together, but it can be one of the most hazardous rooms in your home. Before you begin your holiday meal preparations, I would like to remind everyone that cooking equipment, most often a range or stovetop, is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Cooking equipment is also the leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries.

The number of cooking fires increases significantly during the holidays so it is important for you to stay alert and be watchful while you are cooking. Whether you are cooking the holiday family dinner or a leftover snack for the children, practicing these safe cooking behaviors will help protect you and your family:

• Protect Children from Scalds and Burns. Young children are at high risk of being burned by hot food and liquids. Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of 3 feet around the stove.

• Watch What You’re Cooking. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or cooking food on the stop top or broiling food.

• Choose the Right Equipment and Use It Properly. Follow manufacturers' instructions when using cooking equipment. Remember to plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire. Cook only with equipment designed and intended for cooking, and heat your home only with equipment designed and intended for heating.

• Avoid Using Deep Fat Turkey Fryers. The use of a deep fat turkey fryer can be very dangerous. If you do decide to use one, use it at a safe distance from buildings and other items that can catch fire. Never use a turkey fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck. Watch the fryer carefully, as the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. To avoid oil spillover, don’t overfill the fryer. Oil-less turkey fryers are available. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.

• Keep Things That Can Catch Fire and Heat Sources Apart. Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains - away from your stovetop. Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean. Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.

• Prevent Scalds and Burns. To prevent spills due to overturned appliances containing hot food or liquids, use the back burner when possible, and/or turn pot handles away from the stove's edge. Use oven mitts or potholders when moving hot food from ovens, microwave ovens, or stovetops.

On behalf of the staff at the U.S. Fire Administration, I want to wish you and yours a very Happy (fire and burn-free) Thanksgiving.

Muchas familias se reúnen en la cocina para compartir su tiempo, pero éste puede ser un de los lugares más peligrosos de la casa si no se ponen en práctica ciertas precauciones a la hora de cocinar. El equipo de cocina, con mayor frecuencia la estufa, es la causa principal de los incendios domésticos reportados y de las heridas por incendios residenciales en los Estados Unidos. El equipo de cocina también es la causa principal de los incendios no reportados y heridas relacionadas.

Usar ropa suelta (especialmente las mangas amplias) es una receta para sufrir heridas graves e incluso la muerte, al igual que irse y dejar una olla sobre la estufa encendida, o dejar materiales inflamables como agarraderas o toallas de papel alrededor de la estufa. Ya sea que esté preparando la cena familiar para las festividades o un refrigerio para los niños, las precauciones al cocinar le ayudarán a protegerse y proteger a su familia.

Escoja el equipo adecuado y úselo correctamente

• Utilice siempre equipos de cocina probados y aprobados por un organismo de prueba reconocido.

• Siga las instrucciones del fabricante y los requisitos de los códigos cuando instale y opere artefactos y equipos de cocina.

• Enchufe los hornos de microondas y otros aparatos eléctricos directamente en un tomacorrientes. Jamás use extensiones para un artefacto eléctrico de cocina, ya que pueden sobrecargar el circuito y provocar un incendio.

Utilice las parrillas para barbacoa con precaución

• Ubique la parrilla lejos del revestimiento exterior (siding) y barandillas de terrazas de madera, y no la coloque debajo de aleros ni ramas salientes.

• Coloque la parrilla a una distancia segura de los juegos de jardín, áreas de juego y zonas de paso.

• Mantenga a los niños y a las mascotas alejados de la zona de la parrilla y establezca límites para crear una "zona sin niños" de 3 pies alrededor de la parrilla.

• Tenga varios utensilios de mango largo para la parrilla para que quien cocina tenga la distancia suficiente del calor y las llamas al cocinar.

• Quite periódicamente la grasa y los restos de grasa que se acumulan en las bandejas debajo de las rejillas para que no se prendan fuego con la parrilla caliente.

• ¡Úsela afuera solamente! Si se usan en el interior o en cualquier espacio cerrado, como una tienda de campaña, las parrillas para barbacoa representan un peligro de incendio y un riesgo de exponer a sus ocupantes al monóxido de carbono.

Parrillas a carbón

• Compre el líquido adecuado para encender el fuego y guárdelo en un lugar alejado de los niños y del calor.

• Jamás eche líquido para encender carbón si ya hay brazas o un fuego encendido, ni use ningún otro tipo de líquido inflamable o combustible para avivar el fuego.

Parrillas a gas propano

• Cada año, antes de usar la parrilla por primera vez, revise la manguera del cilindro de propano para ver si hay fugas. Una solución ligera de agua y jabón aplicada sobre la manguera permitirá descubrir rápidamente, generando burbujas, si hay alguna fuga de propano.

• Si por el olor o la prueba con agua jabonosa detecta que su parrilla tiene una fuga de gas y no hay llama:

• Cierre el tanque de propano y apague la parrilla.

• Si la fuga de gas se detiene, haga reparar la parrilla con un profesional antes de volver a usarla.

• Si el escape de gas continúa, llame a los bomberos.

• Si siente olor a gas cuando cocina, aléjese inmediatamente de la parrilla y llame a los bomberos. No intente mover la parrilla.

• Todos los cilindros de propano fabricados después de abril de 2002 deben tener dispositivos de protección de llenado excesivo (OPD). Estos dispositivos detienen el flujo de propano antes de llegar a la capacidad máxima y, de esta manera, limitan la posibilidad de fuga de gas propano si el cilindro se calienta. Los dispositivos OPD pueden reconocerse fácilmente por su rueda de forma triangular.

• Use solamente equipos que tengan la marca de un laboratorio de pruebas independiente. Siga las instrucciones del fabricante sobre la instalación y el mantenimiento de la parrilla.

• Jamás guarde los cilindros de propano en el interior de edificios o garajes. Si guarda una parrilla a gas en el interior durante el invierno, desconecte el cilindro de gas y déjelo a la intemperie.

Vigile lo que está calentando

• La causa principal de incendios en la cocina es descuidar lo que se está cocinando.

• Cuando esté friendo, asando a la parrilla o en el horno, quédese en la cocina. Si se va de la cocina aunque sólo sea por un corto tiempo, apague la estufa.

• Si está cocinando a fuego lento, horneando, rostizando o hirviendo alimentos, contrólelos regularmente, quédese en la casa durante la cocción de la comida y use un reloj con alarma para recordar que está cocinando.

• ¡Manténgase alerta! Para prevenir incendios en la cocina, hay que estar alerta. Usted no estará alerta si está somnoliento, estuvo bebiendo alcohol o tomó algún medicamento que le produce sueño.

Mantenga alejados del calor los elementos que pueden prenderse fuego

• Mantenga lejos de la estufa todo aquello que pueda prenderse fuego, como agarraderas, guantes de cocina, utensilios de madera, bolsas de papel o plástico, envases de alimentos, toallas o cortinas.

• Mantenga la estufa, las hornillas y el horno limpios.

• Mantenga a las mascotas lejos de las superficies y cubiertas de la cocina para evitar que volteen las cosas sobre las hornillas.

• Cuando cocine, use mangas cortas y ajustadas, o fuertemente arremangadas. La ropa suelta puede balancearse sobre las hornillas de la estufa y prenderse fuego si entra en contacto con una llama de gas u hornilla eléctrica.

Severe Weather Outlook

This weekend, the National Weather Service predicts severe drought conditions to continue through the weekend in parts of the Central and Southern Great Plains. Below average temperatures with a possibility for snow are expected in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains throughout the weekend.

With the official start of winter (December 21) approaching and cold weather expected this weekend, we want to encourage you and your family to prepare for the winter months by taking some steps this weekend to get prepared:

• Be sure to update your family's emergency supply kit and add items such as snow shovels, extra blankets, rock salt (or more environmentally safe products) to melt ice on walkways, and appropriate clothing (i.e., hat, gloves, and scarf).
• Have an emergency kit in your car in the event you are stranded by a blizzard or traffic jam. Be sure to include items you would need to stay warm and comfortable.
• Make a family communications plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
• Maintain your heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year, so if you’re overdue, schedule an appointment.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).

FEMA Think Tank

Earlier this week, Deputy Administrator Rich Serino announced the FEMA Think Tank, which is a new initiative to allow the public to offer their input on how we can improve all aspects of emergency management.

The FEMA Think Tank has two components:

• An online forum where anyone can submit your own ideas, comment and vote on others, and participate in conversations meant to generate creative solutions.
• Monthly conference calls. Each month, we will discuss three to four ideas generated from the online forum that address improving emergency management at the federal level. The individuals that submitted these ideas will personally brief their idea to FEMA officials.

We encourage you to utilize this tool to help improve emergency management and encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to participate.

Careers at FEMA

FEMA is always looking for highly motivated people interested in a rewarding career in emergency management. Here are a few open positions with the agency:

• Public Affairs Specialist - Washington D.C.
• Program Support Specialist - Oakland, California
• Watch Analyst - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visit our Careers page to watch testimonials from employees, learn more about FEMA, and browse through other opportunities that are available.

Today, the Senate unanimously confirmed Ernest (Ernie) Mitchell Jr. as the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

After the vote, Administrator Fugate praised the action:

With decades of experience fighting fires and leading fire service organizations, Chief Mitchell will be a great addition to our team at FEMA and a tremendous asset to firefighters and first responders around the country.

As with our other senior leaders at FEMA, he comes from a state and local background, which means he understands the kind of support our nation’s fire departments and fire service organizations need. He will be a tireless advocate for firefighters and the communities they serve and I look forward to working with him.

Here's a snapshot of Chief Mitchell's background:

• Retired fire chief with more than 33 years of experience working in the fire service at the federal, state and local levels
• Past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
• Served as Fire Chief and Assistant Director of Disaster Emergency Services for the City of Pasadena, California, Fire Department; Fire Chief and Deputy City Manager of Monrovia, California; and Battalion Chief for the City of Compton, California
• Holds the following degrees: A.S. in fire science from Long Beach City College, a B.P.A. from the University of San Francisco and an M.P.A. from California State University at Northridge

Please join all of us in congratulating Chief Mitchell on his confirmation.

Have you ever had a trip not go according to plans? The comedy film, Planes, Trains and Automobiles with Steve Martin and John Candy focuses on the efforts of a man trying to get home for the holidays. In true Hollywood fashion though, everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

As you and your family gear up for the holiday travel season, I wanted to provide you with some travel safety tips. Because, albeit watching travel disasters on the screen makes for big laughs, these predicaments are far from funny when they happen to us. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind before you leave.

If you’re taking to the friendly skies, these tips are for you:

• When getting to the airport, unanticipated heavy traffic, road construction, and road closures can put a severe kink in your plan. Give yourself enough time to arrive at the airport early - there may be a longer wait than usual for the holidays.
• Make a choice to not feel rushed while at the airport. Families and individuals traveling with medically necessary liquids this holiday season will be able to take advantage of TSA’s popular family lanes. Designed to let families take their time and ask questions without feeling rushed.
• In this TSA blog post, they “talk turkey and gravy” and provide great tips for traveling this holiday season, including what to expect with wrapped packages; whether or not pies are allowed (along with this important note: additional screening of pies does not include TSA officers tasting the pie, no matter what they tell you… AND if you want to bring a live turkey, you might want to have a word with the airline first); and information on the type of razors that are allowed and how to pack makeup. To help lighten the stress of flying, they also offer up some turkey advice and trivia:

Travel Advice for Domesticated Turkeys: While you can fly on a plane, you can’t really fly. (the link takes you a YouTube video for an excerpt from a comedy TV show)

Turkey Trivia: Contrary to popular belief, turkeys prefer to travel on the "Gravy Train," rather than the "Gravy Boat."

Speaking of trains, if you’re traveling by train, these tips are for you:

• Have a personal emergency kit in your bags that includes items such as a small first aid kit, bottled water, snacks, medication, cell phone charger, and a flashlight.
• Bring activities to keep yourself and family entertained during the trip.

And for those of you who are hitting the open road, these tips are for you:

• Mother nature has a way of closing down and clogging the roads during severe weather. So besides the holiday gifts and goodies you transport this holiday season, be sure to have an emergency kit in your car with water and food, prescription medicines, blankets, and items unique to your family.
• Plan your trip ahead of time - whether you’re using a GPS system or a traditional map, plan your travel route in advance, and let friends and family know the route and your anticipated time of arrival.
• Cut down on the number of times you hear “Are we there yet?” Bring activities, games, and books to keep the little ones entertained so you can focus on arriving at your destination safely.

No matter how you are traveling, stay up to date on the latest local forecast at www.weather.gov or mobile.weather.gov.

For more information from TSA on your phone, download the TSA App for iPhone and visit www.tsa.gov/mobile.

There are four ways you can get preparedness tips and information from FEMA: visit the new Ready.gov, visit m.fema.gov on your phone, download the FEMA app (Android & Apple users) and text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) for monthly preparedness tips (standard message and data rates apply).

Remember, although mishaps are funny in the movies, they are a lot more frustrating in real life. So here’s wishing you and your family safe travels this holiday season.

Yesterday a string of severe storms and tornadoes developed in many parts of the southeast, and as of this morning, several tornado watches and severe storm watches and warnings remain in effect for numerous locations. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities that lost loved ones or suffered damage as a result of these storms and we encourage residents to continue to monitor weather conditions closely and to follow the direction provided by their local officials. If a tornado watch or warning is issued in your area, stay indoors until the watch or warning has been lifted.

As a reminder, make sure you’re familiar with the terms associated with tornado watches and warnings:

• Tornado Watch means tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Know what counties are in the watch area by listening to NOAA Weather Radio or your local radio/television outlets.

• Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

Since yesterday, we have been closely monitoring these storm outbreaks and their aftermath through our regional offices in Atlanta, GA and Denton, TX, and have been in close contact with our state and local partners across the southeast. While local officials are just beginning to assess the damage, and there have not yet been any requests for federal assistance, we stand ready to assist them – if needed.

For those not impacted by the severe weather, now is a good time to make sure your emergency supply kit is ready. It should include at least a three-day supply of food and water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, and other items specific to your family’s needs. To help you build your kit, download the FEMA smartphone app (Android & Apple devices) and use the interactive checklist.

For more information on preparing for an emergency, visit the new Ready.gov.

Posted by: Richard Serino, Deputy Administrator

In the two years that I have been with FEMA, I have had the opportunity to speak with many survivors and emergency managers from all over the country. During these conversations, I often heard innovative ideas about how to address some of the challenges we face in emergency management.

Craig and I realize that you are on the front lines, you know the problems, and, more importantly, you know the solutions to these problems. I know that many of you have creative ideas how we can improve the way we do business. We want to continue to hear your thoughts and suggestions and encourage more discussions.

Earlier this morning, I spoke at the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Annual Conference in Las Vegas where I announced the creation of the FEMA Think Tank -- a new forum where you will be encouraged to provide your input on a variety of emergency management issues, such as how as we prepare for, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against all types of disasters.

The FEMA Think Tank will have two components:

• The first will be an online forum where anyone who wants to discuss a variety of emergency management issues can. Simply submit your own ideas, comment on others, or participate in conversations meant to generate creative solutions.
• The second will be monthly conference calls. Each month, we will discuss three to four ideas generated from the online forum that address improving emergency management at the federal level.

The individuals that submitted these ideas will personally brief me during the call. The call will then be opened for questions and further discussion.

And as this is a new initiative, please help us spread the word. And if you're on Twitter, follow @fema and join the conversation by using the hashtag #femathinktank.

We look forward to a productive conversation that will generate innovative solutions and move us forward as a team!

En los dos años que he estado con FEMA, he tenido la oportunidad de hablar con muchos de los sobrevivientes y gerentes de manejo de emergencias de todo el país. Durante esas conversaciones, con frecuencia escuche ideas innovadoras sobre cómo manejar algunos de los retos que enfrentamos en el manejo de emergencias.

Craig y yo realizamos que ustedes son los que están al frente, ustedes conocen los problemas, y lo más importante, ustedes conocen las soluciones a esos problemas. Me consta que muchos de ustedes tienen ideas creativas de cómo mejorar la forma de hacer negocios. Queremos seguir escuchando sus ideas y sugerencias e incentivar a más discusiones.

En la mañana del 14 de noviembre, hice un discurso en la Conferencia Anual de la Asociación Internacional de Gerentes de Emergencias (IAEM, por sus siglas en inglés) en Las Vegas, donde anuncie la creación del Foro para Compartir Ideas de FEMA. Es un foro para motivar al intercambio de ideas sobre las situaciones de manejo de emergencias, tales como la preparación, respuesta y recuperación o mitigación en contra de todos los desastres.

El Foro para Compartir Ideas de FEMA tiene dos componentes:

• Primero, será un foro en Internet donde cualquier persona que quiera hablar sobre las situaciones de manejo de emergencias puede hacerlo. Simplemente envié sus ideas, haga comentarios en las ideas ya expuestas o partícipe de las conversaciones para generar soluciones creativas.

• Segundo, se realizaran llamadas en conferencia mensuales. Cada mes, se discutirán tres o cuatro ideas que hayan sido enviadas en el foro y que sean referente a cómo mejorar el manejo de emergencias a nivel federal.

Las personas que enviaron las ideas tendrán la oportunidad de informar al Administrador Adjunto durante la llamada. Al final de la llamada se dará un espacio para preguntas y discusión.

Esta es una iniciativa nueva, ayúdanos a diseminar el mensaje. Si estas en Twitter, siga @fema y únase a la conversación usando #femathinktank.

Esperamos compartir una conversación productiva que genere soluciones innovadoras y así, continuar adelante como un equipo.

Posted by: Public Affairs

As of this morning, the National Weather Service reports that Bering Sea water levels and winds speeds affecting the West Coast have diminished significantly. In scattered areas along the West Coast, severe winter storm, blizzard and coastal flood warnings remain in effect, as a result of a smaller storm system that is passing through. We urge Alaskans in affected areas to monitor local news for severe weather updates and warnings.

We continue to be in close communication with our state, local, tribal and federal partners including Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Defense. Over the past two days, the U.S. Coast Guard has been conducting flyovers along the Bering Sea coast to gain an aerial and photographic assessment of damaged areas.

The state has been receiving reports of coastal property loss and wind damage. As access to coastal areas increase, the state will work with Boroughs and local government to plan for damage assessments. As we mentioned yesterday, we placed liaison officers and a regional Incident Management Assistance Team in Alaska in advance of the storm to coordinate with the state if federal support is needed and we have preliminary damage assessment teams standing by should their assistance be required.

And whether you live in Alaska or another part of the country, you can access preparedness information four different ways:

1. Visit our full preparedness website: www.ready.gov
2. Visit our mobile website: m.fema.gov
3. Download our smartphone app for Android & iPhones
4. Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) for monthly preparedness messages (standard message and data rates apply)

Posted by: Michael Widomski, Deputy Director, Public Affairs

I wanted to share with you a short video Administrator Fugate recorded to show his appreciation of our nation’s veterans:

At FEMA we are fortunate to have veterans from all five branches of our nation’s military working at headquarters, in our regional offices and on the ground. We appreciate all that they have done by serving in the armed forces and all that they continue to do with their public service here at FEMA. They bring extensive experience and expertise to every phase of the disaster cycle – preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

This nation continues to benefit from their selfless service and we cannot thank our veterans enough for all they have done. Throughout the year, we look for ways to honor our veterans. One such example took place in the Region III office in Philadelphia on Monday, November 7, when Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney held a ceremony recognizing the distinguished members of her team who have served in the armed forces.


To the veterans in the FEMA family and to all of our nation’s veterans, thank you for your services and your sacrifices. And a special thank you to the families of military members for their shared support and sacrifices. On behalf of everyone here at FEMA, we wish you a pleasant Veterans Day. And if you would like to continue to show your support for veterans in your community, visit www.serve.gov to find an event near you.

Published by: Public Affairs

At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.

Veterans Day
Tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans Day. Join us in honoring our nation’s veterans, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms:



Alaska Storm Update
A dangerous, and potentially deadly, storm is currently bringing high winds, coastal flooding, and heavy snow to the west coast of Alaska. Forecasts from the National Weather Service predict that sustained winds and elevated water levels will continue to affect a large portion of the western Alaska coast today, before beginning to subside, from south to north, this evening. We encourage Alaskans to monitor weather conditions closely and to follow the direction provided by their local officials.

Over the past several days, we’ve provided updates on our role, and we continue to closely monitor the situation. As the storm progresses, we will remain in constant contact with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and our other federal and local partners.

For updates from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, you can visit their website or find them on Facebook or Twitter.


Emergency Alert System Test
Yesterday, along with the FCC and NOAA, we tested the national Emergency Alert System at 2 p.m. EST through TV and radio stations. There has been a lot of feedback after the test, and we’re currently collecting data about the initial results.

It will take the test’s participants several weeks to send us and the FCC the full results, but this feedback will be used as we plan to test the other newer technologies and communications tools that are also going to be part of our public alert and warning networks. Check out yesterday’s blog post for information on the next steps and today’s blog post about some of the reviews that are coming in.


New Ready.gov
And in case you missed it earlier this week, Administrator Fugate announced the fully redesigned Ready.gov. Ready.gov is all about getting prepared and helping people know how to stay safe before, during and after disasters. The new site helps you find this invaluable information faster, and puts it in an easy to understand format. But don’t take our word for it – here’s Administrator Fugate to go over some of the changes.

And as a reminder, we recently released the FEMA app for Apple-powered mobile devices (also available for Android), and many of our safety tips are also on the FEMA mobile website, http://m.fema.gov, which is designed to display quickly on your smartphone.

Posted by: Craig Fugate, Administrator

Sheree and I, along with the employees of FEMA, were saddened to hear about the passing of Hal Bruno. Hal was a national icon serving for more than 60 years as an active member of the fire service community, as well as a dedicated national journalist for ABC News and Newsweek. As an active member of the fire service community, Hal served as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, advocate, commentator and leader and was selflessly committed to fire safety initiatives. As the Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, he displayed a commitment to expanding services and resources for the survivors of fallen firefighters. Our sincere condolences go out to Hal’s family, friends, and colleagues in the fire service and in journalism. He will be greatly missed. And please share this tribute page and video of Hal.

Posted By: Rachel Racusen, Director of Public Affairs

As FEMA and the FCC continue to collect feedback about yesterday’s nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, we’re getting a lot of questions about how the test was received. Yesterday’s test served its intended purpose – to identify gaps and generate a comprehensive set of data to help strengthen our ability to communicate during real emergencies.

We have already begun to receive information indicating that while the test was received by thousands of test participants across the country, there were some instances in which the test apparently was not received by some participants and/or not re-broadcast to the public. In addition, we have received some feedback regarding audio quality. We take these shortcomings seriously and intend to work closely with all participants over the next several weeks as we assess the nature of problems with the nationwide test and how best to address them effectively.

While we will continue to get more data and test results back from participants over the coming days and weeks, we thought we’d share some of the reviews we’re seeing about where the test worked, where it didn’t – and where we can make improvements.

And remember, FEMA is also interested in hearing from all our stakeholders who want to share feedback about how the test was or wasn’t received in your area. We encourage you to email us at ipaws@dhs.gov.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the reviews I mentioned:

“Today’s test is a major step forward toward a better system. What we’ve got today is not by any means a perfect warning system. Our alerting capacity is definitely going up at a national level with this test, but our warning capacity – that is, the ability to motivate the public to take protective action – needs a lot more work.” -- Dennis Mileti, Former Director of the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder [Emergency Alert System: Why US Is Doing First National Test Now, Christian Science Monitor, November 9]

“At FOX6 Wednesday, the test worked just as it should. John Workman, FOX6’s engineering vice-president says testing the system is very important. ‘I fully expect the FCC and FEMA will release some kind of report, analyzing the results of this, and what they found, and what they see as areas that may need to be fixed,’ he said.” [Nationwide EAS Test: Challenges Experienced During Wednesday’s Nationwide Emergency Alert Test, WITI-TV (WI), Nov. 9]

“Indiana Homeland Security Emergency Response Director Arvin Copeland says it’s crucial that Hoosiers are aware of the tests. Copeland says the goal is to remind people that the emergency alert system exists to alert people about true emergencies.” Indiana Homeland Security Emergency Response Director [Feds Test Emergency Alert System, WIBC-FM (IN), Nov. 9]

“The purpose of the Emergency Alert test, is to see how prepared the United States is in the event of a natural disaster, or terrorist attack. The test was not without flaws. Most states got the alert at the scheduled time, but others did not. After all, the purpose of the test is to find out how well the system would work in an actual emergency.” [Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Has Some Glitches, WDBJ-TV Roanoke (VA), November 9]

“There were no calls to 911. It seemed like people were well aware and watching the local media. It seemed like it was well-explained. We’ve seen no issue.” -- Randy Gockley, Lancaster County’s Emergency Management Coordinator [Emergency System Tested, Lancaster (PA) New Era, November 9, 2011]

“Here in Florida, officials at our local Emergency Operations centers watched to make sure it worked the way it should. The Brevard County EOC has been in touch with national authorities like FEMA and the FCC to help spread the word about the 30 second NAS test. Past national disasters proved the lack of communication on the federal, state and local levels. But officials say with this new method, important information can be relayed to the masses quickly and concisely. ‘It’s critical we share in information both up the chain and down the chain,’” – Kimberly Prosser, Brevard County Spokesperson (FL)
[Government Conducts First Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test, Central Florida News 13, November 9]

“It’s important in emergency management and communication to the public that we test our systems to ensure that they do operate as designed so when we need them they are there and we can count on them.” – Bryan Koon, Florida State Emergency Management Director [Did Emergency Alert System Test Work? FEMA Not Sure Yet, WTSP-TV St. Petersburg (FL), November 9]

Posted by: Public Affairs

As a dangerous storm continues to make landfall along the west coast of Alaska, we continue to be in close contact with our federal, state and local partners in monitoring the storm. As of 9 a.m. Alaska standard time (1 p.m. EST) the National Weather Service has issued winter storm, blizzard and coastal flood warnings along the Bering Sea and West Coast of Alaska and predicts that sustained winds and elevated water levels will continue to affect a large portion of the western Alaska coast today, before beginning to subside, from south to north, this evening.

Local officials in several small, tribal villages located along the coast of the Bering Sea have initiated evacuations for coastal and low-lying sections of their communities. We encourage Alaskans to monitor weather conditions closely and to follow the direction provided by their local officials.

And if you’re in the potentially affected area, familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a winter storm hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued.

Terms used to describe a winter storm hazard include the following:

• Freezing Rain creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
• Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.
• Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
• Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
• Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.

What We’re Doing
As we mentioned in yesterday’s update, we placed liaison officers and a regional Incident Management Assistance Team in Alaska in advance of the storm to coordinate with the state if federal support is needed. Through these teams, we continue to coordinate closely with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Defense as the situation develops.

In addition to the Incident Management Assistance Team, other federal activities include:

• The Department of Defense has regional liaisons at the Alaska Area Office in Anchorage that are also providing support to the state for any coordination of federal resources that may be needed.
• Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a flyover along the Bering Sea coast to gain an aerial and photographic assessment of the area, with additional flyovers planned today.

Since Monday, the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. and the Regional Response Coordination Center in Bothell, Washington have been monitoring the storm and supporting on a 24-hour basis. Finally, we have additional teams standing by, including preliminary damage assessment teams, should their assistance be required.

For those not in Alaska, the severe winter storm serves as a reminder to get prepared for the cold weather months. Ready.gov/winter has tips on getting your family, home or workplace prepared for severe winter weather, or visit http://m.fema.gov for tips on your phone. (And in case you haven’t heard, you can download the FEMA app in the Android market and Apple store – packed full of safety tips and a place to record the items in your family’s emergency kit.)

By: Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator, National Continuity Programs

(Editor's note: updated 6:30pm EST)

After years of hard work with all of our partners, and months of providing updates on this blog, today, FEMA, the FCC, NOAA and communications service providers, and many others administered our first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. We are currently collecting data about the initial results, and it will take the test’s participants several weeks to send us the full results of their tests.

As we have been explaining throughout this process, this initial test was the first time we have gotten a sense of the reach and scope of this technology. It was our opportunity to get a sense of what worked, what didn’t and additional improvements that need to be made to the system as we move forward. It’s only through comprehensively testing, analyzing, and improving these technologies that we can ensure the most effective and reliable emergency alert and warning systems available at a moment’s notice in a time of real national emergency.

This nationwide test served the purpose for which it was intended – to identify gaps and generate a comprehensive set of data to help strengthen our ability to communicate during real emergencies. Based on preliminary data, media outlets in large portions of the country successfully received the test message, but it wasn’t received by some viewers or listeners.

As we often say here at FEMA, we’re just one part of a much, much larger team. To prepare for this test FEMA worked closely with state and local officials, the broadcast community, as well as nongovernmental organizations including the disability and faith-based communities.

So now that the test has occurred, we know many of you may be wondering…what next?

Well, first, we’ll be spending the next few weeks gathering test result data from the test’s participants, and feedback from all of our stakeholders. Under the FCC’s rules, test participants have 45 days from the date of the test to analyze their data and provide a full report to the FCC on the scope and reach of the test. In the meantime, FEMA is also interested in hearing from any stakeholders who want to share feedback about how the test worked and ways we can continue to improve it. We encourage you to email us at ipaws@dhs.gov with any tips, suggestions or input you may have.

And looking ahead, this test was just the beginning of our much larger efforts to strengthen and upgrade our nation’s public alert and warning system.

As we work to build a more modern system, we will continue to test the other newer technologies and communications tools that are also going to be part of our public alert and warning networks, such as cell phones, smart phones, the internet and social media networks.

So to all of our partners, including the public, we want to thank you for your role in helping make this test happen. We look forward to working with all of you to incorporate the lessons learned from this test as we keep working a robust, resilient, and fully accessible next generation alerting system that can provide timely and accurate alerts to the American people.

Posted by: Public Affairs


Wednesday, Nov. 9 -- Forecast map published by the National Weather Service.

We continue to closely monitor a dangerous winter storm system forecasted to affect the west coast of Alaska today and tomorrow. According to the National Weather Service, the storm may bring extremely strong winds to all of the Alaska west coast, accompanied by widespread major coastal flooding and severe beach erosion over the coastline.

To date, the National Weather Service has issued winter storm, blizzard, coastal and inland flood warnings along the Bering Sea and West Coast of Alaska and predicts that conditions will worsen and may become life-threatening for a portion of the western Alaska coast. (For your local weather forecast, visit weather.gov or http://mobile.weather.gov on your smartphone.)

Our Role
Through our regional office in Bothell, Washington, our area office in Anchorage, Alaska and the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. we remain in constant contact with our state, local, tribal and federal partners including Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Defense.

In advance of the storm, we placed liaisons in the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center in Anchorage, Alaska to support and assist to coordinate federal support as needed. We have also deployed a regional Incident Management Assistance Team to Alaska to also support the state.

We also have additional teams standing by, including preliminary damage assessment teams, should their assistance be required. In addition, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard have air assets available to support the state, should they be needed.

Follow Direction of Local Officials
We encourage all those in the potentially affected areas to follow the direction of local officials and keep informed of local conditions. If local authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately; follow evacuation routes announced by officials, and stay away from coastal areas, river banks and streams. As forecasts call for the potential of coastal flooding, tidal surges and related flash flooding, remember that it can take only a few minutes to a few hours to develop.

For more information and winter preparedness tips, please visit: Ready.gov/winter or http://m.fema.gov on your smartphone.

Stay Connected
Follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

• On your computer: Website, Facebook, Twitter
• On your phone: Facebook and Twitter

Posted by: Public Affairs

According to National Weather Service forecasts, a rapidly developing significant winter storm system is anticipated to affect the west coast of Alaska today and tomorrow. We are closely monitoring the situation through our regional office in Bothell, Wash., our area office in Anchorage, Alaska, and the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C.


The National Weather Service forecast diagram for Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm, blizzard, coastal and inland flood warnings along the Bering Sea and west coast of Alaska and forecasts that this system will intensify as it moves northward.

Staying Safe
We encourage Alaskans to monitor weather conditions closely and to follow the direction provided by their local officials. If local authorities order an evacuation, leave immediately, follow evacuation routes announced by officials, and stay away from coastal areas, river banks and streams.

As forecasts call for the potential for coastal flooding, remember that it can take only a few minutes to a few hours for flooding to develop. Be prepared to take detours and adjust your route due to road closures if there is standing water. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous, so when in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges, and at highway dips. Remember that as little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Make sure your emergency supply kit is ready. It should include at least a three-day supply of food and water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, and other items specific to your family’s needs. (Power outages can often occur during severe winter storms, so check out yesterday’s blog post with power outage tips.)

Finally, familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a winter storm hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe a winter storm hazard include the following:

• Freezing Rain creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
• Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.
• Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
• Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
• Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.

What We’re Doing
In preparation for the storm:

• We have been in constant communication with our state and federal partners including Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Defense,
• We have placed liaisons at the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center in Anchorage, Alaska to coordinate federal support as needed and deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team to support state efforts at the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center, and
• We have also activated the Regional Response Coordination Center in Bothell, Wash. and the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. to continue to monitor conditions and coordinate federal support to the state, as needed.

As this storm system develops, we will continue to closely coordinate with our federal, state and local partners. For more information and winter preparedness tips, please visit: www.Ready.gov/winter to find out how you can prepare your family for winter storms and other disasters.

Stay Connected

• Follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• On your computer: Website, Facebook, Twitter
• On your phone: Facebook and Twitter
• Bookmark the National Weather Service and FEMA’s mobile site: http://mobile.weather.gov and http://m.fema.gov.

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

Through our regional office in Denton, Texas, we continue to closely monitor the aftermath of a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Oklahoma late Saturday night -- the largest earthquake in the state's history, according to the U.S. Geological Survey -- along with other severe weather that has continued to impact the state. We have reached out to our state and local partners in Oklahoma and will remain in close contact with them as local authorities continue to assess the damage.

Back in April, I was at Jones Elementary School in Jones, Okla., participating in an earthquake safety drill called the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. In the drill, the students joined millions of others around the country and practiced the steps of “Drop. Cover. Hold On.” – the best way to stay safe during an earthquake.

And I know from experience that practicing for an earthquake can make a world of difference when the real thing happens. Last winter, I happened to be visiting Christchurch, New Zealand when the city was struck by a deadly earthquake.

As both my experience in Christchurch and the recent events in Oklahoma show, earthquakes can happen unexpectedly, and in places that the public doesn’t usually associate with earthquake activity. It’s critical that we all do our part to be prepared both for earthquakes and for aftershocks that can accompany them. We encourage everyone, if you haven't already, to learn how to protect your homes, businesses and loved ones from earthquakes. Visit www.Ready.gov/earthquakes for more information.

To get you started, here are some reminders on staying safe during an earthquake:

• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

• Do not use a doorway except if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it is close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection.

Posted by: Darryl Madden, Director of the Ready Campaign

I'm proud to introduce Administrator Fugate, with a video message about the completely redesigned Ready.gov:

As the Administrator said, Ready.gov is where you can learn how to prepare your home, family or business before a disaster strikes. Being prepared can mean the difference between life and death if an emergency happens, and we continually encourage Americans to take the simple steps of being informed, making a plan and getting a kit – three main areas on the site.

While the new site is our latest development, I'd like to remind you that you can get our safety tips in the palm of your hand, too. We recently released the FEMA app for Apple-powered mobile devices (it’s available for Android, too), and many of our safety tips are on the FEMA mobile website, http://m.fema.gov, which is designed to display quickly on your smartphone.

So I encourage you to check out the new Ready.gov, download the FEMA app, and take steps to prepare your family, home, business, and community before a disaster strikes.

Posted by: Public Affairs

With the national emergency alert system test only two days away, we wanted to remind you what you can expect during the test. As a reminder, the test will take place this Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2 PM EST.

• The test will occur on all broadcast radio and television stations, cable television systems, satellite radio and television systems, and wireline video service systems. The test will last approximately 30 seconds, after which regular programming will resume. The test will not involve landline or mobile phones or other forms of communication such as internet or social media.
• The test will look and sound very similar to local broadcasting tests of the Emergency Alert System that occur on a frequent basis.
• The purpose of this test is to allow FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission to assess how well the Emergency Alert System would perform its primary function, to alert the public about a national emergency. We are testing our equipment and capability of properly responding to a national emergency, should they ever need to be used.

The emergency alert system test has been making local and national headlines in the news lately, and here are a few of the stories:

1. "This is a Test….This is only a Test." ABC News
2. First Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System WPMT-TV Harrisburg (PA)
3. First Nationwide Emergency Alert Is This Week Wisconsin Radio Network

Visit www.fema.gov/eastest for complete information about the test and answers to frequently asked questions.

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

Who would have thought the cold and blustery weather, along with the white fluffy stuff, would show up this soon? Although we are approaching the end of hurricane season, we were recently forced to shift our focus to winter weather risks as we were harshly reminded that disasters happen year-round.

While some may enjoy the colder weather and the accompanying snow, others like myself, prefer the warmer temperatures. Regardless of your view on cold and snow, now is the time of year when temperatures drop. It is also the time of year when gusting winds and accumulating ice and snow can bring power outages.


Simsbury, Conn., November 5, 2011 -- Utility crews work to restore power in the aftermath of a deadly winter storm. Some areas of Connecticut were without electricity for more than a week. FEMA is assisting government and residents recover from the storm and is providing food and water, as well as generators for some public buildings and nursing homes.

Power outages can accompany virtually every natural disaster and are more common than you’d think. Power grids, generating plants, transformer stations, power poles and even buried cables are vulnerable to the elements of natural disasters. The rare October Nor’easter that struck recently left approximately 3.2 million customers on the East Coast without power. The effects can be devastating and outage durations can last a couple of hours or a couple of weeks depending on the severity of the event and service options available in the affected area. (How we’re supporting Northeast states after the severe winter storm.)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its Winter Outlook for this December through February, which will be influenced strongly by La Niña causing shifts in weather patterns across the country. But with no way to be 100 percent certain about the weather to come, it’s important to be prepared for emergencies 365 days a year.

One thing we can do, as community leaders and preparedness advocates, is to take the time to encourage organizations, communities, individuals and families to review their disaster plans and update their emergency kits. Below are a few considerations you can share with community members when discussing how to prepare for a power outage:

• Ensure you have a battery-powered or hand cranked radio to listen for emergency updates and news reports.
• Have flashlights or electric lanterns on hand to provide light; candles may add a spark of adventure during power failures, but they are dangerous fire hazards. Flashlights and electric lanterns require batteries so consider, during extended outages, keeping a supply of extra batteries.
• Remember, microwaves will not work! It’s important to keep a three- to 14-day supply of water and of nonperishable food such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, canned juices, milk, and soup. Additionally, have a hand-operated can opener available. FEMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day.

Actions to take during a power outage:

• If using a portable generator during a power outage, it should always be operated outside, away from doors and windows to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.
• During the winter, let the sun warm rooms during the day and close shades and curtains at night.
• Avoid plugging emergency generators into electric outlets or hooking them directly to your home's electrical system - they can feed electricity back into the power lines, putting you and line workers in danger.
• When the power comes back on, wait a few minutes before turning on major appliances, to help eliminate problems that could occur if there's a sharp increase in demand. If you think electric power has been restored to your area but your home is still without power, call your local power company.

Even if your community wasn’t affected by this recent winter-like storm, it’s still important to take the opportunity to inform your community about its risks and provide simple tips. Everyone can play a vital role in helping our communities prepare for severe winter weather.

Posted by: Public Affairs


Minot, ND, October 20, 2011 -- David Miller (right), Associate Administrator of the FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple (second from right), FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Deanne Criswell (center), FEMA Associate Administrator of Response and Recovery William Carwile (left), and FEMA Region VIII Flood Insurance and Mitigation Division Director Jeanine Petterson discuss flood recovery concerns with engineers and other state and local officials at Minot's City Hall.

Recently, David Miller, Associate Administrator, Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration, and Bill Carwile, Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery, visited North Dakota. During their visit, they met with top state and local officials, toured flood damaged areas from the air and the ground, and saw first-hand the impacts of flooding along the Souris and Missouri Rivers and in the Devils Lake Basin, including the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe. They came to look, listen and learn about the challenges and the hopes of area leadership.

Their goal was to look for ways to improve the local, state, tribal, private sector and federal partnerships needed for ongoing recovery and future mitigation.

David Miller shared his thoughts on the trip:

Bill and I toured areas of Bismarck and Mandan, Minot/Ward County and Devils Lake. We visited with FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff and met with state and local leaders, including Governor Dalrymple, Adjutant General Sprynczynatyk, State Flood Recovery Coordinator Major General Sagsveen, and representatives from the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. On Friday morning, I also met with Senators Conrad and Hoeven and Representative Berg, and locals leaders representing the Souris River Basin, including Mayors Curt Zimbelman and Jerome Gruenberg.

Throughout our visit we engaged in a discussion of the recovery efforts for each of the affected areas. I listened to the passionate and well articulated concerns of state and local leaders and heard about their commitment to the future. It is apparent that while each area has unique challenges, the foundation for a safer future rest with building a sustainable, well-coordinated and comprehensive approach to their ongoing flooding risks.

Strategic Long Term Recovery
I returned from the visit to the Souris River Basin impressed that state and local officials are taking the lead to develop a strategy and program for recovery that will include floodplain management, control projects, and acquisitions along with plans for the environment, historical considerations and future development. These plans may include both structural and non-structural solutions. While flood protection needs to be driven at the state and local level, I see an opportunity for federal support and participation as their concepts are flushed out, goals further defined and specific projects indentified.

It was extremely valuable for me to visit the Devils Lake Basin, especially from the air – for which I thank the North Dakota National Guard. This is an area I have long heard about but this was my first visit. I want to thank the local leaders who took the time to brief me on the situation, and for their straightforward and clear summary of how this flood event (that began in 1993) has impacted their infrastructure, their communities and most importantly their citizens. I know we will have continued involvement as part of the state and Army Corps of Engineers-led efforts and I am committed to exploring ways our programs, can be used to support the Corps’ recovery and mitigation strategies.

Minot, ND, October 20, 2011 -- David Miller, Associate Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration and William Carwile, Associate Administrator, FEMA Response and Recovery survey ongoing recovery efforts in Minot following historic flooding from the Souris River this Spring. FEMA is working with state and local partners to provide assistance to those who were affected by the flooding.

Bill Carwile emphasized the importance of seeing a disaster first-hand, and the importance of partnerships:

Let me add that I too benefited from seeing first-hand the complexities surrounding long-term recovery challenges in North Dakota. Seeing a disaster from the ground is always beneficial, but this trip proved especially valuable thanks to the time we were able to spend with the governor, state officials, and community leaders. I focused my time in the Souris River Basin and the surrounding areas.

Like David, I found both the aerial perspective and the ground tours extremely valuable. But nothing impacted me more than driving through flood damaged neighborhoods and then walking through a home that was destroyed. While state and local leaders, with supplemental support from FEMA, the private sector, other federal agencies, and the volunteer organizations have made progress, good progress, it is clear that there is still a long way to go. And while the challenges are great, so are the opportunities. One of my specific recommendations is that we coordinate with the State to evaluate the need to exercise components for the National Disaster Recovery Framework to help support the ongoing recovery efforts.

My message to the local community is to continue to build your local, state, federal and private sector team. As I told FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate when I returned from North Dakota, we need to do all we can within FEMA to support the state, flood-impacted communities, and individuals as they continue the efforts to rebuild, and define projects and strategies for future flood protection.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Every Friday, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.

Emergency Alert System Test Next Week
The first nationwide Emergency Alert System test is next week- Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. EST. As we’ve mentioned in previous blog posts the test will be conducted on all TV and radio stations and will last approximately 30 seconds. During this time an audio message will run, similar to local emergency systems test that happen more frequently. After the test, your regular scheduled programming will resume.

Visit www.fema.gov/eastest for complete information about the test and to learn what to expect. Please share information about the test with family and friends and help us spread the word, including embedding this widget on your website:



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Winter Months Getting Closer; Get Prepared


Ellington, Conn., November 4, 2011 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino checks on the pets that are part of a shelter in Connecticut. Several communities are still without power following last weeks severe winter storm that impacted many states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

As we mentioned in a blog post yesterday, we continue to support response efforts in states that were impacted from the severe storms that affected the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern region last weekend. As response and power restoration efforts continue, we remain in close contact with our state, local and tribal partners in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Today, Deputy Administrator Rich Serino visited with local officials and survivors in Connecticut and New Hampshire, visiting areas impacted by last weekend’s nor'easter storm.

With the winter months coming, there is no better time to prepare for the season than now. You can learn more at Ready.gov/winter – but to get you started, here are some steps you can take this weekend to get prepared:

• Be sure to update your family's emergency supply kit and add items such as rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways, snow shovels, extra blankets, and appropriate clothing (i.e., hat, gloves, and scarf).
• Have an emergency kit in your car, in the event you are stranded by a blizzard or traffic jam. Be sure to include items you would need to stay warm and comfortable for at least 72 hours.
• Know what to do if the power goes out. Winter storms can also cause power outages, so make sure you take precautions to get prepared.
• Know how you will stay informed if severe weather strikes. A NOAA weather radio is a great way to stay informed of severe weather in your area, as well as local news sources. Including a battery-powered or hand-crank radio in your emergency kit, and bookmarking useful sites on your smartphone (like http://m.fema.gov and http://mobile.weather.gov) are great steps to take as well. (And if you have an Android or Apple mobile device, you can download the FEMA app to use the interactive emergency kit checklist or lookup a shelter or disaster recovery center.)

Turn Your Clocks Back & Check Your Smoke Alarms

It’s that time of year again - the clocks will be “falling back” this weekend. This Sunday when you set your clocks back an hour, it’s a great time to test the smoke alarms in your home. Having working smoke alarms can significantly increase the chances that you or a loved one survives a home fire, so we encourage you to take these simple steps to maintain the smoke alarms in your home:

• Test and clean your smoke alarms this weekend 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.

For more information on maintaining your smoke alarms and fire sprinklers, visit the U.S. Fire Administration website. And visit Ready.gov/fires to get learn how you can prepare your home/family to prevent home fires.

Posted by: Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

The first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will occur on Wednesday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m. EST. As part of our public education campaign, we wrote this open letter to ensure that all Americans are aware of the test and know what to expect.

Please share this information with your friends, family, and coworkers:

Dear Partner,

As part of our nation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen our resilience against all hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in close coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), will conduct the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on Wednesday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m. EST. The test will occur simultaneously across the United States and the U.S. territories and will last approximately 30 seconds, after which regular programming will resume. The test will appear on all broadcast radio and television stations, cable television systems, satellite radio and television systems, and wireline video service systems. The test will not involve landline or mobile phones or other infrastructure such as power grids.

The various disasters our country has faced this year underscore the need for effective and well-tested emergency alert and warning systems that could be used in a time of real national emergency, at a moment’s notice. Now, with the test less than a week away, we ask that you join us in efforts to educate your entire community about this important event.

Although the Emergency Alert System and its predecessors have been in existence for more than 50 years and are often tested at the local level, there has never been a nationwide test of these capabilities. The purpose of the test is to allow FEMA and the FCC to assess how well the Emergency Alert System would perform its primary function: alerting the public about a national emergency.

The first step toward building a modernized Emergency Alert System means testing the existing technology. Through preparations for the test, we have already identified areas that need improvement to ensure our entire population has full access to alerts and warnings. This nationwide test will help us identify any additional changes to the system that may be beneficial as we work to complete a modernized and fully accessible system.

A shortcoming of the system that we identified early in the process is that the fifty-year old system was not built to support open or closed captioning, translations, or other tools to supplement the audio portion of the test for broader accessibility. Consequently, many viewers, particularly cable television subscribers, will see the emergency alert on the screen that is accompanied by an audio explanation that "this is only a test," but may not see a corresponding visual message that "this is only a test." Knowing these limitations, FEMA and the FCC have targeted our outreach efforts to help ensure that the public knows what to expect when the test occurs. And, in these past weeks leading up to the test, the broadcast community, cable operators and programmers, and other communications service providers have conscientiously assisted in this effort by alerting their viewers and subscribers about the test—through visual and written communications.

Over the past year, our agencies have also been working extensively with our state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, and other critical stakeholders to help inform all members of the public regarding the nationwide Emergency Alert System test. In particular, we have conducted extensive outreach to the deaf and hard of hearing community to alert them about the test, including the technical limitations with the visual message, particularly with respect to cable television. To ensure that everyone is aware that the nationwide test on November 9 is only a test, we are also requesting your assistance with outreach. We particularly request that you provide information to people who are deaf and hard of hearing, people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities or mental health concerns, senior citizens, and people with limited English proficiency to build awareness and understanding about the test.

Specifically, we ask that you help us educate your communities regarding some important facts about the test:

• The test will be approximately 30 seconds long and will look and sound very similar to the frequent local tests of the Emergency Alert System;

• It will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa;

• An audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is only a test,” though text may not indicate this same message on the screen on every television channel;

• Organizations that serve people with disabilities or people with limited English proficiency should be aware that they may receive requests for information or assistance from broadcasters or other communications service providers and emergency managers in the days leading up to, during, and after the test; and

• When the test is over, regular programming will resume. In the coming days, our agencies will be releasing additional information to help inform the public about this test. Resources, including videos in accessible formats, can be found at www.fema.gov/eastest.

As with all of our work, we know that the support of our state, local, tribal and territorial partners, along with the private sector, our faith-based and disability communities, and other key stakeholders, will be vital to effectively raising the public’s awareness of the test and minimizing undue public concern. We greatly appreciate your continued partnership as we prepare for this unique event and important public service. Your efforts to help us get the message out will be invaluable.

Sincerely,

W. Craig Fugate
ADMINISTRATOR
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Julius Genachowski
CHAIRMAN
Federal Communications Commission

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An additional way you can help us spread the word is to embed this widget on your website or post a message on your social media sites to let your followers know.