FEMA Blog

Posted by: Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region VI

Motivating residents of Dallas County, Texas
This week I had the opportunity to work with our state, tribal and local partners and reinforce the need for cooperation. I began the week by participating in a joint press conference with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, Dallas County Director of Health and Human Services, Zachary S. Thompson, Texas Department of Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd and other local officials. We reminded residents of Dallas County and the surrounding counties of disaster preparation, creating a plan, having a disaster kit ready and available for use and accessing available resources when needed.

Interagency and intergovernmental planning
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Region VI hosted a Regional Interagency Steering Committee (RISC) meeting. RISC meetings are venues for strengthening partnerships, coordinating interagency and intergovernmental planning, exchange ideas, identifying potential problems before a disaster strikes and focusing on what should be our emergency management priorities in the coming year. I was very pleased that emergency managers for all five states and tribal emergency managers in Region VI were able to attend this one.  I hosted an executive session with the state and tribal emergency managers; I find this type of collective partnership invaluable as we respond to disasters.

The RISC meeting allowed not only FEMA employees, but state, federal and tribal partners to receive updates, share best practices and reinforce the need for cooperation before a disaster or major event. 

Recognizing volunteers
Tuesday evening I was honored to deliver the address for the American Red Cross, Dallas Area Chapter President’s Volunteer Service Awards and pinning ceremony. It was held to recognize over 250 volunteers, adults who have contributed more than 100 hours or youth who have contributed more than 50 hours in the past 12 months. Each of the award recipients  received a pin, certificate, personalized press release and a letter from President Obama recognizing their commitment. It was a great privilege to participate in this awards ceremony especially since American Red Cross is a valuable partner agencies that FEMA works with.

I mention some of the partner specific activities I have participated in this week because it reinforces the team concept. FEMA supports and responds to local and state disasters and is part of the emergency management team. Our ability to prepare fore, respond to, and recover from disasters is strongly influenced by the strength of our relationships with our partners. I’m proud that FEMA is part of the team that includes county and parish officials, tribal officials, state emergency managers, various stakeholders across a myriad of disciplines, and individuals citizens. 

- Tony

Posted by: Rachel Racusen, Director, Public Affairs

It’s the start of a new week – and we're closely monitoring a major winter storm that is expected to hit many states, in many regions throughout the week. As of now, forecasters expect the storm to bring heavy snow and ice to the Midwest and as far south as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas early this week, and to the Northeast later in the week.

Through our regional offices in Kansas City (Missouri), Denton (Texas), Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, we are in constant contact with our state and local partners in all of the areas that could be impacted, as well as the National Weather Service. There have not been any requests for federal assistance yet, but we stand ready to assist state and local emergency response efforts if needed.

The storm's first impact, in the Midwest, could include heavy snow, destructive ice, tornadoes and bitter cold, and according to meteorologists "When everything is said and done, the storm may very well impact a third of the population of the United States; approximately 100 million people." Read more about the storm's path and expected conditions.

A storm of this size and scope needs to be taken seriously. It's important to follow the instructions of state and local officials, and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information. We urge all residents in areas that could be affected to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and directions provided by their local officials.

And as anyone in the South, the Northeast, or other parts of the country that have already been hit with severe storms this winter can tell you, being prepared can make a world of difference when dealing with heavy snow, power outages, or icy roads. If you haven’t already, visit www.ready.gov for simple tips to help you get ready for the coming storm. And don’t forget to check on your neighbors, especially if they’re elderly or very young.

If you are a Twitter user, FEMA's Twitter accounts (including Administrator Fugate) are a great place to get updates on the developing storm, in addition to this blog.

- Rachel

East coast snow cleanup
The big story of the week was the winter storm that affected much of the east coast. Our regional offices in New York, Philadelphia and Boston are in close coordination with our state and local partners, but this won’t be the last winter storm of the season.  Forecasters are calling for more severe weather next week, so make sure you’re prepared with these tips from Ready.gov (see the National Weather Service forecast map).




Challenge deadline tomorrow
As we mentioned earlier in the week, our preparedness challenge ends tomorrow. Check out the more than 150 submissions and submit your own before the deadline!

All submissions will be judged based on originality, level of community engagement, and ease of implementation. FEMA leadership will review the submissions and feature the best idea on fema.gov.

Shout out to the Recovery Diva
Many thanks to a fellow emergency management blog, Recovery Diva, for featuring one of our job openings for a Disaster Recovery Reservist. We’re always looking for talented and dedicated folks to join our team who are looking to make a big impact on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Visit fema.gov/careers for more information on joining the FEMA team.

Strengthening the team in Texas
We also wanted to highlight a news article about strengthening the emergency management team in Dallas County, Texas. Officials from all levels of government - local, state, and federal – got together earlier this week to discuss new ways they can collaborate to ensure the public is better prepared before a disaster strikes.

See the story on the Dallas Morning News website.

Posted by: Elizabeth Harman, Assistant Administrator, Grant Programs


Phoenix, AZ, January 19, 2011 -- Elizabeth Harman greets members of Phoenix Fire Department recruit class 11-1 during a break from live fire training on January 19, 2011. The class of 28 firefighters is funded by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant.

Last week, I visited Phoenix, Arizona to speak at the Labor Management Initiative Conference co-sponsored by the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. This conference encourages cooperation between labor and management to improve the level of service provided to the public. I was there to share the many types of grants that are available to fire departments and local governments through federal grant programs.

While visiting, I also spent time at the Phoenix Fire Department’s training facility to talk with the current firefighter recruit class. It was their first day of live fire training, and they were all pretty excited. These 28 young men and women are now able to provide critical services to their community because of funding through our Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants program. Since 2008 budget constraints have prevented Phoenix from hiring firefighters, but the assistance made available through the SAFER Grants, has enabled the city to begin to train a new class of recruits.

It is encouraging to see the level of energy and appreciation in these young firefighters and to see the SAFER grant program at work. How have federal grant programs, like SAFER, made an impact on the emergency response capacity in your town? Leave a comment and let us know.

- Elizabeth

Posted by: Denis Campeau, Director of Training and Education, Center for Domestic Preparedness

As several FEMA bloggers have mentioned before, training is vital to being prepared before a disaster strikes.  For those in the emergency response community (first responders, emergency managers, government officials), training is even more important.

At FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), we provide responders with knowledge to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from chemical, biological, explosive, radiological, or other hazardous materials incidents.  I wanted to highlight one such course from last week – the Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents. 

This training places emergency response providers in a realistic mass-casualty training scenario after a week of classes.  The training takes place at the CDP’s Noble Training Facility, which is a converted Army hospital now dedicated solely to training hospital and healthcare workers in all-hazards response, including terrorism and manmade disasters.  Below are some photos of the students in action, as they put their knowledge to the test in a simulated disaster scenario. 

As you take a look at the photos, think about the most relevant preparedness training experiences you’ve had.  Then, leave a comment and share what made the training so applicable to real world situations.

- Denis





Note
Training at the CDP campus is federally funded at no cost to state, local, and tribal emergency response professionals or their agency.  For more information on the CDP's specialized programs and courses, please visit their web site at:  http://cdp.dhs.gov.

Posted by: Shayne Adamski, Senior Manager, Digital Engagement

Since the end of October, we've been accepting your ideas for innovative and effective ways communities can get prepared before a disaster strikes.  I wanted to send out a final appeal to share your preparedness idea before our challenge closes on January 29.

To date, we have published over 140 submissions from the public.  To inspire your creativity, here are a few of them:

• Ready Rockaway
• Emergency Broadcast Alarm
• Teen Community Emergency Response Team Training (TEEN CERT)
• Small Business Development Center Involvement in Preparing Small Businesses

My last blog post also highlighted some other submissions, so check it out, too.  Challenge submissions can be sent through the Challenge.gov website or by e-mail.

As you browse others’ submissions and see an idea that piques your interest, I encourage you to share it in your local community.  We can all benefit from sharing good ideas and making our communities better prepared before a disaster strikes.

- Shayne

About the challenge
The deadline is January 29, 2011 and all submissions will be judged based on originality, level of community engagement, and ease of implementation.  Challenge submissions are moderated before posting to the site.

Posted by: Richard Serino, Deputy Administrator

After disaster strikes, the affected community often has a number of immediate needs.  In addition to food, clothing, shelter and medical care, communities affected by disasters often need something that is currently in short supply: blood. 

Having spent more than 35 years in local emergency services in Boston, I can tell you first hand that a strong local blood supply is a critical component to ensuring that first responders and medical staff can help those who have immediate medical needs during an emergency.  The need is real, the need is now.

The American Red Cross, one of the members of the emergency management team, is one avenue where you can donate blood.  They posted the following on their blog:

"We’ve often talked about our 3 steps to preparedness: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed. These steps go a long way towards keeping you and your family safe, but there’s another step that you can take to help keep your entire community safe: Give Blood.

Imagine the surge of need for blood when a disaster strikes. In order to help immediately after a disaster, the Red Cross uses blood that is already on the shelves to support disaster victims. Without a regular flow of donations, this supply may not be readily available. Additionally, accident victims, transplant and cancer patients and others rely on blood products during their treatment. If collections are impacted by a disaster, their long-term care needs could be affected."

What other ways can you help your community prepare before a disaster strikes?  Leave a comment and share your idea.

- Rich

Other links
Other organizations, in addition to the American Red Cross, accept blood donations, including: United Blood Services and America’s Blood Centers.

Posted by: Public Affairs

We've been closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Wilma, which passed over American Samoa on Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, a Wind Advisory remains in effect, today, for Tutuila, Aunuu and Manua. A wind advisory means winds of 30 mph or higher are expected.  Occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast through tonight, and scattered showers are expected through Saturday.

A single shelter remains open on the island and local response agencies, including the American Red Cross, are addressing immediate needs.  No significant damage or casualties have been reported.

A FEMA liaison officer has been deployed to support coordination at the American Samoa Emergency Operations Center in Pago Pago, and FEMA staff in our region IX office in Oakland, California and our Pacific Area Office in Honolulu, are also in constant communication with territorial officials.  Although there has been no request for federal disaster assistance yet, we have teams ready to deploy with help if needed.  FEMA has more than a dozen recovery staff on-island for post Tsunami rebuild, and they are another asset available should that become necessary.

As American Samoa begins to assess damages and starts the process of recovery from Wilma it is an important reminder that tropical storms aren’t limited to hurricane season. Tropical storms and other types of severe weather can occur year-round.  FEMA encourages individuals to do your part to be prepared. If you haven’t already, visit www.Ready.gov and learn how you can protect your homes, families and communities from severe storms and other hazards.

For local updates of the storm on Twitter, follow the National Parks Service of American Samoa.

Posted by: Gracia Szczech, Federal Coordinating Officer, 2010 Tennessee Flooding

Last May, Tennessee was hit with deadly flooding, affecting thousands of residents across 46 counties.  The entire emergency management team responded, providing assistance to disaster survivors in the affected communities. The recovery efforts have been and continue to be an important part of our work here at FEMA, as we keep working with our partners at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, with local officials, the private sector, faith-based and voluntary groups, and many others to help the impacted communities rebuild.

In short, this recovery has continued to be - and shows the value of - a team effort.

After a disaster happens, it takes many organizations and agencies working together to help individuals and the community get back on their feet quickly.  A critical member of the emergency management team is the volunteer community.  Through the generous giving of their time and energy, volunteer agencies provide many valuable services to disaster survivors.

In that light, we wanted to share this Columbus Dispatch story, highlighting how volunteer agencies are continuing to make an enormous difference in Tennessee’s recovery efforts.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities related to disaster response, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active During Disasters website.

- Gracia

Other links
Videos of the Tennessee flood response and recovery
Other volunteer opportunities at Serve.gov

Posted by: Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region VI

Nearly all of the 92,000 Louisiana families living in travel trailers, mobile homes and park models following hurricanes Katrina and Rita have transitioned into longer term housing. This is a real, tangible sign of progress in the ongoing recovery of Louisiana. However, it is clear that the less than 500 remaining families are in need of additional resources before they can move on.

That is why I participated in the Team Approach Conference at the Louisiana Recovery Office (LRO) in New Orleans this week. It was the latest effort, hosted by FEMA in partnership with the State of Louisiana, to discuss and help establish permanent or longer-term housing plans for these remaining families.

In addition to FEMA Region 6 and LRO personnel, the group included representatives of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana's Office of Community Development, state volunteer organizations and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This round-table discussion focused on identifying and matching unmet needs with available local, state or federal resources to assist the temporary housing unit residents achieve more permanent housing. Everyone in the room had something to offer, whether it was background on what a family may need, knowledge of resources available through an agency, or advice and guidance - all critical components that will help families make a better life for themselves.

We are working with these remaining families every day to ensure we are doing everything within our power to help them down the road to recovery,  and this round-table discussion was another important step in that process.

One thing that we have learned in disaster recovery is that positive outcomes derive only through coordinated and collaborative efforts. All of us - whether from the federal government, the State of Louisiana, a non-profit organization or a local organization - will continue to work together to ensure that the remaining families have access to the resources that can help them move into a more permanent housing solution.

- Tony


New Orleans, LA, January 19, 2011 -- Tony Russell (center), FEMA Region VI Regional Administrator, addresses the Team Approach Conference at the Louisiana Recovery Office. The event, hosted by FEMA in partnership with the State of Louisiana, was held to discuss and help establish permanent or longer-term housing plans for these remaining families.

Posted by: Public Affairs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Wilma, which developed in the Pacific over the weekend and is intensifying as it forecasted to pass over American Samoa this evening. According to the National Weather Service, Wilma currently has sustained winds of up to 60 miles per hour and is forecasted to reach hurricane strength as it approaches the islands. A storm warning, flash flood watch and high surf warnings are all in effect for American Samoa, and a hurricane warning has been issued for the islands of Tutuila and Aunuu.

FEMA staff in our region IX office in Oakland, California and our Pacific Area Office in Honolulu, are in constant communication  with the American Samoa Emergency Operations Center in Pago Pago.  Although there has been no request for federal assistance yet, we have aircraft on standby and teams ready to deploy with help if needed.

We urge all individuals in the region to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and directions provided by their local officials.  For those of you on Twitter, you can follow #Samoa and #cyclonewilma for updates on the storm, and as always, you can follow both Administrator Fugate @craigatfema and @FEMA for the latest information.

As we continue to track the storm and support local officials as they prepare for landfall Wilma it is an important reminder that tropical storms aren’t limited to hurricane season. Tropical storms and other types of severe weather can occur year-round.  FEMA encourages individuals to do your part to be prepared. If you haven’t already, visit http://www.ready.gov/ and learn how you can protect your homes, families and communities from severe storms and other hazards.

Posted by: Public Affairs

Potential Severe Weather
Much of New England is forecasted to experience heavy snowfall into early this evening, and the Great Lakes are expected to have lake-effect snow into tomorrow.  In the Pacific Northwest, there is a chance for rain and mountain snow.  Our regional offices will be in close coordination with our state and local partners in case any needs arise. (See the National Weather Service precipitation forecast for the U.S.)

Georgia “Get Ready” Blog
Severe winter weather has been prevalent in 2011, with several storms affecting the eastern part of the country.  Here’s a recent post on the “Get Ready” blog, hosted by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency – sharing the importance of being prepared for the next winter storm.

Establishment of the John D. Solomon Preparedness Award
In November of last year, the emergency management team lost a valuable member of our team with the passing of John Solomon.  John was a champion for emergency preparedness, founding the leading “In Case of Emergency” blog and participating in his local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in New York City, NY. 

Last week, the New York City Office of Emergency Management announced the creation of the John D. Solomon Emergency Preparedness Award, honoring a CERT member who demonstrates outstanding dedication to the program.

A social media week
Social media and emergency management was a frequent topic of conversation the past week.  In case you missed it, here are a few blog posts on the hot topic:

• Video of Administrator Fugate’s Keynote Speech on Social Media
• Wired, Twitter, and Beyond: Social Media and Disaster Response 
• "Don’t Make the Public Fit How We Do Business"
• Leveraging volunteer groups and technology
• Social Media + Emergency Management: Talking with Tech Leaders on the West Coast

Posted by: Brad Carroll, Press Secretary

As promised, the Administrator's speech from the 2011 ESRI Federal User Conference, is now available online.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

- Brad

Posted by: Public Affairs

Remember last week when the Administrator was on the West Coast meeting with tech companies to talk about social media, technology, emergency management, and ways to better assist the public in getting prepared, by using the tools they use on a daily basis?

Well two of the places Craig visited were Wired Magazine and Twitter. During his visit to Wired, Craig recorded a podcast. It’s up and you can listen to it on their website.

And here’s a quick video Craig filmed after his meeting with Twitter.



Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Posted by: Brad Carroll, Press Secretary

On the heels of his trip to the West Coast to meet with representatives of Twitter, Apple, Facebook and Craig Newmark (founder of Craigslist), yesterday Administrator Fugate made the keynote address at the 2011 ESRI Federal User Conference here in Washington, DC.

The Administrator talked about the importance of leveraging the tools that people use every day, specifically social media, so that FEMA can better communicate with our customers – the American people. We hope to have the full video of his remarks available soon (and will post it here on the blog).

After his remarks, Craig sat down with a few reporters to talk about where the agency is headed. You can check out those stories on InformationWeek and NextGov.

A quote from one of the stories really sums up Craig’s philosophy:

"Don't make the public fit how we do business," he said he tells his staff and other federal personnel. "It's a disaster. Your home's been destroyed. Do you need any more hassles?"

So at FEMA we continue to work to better fit how the public does things. If you have any suggestions on how we can better accomplish that goal, please leave a comment below.

And if you’re not already, you can follow FEMA on twitter (@fema) or you can follow Craig on twitter (@CraigatFEMA) – help us continue the conversation.

- Brad

Posted by: Denis Rousselle, Plaquemines Parish School Board Superintendent

Last week, I had the pleasure of celebrating a momentous event - a ribbon cutting for the first completed, FEMA-funded school in Plaquemines Parish, our Learning Center in Port Sulphur, La. Designed as a safe-haven for students with challenges, the Learning Center fulfills an important, state-mandated need for the residents of our Parish. 

Like much of the Gulf Coast, Plaquemines was hit hard by Katrina, and the hurricane destroyed not one, not two, but five of the schools we have here.  However, with the help of FEMA and the state, I can proudly say that we are building back better than before, creating elevated, storm-resistant buildings that will last us for generations.

Every day, people see the pilings being driven, and I receive phone calls from former residents saying they are returning to Plaquemines - they are bringing their children home. Our children will soon be learning in state-of-the-art schools. I cannot stress enough that this is the result of the greatest working relationship with FEMA I’ve ever known. They have worked unbelievably hard to help us rebuild something so critical to our community.

- Denis

Learn more about FEMA’s ongoing recovery efforts to hurricanes Katrina and Rita and our Louisiana Recovery Office.

Editor’s Note: As Administrator Fugate pointed out in his inaugural blog post, this blog is a way for us to directly communicate with other members of the emergency management team, a team that includes the local leaders.  The post above is from our first guest contributor, Denis Rousselle, the Plaquemines Parish School Board Superintendent. 

Posted by: Shayne Adamski, Senior Manager, Digital Engagement

In case you missed it, I wanted to share a recent story by the Christian Science Monitor highlighting Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK). A Random Hacks of Kindness is where developers and tech-savvy volunteers come together for a weekend to develop software solutions for challenges facing humanity. Imagine that, hacking for good.

As the Christian Science Monitor article notes, last year, Administrator Fugate challenged the group to create a mobile phone application where disaster survivors could tell friends and relatives that they are OK – without overwhelming the cell phone service capacity needed for emergency responders. Earlier this winter, FEMA again challenged Random Hacks of Kindness to build off the Administrator’s idea and create a comprehensive mobile application that could update friends and family on a variety of channels simultaneously.

At FEMA, we often refer to the importance of engaging the entire "emergency management team" in building America’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. Crisis Commons and Crisis Mappers are volunteer technology groups that come together to support crises and provide technology solutions. As volunteers focused on solving problems related to emergency management, they are a critical member of this team – and a great example of how we can leverage technology, collaboration, and creativity to strengthen our resiliency.

An encouraging trend in emergency management is the formation of volunteer technology communities where tech folks come together in their community before a disaster and discuss their skill sets, needs, and possible projects. This way if a disaster occurs in their community, they can get to work right away because the relationships and networks have already been established ahead of time.

If you're part of your local volunteer tech community or you’re thinking of starting a group near you, what challenges and successes have you experienced?

- Shayne

Posted by: Public Affairs

Pacific Northwest severe weather

The Pacific Northwest is experiencing heavy precipitation as severe weather rolls through the area. In areas of lower elevation, heavy rain is expected through the weekend, with the possibility of localized flooding. Higher elevations may experience significant levels of snowfall.

Our regional office in Seattle, Washington is in close contact with state and local officials in case any needs arise. Throughout the weekend, we urge residents in affected areas to track local news and weather reports and follow the guidance of local officials.

Northeast cleanup efforts

After this week’s blizzard in the Southeast and Northeast parts of the country, our regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta are closely coordinating with state and local officials as the snow removal efforts continue. No requests for federal assistance have been made at this time – learn more about FEMA’s role in winter weather in this blog post.

National Hurricane Center on Facebook

If you’re a Facebook user, check out one of the newest pages out there: the National Hurricane Center. They are a close partner, especially during hurricane season (June 1 – November 30). The page currently features some photos from a FEMA training course held this week, so check it out.

Portland rescue shows importance of fire escape plan

Home fires are more prevalent in winter than any other season. After responding to a fire call on Wednesday evening, Portland Fire & Rescue (Oregon) put out the following on Twitter:





Thanks to the family making a fire escape plan, and practicing it frequently, the fire only caused minor injuries and some household damage. Take time with your family this weekend and practice your fire escape plan. If you don’t have one, visit the United States Fire Administration website (or their kids’ site) to get started.

In a tragic fire-related story, three people died in a home fire in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but reports indicate the home did not have smoke alarms. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

For winter fire safety tips, visit the U.S. Fire Administration’s website.

Posted by Craig Fugate, Administrator

Yesterday I had a very productive day in California talking about social media, technology, emergency management, and ways to assist the public in getting prepared, by using the tools they use on a daily basis. Check out this short video to see who I met with:



In addition to meeting with fellow “Craig”, Craig Newmark (the founder of Craigslist), I also met with editors from Wired Magazine, Twitter, Apple and Facebook.

Some of the things we discussed included:

• The need to provide information to the public as data feeds, because they are a key member of our emergency management team;
• The importance of referring to people impacted by a disaster as survivors and utilizing them as a resource; 
• The importance of providing good customer service; and 
• How we, as emergency managers, need to stop trying to have the public fit into our way of doing things and receiving information, but that we should fit the way the public gets, receives and seeks out information.

There are a lot of discussions and conversations taking place about social media, text messaging, etc, and how these tools can be used before, during, and after a disaster. 

There’s no question that these tools have already changed the field of emergency management – and will continue to. As emergency managers, we will have to be flexible and agile and quickly adapt as new technologies and communications tools emerge. What’s exciting is that these new tools, if we embrace them and leverage them effectively, will continue to help us better serve our customers – the public.

As the conversation continues, and as you use these tools on a daily basis, there are things that you can today do to prepare yourself, your family members, and your colleagues at work. 

Communicating during or after an emergency
How are you communicating with each other if a disaster or emergency occurs?  Are you going to call each other, send an email, text message, or update each other via a social network site? The disaster or emergency could be something like a blackout in your city or a school closure; all disasters aren’t large earthquakes or hurricanes.

Receiving updates on your phone
How are you receiving updates from local officials? Have you signed up for text message or email alerts?  If you’re on Facebook, did you know that you can signup to receive text message updates from Facebook pages you follow?  If you are a fan of FEMA on Facebook or your local emergency management agency, you can receive our update as a text message right on your phone (and just like with any text message, standard rates apply).

Leverage Twitter without creating an account
And here’s another small tip: if you are thinking about using Twitter, did you know you can receive text messages updates from someone you’re following without having to create an account?  For example, if you wanted to receive our updates as a text message to your phone, just text FOLLOW FEMA to 40404 (this is Twitter’s text message number and of course, standard text message rates apply --- the lawyers require me to repeat this).  You can do the same for your local emergency management agency.

Our meetings in California generated great discussions and ideas and I’m excited to explore how we can move forward on them. In the meantime, I’d like to hear how you use these and other social network sites to communicate with friends and family before or during an emergency, so we can all utilize these tools to fullest capability, so please leave a comment below, or visit our ongoing challenge at www.challenge.gov/fema and submit your ideas.

- Craig

Posted by: Shayne Adamski, Senior Manager, Digital Engagement

Feeling creative and interested in emergency preparedness?  Want to participate in our ongoing challenge?  We’ve got just the thing for you. 

As part of Administrator Fugate's challenge, we're looking for ideas on how your family, school, workplace or community can be better prepared before a disaster strikes.  Maybe your idea is about the best way to start a Community Emergency Response Team in your community.  Or perhaps you’d like to see preparedness information passed out in your local school system.

If you have an idea on preparedness, we’d love to hear about it.  And while you have your thinking cap on, we wanted to provide a few of the 100+ submissions that we’ve received so far (in no particular order):

• #30Days30Ways Preparedness Challenge 
• Developing Neighborhoods 
• The 303 Plan
• Geospatial Information System Volunteers Ready to Support Emergencies in Indiana
• "Just In Time" Disaster Registry

I encourage you to submit your idea on Challenge.gov or send it in an e-mail.  All the submissions will be judged by FEMA leadership and the winning idea will be featured on fema.gov. 

So be creative, and best of luck!

And even though our Challenge is still open, maybe someone submitted an idea that you think can be implemented in your community today, so I encourage you to look at all of the submissions and share them with others.

- Shayne

About the Challenge
The deadline is January 29, 2010 and all submissions will be judged based on originality, level of community engagement, and ease of implementation.  Challenge submissions are moderated before posting to the site.

Posted by: Lynn Canton, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region II

As several blog posts have pointed out, strengthening the emergency management team is vital to how well communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from, disasters.  After two and a half years as the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) Director, I would like to welcome back Mark Walters to our regional office in New York, NY.

Mark's career with FEMA can be directly attributed to his personal experience with Hurricane Hugo in 1989.  Born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), he was working in St. Thomas when his employer's entire fleet of seaplanes were lost due to Hurricane Hugo's devastation.  Out of work, Mark became a FEMA local hire, and he's never looked back. 

In 2008, when he was asked by USVI Governor John de Jongh Jr. to consider coming back and taking over VITEMA, Mark seized the opportunity.  Through an Interagency Personnel Agreement, FEMA Region II loaned Mark to the USVI in June 2008.  During his tenure, Mark has tackled extensive personnel and fund management issues, reorganized VITEMA, and overhauled the territory's 911 system.  He was also instrumental in acquiring 42 generators for the territory's critical facilities. 

Mark's hard work and leadership has strengthened the emergency management team.  Read more about Mark’s story in the Virgin Island Daily News.

- Lynn


February 9, 2010 -- FEMA and U.S. Virgin Island representatives meet in Puerto Rico. Pictured from left to right: Alejandro DeLaCampa (Director, Caribbean Area Division, Region II), Mark Walters (former Director, VITEMA), USVI Governor John de Jongh, Jr, Lynn Canton (FEMA Region II Administrator), and Michael Moriarty (FEMA Region II Deputy Administrator).

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



Today representatives from Japan, the Republic of Haiti, the Union of Myanmar, the Philippines and the Asian Development Bank will share their recent experiences on the importance of pre-disaster planning for better post disaster recovery and rehabilitation at the International Recovery Forum 2011 being held this week in Kobe, Japan. 

I will be speaking about FEMA's ongoing efforts regarding the coordination and development of the Disaster Recovery Framework. The Forum’s host, the International Recovery Platform (IRP), works to determine the gaps in the recovery process and develops solutions to address those gaps. Today I will hear from many international experts about the benefits and options of pre-disaster recovery planning; key lessons from recent recovery operations and the application of those lessons for the next disaster; other nations' plans for recovery and an update from Yves Robert Jean, Director General in the Republic of Haiti's Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation.

This meeting emphasizes the fact that there is a wealth of experience and expertise that governments and organizations can share to improve how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The IRP is working to document, compile and share deliverables from the forum on its website: Recoveryplatform.org. Check it out.

- Beth

Posted by: Rachel Racusen, Director, Public Affairs

As the severe winter storm moves through the Northeast, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts the major winter storm will continue to bring heavy snow to portions of the area through Wednesday night. 

At FEMA, we’re continuing to keep a close eye on the storm, as we have been all week, and staying in close touch with all the states that have been impacted up and down the East Coast and in the Southeast. At the request of the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Georgia and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, we have deployed regional “liaison” offices to those states’ emergency operations centers, where they are supporting our state and local partners with their operations, coordination, and other efforts.

To date, there has not been a request for federal disaster assistance. If you’re curious about FEMA’s role in snow storms and other kinds of severe winter weather, check out this recent blog post.

With snow currently on the ground in 49 of our 50 states – and in many regions that don’t typically get significant snowfall – we continue to urge everyone to take simple steps to protect your families and homes during winter weather.

And if you live in an area affected by the storm, continue to follow the National Weather Service forecast for your area and listen to the direction of local officials. Stay warm and stay safe.

- Rachel

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

Training is a key component in emergency preparedness, whether it's on a national or individual level.  Today marks an important milestone in preparedness training at FEMA: the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), the agency’s largest training facility, is celebrating its 30th year in operation.  EMI has established a legacy of developing and delivering the necessary all-hazards training that strengthens our nation’s capability to meet emergency management challenges. 

To get a sense of EMI's scope, consider that over the past 30 years, nearly 15 million independent study courses have been completed online, including almost 2 million during fiscal year 2010 alone. And since 1981, nearly 73,000 on-campus and offsite classroom-based trainings have been conducted.

Individuals play a key role in the overall team effort of helping our nation prepare for, protect, mitigate, respond to and recovering from disasters.  EMI offers a number of online training opportunities to individuals and members of the public who wish to learn more about preparedness and emergency management. And if you’re an emergency management professional or an expert in the field, EMI and FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) host a number of advanced courses.

Thirty years ago, in its first year of operation, EMI offered 40 courses.  The need for training and importance of preparedness has grown over the years, so much so that EMI offered 270 courses in 2010.  And while EMI has hosted FEMA training courses for the last 30 years in Emmitsburg, Maryland, its legacy spans back much farther - beginning with courses at the National Civil Defense Training Center in 1951.

I hope you will take this opportunity to participate in one of the courses this year. Whether you are a private citizen or a seasoned emergency manager, we are sure to offer a course that will keep you engaged as a member of the emergency management team. 

- Tim

Other links
FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness offers 55 advanced training courses for emergency response providers, emergency managers, and other government officials. The center is the nation’s only Congressionally-charted federal training facility that features training for civilian responders in a toxic environment using chemical agents. For more information on the CDP's specialized programs and courses, please visit their web site at: http://cdp.dhs.gov.

Posted by: Brad Carroll, Press Secretary

A year ago today, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, destroying infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and claiming tens of thousands of lives.  The entire emergency management team responded  (including a number of federal agencies, led by our partners at the U.S. Agency for International Development, other countries, as well as international organizations, volunteer groups, the private sector, and over $1 billion in donations), helping thousands of Haitians meet their immediate needs following the earthquake.  The recovery is ongoing and not yet complete.

Today, as our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the earthquake, we're urging Americans to be prepared for emergencies.  While we won’t be able to prevent natural disasters from happening, we can mitigate their affects by having an emergency kit, making an emergency plan, and being informed of the risks in your area. 

This video from Administrator Fugate says it best:



What lessons has the Haitian earthquake taught you or your community?

As winter weather moves out of the Southeast, those along the east coast should take precautions for potentially severe weather.  As the storm system moves through, we’re continuing to stay in close touch with all of the affected states through our regional offices. 

Many businesses, government offices, schools and roads have been closed in many of the affected states.  Flights coming in and out of Atlanta have continued to be canceled and there have been a number of weather-related traffic accidents, including reports of several deaths.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of those who have died as a result of the winter weather. 

The dangerous effects of snow and ice storms demonstrate the importance of being prepared.  If you live in an affected area:

• follow the direction of local officials
• keep travel to a minimum during severe winter weather (if you need to travel, be sure to have an emergency kit in your vehicle)
• follow local news and weather reports on conditions in your area (visit the National Weather Service for official severe weather updates)

Stay safe.

- Rachel

Other links
- Find your state emergency management agency online for localized information
- National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center

By Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region VI

I started my year by addressing participants at a tabletop exercise last week at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.  The exercise brought together federal agencies, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Division of Emergency Management to focus on two main areas:

• Managing the capabilities of the Emergency Operations Center management
• The transition from crisis management to consequence management

This exercise helped us refine our procedures and allowed all the players to strengthen our working relationships before an emergency. We were also able to take a look at “best practices” revealed during the exercise and to network with our federal and state partners. Pre-disaster exercises like this are ongoing events across the FEMA Regions.

In emergency management, there is a constant focus on improving preparedness so we can respond better during an emergency.  Tabletop exercises, like the one hosted last week, are a great way to form relationships with other members of the emergency management team as we work to identify and solve issues before a disaster strikes.

It was an honor to address the participants of the training and meet newly elected officials across all levels of government.  What training experiences have made an impression on you?  Table top exercises are only “a piece of the whole pie” of emergency management training.  Leave a comment and share some of your memorable preparedness training moments.

- Tony

Posted by: Dan Stoneking, Director, Private Sector

Our team has the great fortune to work with many private sector partners in the field of emergency management. It has been an enriching experience to listen to and learn from those partners as they have helped us to promote public-private partnerships and open new doors that will help all of us – at all levels of government and in the private sector – better serve disaster survivors and communities.  Most recently, we created a private sector seat in FEMA's National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), the monitoring and operations center we use to coordinate all of our emergency response efforts, with all of our partners, during a disaster.

This new position is a big deal for several reasons – it’s the first time we have had a member of the private sector embedded directly with our staff and it is another critical step that will help improve communication and coordination with the private sector before, during, and after emergencies. This position will be staffed with different representatives from the private sector, on a rotating basis. Katie Dempsey from Target Corporation is serving as our inaugural representative. Thank you Katie and Target for leading the way.

Katie has achieved much in her short time here. She has a "seat at the table" working with governmental officials to enhance information sharing and collaboration with the private sector.  She has worked with FEMA on numerous major initiatives to include the "National Level Exercise 2011".  In addition, Katie has received valuable emergency management training which will benefit her, her team members and Target.

We hope that Katie's experience as a private sector representative here at FEMA is the first of many to come in 2011. We already have candidates lined up for the next few rotations and are working to get more representatives in place for the rest of this calendar year. Like much of our work at FEMA, this new NRCC seat will continue to be successful if we work together as a team, leveraging the resources of our many private sector partners and bringing more to the table.  Let’s make it work and do amazing things!

If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate, please click here. Our private sector team is available 24/7 and ready to work with you.

We understand not all private sector entities have the latitude to dedicate an employee for 90 days. For those who cannot, there are other ways to take action. Let’s all work together to be part of the emergency management team.

- Dan

If you are a member of the private sector, and want more information on how we can partner together, please visit www.FEMA.gov/privatesector.

(Image showing the severe weather watches and warnings across the United States. Image courtesy of National Weather Service)

Another severe winter storm is bringing significant snowfall and ice storms across the Southeast, and is expected to move into the Mid-Atlantic by tomorrow and up toward the Northeast by Wednesday.

So far there have been reports of heavy snow and ice causing downed trees and power lines, and many flights are continuing to get canceled.

Our regional offices in Denton, Texas; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; New York City, NY and Boston, MA, remain in close contact with our state and local partners in all of the areas that could be impacted, and stand ready to assist if a request is made. (See our blog post on FEMA’s role in winter weather)

As the winter storm season continues in much of the country, we urge all individuals in the region to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings and follow the direction provided by their local officials.

Follow your latest local forecast at weather.gov, and get prepared for winter weather at Ready.gov.  And please remember as you stay inside to avoid the storm, residential fires become more common in the winter.  Be smart and be safe.

- Rachel

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

On behalf of FEMA, I’d like to invite emergency managers, community leaders and the public to participate in a live webinar on the topic of collaborative emergency planning. My colleague Doc Lumpkins and I would love to share newly revised guidance from FEMA's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 and explain how this planning guidance can enhance your community’s ability to respond to and recover from disasters. We hope this webinar will provide the information you need to help build more inclusive, collaborative, and comprehensive plans that strengthen and prepare your community.  If you’d like to learn more about how emergency management agencies can build a collaborative preparedness team in their community, please join the webinar:

Date: January 11, 2011
Time: 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Join: Signup for the webinar

The Community Preparedness Webinar Series is hosted by FEMA's Citizen Corps Program and offers up-to-date information on community preparedness topics and resources available to emergency managers, community organizations, and the general public.

The webinar will accept the first 500 participants that log in so we hope you’ll join us. If you’re unable to join, each webinar will be recorded and posted on CitizenCorps.gov for your viewing at any time.

We look forward to your participation!

- Paulette

By Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region VI

As we move into 2011 and start trying to make progress on our various new year’s resolutions, we at FEMA will continue encouraging all of our partners – and that includes you – to take steps now to be prepared for emergencies. As many of you know, throughout the holiday season, we urged folks to join us in making a resolution to be ready for disasters. But as we said then, disasters aren’t limited to one time of year – and neither is our need to be prepared for them. It’s never too late to Resolve to be Ready for disasters. 

On this blog, we’ve written a lot about the three simple steps you can take to make good on a pledge to prepare for emergencies in this New Year. But for those of you who want to go the extra mile, you can also sign up to participate in preparedness training.  Consider linking up with a Community Response Team in your local area, or visit CitizenCorps.gov to learn about other opportunities in your community.

When more people are able to take care of themselves after a disaster strikes, emergency responders can concentrate on helping those who are most vulnerable in our communities, whether it's infants and children, seniors, or people with disabilities, to name a few.  Visit Ready.gov to learn about creating an emergency plan that fits the needs of you and your family.

- Tony

Posted by: Public Affairs

The first full weekend of 2011 is upon us.  Here’s what we’re watching:

Severe weather
Meteorologists are calling for a storm system to bring snow to the Great Lakes, parts of New York (including New York City), and some of the east coast into next Tuesday.  Forecasts are also calling for potentially icy conditions in much of the Southeast this weekend, so be sure to track your local forecast at weather.gov and visit Ready.gov to get prepared. As always, we’re continuing to monitor the coming weather closely, and through our regional offices, will remain in close contact with our state and local partners to ensure they have all the support they need throughout the weekend.

(For the weather-watchers among us, check out this forecast map of the precipitation expected across the U.S. in the next five days.)

A few press hits
MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA Region III Regional Administrator, encourages readers of the Sentinel Newspaper to consider a New Year's resolution (Prince George and Montgomery counties, MD).

The Bel Air (MD) Patch highlighted the Harford County Division of Emergency Operations’ receipt of the 2010 FEMA Region III Leading by Example Award for the work of the Citizen Corps Council.  Across the U.S. many Citizen Corps Councils volunteer to prepare individuals and their communities before a disaster strikes.  In Hartford County, the council developed and executed an impressive 37 separate preparedness initiatives.

Accepting the challenge
We’re also watching our challenge on Challenge.gov, where you can share your idea on preparing before a disaster strikes. There have been a lot of great submissions - we would love to hear your idea, too!  The deadline for submitting ideas is January 29, 2011.

Posted by: Brent Colburn, Director, External Affairs

The start of 2011 means newly-elected lawmakers, appointed officials and staff are beginning their terms, both in Washington D.C., in our state capitals and communities across the country. These new officials are another important member of our nation’s emergency management team.

A great way elected officials can help their constituents is to make sure individuals and communities have the resources they need to be prepared for the hazards in their communities. Back when newly-elected members of Congress went through orientation in November, we encouraged them to share emergency preparedness tips back home.

At FEMA, we look forward to working with these newly elected and appointed officials. Below are some resources they can use and easily share to encourage emergency preparedness:

• Ready.gov – Getting prepared is broken down into three simple steps: get a kit, make a plan and be informed.
• FEMA Widgets – Web tools that can be added to your website that explain how constituents can apply for disaster assistance.
• FEMA Mobile site – Encourage constituents to bookmark FEMA’s mobile site, packed with preparedness and disaster information. Those eligible for assistance after a disaster strikes can also apply via the mobile site.

- Brent

Recently, you may have heard about or read a report issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General (IG) saying FEMA has identified approximately 160,000 applicants that may have received improper disaster assistance payments totaling approximately $643 million.

Unfortunately, whether through fraud, human or accounting errors, or for other reasons, assistance sometimes goes to individuals who are not eligible for it during the response to any disaster.

The payments in question were made through our Individuals and Households Program during the response and recovery to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and after. The program is intended to help uninsured disaster survivors with temporary housing or to repair damage to their home or for other disaster-related needs. The large scale of the disasters (over $7 billion has been disbursed to help those in need), coupled with safeguards and protections that simply weren’t strong enough at the time, led to a large number of potentially improper payments.


So why haven’t we tried to get the money back?

The recoupment process used under previous administrations was in need of critical improvements.

A 2007 court order from a lawsuit challenging FEMA’s recoupment efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, along with regulations established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2007, led us to suspend our recoupment process.

Plain and simple, the process needed a lot of changes.

So what are we doing about it?

In the years since, we have been working to rectify these problems. The bottom line is we are committed to being responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars, and not only do we agree with the Inspector General’s recommendation that we recoup improper payments, but independent of this report we have been working to finalize plans to recoup improperly awarded funds, while continuing to support Gulf Coast communities as they continue to recover.

We have not been taking this task lightly, as we have also been taking another look at all our documents and information for the over 160,000 disaster survivors, to ensure that we are recouping funds from the right individuals. The survivors of these disasters have been through a lot, and they deserve an open and transparent process.

Since President Obama came into office, FEMA, working closely with our state and local partners in Louisiana and Mississippi, has been able to free up over $5 billion in backlogged projects to restore community infrastructure and services, including $1.8 billion for New Orleans schools. For far too long these projects had been deemed too hard to deal with, or were just simply ignored, and it was slowing the recovery of the Gulf Coast.

We are proud that we’ve been able to cut through the red tape, but realize there is much more work to be done, including finalizing the new recoupment process. We are well underway – and had been well before this IG report was released - in taking the steps we need to finalize that new process so that it is fair and transparent for both disaster survivors and taxpayers.

And what are we doing to make sure this doesn’t happen again?

We have worked diligently to put protections in place that will safeguard against fraud and abuse in future disaster situations and significantly reduce the percentage of improper payments, while ensuring that those in need are receiving assistance as quickly as possible.

As a New Orleans Times-Picayune story from earlier this week points out,

"FEMA has also instituted other rules aimed at avoiding improper payments after disasters, including additional verification requirements for automated payments; the flagging of "high risk" addresses like check-cashing stores, mail drops, cemeteries and jails; and the flagging of duplicate rental payments."

We are proud of the work that has been done, but realize there is much more to do.

- Rachel

Posted by: Don Boyce, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region I

When a blizzard reared its ugly head across the Northeast U.S. at the end of December, much of the area came to a virtual standstill.  Airports and roads were closed, and several governors declared a state of emergency to mobilize their state’s resources to respond.  Our Regional offices were in touch with our state and local partners throughout the storm.

While the Northeast blizzard was a newsworthy storm, it won’t be the last severe storm this winter.  At FEMA, we encourage everyone to get prepared for winter weather before the next storm hits.  You can get started today at Ready.gov, where you can find tips on getting an emergency kit, making a family emergency plan, and being informed about the risks in your area.

If you’re looking for a little extra motivation to get prepared this winter, check out this video of the Northeast blizzard, taken near Boston, Massachusetts:



- Don

Posted by: Joe Threat, Acting Executive Director, FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office

As 2010 draws to a close, it’s customary to reflect upon the highlights of the past year. For us at the Louisiana Recovery Office, 2010 most notably marked the 5th anniversaries of both hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It’s difficult to imagine that so much time has passed.  As Administrator Fugate pointed out, we know the rebuilding efforts have been incredibly challenging and frustrating at time, but they have also been a powerful testament to the courage, hope and determination of the people of the Gulf Coast and it’s impressive to see that progress is still moving forward at full speed.  Additionally, Louisiana was impacted by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 and those recovery efforts also continue.

In fact, local parishes invited us to nearly 50 groundbreakings and grand openings of new facilities this year. Construction is vibrant throughout the state, and I am personally proud of the role FEMA has played in helping provide the federal funding for these recovery efforts. More than $3 billion was awarded in 2010 to help rebuild public infrastructure following the four hurricanes. One project that stands out significantly is the $1.8 billion in FEMA funding provided to the Orleans Parish School Board and Recovery School District. Children across Orleans Parish will benefit from this funding, which will help reconstruct more than 80 school campuses in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, property owners throughout the state have been strengthening and elevating their homes and businesses, better preparing them for future storm events. Just recently, $100 million was funded to the state of Louisiana to help such mitigation efforts. We’ve also been updating flood maps and providing outreach to communities, resulting in eight parishes adopting new maps in 2010.

Perhaps one of our most significant accomplishments has been the continued transition of families out of temporary housing such as travel trailers and mobile homes into more permanent, long-term housing solutions. We are continuing to do everything we can to help families still living in temporary housing find more permanent, long-term housing solutions. Working closely with the state, we were able to assist 741 Katrina/Rita households and 276 Gustav/Ike households transition into safer, more viable living arrangements.

As this chapter in our recovery closes, the Louisiana Recovery Office looks forward to what the future will bring. 2011 promises many new challenges and accomplishments, and every one of them will take us one step closer to full recovery. 

- Joe

Severe weather in the middle of the U.S. brought in the New Year with an exclamation point.  For residents in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and parts of Illinois, a severe weather system moved through the area, bringing deadly storms and tornadoes.  Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and communities of those in Arkansas and Missouri who lost their lives during the storms.

We are in close coordination with our state and local partners, as well as volunteer and faith-based organizations, as they work with first responders to meet the immediate needs of survivors.  No federal assistance has been requested at this time, but our regional watch centers are closely monitoring the situation as damage assessments continue. Once assessments of the levels of damage are done, state and local officials can determine if their recovery needs are beyond their own capabilities and resources and if federal aid is needed.

The Midwest and South weren’t the only states experiencing severe weather this weekend – Californians are getting hit with another round of wet weather as they continue to recover from the Christmas flooding and mudslides. Through our regional office in Oakland, we also remain in close contact with California Emergency Management officials as they deal with their latest bout of storms.

Make sure you’re prepared for severe weather by having an emergency kit, making an emergency plan, and being informed of local conditions.  Visit Ready.gov to get prepared today.

If you’ve experienced severe weather lately, leave a comment as let us know how being prepared helped to ease the stress of the situation.

- Rachel

A few useful links from our state partners:

• Photos of the storm’s aftermath (courtesy of the Missouri Department of Public Safety)
• Related state emergency management agencies on Twitter: 
• Arkansas Homeland Security and Preparedness Agency
• Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
• Illinois Emergency Management Agency
• Alabama Emergency Management Agency