FEMA Blog

 
Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino visits a home in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colo. where fire mitigation efforts by the homeowner protected the house from wildfire damage.

While I was in Colorado Springs for the Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships conference last week, I also had the honor of meeting with some of the impressive first responders from the state and local level who fought the Waldo Canyon Fire.

The firefighters faced an intense challenge. Sixty-five mile-per-hour winds fanned the flames and pushed the fire up and down mountainsides surrounding the town. More than 32,000 residents were forced to evacuate and the fire consumed more than 18,000 acres.

FEMA worked as part of a team of federal, state and local agencies, supporting the firefighting effort. We first provided Fire Management Assistance Grants so first responders could save lives and property knowing that we had their backs with financial support. On June 28, President Obama declared a major disaster in Colorado resulting from both the Waldo Canyon and High Park Fires, and committed additional federal support.

 
Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- In the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colo., only the arch remains of home that was destroyed during the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.

The Waldo Canyon Fire was the most destructive in the state’s history – 346 homes were lost. But it could have been a lot worse. Without a doubt, mitigation saved many of the homes in the area. In Cedar Heights, mitigation efforts, supported by FEMA grants, brought the wildfire to a halt before it could threaten the neighborhood.

 
Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino visits a mitigation project in the Cedar Heights neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colo. The project protected homes from the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.

Similarly, individual homeowners took mitigation into their own hands. I visited one home in an extremely vulnerable location – perched on a hill near a burn area. Thanks to simple mitigation techniques, like creating 10 feet of defensible space around a home and removing all items from above and below a deck, this home was spared.


Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino visits a home in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colo. where fire mitigation efforts by the homeowner protected the house from wildfire damage.

Wildfires spread quickly. If you live in an area threatened by wildfire, make sure that you’ve taken appropriate measures to protect your property. For an overview of how to prepare for wildfires, visit www.ready.gov/wildfires.

Now that these fires have been contained, the next big threat is flash flooding. Due to intense heat of the fires, much of the soil in burn areas is unable to absorb rainwater, increasing the risk of flash flooding, particularly in low lying areas in canyons. Manitou Springs, near Colorado Springs, is a historic and picturesque town sitting along Fountain Creek. The town is all too familiar with the threat of flash flooding, after a flood swept through the town back in 1999.


Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- Image of Manitou Springs, Colorado.

The good news is that due to recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), residents impacted by these fires could have an exception to the usual 30-day waiting period for NFIP to take effect. That means the chance to protect your property in the event of a disastrous flash flood.

If you live in an area with an increased risk of flooding as a result of these fires, contact your insurance agent to find out if you’re eligible for flood insurance. To learn more about NFIP or to find an insurance agent familiar with flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

On July 23 and 24, U.S. Northern Command hosted the 2012 Building Resilience through Public Private Partnerships Conference. More than 300 attendees participated in a variety of topics to include defense, international, youth preparedness, faith-based, as well as access and functional needs as they relate to the private sector. And the audience was as diverse as the content. Attendees include 156 from the public sector and 145 from the private sector (81 for-profit companies, 48 non-profit and 16 academia). U.S. Northern Command should be commended for the outstanding agenda and collaboration.

 
Colorado Springs, Colo., July 23, 2012 -- FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino addresses attendees at the Private-Public Partnership Conference. 

Deputy Administrator Rich Serino opened the conference with praise for how far public-private partnerships have come, and called for even stronger coordination into the future. In just these two days, we saw this partnership grow. Our latest FEMA Think Tank, led by the Deputy Administrator, took place as part of the conference. Check out the great discussion we had.

Throughout the conference, we were able to hear from seasoned professionals on lessons learned and best practices. We met newcomers to the public-private partnership arena who were eager to learn and offer fresh perspectives. And we heard stories. We heard from a young teenager who when faced with the loss of a close friend in a car accident found strength from lessons she learned in preparedness training. We were inspired by a Colorado family who lost their home in the recent wildfires. Having recovered a family heirloom, they shared how “beauty can come from ashes.” And we heard from a panelist who challenged us with the oft quoted advice attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, “be the change you want to see in the world.”

I was inspired to see the courage and resilience of the speakers and attendees. I was inspired by the many private sector leadership who helped guide us in the right direction. And yes, I was inspired by U.S. Northern Command and their team, who are always humble and reliable in their role in support of FEMA, state, tribal and local governments. But on these two days, their leadership was clear and all of us benefited.

At every step of emergency management, from preparedness and mitigation, to response and recovery, we do our best when we work together as a team. Today our team is stronger than ever. Through public-private partnerships, we can build resilience and be that change we want to see in the world.

This week, U.S. Northern Command hosted the Building Resilience through Public Private Partnerships Conference. We held our latest FEMA Think Tank call on the second day of the conference and had a great conversation on how the emergency management community can develop and sustain relationships with the private sector and build these partnerships for the future. There were about 150 participants in the room and over 220 participants on the phone.


Building and Sustaining Public-Private Relationships through Best Practices

Kicking off the call, we discussed best practices and highlighted the importance of engaging the private sector, including information sharing, engaging trusted partners and building resiliency. Ira Tannenbaum, the Director of Public/Private Initiatives at New York City’s Emergency Management Office, Bryan Strawser, Target’s Senior Group Manager of Global Crisis Management, Jami Haberl, Executive Director of Safeguard Iowa Partnerships, and FEMA’s current Private Sector Representative, Hilary Ward, Global Managed Services of Citi Group all led the panel style discussion. Each provided a unique perspective, from the insight of a large corporation to that of a nonprofit organization. The insight each speaker shared truly demonstrated the importance of whole community.



Our discussion focused on the coordination of private sector and emergency management resources prior, during and following a disaster. From these discussions, we were able to view real-life examples, which included working with the private sector to create a force multiplier in delivering messages, connecting businesses with regional private sector FEMA liaisons, and leveraging nonprofits to assist in building public/private partnerships. Additionally, we discussed how important it is to build a financial services toolkit to ensure disaster resiliency for businesses and the community at large. These are a only few examples of the critical need to work together before, during and after emergencies.


Envisioning the Future of Public-Private Partnerships

During the second part of the call, we challenged the participants to discuss the future of public-private partnerships. Joe Donovan, Senior Vice President of Beacon Capital Partners and Preparedness Chair discussed collaborating on a future vision of public private partnerships. In particular, we talked about developing sustainable private/public partnerships and discovering creative ways to leverage these partnerships, such as educating the community on trusted business sources to utilize after a disaster strikes. I challenge you all to continue this discussion and discuss the future of public-private partnerships. Where do we go from here, and how do we get there together? Post your comments and ideas to the Think Tank Online Forum.

The next Think Tank call will take place on August 17 in Vermont. The theme for that discussion will be the role of faith-based and community organizations in advancing the whole community approach to emergency management. I encourage you to participate in the conversation on the Think Tank Online Forum by sharing and discussing ideas. A full transcript of the July 24 conference call is available at www.fema.gov/thinktank. 

Today is truly a reason to celebrate because it marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Twenty two years ago, we reached a turning point in our nation’s history when the civil rights of millions of Americans with disabilities were recognized and protected by law. Today, more than 56 million Americans benefit from this law.

Here at FEMA, we are committed to honoring and upholding the ADA. We are uncompromising in our dedication for the right to equal access before, during and after an emergency. Equal access gives everyone an opportunity to contribute their skills, knowledge and resources to strengthen their community.

Here is my vision of equal access:

• Equal access means that everyone participates in exercises that test the capability and procedures of a community in the event of an emergency or disaster. 
• Equal access means that people have accessible transportation during an evacuation; restoring transportation accessibility after a disaster is simply a part of restoring the essential services needed by the whole community. 
• Equal access means that people with disabilities have the tools and resources to maintain their health, safety and independence in a shelter. 
• Because information has to be accessible to be actionable, equal access means that the whole community has access to effective communication including Sign Language interpreters, assistive listening devices, CART, materials in large print or Braille, TTY and video relay services; equal access also means receiving emergency alerts, warnings, and important messages in plain language. 
• Equal access means meeting the accessible housing needs of disaster survivors and addressing the recovery needs of the whole community so that children with disabilities go back to school with their peers and adults with disabilities go back to work along with their co-workers. 
• Equal access means that a career path in emergency management is as accessible to workers with disabilities as it is to workers without disabilities.

The anniversary of the passage of the ADA is a great opportunity to recommit to making sure that people with disabilities are ALWAYS included as a vital part of the planning team, and that the skills and knowledge of people with disabilities are fully recognized as integral to effective response, recovery and mitigation.

We know that when communities integrate the access and functional needs of individuals in all phases of emergency management, they strengthen their ability to prepare for and more quickly recover from natural and man-made disasters. Much progress has been made in the past 22 years, but we still have a long way to go to achieve the full inclusion that is at the heart of the ADA.

At FEMA, we have a growing workforce of disability integration specialists working across the country and a growing toolbox of resources to support states in meeting the disaster-related needs of children and adults with disabilities. Join us as we continue building bridges with disability advocacy and service organizations, engaging with state and local partners, training emergency managers, making improvements in disaster response, and advocating for including people with disabilities in whole community planning.

There are many ways to get involved, especially before a disaster occurs. The whole community can participate in programs and activities to make their families, homes and communities safer from risks and threats. Learn about some promising practices in disability inclusive emergency management from across the country by visiting www.fema.gov/about/odic and how you can get involved by going to FEMA’s Ready website at www.ready.gov/get-involved.

As you hear us say frequently, FEMA is just part of the team, a team that encompasses the whole community, including partners, from state, local, and tribal governments to non-governmental organizations, to the private sector and voluntary groups.

A key member of that team is the National Advisory Council. The NAC is comprised of members from state, tribal and local governments, private sector, and non-governmental partners who advise and provide recommendations to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on all aspects of emergency management.

This month, the NAC held their quarterly meeting and reviewed the progress and recommendations of its four subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection, Response and Recovery, Public Engagement and Mission Support, and Federal Insurance and Mitigation. They also met with FEMA leadership to receive briefings on current initiatives.



Administrator Fugate and Deputy Administrator Richard Serino briefed the NAC during the public portion of the meeting, highlighting their top priorities and answering questions. Some of the topics discussed by both FEMA leadership and the NAC included:

• The National Planning Frameworks as outlined in Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8) on National Preparedness 
• The Public Assistance Bottom-Up Review, Emergency Management Performance Grant Program 
• Whole Community within Strategic Foresight Initiative, Youth Preparedness Strategic Framework 
• FEMA Workforce Transformation Initiative 
• National Flood Insurance Program 
• Support of Tribal Legislation

Administrator Fugate emphasized how important it is for the NAC to continue providing solid recommendations about how national emergency management should be improved and considered.



Following every quarterly meeting, the NAC provides formal recommendations on current FEMA programs and initiatives. FEMA looks forward to receiving those recommendations and continuing our successful relationship with the Council.

Today, we are proud to unveil the new FEMA.gov. As Administrator Fugate said in his video, this is not just an update to the look and feel of our site – the new fema.gov is completely redesigned from the inside out.

To set the stage for the project, here are a few numbers:

• Over 3,300 pages were reviewed, updated and migrated to the new site; 
• Over 300 users across the agency were trained to manage and edit content on the site; 
• Over 30,000 news releases migrated to the new site; and 
• Over 17,000 disaster pages migrated to the new site.

We began the overhaul of the FEMA.gov site almost two years ago by conducting focus groups to determine how to reorganize information so it could be best presented to the public. One month ago, we opened the preview site and asked for feedback as we prepared for the final push. The preview was the latest step of how FEMA’s customers - the American public - shaped how we designed, built, and launched the new site. Looking back, our initial goal was to create a site that is more user-friendly, better up-to-date, and easier to navigate than its predecessor.

Now that the new site has launched, here’s a look at a few of the major improvements:

• Reducing the number of clicks for users - FEMA.gov menus now present key topics and sub-topics that are more relevant to what users are looking for. Users can scroll over topics and see subtopics and descriptions, which more easily guides them to the information they need.
• Preventing users from getting lost - Given the number of pages I mentioned above and the amount of information available on the FEMA.gov site, navigating the old site could prove to be a challenge. The new FEMA.gov now presents the user with “breadcrumbs”, showing how information is organized. Research has shown that these breadcrumbs enable users to better navigate the site by giving them a trail of where they currently are in the site’s structure.
• Improving search capabilities – It’s plain and simple: searching on the new FEMA.gov works better than the previous version. In addition to receiving more accurate search results, users can search for the type of information they want such as news releases, general site pages, blog posts, etc. Search results can also be filtered by date, region and disaster type. Using the search bar will also retrieve better information because we removed many outdated legacy pages that were being maintained on the old site. 
• Focusing on accessibility and usability – FEMA.gov has been designed to be accessible to those with access and functional needs and we will continue to strive to meet or exceed federal Section 508 compliance standards. Multi-lingual capabilities have been added too so that a single piece of content can be made in multiple languages with the goal of having key disaster-related content available in the languages that are used in affected areas. Over time, more languages will be added, but there is an emphasis on Spanish content with the initial launch.

Going forward
The list of major improvements above is exciting – but the most significant enhancements to FEMA’s outreach through our website may be yet to come. Since we’re using the open source, cloud-based Drupal content management system, we have a robust foundation for future higher-level development work. For you “tech-savvy types”, this includes leveraging advanced data visualization, distributed content delivery via application programming interfaces, and other “open government” initiatives.

In the coming months, we will be working hard to update the mobile version of our website (m.fema.gov) as we continue to fix any existing bugs in the newly launched site. Going forward, we encourage you to continue submitting comments and feedback because improving the site is an ongoing process.

So take a few minutes and cruise around the new FEMA.gov, then drop us a comment and let us know what you think. Happy surfing!

Publicado por: Lars Anderson


(Video en Inglés)

Hoy, estamos orgullosos de presentarle el nuevo FEMA.gov. Como nuestro Administrador Fugate dijo en el video, no se trata de una actualización de la apariencia de nuestro sitio, el nuevo fema.gov/es esta completamente rediseñado de adentro hacia afuera.

Para preparar el terreno para el proyecto, aquí están algunos números:

• Más de 3,000 páginas se han revisado, actualizado y migraron al sitio nuevo; 
• Más de 300 usuarios a través de la agencia fueron capacitados para administrar y editar contenido en el sitio; 
• Más de 30,000 comunicados de prensa migraron al sitio nuevo; y 
• Más de 17,000 páginas de desastres migraron al sitio nuevo.

Comenzamos la revisión del sitio de FEMA.gov casi dos años mediante la realización de grupos focales para determinar como reorganizar la información, para presentarla al público lo mejor posible. Hace un mes abrimos la vista anticipada del sitio y solicitamos comentarios, mientras nos preparábamos para la presentación final. La vista anticipada fue el paso final de cómo los clientes de FEMA y el publico estadounidense fueron parte de formar el diseño, construcción y lanzamiento del sitio nuevo. Al mirar atrás, nuestra meta inicial fue el crear un sitio más fácil de usar, más actualizado y con una navegación más fácil que la del sitio anterior.

Ya que el sitio nuevo se ha lanzado, hacemos un vistazo a las mejoras más sobresalientes:

• Reducir el número de selecciones de los usuarios - los menús del FEMA.gov nuevo presentan temas principales y subtemas que son más relevantes para lo que los usuarios están buscando. Los usuarios pueden ver los temas, subtemas y descripciones, lo cual hace que encuentren la información que necesitan fácilmente. 
• Prevenir que los usuarios se pierdan – debido a la gran cantidad de páginas disponibles en el sitio de FEMA.gov, las cuales mencione anteriormente, la navegación en el sitio anterior podía ser un reto. El sitio nuevo de FEMA.gov presenta los “Breadcrumbs”, que son una guía de cómo la información esta organizada. Los estudios de búsqueda han demostrado que los “Breadcrumbs” facilitan la navegación de los usuarios, indicándoles donde se encuentran actualmente en el sitio. 
• Mejorar las capacidades de búsqueda – Es sencillo y simple: las búsquedas en el sitio nuevo funcionan mejor que el sitio anterior. Además de recibir los resultados de búsqueda más acertados, los usuarios pueden hacer su búsqueda por el tipo de información tales como los comunicados de prensa, paginas generales en el sitio, mensajes del blog, entre otros. Los resultados de la búsqueda pueden ser filtrados por fecha, región y tipo de desastre. El utilizar la barra de búsqueda puede recuperar la información de mejor manera ya que se eliminaron muchas de las páginas que estaban obsoletas y se mantenían en el sitio anterior. 
• Enfocarse en la accesibilidad y usabilidad – el sitio nuevo de FEMA.gov se ha diseñado para ser accesible a todos los que tienen necesidades funcionales y de acceso. Continuaremos nuestros esfuerzos para cumplir o exceder los estándares federales del cumplimiento de la Sección 508. Se ha incluido la capacidad de añadir contenido esencial relacionado a desastres en los idiomas que se utiliza en las áreas afectadas. Con el tiempo mas idiomas se estarán incluyendo, con este lanzamiento inicial, estamos enfatizando el contenido en español.

Hacia el futuro La lista de las mejoras sobresalientes son emocionantes, pero las mejoras más importantes para la difusión de la información de FEMA a través del sitio, están por venir. Ya que estamos utilizando un código abierto del sistema de manejo de contenido Drupal, tenemos una base fuerte para trabajar en un desarrollo a nivel mas alto en el futuro. Para todos los “amantes de la tecnología” esto incluye el beneficio de la visualización avanzada de datos, la entrega de contenido distribuido por medio de “Interfaces” y otra iniciativa de “gobierno abierto”.

En los próximos meses trabajaremos fuertemente para actualizar nuestra versión del sitio móvil (m.fema.gov, en español m.fema.gov/esp) y continuaremos solucionando los errores existentes en el sitio lanzado recientemente. Hacia el futuro, le instamos a continuar enviando sus comentarios e ideas para mejorar nuestro sitio en este proceso continuo.

Así que tome unos minutos y haga su búsqueda por el nuevo FEMA.gov y luego déjenos saber los que piensa. ¡Buena búsqueda!

Nature has already made the summer of 2012 historic in several ways: extreme heat and drought continues in many parts of the country. Severe storms and record wildfires have left many residents vulnerable to flooding. The recent wildfires have sadly impacted many lives, burned homes and structures, and left blackened landscapes in their wake.

The Heightened Risk of Flooding

Wildfires and drought seem to be happening more than usual this summer, and flooding remains the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. The aftermath of wildfire and drought can create an increased risk for flooding. Wildfire and drought change landscapes, increasing flood risk in areas where floods are usually rare. Residents living in these areas may find themselves with a higher flood risk than usual – even if they weren’t directly impacted by the original event. In some areas, flash floods can develop in just a few minutes, even if there is no sign of rain.

Here’s why: the extreme heat caused by a wildfire doesn’t just burn trees and foliage – it chars the soil leaving an oily coating on top which is unable to absorb water like it normally would. Without plants and trees to take up water, and with soil unable to absorb water, even a simple rainstorm can be a recipe for a flooding disaster. In areas of extreme drought, the soil exhibits similar characteristics due to the inability of vegetation to absorb rainfall and reduce runoff. This creates conditions ripe for flash flooding and mudflow, as rain water can flow freely and pick up debris and sediment along the way. In areas impacted by wildfire, it could take up to five years for vegetation to grow back - meaning the heightened risk of flooding stays with a community long after the wildfire has been extinguished and drought conditions have passed.

Few realize how costly damage from flooding can be. For instance:

• Just a few inches of floodwaters on your property or in your home can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. 
• The average flood claim in 2010 was approximately $28,000, and without flood insurance, many must cover the costs to repair or rebuild on their own.

I want to caution you that if you’re in or near an area recently impacted by wildfire or drought, you’re at a greater risk of flooding and there are steps you can take now to protect yourself, your family, home or business from the devastating impacts of a flood.

What you can do

Here are three things you can start working on now to protect yourself from flooding:

• Plan Ahead: Make a plan on where you’ll go in case of a sudden flash flood – making sure you know two evacuation routes in case one is cut off. Before a flood, conduct a home inventory; itemize and take pictures of possessions so you can document them for insurance purposes Keep important papers in a safe, waterproof place. 
• Get Ready: Gather supplies in case of a storm, strengthen your home against damage, and review your insurance coverage. Ready.gov/floods are a great place to start for information on getting prepared. 
• Get Insured: Only flood insurance covers flood damage. Most standard homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage, so you are probably not covered under your current insurance policy. However, flood insurance is affordable. An average flood policy costs around $600 a year, and rates start at just $129 a year for homes in moderate- to low-risk areas. Remember, it’s affordable and typically takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to go into effect, so get your policy now. To learn about flood risks in your area and for information on flood insurance, contact your insurance agent, and visit www.floodsmart.gov.

This past week we kicked off the paneling processes where Reservist Program Managers and cadre specific Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) pour over the applications, accumulated experience, and training & deployment records. The process is continuing this week and we expect to have selection determinations out to DAEs in August. I have reviewed the business process rules, the proposed workforce structures and the qualifications of those SMEs assigned to performing these tasks. I am confident that upon completion of this Reservist selection process we will have placed the right people, with the right skills into the positions that will benefit both the applicant and the organization.

I am extremely pleased that more than 7,300 DAEs applied for the Reservist Program. Because of your commitment to FEMA, we can rely on your experience and talent to serve disaster impacted communities and families.

Many of you asked great questions about a myriad of topics ranging from: benefits, career progression, FQS, force structure, and future workforce changes. We continue to work on these areas of interest and will convey this information as soon as it is available.

Phase II

The next round of applications for the Reservist Program will target gaps in force structure. In addition to the newly hired Reservist workforce, force structure will include PFT, CORE, FEMA Corps, and the DHS Surge workforce. Phase II applications will be open to all US citizens, including current DAEs and converted CORE and local hires.

Posted by: Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

Hi, and thanks for reading our very first blog post. Our names are Flat Stanley and Flat Stella, and we are very excited to be two of the newest employees at FEMA. You’ll be seeing a lot of us as we help kids learn more about disasters and emergencies – a job Administrator Fugate asked us to do!

FEMA does a lot of cool things that you may not know about. By following our adventures around FEMA, we hope to share all sorts of fun facts and photos about staying safe.

So as we start our first day at FEMA, we did what any new employee does – we got our pictures taken for our official badge!



Here we are making our way through security and to our new offices. Our new badges work!


We’re so glad to be here!


Now that we are set up and working, we hope you will continue following our adventures as we travel around FEMA and visit with other people who help keep America safe. When we have some fun and interesting things to share, we will post them on this blog.

If you would like to suggest an adventure or ask us a question, you can comment below, find us on the Flat Stanley Facebook page, the FEMA Facebook page, or even e-mail us at our new e-mail address (StanleyandStella@fema.dhs.gov)!

We are excited about sharing our upcoming adventures!

Hola, gracias por leer nuestro primer mensaje de blog. Nuestros nombres son Flat Stanley y Flat Stella estamos emocionados de ser dos de los nuevos empleados de FEMA. Vas a vernos mucho mientras ayudamos a los niños aprender sobre los desastres y emergencias – trabajo que el Administrador Fugate nos pidió que hiciéramos.

FEMA hace muchas cosas interesantes que tal vez no conoces. Al seguir nuestras aventuras en FEMA, esperamos podemos compartir todo tipo de datos curiosos y fotografías acerca estar seguro.

Nosotros comenzamos nuestro día como todo empleado lo hace – nos tomamos las fotos para nuestra tarjeta de identificación oficial de FEMA.


Aquí estamos pasando por el sistema de seguridad para ir a nuestras oficinas. ¡Nuestras tarjetas de identificación funcionan!

¡Estamos muy contentos de estar aquí!


Ahora que estamos preparados y trabajando esperamos que siga nuestras aventuras mientras viajamos por FEMA y visitamos a otras personas que ayudan a mantener a Estados Unidos seguro. Cuando tengamos algunas cosas interesantes y divertidas que compartir, lo publicaremos en este blog.

Si desea hacer sugerencias de aventuras o hacer una pregunta, puede hacer un comentario abajo, búscanos en la página de Flat Stanley en Facebook en la página de Facebook de FEMA o puede enviarnos un correo electrónico a la siguiente dirección (StanleyandStella@fema.dhs.gov).

! Estamos emocionados de compartir nuestras próximas aventuras!

Posted by: Lars Anderson, Director, Public Affairs

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

Severe weather outlook


U.S. Hazards Outlook, courtesy of the National Weather Service. Image posted July 13, 2012.
 
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is calling for above average temperatures next week for much of the Upper Midwest, while portions of the Ohio and Tennessee Valley may experience heavy rains. And, as you can see in the predominant brown portions of the map above, drought conditions will continue across much of the U.S.

The last few weeks have been relatively quiet for tropical storm and hurricane development in the Atlantic, but it’s important to remember that we are only one and a half months into hurricane season. The traditional peak of the season occurs in late August to early September. History shows that storms can develop quickly so both those in coastal and inland areas should prepare their families, homes and businesses now, before there’s a threatening storm. Ready.gov/hurricanes is a great starting place for information about getting prepared for the effects of a tropical storm or hurricane, so check it out today.

Follow your local forecast online at weather.gov or on your phone at mobile.weather.gov. Whatever the risks in your area of the country, visit Ready.gov to learn about getting prepared and lessening the impacts of a disaster.

Financially preparing before disaster strikes
The FEMA blog had several updates about our role supporting the firefighting efforts in Colorado as well as those affected by the fires. I ran across a story in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week from a reporter who experienced the wildfires firsthand. Here’s a quick section from the story:

The take-away from this experience is that you can't protect yourself from every disaster, but you can certainly do things to tilt the odds heavily in your favor. So what I want to talk about here is preparations that you should undertake right now to protect your financial interests in case you are ever exposed to a disaster: tornado, hurricane, fire, flood, earthquake, whatever. Did I make all these preparations myself? Not even close, which was dumb. But I've learned my lesson and now want to pass it along to you. Here goes.

Put Together a Financial Go Kit

Go to your friendly office supply store and buy one of those roomy plastic briefcases. Then put your most important financial documents (or copies of them) inside, including: homeowner and auto insurance coverage summaries; health insurance information; banking, mortgage, and credit card statements; investment and retirement account documents; tax returns for at least the last three years; your will; and a key to your safe deposit box. Add to this list as you see fit.

The rest of the article provides some useful financial preparedness tips such as putting together a “Financial Go Kit”, taking lots of pictures of your belongings, and making a “Grab-and-Go List”.

Remembering your pets
For millions of Americans, their pet is a part of their family. So it’s important to include your animals as part of your family’s emergency planning as well. This means making sure you know how you would evacuate with your pet, where a pet-friendly hotel or shelter might be located after a disaster, and including items in your family’s emergency kit to keep your pet happy and healthy.

When you get a few free minutes this week, visit Ready.gov/animals to learn more about preparing your pet for emergencies. And in case you need additional inspiration, here is Faith, who is waiting patiently to discuss her owner's emergency kit and the items she would like included like a current photo of her, vet information, food and a toy.

Tornadoes and fires hold more in common than being disasters: they can also make good neighbors.

This is uniquely true in Boligee, AL, a small rural town near the Mississippi border, and Hartville, OH, near Akron. It's a great story of faith communities helping each other -- and it has a beautiful twist at the end.

The story begins in and around Boligee in 1996, when four African American churches burned to the ground. Though it has never been proven, many suspect the fires were related to racial tension. Volunteers from around the world rebuilt the four churches -- including Little Zion Baptist Church -- with the assistance of Quakers and Mennonites.

Fast forward to April 27, 2011, when tornadoes tore through central Alabama, killing 139 people and destroying billions of dollars of property, including the Christian Valley Baptist Church in Boligee, home of a small African American congregation.



ROPE OF HOPE

The Rev. Tracy Giles, Christian Valley’s pastor, didn’t know what to do. Insurance would cover $165,000, but estimates to rebuild the church exceeded $500,000. Pastor Giles heard about Mennonite Disaster Service and sat down over coffee with one of its coordinators, Jerry Klassen. Pastor Giles told Klassen, “I need a thread of hope.”

Klassen responded, “I can throw you a rope of hope.”

Klassen contacted Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville, and soon skilled volunteers from several Hartville churches were making regular treks to Boligee. On Sunday, June 3, 2012, six months after the start of the rebuilding, Christian Valley Baptist Church commemorated its new opening; total cost was $160,000.

“It was God reaching across the borderline,” said Deacon Willie Cain.

The Rev. David L. Myers, a Mennonite minister and director of the DHS/FEMA Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, who participated in the dedication ceremony, said it was a mutual opportunity for service. “Christian Valley Baptist cannot be itself without a church to worship in, and Mennonite churches cannot be themselves without a service project.”




And here's the beautiful twist: one of the biggest challenges faced every year by thousands of disaster volunteers is finding housing during their time of service. That wasn't the case for the volunteers rebuilding Happy Valley Baptist Church.

Remember Little Zion Baptist Church, which was burned and rebuilt in 1996? That same church provided housing for more than 80 volunteers who traveled more than 800 miles from Hartville to Boligee.

Disasters of all kinds can indeed make good neighbors. 

Posted by: Dan Stoneking, Director, Private Sector

As many of you may know, almost two years ago FEMA implemented a private sector representative program to support the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC). Through its many rotations, the program has improved the way the agency works with many private sector partners across the field of emergency management. Recently, Walmart served in this unique role and was able to assist the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute and the International Association of Emergency Managers with the development of their Big Business – Small Business Emergency Management Mentorship Program (PDF). And by the way, you should check into that and join the growing list of difference-makers.

This week, we have made another significant leap in the Private Sector Representative program by incorporating a new sector – the financial community.

We are delighted to have Hilary Ward joining us from Citi. Hilary is a Director and Chief Administrative Officer to Citi Vice Chairman Lewis B. Kaden, responsible for supporting the Vice Chairman in charge of Citi’s Institutional Client Group’s Public Sector Group, the Citi Foundation, and Citi Community Development.

Here’s what Hilary had to say about being our next private sector liaison:

Citi is extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with FEMA through the Private Sector Representative role and to be the first representative from the financial services industry. Citi has a long record working with governments and non-governmental organizations to assist communities impacted by natural disasters, and we are committed to share best practices and to improve outreach to the private sector, in particular, as it relates to emergency financial management issues. I look forward to engaging and working with our peers, FEMA and others on these efforts over the next 90 days and beyond.

We at FEMA couldn’t agree more. We look forward to learning, sharing and accomplishing great things working with Hilary, Citi and the whole private sector community. While stationed at FEMA, she is a resource for all of our partners. If you need to reach out to her, feel free to email FEMA-PSR@FEMA.gov.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate for the Private Sector Representative, please see this brochure (PDF) for more details on the benefits. Our private sector team is available 24/7 and ready to work with you. And please continue to share your stories and ideas about how we can continue working with the private sector to better serve our nation and communities.

Como muchos de ustedes conocen, hace casi dos años que FEMA implementó el programa de los representantes del sector privado para apoyar el Centro Nacional de Coordinación de Respuesta (NRCC, por sus siglas en inglés). A través de sus muchas rotaciones, el programa ha mejorado la forma en que la agencia trabaja con los asociados del sector privado en todo lo relacionado al manejo de emergencias. Recientemente, Walmart se desempeño en un área única y ayudo al Sistema nacional de manejos de Incidentes, al Instituto de Tecnologías Avanzadas y la Asociación Internacional de Manejo de Emergencias en el desarrollo de Negocios grandes - Programa de Mentores para Manejo de Emergencias en Pequeños Negocios (PDF). También, puede verificar la lista y unirse a la lista que aumenta constantemente de los que están haciendo la diferencia.

Esta semana hemos realizado un paso significativo en el programa de Representantes del Sector Privado al incorporar la comunidad financiera como un nuevo sector.

Estamos alegres de tener a Hilary Ward de Citi uniéndose a nuestro grupo. Hilary es la Directora y Jefa Administrativa del Vicepresidente de Citi, Lewis B. Kaden. Hilary esta encargada de apoyar al Vicepresidente en el manejo de su Grupo del Sector Privado del Instituto de Clientes de Citi, la Fundación de Citi y la Comunidad en Desarrollo de Citi.

Esto es lo que Hilary ha dicho acerca de ser nuestro enlace del sector privado: Citi esta entusiasmado con la oportunidad de asociación con FEMA por medio del desempeño de Representantes del Sector Privado y de ser el primer representante de los servicios de la industria financiera. Citi tiene un historial grande de trabajar en conjunto a gobiernos y organizaciones no gubernamentales para asistir a comunidades que han sido afectadas por desastres naturales y estamos comprometidos a compartir las mejores practicas y para mejorar las investigaciones para el sector privado, en particular, todo lo relacionado con situaciones de manejo de emergencias financieras. Espero poder participar y trabajar con nuestros asociados de FEMA y los otros que están envueltos en estos esfuerzos los próximos 90 días y más.

En FEMA estamos de acuerdo y dispuestos aprender, compartir y lograr grandes cosas trabajando con Hilary, Citi y toda la comunidad del sector privado. Mientras Hilary esta en FEMA, es un recurso para todos nuestros socios. Si necesita comunicarse con ella puede enviar un mensaje de correo electrónico al FEMA-PSR@FEMA.gov.

Si esta interesado o conoce a alguien que este interesado en ser candidato representante del sector privado vea este folleto (PDF) , para más detalles de los beneficios. Nuestro equipo del sector privado esta disponible las 24 horas los 7 días a la semana y listos para trabajar con usted. Continúe compartiendo sus historias e ideas sobre como podemos continuar trabajando para servir mejor al sector privado de nuestras comunidades y nación.

Supporting ongoing severe storm response and recovery 
We continue to support our state, local and tribal partners affected by last week’s severe storms and resulting power outages. We’ve blogged about the federal family’s efforts several times since then, including the invaluable work of many voluntary organizations.

The thing to remember about FEMA’s role is that we are there to support state and local partners. We have staged many commodities near the affected areas, including generators (to power critical infrastructure), food, water, kits for infants and toddlers, and durable medical equipment. If these supplies are needed by the state, we continue to stand ready to meet those needs. If you live in an area impacted by last week’s severe storms, the best place to find information about available assistance is through your local emergency management office.

We will continue to support the response and recovery efforts and provide updates on this blog as needed.

Federal disaster assistance available in 11 Florida counties



Earlier this week, President Obama authorized federal disaster assistance for individuals affected by tropical storm Debby in 11 Florida counties (Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Franklin, Hernando, Highlands, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee and Wakulla). If you live in one of the designated counties and sustained losses or damages from Tropical Storm Debby, you can register with FEMA by one of the following methods:

• Call 800-621-FEMA (3362), which is video relay service accessible. Assistance is available in most languages and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585. 
• Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 
• By smartphone or tablet, use the FEMA app or go to m.fema.gov.

FEMA and the state currently have two disaster recovery centers open as well, in Suwannee and Wakulla counties. At a disaster recovery center, representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, the Small Business Administration and other agencies explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for aid.

Visit our website for more information on Tropical Storm Debby recovery efforts.

Record heat
It’s been a hot July 4th week for millions around the country – and the National Weather Service is predicting extreme heat will continue for much of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest through the weekend. Here are a few reminders if the heat will be on in your neighborhood:

• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, especially those who spend much of their time alone. 
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. 
• Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty. 
• Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. 
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. 
• Bookmark m.fema.gov or download the FEMA smartphone app to get extreme heat safety tips on your phone.

And if it’s hot for you, it’s also hot for your animals. So remember to give them water, shade, and rest to keep them cooled down

Continued wildfire response & flash flooding risk
While the heat has been the topic of conversation along the East Coast, wildfires remain front-and-center out west. We continue working closely with our state, local, and tribal partners in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Montana to closely monitor the fires. For several fires, we are supporting the firefighting efforts through Fire Management Assistance Grants, which provides financial assistance so firefighters and first responders can focus all their efforts on reducing the negative impacts of the fire.

Other federal partners, such as the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior, are working through the National Interagency Fire Center to provide the necessary assets such as fire engines, helicopters, air tankers and military support to help suppress the fires. You can find more about the federal government’s role at www.nifc.gov. (For more on specifics about FEMA’s role during wildfires, check out this blog post from last week.)

Because so many areas have been affected by wildfires so far this season, it’s important to remember that the risk of flash flooding increases after a wildfire. Only a few minutes of excessive rainfall can cause a flash flood – so make sure you know how to get to higher ground if necessary. Visit Ready.gov/floods for more information on what to do before, during, and after a flood, and bookmark mobile.weather.gov on your phone so you can easily check the weather forecast in your area.

Apoyando a la respuesta y recuperación en curso debido a las tormentas severas 
Continuamos apoyando a nuestros asociados estatales, locales y tribales afectados por las tormentas severas de la semana pasada y consiguiente los cortes de electricidad. Hemos escrito mensajes sobre los esfuerzos de la familia federal varias veces, incluyendo el trabajo invaluable de las organizaciones voluntarias.

Tenemos que recordar que la función de FEMA es estar presente para apoyar a los asociados estatales y locales. Hemos almacenado muchos suministros básicos cerca de las áreas afectadas incluyendo generadores (para edificios esenciales), comida, agua, equipos de emergencia para niños e infantes y equipo medico resistente. Si estos suministros son pedidos por el estado, nosotros continuamos listos para cubrir estas necesidades. El mejor lugar para encontrar información sobre los programas de asistencia es por medio de su oficina local de manejo de emergencias.

Continuaremos publicando mensajes actualizados sobre el apoyo a los esfuerzos de respuesta y recuperación según sea necesario.

Asistencia federal por desastre esta disponible en 11 condados de Florida



A principios de esta semana, el presidente Obama autorizó asistencia federal para individuos que se afectaron por la tormenta tropical Debby en los 11 condados de Florida (Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Franklin, Hernando, Highlands, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee y Wakulla). Si vive en uno de los condados que fueron designados y tiene pérdidas o daños significativos debido a la tormenta tropical Debby, pude solicitar ayuda de FEMA por uno de los siguientes métodos:

• Llame al 800-621-FEMA (3362), el cual tiene servicio de video accesible. Hay asistencia en la mayoría de los idiomas y las líneas están abiertas desde las 7 a.m. hasta las 10 p.m. hora local, los siete días de la semana. Si tiene impedimentos del habla o auditivos llame al TTY, 800-462-7585. 
• Solicite en línea, para español http://www.disasterassistance.gov/?langcode=ES o www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 
• En su teléfono inteligente, utilice la aplicación de FEMA o visite m.fema.gov.

Actualmente, FEMA y el estado tienen dos centros de recuperación por desastres abiertos en los condados de Suwannee y Wakulla. En el centro de recuperación los representantes del la División de Manejo de Emergencias de Florida, FEMA, La Administración de Pequeños Negocios y otras agencias le explicaran los programas de asistencia que hay disponibles y ayudaran a los sobrevivientes en su solicitud de ayuda.

Visite nuestro sitio de Internet para más información sobre los esfuerzos de recuperación de la tormenta tropical Debby.

Calor extremo sobrepasa los límites
Ha sido una semana caliente del 4 de Julio para millones de personas por todo el país. El Centro Nacional de Meteorología ha pronosticado que le calor extremo continuara para el medio Atlántico y medio Oeste por todo el fin de semana. Los siguientes son recordatorios si el calor extremo va ha ocurrir en su vecindario:

• Comunicarse con familiares, amigos y vecinos que no tienen aire acondicionado, especialmente aquellos que están solos por mucho tiempo. 
• Nunca deje niños o mascotas solos en los vehículos. 
• Beber mucha agua, aunque no se sienta con sed. 
• Mantenerse dentro de los edificios lo mas tiempo posible y evitar la exposición al sol. 
• Marque en su computadora m.fema.gov o descargue la aplicación de FEMA para su teléfono inteligente para obtener consejos de seguridad ante el calor extremo en su teléfono.

Si es caliente para usted, también es caliente para su mascota. Recuerde darle mucha agua, sombra y descanso para mantenerlos frescos.

Respuesta continúa a los incendios forestales y riesgos de inundaciones repentinas
Mientras el calor ha sido el tema de conversación por toda la costa Este los incendios forestales continúan en el centro Oeste. Continuamos trabajando de cerca con nuestros asociados estatales, locales y tribales en Colorado, Utah, New Mexico y Montana para monitorear de cerca los incendios. Para varios incendios, nosotros apoyamos los esfuerzos de lucha contra los incendios a través de Subvenciones de Asistencia en el Manejo de Incendios para proporcionar asistencia financiera a los bomberos y primeros en respuesta los cuales pueden enfocarse en reducir los impactos negativos de los incendios.

Otros asociados federales tales como el Servicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos y el Departamento del Interior, están trabajando por medio del Centro Nacional Multi-Agencias de Incendios para proporcionar los bienes necesarios como camiones de bomberos, helicópteros, aviones cisterna y apoyo militar para minimizar los incendios. Puede encontrar más información sobre el desempeño del gobierno federal al visitar www.nifc.gov. (Para más detalles sobre el desempeño de FEMA durante los incendios forestales vea el mensaje de blog de la semana pasada.)

Debido a que muchas áreas han sido afectadas por los incendios forestales hasta el presente en esta temporada, es importante recordar que los riesgos de inundaciones repentinas aumentan después de un incendio forestal. Solo unos minutos de lluvia fuerte pueden ocasionar inundaciones repentinas. Asegúrese de tener conocimiento sobre como buscar terreno alto de ser necesario. Visite www.listo.gov para mas información sobre que hacer antes, durante y después de una inundación y marque en su teléfono el enlace de mobile.weather.gov para verificar el pronostico del clima en su are fácilmente.

Posted by: Lars Anderson, Director, Public Affairs

The Administration, through FEMA, remains committed to providing support to Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states affected by last week’s storms. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center and regional offices in Chicago, Ill. and Philadelphia, Pa., have been in constant coordination with our federal partners as well as impacted states since the storms first struck on Friday, to make sure there are no unmet needs.

The following timeline provides an overview of federal activities, to date, in support of the impacted states, families and communities.

Thursday, July 5 

• At the request of the State of New Jersey, FEMA personnel are on the ground working with federal, state and local officials to conduct preliminary damage assessments in New Jersey as a result of the storms. These assessments are an important step in identifying the damages, helping the governor determine whether the event is beyond state and local capabilities, and if federal support might be needed. 

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the lead agency for Emergency Support Function 12 - Energy, issues a DOE situation report. 

Wednesday, July 4 

• FEMA continues to stage and transfer supplies such as food, water, kits for infants and toddlers, and durable medical equipment to the states as needed, and requested. 
• Twenty-nine FEMA community relations staff work with the West Virginia National Guard Bureau, visiting residents door-to-door to help spread the word about cooling stations, to assess needs and provide situational awareness to the state. In Ohio, Federal Coordinating Officer Michael Moore, highlights the importance of neighbors helping neighbors. 
• DOE issues a situation report. 

A timeline of federal family support before July 4 can be found on this previous blog post.

La Administración, a través de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés), está comprometida en proveer apoyo a los estados del medio oeste y el atlántico medio afectados por las tormentas de la semana pasada. FEMA, a través de su Centro Nacional para la Respuesta ante Desastres y sus oficinas regionales en Chicago, Ill. y Philadelphia, Pa se mantienen en constante contacto coordinando con otras agencias federales y los estados que las tormentas impactaran el pasado viernes, para asegurarse que no hayan necesidades al descubierto.

La siguiente cronología ofrece una descripción general de las actividades federales que han tenido lugar hasta la fecha para brindar ayuda a los estados, familias y comunidades afectados.

jueves, 5 de julio:

• Según la solicitud del estado de New Jersey, personal de FEMA está presente trabajando con los oficiales locales, estatales para llevar a cabo estudios preliminares de daños como resultado de las recientes tormentas. Estos estudios preliminares de daños son un paso critico en identificar danos, ayudar al Gobernador en determinar si las consecuencias del evento son mayores que la capacidad que el estado tiene para atenderlas y pedir asistencia del gobierno federal, si fuese necesario. 
• El Departamento de Energía de los Estados Unidos (DOE, por sus siglas en inglés), la agencia líder en el manejo de esta función de emergencia emitió su informe sobre el progreso en la restauración del servicio eléctrico. 

miércoles, 4 de julio

• FEMA continúa posicionando y transfiriendo suministros tales como comida, agua, paquetes para niños e infantes y equipo médico para los estados afectados y según necesario. 
• Veintinueve equipos de relaciones con la comunidad de FEMA están trabajando con el personal de la Guardia Nacional de West Virginia y visitando a las personas afectadas puerta a puerta para comunicarles sobre los centros de enfriamiento, identificar sus necesidades y proveer información sobre la situación corriente. En Ohio, el Coordinador Federal Michael Moore, resalta la importancia de la iniciativa vecinos ayudando a vecinos. 
• DOE emite su informe sobre el progreso en la restauración del servicio eléctrico. 

Se encuentra una cronología sobre el apoyo de la familia federal antes del 4 de julio en este blog anterior.

Posted by: Michael Moore, Federal Coordinating Officer, Ohio Severe Storms

FEMA continues to work closely with our federal and state partners to meet the needs of all those that have been impacted by the severe storms that moved through much of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic. In Ohio, the President signed an emergency disaster declaration that has authorized FEMA to provide much needed resources to support state and local response and recovery, including generators to support critical infrastructure such as shelters, as well as positioning water in staging areas near the impacted areas. While those resources are critical, the state of Ohio and others of the emergency management team are taking the welfare of citizens very seriously. Here is one example:

Ohio’s “Knock and Talk” Outreach

On July 1, Ohio Governor John Kasich deployed more than 200 Soldiers and Airmen of the Ohio National Guard (ONG) to Franklin and Montgomery counties on a “Knock and Talk” mission. From single-story homes to 20-story high rises, team members are braving the heat and knocking on doors to chat with residents. They provide valuable information on available resources, such as cooling centers, that our local and state partners have made available. Ohioans are also coming together to check on their own, ensuring that everyone has water and knows how to stay cool during the power outages and heat wave.



On July 2, the men and women of the ONG teamed up with student volunteers from The Ohio State University and continued the “Knock and Talk” mission to ensure that senior citizens, young children and those with sensitive conditions and medical needs are being served.

As we say at FEMA, it takes each member of the emergency management team coming together to ensure the safety of the American public. The ONG and the students of OSU exemplify the responsibility that each of us has to take care of our friends, neighbors, family and loved ones.

While we continue to assist Ohio, West Virginia and all the states that have been impacted by the recent storms, we want to urge you to exercise caution if extreme heat conditions are expected in your area in the coming days. Forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for dangerous heat in parts of the U.S. for the remainder of the week, including the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit Ready.gov/heat to learn how you can keep yourself and your animals safe, or follow the example of Ohio Emergency Management and the Ohio National Guard.

Have your own “Knock and Talk” missions and check on a neighbor during this continued heat wave - make a call, send a text or better yet, walk next door to see that those around you have water, are staying cool and are able to stay in contact with loved ones.



I would like to take this opportunity to thank our state and local partners for providing life-saving information and demonstrating care and compassion for their neighbors and fellow Ohioans. For the latest updates, please visit the Ohio Emergency Management website at http://ema.ohio.gov/.

FEMA continua trabajando estrechamente con nuestros socios federales y estatales para satisfacer las necesidades de todos los afectados bebido a las tormentas que se movieron por todo el medio Oeste y medio Atlántico. El Presidente firmo una declaración de desastre de emergencia para Ohio autorizando a FEMA a proveer los recursos necesarios para apoyar la respuesta y recuperación estatal y local. Incluyendo el uso de generadores para apoyar a la infraestructura en estado critico como los refugios, al igual que el posicionamiento de agua en las áreas de almacenamiento cerca de las zonas afectadas. Mientras estos recursos son fundamentales, el estado de Ohio y otros equipos de manejo de emergencias están tomando el bienestar de los ciudadanos muy en serio. Ver el siguiente ejemplo:

Investigaciones de “Tocar puertas y hablar” en Ohio

El 1 de julio el gobernador de Ohio, John Kasich destacó más de 200 soldados y personal de la Guardia Nacional de Ohio (ONG, por sus siglas en inglés) hacia los condados de Franklin y Montgomery en la misión de “Tocar puertas y hablar”. Desde casas pequeñas hasta de 20 pisos de altas, los miembros del equipo están lidiando con el calor y tocando a las puertas para conversar con los residentes. Estos le proporcionan información de los recursos disponibles tales como los centros de enfriamiento y cuales son los socios locales y estatales que se han puesto disponibles. También, las personas se están uniendo y están verificando que todos tengan agua y tengan conocimiento de cómo estar frescos durante los cortes de energía eléctrica y la ola de calor.

El Sargento Jessica Cooper (izquierda) y el soldado Jason Geier, de la sede de la Compañía del Batallón de Ingenieros 216º, hablan con John Weese de 60 años en Columbus, Ohio el 2 de julio de 2012. (Fotografía de la Guardia Nacional de Ohio por el Sargento Mayor Jordyn Sadowski)

El 2 de Julio, los hombres y mujeres de ONG se unieron a los estudiantes voluntarios de la Universidad del Estado de Ohio para continuar la misión de “tocar puertas y hablar” para garantizar que las personas mayores, niños pequeños y todos los que tienen condiciones sensitivas y necesidades médicas sean atendidos.

Como decimos en FEMA, se requiere que cada miembro del equipo de manejo de emergencias se una para garantizar la seguridad del público estadounidense. La ONG y los estudiantes de la universidad son un ejemplo de la responsabilidad que todos debemos asumir para cuidar de nuestro familiares, amigos, vecinos y mas queridos.

Mientras continuamos asistiendo a las personas de Ohio, West Virginia y todos los estados que se han visto afectados por las tormentas recientes, queremos instarle a tener cuidado y actuar ante las condiciones de calor extreme que están pronosticadas para los próximos días en su área. El pronóstico del Servicio Nacional de Meteorología esta anunciando un calor peligroso para partes de los Estados Unidos por el resto de la semana, incluyendo las regiones del medio Oeste y medio Atlántico. Visite www.listo.gov para aprender a como estar seguro usted y sus mascotas. También siga el ejemplo del equipo de Manejo de Emergencias de Ohio y la Guardia Nacional de Ohio.

Tenga sus propias misiones de “tocar puertas y hablar” para asegurarse de que sus vecinos están bien y manejando la ola de calor, que tienen agua y están en comunicación con sus seres queridos.

El soldado Jason Geier (izquierda) y Sargento Jessica Cooper, de la sede de la Compañía del Batallón de Ingenieros 216º, hablan con Gary Rowe en Columbus, Ohio el 2 de julio de 2012. (Fotografía de la Guardia Nacional de Ohio por el Sargento Mayor Jordyn Sadowski)

Con esta oportunidad queremos agradecer a nuestros asociados estatales y locales por proporcionar información vital y la demostración de afecto y compasión por sus vecinos y habitantes de Ohio. Para obtener las últimas actualizaciones del equipo de Manejo de Emergencias de Ohio visite su sitio de Internet al http://ema.ohio.gov/.

The Administration, through FEMA, continues to provide support to Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states affected by last week’s storms. Through FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center and Regional offices in Chicago, Ill. and Philadelphia, Pa., we have been in constant coordination with our federal partners as well as impacted states since the storms first struck on Friday, to make sure there are no unmet needs.

The following timeline provides an overview of federal activities, to date, in support of the impacted states, families and communities.

Tuesday, July 3 

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the lead agency for Emergency Support Function 12 – Energy, issued a DOE situation report. 
• At the request of the State of Maryland, FEMA is deploying two Region Liaison Officers to the state Emergency Operation Center to coordinate potential federal resources requirements. 
• FEMA has deployed community relations teams to West Virginia to support state and local efforts to check on residents without power, provide informational resources, and provide situational awareness about conditions in impacted communities.

Monday, July 2 

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed representatives to the West Virginia State EOC to assess medical needs and requirements for access and functional needs support. 
• FEMA continued to distribute water and generators to various staging areas in Ohio and West Virginia, to support state and local response efforts. 
• FEMA’s Regional Disability Integration Specialists in Philadelphia, Pa. and Chicago, Ill. send out information on Cooling Stations to the disability community, including through the National Federation for the Blind and Deaf advocacy groups, and reached out to these groups to determine needs of affected persons with disabilities.

Sunday, July 1 

• FEMA staged water and generators in Morgantown and Charleston, W.Va. as well as multiple cities in Ohio to transfer to the State to support affected communities. 
• One Mobile Communications Office Vehicle (MCOV) onsite in Morgantown, W.Va.; 2 MCOVs en route to Charleston, W.Va. 
• In coordination with FEMA, the U.S. Department of Energy deploys experts to West Virginia and FEMA Headquarters in Washington D.C., and is supporting FEMA’s regional offices in Chicago, Ill. and Philadelphia, Pa. 
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed personnel to Ohio to support assessments and generator installations for emergency power. 
• A FEMA Disability Integration Specialist participated in a coordination call with West Virginia Emergency Management to support identifying the needs of affected populations with access and functional needs.

Saturday, June 30 

• President Obama issues emergency disaster declarations for the State of Ohio for all 88 counties in the state, and the State of West Virginia for all 55 counties in the state. The declaration authorizes FEMA and its federal partners to provide direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance to protect lives and property. 
• President Obama speaks with Ohio Governor John Kasich, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, and West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to receive an update on the severe storms, and to express his condolences for the loss of life and his concern for individuals and first responders still confronting the destruction and loss of power that is impacting communities as a result. The President tells the Governors that he has directed FEMA to ensure they continue to provide necessary support to state and local officials in impacted areas as they respond to these events. 
• The President receives an update from FEMA Administrator Fugate on impacts and response activities in states, including parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, as well as the District of Columbia. The President asks Administrator Fugate to stay in close contact with our partners on the ground to make sure FEMA and federal partners are providing all available support, and to keep him updated as the response and recovery continues. 
• DHS Secretary Napolitano speaks with the Governors of the affected states to express condolences for the loss of life and to ensure that federal support is provided to the states as needed. 
• FEMA Administrator Fugate contacts District of Columbia Deputy Mayor for Public Safety to provide support as needed. 
• A Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) team deploys to West Virginia to provide secure and non-secure voice, video, and information services, operations, and logistics support to state response operations, if needed. 
• FEMA activates the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), a multi-agency center based at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The NRCC provides overall coordination of the federal response by bringing together federal departments and agencies to assist in the preparations for and response to disasters. Select emergency support functions are activated to support state operations.
• FEMA activates its Regional Response Coordination Centers (RRCCs) in Chicago, Ill. and Philadelphia, Pa. to support state requests for assistance. 
• FEMA deploys Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) and liaison officers to West Virginia and Ohio State Emergency Operations Centers to coordinate with state and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls impacting disaster response. 
• FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate holds a video teleconference call to discuss the latest developments with the National Weather Service, partner agencies and regional representatives and to assess their needs or shortfalls.

Friday, June 29

• A line of severe thunderstorms moved across parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia causing widespread wind damage and there have been reports of significant power outages and debris. 
• FEMA through its regional offices in Chicago, Ill and Philadelphia, Pa., begins constant contact with affected states’ emergency management officials. FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney and Region V Regional Administrator Andrew Valasquez III make direct contact with the Emergency Management Directors of the affected states.

Other links For more preparedness information about extreme heat, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to find out how you can protect your family, pets, business and property.

For information on the latest Energy situation reports, visit www.oe.netl.doe.gov/emergency_sit_rpt.aspx.