If you live along the coast, keep your gas tank full and ensure you have an family plan and evacuation route maps.

For information on storm forecasts visit the Hurricane Center Page.

Current Watches, Warnings, and local Radar for your area.

TROPICAL STORM BARRY FORMS IN GULF OF MEXICO ON FIRST DAY OF HURRICANE SEASON

Q: Does FEMA charge a fee for a home inspection?
A: No. FEMA never charges for an inspection.

Q: I have applied for disaster assistance before. Do I need to apply again?
A: Yes. Even if you applied for assistance for a previous disaster, you must apply again for this disaster.

Q: Will FEMA assistance affect my Social Security check?
A. No. Any aid you receive from FEMA will not affect your Social Security benefits, your state or federal retirement benefits, or your welfare status.

Q: If I got help from the American Red Cross, can I also get help from FEMA or the State?
A: Yes. FEMA and the State coordinate a number of programs to help disaster victims. These programs differ from the emergency food, clothing and shelter provided by the American Red Cross and other voluntary agencies.

Q: When I get help from the American Red Cross, am I automatically registered with FEMA?
A: No. Registering with the American Red Cross or any voluntary agency is not the same as registering with FEMA. If you are a homeowner, renter or business owner who has losses from the recent tornadoes, call the FEMA registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments should call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. The lines are open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday - Friday. You can also register online at www.fema.gov.

Q: Is there enough money for everyone? My neighbor needs the money more than I do.
A: Yes. There are enough disaster funds to take care of every eligible applicant.

Q: Do I have to be poor to qualify for disaster aid?
A: No. Federal disaster aid programs may be available to those who suffered damage, regardless of income.

Q: Do I have to own a business to apply for a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration?
A: No. The SBA is the primary source of financial assistance following a disaster and provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, business, and non-profits.

Q: Do I have to be turned down by my bank before I can apply for a disaster loan?
A: No. The SBA has its own criteria for determining each loan applicant’s eligibility.

Q: If I rent an apartment, can I get help to replace my damaged personal property?
A: Yes. A renter may qualify for a FEMA grant or a SBA low-interest disaster loan to replace eligible personal property.

Q: Will FEMA pay for all home repairs or contract work?
A: No. FEMA provides grants to qualified homeowners to repair damage not covered by insurance but the grants may not pay for all the damage. Qualified borrowers who lack sufficient homeowner’s insurance may use an SBA loan to return their homes to pre-disaster condition.

Q: Do I have to repay money I receive for disaster relief?
A: You do not have to repay grant money but you must repay SBA loans.

Q: Are disaster relief payments taxable?
A: No. Qualified disaster relief payments are not taxable.

Individuals with questions about recovery assistance should call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, or visit www.fema.gov or the Alabama Emergency Management Agency Web site at ema.alabama.gov.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Fire safety is in the news for other reasons as well. October is Fire Prevention Month in Mississippi, where some 35,000 FEMA travel trailers are currently located, and National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8-14.

FEMA urges anyone in a travel trailer to use only the built-in heater. Occupants should not use kerosene heaters, kitchen stoves or ovens, or electric space heaters.

“These trailers are equipped with heaters that are safe when used by occupants as instructed when we turn the trailer over to them,” said Nick Russo, federal coordinating officer for the Mississippi recovery. “Using unapproved devices for heat could lead to serious accident or injury.”

“Residents need to practice safety at all times,” Russo added. “Even those who’ve used these heaters before should re-familiarize themselves with how to use them safely.”

Most of the travel trailers are equipped with propane heaters, which automatically vent to the outdoors. However, using the oven or stove for heat may deplete oxygen in the trailer, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas that causes dizziness, headaches and possibly death. Residents should make sure the carbon monoxide detector is working correctly and that heater vents on the outside of the trailer are not blocked or covered. All FEMA travel trailers that have propane heaters also have carbon monoxide detectors.

Fire Program Specialist Kathy Gerstner of the U.S. Fire Administration, a sister agency of FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security, offers several fire prevention tips for residents of travel trailers:

• If it doesn’t seem safe, don’t do it;
• Shut off all appliances before leaving home;
• Know where the propane shutoff valve is located and how to shut it off;
• Keep flammable materials away from the stove top;
• Know where the fire extinguisher is in the unit and learn how to use it;
• Learn how to use the emergency window opening devices in the trailer;
• Do not store gasoline or other flammable liquids in or under the trailer;
• Do not store gasoline-powered vehicles or equipment in the trailer;
• Never smoke in bed.

Finally, firefighters at every level stress the importance of having a working smoke detector. Batteries should be replaced twice a year, and officials suggest doing so when changing between daylight and standard time.

“We want everyone to be comfortable and safe this winter,” said Russo. “If those in a travel trailer or mobile home feel their health or safety is in danger at any time, they should leave immediately and contact local emergency officials.”

For maintenance or repairs, trailer residents may call the Maintenance/Applicant Support Center at 1-866-877-6075. The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Release Date: September 29, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-141

» En Español

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents living in temporary housing to closely adhere to travel trailer safety and fire prevention tips. Residents also are reminded that knobs used to operate travel trailer stoves may differ from conventional ovens, and their proper use is very important in avoiding accidents or injuries.

Highlighting safety, FEMA announced that it is replacing the igniter knobs (to a red color) on travel trailer stoves as an additional safety measure to help residents differentiate between igniter and burner knobs. Although manufacturer instructions are provided to travel trailer occupants on the use of stoves, the agency is changing the igniter knob to a different color in an effort to aid individuals by pointing out the important differences in knob operations between igniters and burners.

“As a former fire chief, I know needless accidents and death caused by fires could have easily been avoided by following common everyday fire safety tips,” said FEMA Director David Paulison. “FEMA is making a concerted effort to provide the necessary actions and information to families in travel trailers to help with their safety.”

The safety of residents living in FEMA provided temporary housing is of the utmost importance to the agency. Providing information and making sure people are aware of proper safety measures is essential.

The number one message for occupants of travel trailer who smell propane gas in their trailer is to get out immediately (follow the steps below if you detect gas):

Do not look for the leak yourself;
Get out immediately;
Leave the door open behind you;
From outside of the trailer, call 911 or your local fire department and report the leak;
If you can do so safely, turn off the gas at the propane tank and turn off the power to the trailer at the pole or main switch coming from the house.
Brochures are being distributed in multiple languages to occupants of travel trailers outlining key safety measures, security precautions and information on family escape plans.

More Information:

Safety and Fire Prevention Tips (PDF 110KB, TXT 10KB)

The Alternative Housing Pilot Program is intended to address ongoing housing challenges created by the 2005 hurricane season in the states of the Gulf Coast region, specifically Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. This grant guidance is designed to encourage innovation and creativity, as well as, develop alternative housing that can be produced, transported and installed in a timely manner and in appropriate quantities, that are adaptable to a variety of site conditions, and that will facilitate sustainable and permanent housing.

The states eligible to compete for the $400 million are Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Alternative Housing Pilot program is an opportunity for the states, the housing industry, and other organizations to help FEMA and Congress explore new ideas for providing post-disaster housing to people in need.

“This Gulf Coast pilot will have national applicability, as it will help FEMA consider new ways to house people quickly and efficiently for future disasters,” said FEMA Director David Paulison. (Read More)

More Information:

Grant Guidance

Individuals with disabilities, or those living with someone with a disability, who need an accessible trailer, should call 1-866-496-4297 (Louisiana evacuees) and 1-888-294-2820 (Mississippi evacuees), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, (TTY number for both Louisiana and Mississippi is 1-800-462-7585). Those calling the toll-free number should be prepared to discuss the kind of disability and the kinds of accessibility features that are needed.

FEMA will assist individuals with disabilities by either providing an accessible trailer, modifying an individual’s current trailer to make it accessible, or finding those in need a suitable place to live.

Accessible trailers may take up to 90 days to deliver, or longer if an applicant does not have a suitable site for a trailer. Changes to make a current trailer accessible may take up to 60 days to complete.

Persons with disabilities who do not receive an accessible trailer should contact the agency at 1-866-496-4297 (Louisiana evacuees) and 1-888-294-2820 (Mississippi evacuees). To obtain an accessible trailer within the times in this notice, you must contact FEMA before May 9, 2007.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

More Information:

Public Service Announcement - 60 seconds (MP3 927KB, TXT 2KB)
Public Service Announcement - 30 seconds (MP3 471KB, TXT 839B)

Agency Replacing Stove Igniter Knobs to Highlight Safety

Release Date: September 29, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-141

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents living in temporary housing to closely adhere to travel trailer safety and fire prevention tips.  Residents also are reminded that knobs used to operate travel trailer stoves may differ from conventional ovens, and their proper use is very important in avoiding accidents or injuries.

Highlighting safety, FEMA announced that it is replacing the igniter knobs (to a red color) on travel trailer stoves as an additional safety measure to help residents differentiate between igniter and burner knobs.  Although manufacturer instructions are provided to travel trailer occupants on the use of stoves, the agency is changing the igniter knob to a different color in an effort to aid individuals by pointing out the important differences in knob operations between igniters and burners.

“As a former fire chief, I know needless accidents and death caused by fires could have easily been avoided by following common everyday fire safety tips,” said FEMA Director David Paulison.  “FEMA is making a concerted effort to provide the necessary actions and information to families in travel trailers to help with their safety.”

The safety of residents living in FEMA provided temporary housing is of the utmost importance to the agency.  Providing information and making sure people are aware of proper safety measures is essential. 

The number one message for occupants of travel trailer who smell propane gas in their trailer is to get out immediately (follow the steps below if you detect gas):

• Do not look for the leak yourself;
• Get out immediately;
• Leave the door open behind you;
• From outside of the trailer, call 911 or your local fire department and report the leak;
• If you can do so safely, turn off the gas at the propane tank and turn off the power to the trailer at the pole or main switch coming from the house.

Brochures are being distributed in multiple languages to occupants of travel trailers outlining key safety measures, security precautions and information on family escape plans.

Release Date: August 18, 2006
Release Number: 1650-053

» More Information on New York Severe Storms and Flooding

ALBANY, N.Y. — Mold problems often appear five to six weeks after a flood as evidenced by nearly 1,400 individuals inquiring about mold clean-up at the state and federal disaster mitigation and home supply store outreach currently under way in Broome, Herkimer and Sullivan counties.

Steps can be taken to combat mold growth and its potential to cause serious health problems as well as structural damage to homes according to state and federal officials. Removing some flood contaminated materials and household goods and thoroughly cleaning or drying out others are essential steps to combat mold.

Flood waters compromise household fixtures in different ways. Porous materials are nearly impossible to clean. Flood soaked carpets, carpet pads, linoleum, fabric covered furniture, wet insulation and ceiling tiles should be discarded. There is no way to clean them. For heirloom rugs and furniture, contact a professional cleaner.

Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, cooking stoves, dishwashers, hot water heaters, washing machines and driers contain insulation which may harbor mold spores without visible evidence and should be discarded.

Heating and air conditioning filters should be changed and the system ductwork cleaned by a professional so that mold spores don’t circulate in the dwelling or business.

Surfaces such as wallboard, sheetrock, chipboard and particle board should be discarded. Water can wick up higher than the visible water line. The best practice is to remove the wall board at least two feet above the water line.

Non-porous surfaces, including glass, ceramic, metal and plastic, can be cleaned. A combination of household bleach and soap or detergent can be used to wash down walls, floors and other mold-contaminated areas. Follow directions on containers and take particular note of warnings. Don’t mix chlorine liquids and ammonia. Wear rubber gloves, protective clothing and a tight-fitting face mask when working around mold.

Remove heating and cooling registers and ducts, and then hose the ducts to prevent contamination from flowing through the ducts when the unit is turned on. After hosing ductwork, wash with a disinfectant. If ducts are in slab or otherwise inaccessible, have them cleaned professionally.

When rebuilding, property owners living in flood-prone areas should consider using water-resistant materials. Information about rebuilding after a flood and cleaning up mold can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Web site, www.fema.gov.

Additional information about mold and mildew may be found at www.health.state.ny.us or www.epa.gov and searching for mold.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)- a former independent agency that became part of the new Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 - is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters. FEMA can trace its beginnings to the Congressional Act of 1803. This act, generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation, provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.

By the 1930s, when the federal approach to problems became popular, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was given authority to make disaster loans for repair and reconstruction of certain public facilities following an earthquake, and later, other types of disasters. In 1934, the Bureau of Public Roads was given authority to provide funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters. The Flood Control Act, which gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects, was also passed. This piecemeal approach to disaster assistance was problematic and it prompted legislation that required greater cooperation between federal agencies and authorized the President to coordinate these activities.

The 1960s and early 1970s brought massive disasters requiring major federal response and recovery operations by the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, established within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hurricane Carla struck in 1962, Hurricane Betsy in 1965, Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The Alaskan Earthquake hit in 1964 and the San Fernando Earthquake rocked Southern California in 1971. These events served to focus attention on the issue of natural disasters and brought about increased legislation. In 1968, the National Flood Insurance Act offered new flood protection to homeowners, and in 1974 the Disaster Relief Act firmly established the process of Presidential disaster declarations.

However, emergency and disaster activities were still fragmented. When hazards associated with nuclear power plants and the transportation of hazardous substances were added to natural disasters, more than 100 federal agencies were involved in some aspect of disasters, hazards and emergencies. Many parallel programs and policies existed at the state and local level, compounding the complexity of federal disaster relief efforts. The National Governor’s Association sought to decrease the many agencies with whom state and local governments were forced work. They asked President Jimmy Carter to centralize federal emergency functions.

President Carter’s 1979 executive order merged many of the separate disaster-related responsibilities into a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Among other agencies, FEMA absorbed: the Federal Insurance Administration, the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, the National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program, the Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration activities from HUD. Civil defense responsibilities were also transferred to the new agency from the Defense Department’s Defense Civil Preparedness Agency.

John Macy was named as FEMA’s first director. Macy emphasized the similarities between natural hazards preparedness and the civil defense activities. FEMA began development of an Integrated Emergency Management System with an all-hazards approach that included “direction, control and warning systems which are common to the full range of emergencies from small isolated events to the ultimate emergency - war.”

The new agency was faced with many unusual challenges in its first few years that emphasized how complex emergency management can be. Early disasters and emergencies included the contamination of Love Canal, the Cuban refugee crisis and the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. Later, the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 focused major national attention on FEMA. In 1993, President Clinton nominated James L. Witt as the new FEMA director. Witt became the first agency director with experience as a state emergency manager. He initiated sweeping reforms that streamlined disaster relief and recovery operations, insisted on a new emphasis regarding preparedness and mitigation, and focused agency employees on customer service. The end of the Cold War also allowed Witt to redirect more of FEMA’s limited resources from civil defense into disaster relief, recovery aand mitigation programs.

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Joe M. Allbaugh as the director of FEMA. Within months, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th focused the agency on issues of national preparedness and homeland security, and tested the agency in unprecedented ways. The agency coordinated its activities with the newly formed Office of Homeland Security, and FEMA’s Office of National Preparedness was given responsibility for helping to ensure that the nation’s first responders were trained and equipped to deal with weapons of mass destruction.

Billions of dollars of new funding were directed to FEMA to help communities face the threat of terrorism. Just a few years past its 20th anniversary, FEMA was actively directing its “all-hazards” approach to disasters toward homeland security issues. In March 2003, FEMA joined 22 other federal agencies, programs and offices in becoming the Department of Homeland Security. The new department, headed by Secretary Tom Ridge, brought a coordinated approach to national security from emergencies and disasters - both natural and man-made. Today, FEMA is one of four major branches of DHS. About 2,500 full-time employees in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate are supplemented by more than 5,000 stand-by disaster reservists.

As it has for more than 20 years, FEMA’s mission remains: to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of “A Nation Prepared.” At no time in its history has this vision been more important to the country than in the aftermath of Sept. 11th.

Release Date: August 8, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-119

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is moving forward to address concerns that have been raised regarding the levels of formaldehyde in travel trailers in the Gulf Coast region.

The agency has specifically asked for and received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an air monitoring and sampling plan that is intended to validate methods that can be used to reduce the presence of formaldehyde in travel trailers. The sampling plan was reviewed by an outside expert.

Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, but common industrial chemical that is found in homes and buildings everywhere. It is used in glue, particleboard, fiberboard as well as furniture made with these pressed wood products. Formaldehyde also is found in a variety of materials encountered in everyday life - cigarettes and cigarette smoke and personal care products. Some people are particularly sensitive to it, while others may not notice it at all once the odor begins to dissipate.

Currently, FEMA is making the necessary preparations for the testing - arranging for the trailers to be moved, preparing the site; and setting up trailers for use in on-site project management, equipment and supply storage and to recharge and maintain instruments.

Air samples from unused trailers will be collected and analyzed with and without the heating, ventilation and air condition system operating. Temperature and humidity will be moderated by various degrees of open windows, static vents and exhaust fans as well manufacturer-installed air conditioning units. The agency is using unused trailers because that will allow testing of units that have not been affected by human activity, including the presence of materials containing formaldehyde that were brought into the trailers by occupants.

Samples will be taken at different times of the day; ambient outdoor samples also will be taken concurrent with the collection of the samples in the trailers. Ambient temperature and relative humidity data will be collected as well for each ambient sample.

Meanwhile, FEMA will soon begin distribution of a brochure to trailer occupants across the Gulf Coast explaining how those persons sensitive to formaldehyde may be affected by its presence and preliminary actions they can take to reduce their exposure in the trailers. The advice includes taking steps to:

(more…)

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina

BILOXI, Miss. — As progress is being made moving people into travel trailers and mobile homes during the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, state and federal emergency management officials are asking people to heed warnings against moving emergency homes from assigned locations.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) point to safety and legal issues in moving the units.

“A lot of planning and research goes into situating the trailers at particular sites and connecting them for use,” said Nick Russo federal coordinating officer for the Mississippi disaster recovery. “Besides being unlawful, attempting to move them creates a number of problems.”

Russo said there could be difficulties lining up sewer lines, disrupting function and flow to a travel trailer or mobile home. Changing electrical connections could pose safety issues, especially if the electrical gauge is different from the original setup. Also, an inexperienced person may hit water and or electrical lines in trying to re-anchor a unit after moving it.

“The travel trailers and mobile homes are property of the federal government,” said MEMA Director Robert Latham. “Each trailer recipient is informed in writing about rules and regulations when they sign a lease or occupancy agreement for one of these units.”

If the delivery address for the trailer must change, the occupant should call FEMA as soon as possible to eliminate delay. If a person wants to change the location of a trailer after it is delivered, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing-or speech-impaired.

With few exceptions, the US Army Corps of Engineers will achieve at least a pre-Katrina flood and storm level protection by June 1, the beginning of the 2006 Hurricane season.

A 400-foot section of earthen hurricane protection levee being rebuilt in Plaquemines Parish slipped under its own weight because of low soil strength last weekend by an average of 3 to 4 feet. Repairs could take three to six weeks. Of 897,600 feet of levees repaired, we are down to this last 400 foot stretch to focus our energies on. One gate closure is delayed two weeks from scheduled completion and the pumping capacity on the outfall canals is not yet at the projected level.

The Corps achieved this level of protection by repairing and restoring 169 miles of Mississippi River and New Orleans area levees and floodwalls since September 2005. Interim gated closure structures and temporary pumps are being installed at the Lake Pontchartrain end of the 17th Street, Orleans Avenue, and London Avenue outfall canals to prevent storm surge from entering the canals during a hurricane. Because it prevents storm surge from entering the canals, this added canal closure feature of the storm protection system will provide better protection than what existed prior to Aug. 2005.

Other immediate improvements include: replacing failed I-Wall design floodwalls with stronger T-wall or L-wall design floodwalls as well as reinforcing the most vulnerable undamaged I-Walls and the surge protection closures. L-wall structures are used in areas where sufficient land is not available for T-wall design structures.

What does this mean?

If a duplication of the Katrina storm occurred today, we would expect 1/3 of the flooding due to rainfall and overtopping and wave over wash in some areas. It remains possible that some levees could breach as a result of overtopping. However, there would be no storm surge damage related to the outfall canals as occurred during Katrina.

Much of this work has been guided by research by groups both within and outside the Corps that examined what happened to the protection system when Katrina hit and the damage it sustained. The Corps commissioned an Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET) composed of 150 subject matter experts from government, academia and industry to analyze the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the hurricane protection system and to develop a list of lessons learned leading to substantive improvements in the engineering of a hurricane protection system. The Corps also commissioned an independent external review of the IPET evaluation by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which has further independent oversight by the National Research Council.

We will be also evaluating other independent studies to include the University of California-Berkley-led National Science Foundation Report and the LSU-led Team Louisiana Report. Lessons learned from these multiple investigations will be considered and incorporated in developing future flood and storm protection for the greater New Orleans area.

Working with city, state, and other Federal agencies, the Corps will continue to upgrade New Orleans flood and storm protection through 2010 and will employ information gained from Hurricane Katrina analyses to engineer, construct, and improve storm and flood protection infrastructure of levees, floodwalls, and interior drainage to a 100-year protection level.

By 2010 using current best engineering practices and incorporating lessons learned from Katrina, we will reduce flood and storm damage risk. Levees and floodwalls will be higher and stronger and better protected by armoring in key areas. Deeper sub-surface sheet piles will minimize sub-surface water seepage (piping) and steel H-piles will stabilize the upgraded floodwalls.

Subject to authorization and funding, permanent-gated closure structures with pump stations will be constructed on interior drainage outfall canals. Navigable flood gates will be built at the Lake Pontchartrain entry to the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and at the confluence of the Gulf Inter-coastal Waterway and Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to provide surge protection along these channels.

Flood and storm damage will be reduced by these projects, but the possibility of future damages will not be eliminated. The public is being advised to heed the advice of officials and be prepared to evacuate. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committed to informing the public about its on-going work to improve the hurricane and flood protection of greater New Orleans which will contribute to reducing the level of risk but will in no way eliminate the risk.

Special Focus - Military Construction (MILCON) Transformation

As you may know, the Army is pursuing the most comprehensive transformation of its forces since World War II. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has an important role to play in the success of this transformation. As the Army’s construction agent, the Corps must ensure the Army has the quality facilities and infrastructure it needs to meet future capabilities and missions. To meet these challenges, the Corps has looked across its Military Construction program to identify efficiencies and process change. This process, along with perspectives gained from private industry, senior Department of Defense and Department of the Army leaders, helped shape the revising of our program.

As a result, a number of process changes are being implemented that will transform the Military Construction program from a less prescriptive program to a more performance-based one. These changes are occurring now and will allow the Corps to meet the goal of continuing to deliver quality facilities in less time and at a lower cost. To assist in communicating these changes to our managers, customers and partners, we’ve created a new Military Construction (MILCON) Transformation web page.

Links to resource materials.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today announced to America and its neighbors throughout the north Atlantic region that a very active hurricane season is looming, and encouraged individuals to make preparations to better protect their lives and livelihoods. May 21-27 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

During a news conference at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson noted, “Preparation is the key message that President Bush wants to convey during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season.”

“For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become ‘major’ hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher,” added retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

On average, the north Atlantic hurricane season produces 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes. In 2005, the Atlantic hurricane season contained a record 28 storms, including 15 hurricanes. Seven of these hurricanes were considered “major,” of which a record four hit the United States. “Although NOAA is not forecasting a repeat of last year’s season, the potential for hurricanes striking the U.S. is high,” added Lautenbacher.

Warmer ocean water combined with lower wind shear, weaker easterly trade winds, and a more favorable wind pattern in the mid-levels of the atmosphere are the factors that collectively will favor the development of storms in greater numbers and to greater intensity. Warm water is the energy source for storms while favorable wind patterns limit the wind shear that can tear apart a storm’s building cloud structure.

This confluence of conditions in the ocean and atmosphere is strongly related to a climate pattern known as the multi-decadal signal, which has been in place since 1995. Since then, nine of the last 11 hurricane seasons have been above normal, with only two below-normal seasons during the El Niño years of 1997 and 2002.

With neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions expected across the equatorial Pacific during the next three to six months, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center scientists say that neither El Niño nor La Niña will likely be a factor in this year’s hurricane season.

“Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare,” said Max Mayfield, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season.”

The north Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. NOAA will issue a mid-season update in early August just prior to the normal August through October peak in activity.

The north Atlantic hurricane seasonal outlook is a product of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, and Hurricane Research Division. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center has hurricane forecasting responsibilities for the north Atlantic as well as the east Pacific regions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with our federal partners and more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global earth observation network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.

When community evacuations become necessary, local officials provide information to the public through the media. In some circumstances, other warning methods, such as sirens or telephone calls, also are used. Additionally, there may be circumstances under which you and your family feel threatened or endangered and you need to leave your home, school, or workplace to avoid these situations.

The amount of time you have to leave will depend on the hazard. If the event is a weather condition, such as a hurricane that can be monitored, you might have a day or two to get ready. However, many disasters allow no time for people to gather even the most basic necessities, which is why planning ahead is essential.

Evacuation: More Common than You Realize

Evacuations are more common than many people realize. Hundreds of times each year transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Fires and floods cause evacuations even more frequently. Almost every year, people along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts evacuate in the face of approaching hurricanes.

Ask local authorities about emergency evacuation routes and see if maps may are available with evacuation routes marked.

Evacuation Guidelines

PSA’s - Evacuations

• What to do when a hurricane watch or warning is issued and what you should have in your emergency evacuation kit (MP3 474KB - 30sec, TXT 640B)
• Information you need while you are preparing your evacuation plans prior to a hurricane (MP3 937KB - 60sec, TXT 1.06KB)

AUSTIN, Texas — If a hurricane is threatening the area where your business is located, you can take actions ahead of time that may help minimize damage and lost productivity, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The following are steps business owners can take to help prevent business losses from the destruction of hurricane force winds.

• Clear out areas with extensive glass frontage as much as possible. If you have shutters, use them; otherwise, use precut plywood to board up doors and windows.
• Remove outdoor hanging signs.
• Bring inside or secure any objects that might become airborne and cause damage in strong winds.
• Secure display cases. Use plywood to protect glass display cases or, if possible, turn the case’s glass side toward an inside wall.
• Store as much merchandise as high as possible off the floor, especially goods that could be necessary to survival and in short supply after the storm.
• Move merchandise that cannot be stored away from glass and cover it with tarpaulins or heavy plastic.
• Secure all goods in warehouses off the floor, and place sandbags in spaces where water could enter.
• Remove papers from lower drawers of desks and file cabinets and place them in plastic bags or containers on top of the cabinets.
• Turn off water heaters, stoves, pilot lights and other burners.

More disaster preparedness information can be viewed at www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov.

In addition, business owners may order FEMA’s free pamphlet, Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now (9-0618), to distribute to their staff and employees by calling 1-800-480-2520. Shipping charges will apply.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-May-2006 09:51:27

FEMA DOES NOT SELL TRAVEL TRAILERS directly to disaster occupants because the units are not considered an appropriate form of permanent housing. FEMA does not sell trailers for recreational purposes. The rumor that units are routinely sold for $1 is false.

My understanding is that as the used Travel Trailers become available for sale they will be Auctioned off at the General Services Administration Real Property Disposal Auction. There web site is.
http://www.auctionrp.com/auctions2/

FEMA travel trailers CANNOT BE MOVED by the disaster occupants, even during an evacuation. Only FEMA can relocate a travel trailer. Moving a FEMA travel trailer is a felony. Occupants may not make additions or modifications to the travel trailer.

FEMA asks that temporary travel trailer disaster occupants work toward their permanent housing plans and not hold out false hope of buying the trailer.

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane IKE

Coastal Watches/Warnings and 3-Day Track Forecast Cone

National Hurricane Center Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico Active tropical cyclones

• Hurricane EARL Forecast/Advisory Number 36

  Posted 37 hours ago

  Issued at 0900 UTC FRI SEP 03 2010 [more]
  

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• Hurricane EARL Public Advisory Number 36A

  Posted 37 hours ago

  Issued at 800 AM EDT FRI SEP 03 2010 [more]
  

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• Hurricane EARL Forecast Discussion Number 36

  Posted 37 hours ago

  Issued at 500 AM EDT FRI SEP 03 2010 [more]
  

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• Hurricane EARL Wind Speed Probabilities Number 36

  Posted 37 hours ago

  Issued at 0900 UTC FRI SEP 03 2010 [more]
  

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Eastern Pacific

National Hurricane Center Eastern Pacific Active tropical cyclones

• Tropical Depression TEN-E Public Advisory Number 1

  Posted 40 hours ago

  Issued at 200 AM PDT FRI SEP 03 2010 [more]
  

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• Tropical Depression TEN-E Graphics

  Posted 40 hours ago

  5-Day Uncertainty Track last updated Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:48:26 GMT Wind Speed Probabilities last updated Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:10:42 GMT [more]
  

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• Tropical Depression TEN-E 5-Day Track, Uncertainty Cone, Warnings (.shp)

  Posted 40 hours ago

  GIS Data last updated Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:47:41 GMT [more]
  

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• Tropical Depression TEN-E Best Track Information (.shp)

  Posted 40 hours ago

  GIS Data last updated Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:46:35 GMT [more]
  

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Being a bipartisan Senate inquiry the Republicans do not want to blame the Republican President and the Democrats aren’t going to blame the Democratic Mayor of New Orleans or the Democratic Governor of Louisiana.

In fear of Voter reprisal neither party will blame the citizens that knew Hurricane Katrina was coming and didn’t leave a sub sea level area like New Orleans.

The local government around New Orleans and Louisiana knew that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers levees weren’t adequate to stop the storm surge from a Hurricane of Katrina’s size.

Being that FEMA is only made up of people that leave there homes on a moments notice to hurry to a disaster area to help others. We can blame them.

They will fire some and hire others and change their name to National Preparedness and Response Authority (NPRA).

Information for Pet Owners

• Plan for Pet Disaster Needs
• Prepare to Shelter Your Pet
• During a Disaster
• After a Disaster

If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets most likely cannot survive on their own; and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.

Animals and Emergencies

Animals. To some people they’re Dogs and Cats are like children. To others they’re an important way to earn a living. To many of us, they’re a big part of our lives.

But when it comes to emergencies, animals, whether they’re house pets, livestock, or in the wild, have often been overlooked by emergency planners and the general public. But that’s changing here in the United States and elsewhere.

In this section of FEMA’s website, we’re gathering the best advice and resources available to help you prepare and respond to the emergency needs of your animals, whether you’re responsible for caring for one or one hundred.

And we’ll provide tips on how you can support organizations that care for animals in the wild or those which have been separated from their owners due to emergencies; we’ll also offer tips on how you can make a difference in such situations when you’re on your own.

If you’re aware of useful information about animals and emergencies be sure to share it with us at FEMAopa@dhs.gov. If you know of an animal-related World Wide Web site with emergency preparedness/response information that should be listed in our Global Emergency Management System, let us know.

• Disaster Preparedness/Response for Pets, Domesticated Animals
• Animals in Disasters Module A
• Animals in Disasters Module B
• Livestock in Disasters
• The Humane Society of the United States

For additional information, please contact The Humane Society of the United States

Plan for Pet Disaster Needs

• Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets — well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter’s number in your list of emergency numbers — they might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.
• Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they’re not available later. While the sun is still shining, consider packing a “pet survival” kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.
• Make sure identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home. Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can’t escape. 

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Prepare to Shelter Your Pet

• Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information.
• If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Find out where pet boarding facilities are located. Be sure to research some outside your local area in case local facilities close.
• Most boarding kennels, veterinarians and animal shelters will need your pet’s medical records to make sure all vaccinations are current. Include copies in your “pet survival” kit along with a photo of your pet.
• NOTE: Some animal shelters will provide temporary foster care for owned pets in times of disaster, but this should be considered only as a last resort.
• If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger! Confine your pet to a safe area inside — NEVER leave your pet chained outside! Leave them loose inside your home with food and plenty of water.  Remove the toilet tank lid, raise the seat and brace the bathroom door open so they can drink. Place a notice outside in a visible area, advising what pets are in the house and where they are located. Provide a phone number where you or a contact can be reached as well as the name and number of your vet.

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During a Disaster

• Bring your pets inside immediately.
• Have newspapers on hand for sanitary purposes. Feed the animals moist or canned food so they will need less water to drink.
• Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid. Bringing them inside early can stop them from running away. Never leave a pet outside or tied up during a storm.
• Separate dogs and cats. Even if your dogs and cats normally get along, the anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally. Keep small pets away from cats and dogs.
• In an emergency, you may have to take your birds with you. Talk with your veterinarian or local pet store about special food dispensers that regulate the amount of food a bird is given. Make sure that the bird is caged and the cage is covered by a thin cloth or sheet to provide security and filtered light.

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After a Disaster

• If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
• In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood areas. Downed power lines are a hazard.
• The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water.

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Regional Offices

FEMA
500 C Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472

(Note: Please use this address to reach the following offices by inserting the Office Name as the second line of the address:)

National Emergency Training Center
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

U.S. Fire Administration
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Emergency Management Institute
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Mount Weather Emergency Assistance Center
19844 Blue Ridge Mountain Road
State Route 601
Bluemont, VA 20135

Regional Offices

FEMA Region I
99 High Street,
Suite/Floor 6
Boston, MA 02110
(Note: This office serves the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

FEMA Region II
26 Federal Plaza, Room 1337
New York, NY 10278-0002
(Note: This office serves the States of New York, New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

FEMA Region III
615 Chestnut Street
One Independence Mall, Sixth Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404
(Note: This office serves the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.)

FEMA Region IV
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
(Note: This office serves the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.)

FEMA Region V
536 South Clark St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605
(Note: This office serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.)

FEMA Region VI
FRC 800 North Loop 288
Denton, TX 76209-3698
(Note: This office serves the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.)

FEMA Region VII
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO. 64114
(Note: This office serves the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska)

FEMA Region VIII
Denver Federal Center
Building 710, Box 25267
Denver, CO 80255-0267
(Note: This office serves the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)

FEMA Region IX
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052
(Note: This office serves the states of Arizona, California,
Hawaii and Nevada; and the Territory of American Samoa, the Territory
of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic
of Palau.)

FEMA Region X
Federal Regional Center
130 228th Street, SW
Bothell, WA 98021-9796
(Note: This office serves the states of Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon, and Washington.)

If an earthquake, hurricane, winter storm or other disaster ever strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water and electricity for days, or even weeks. By taking a little time now to store emergency food and water supplies, you can provide for your entire family.

This brochure was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community and Family Preparedness Programs which provides information to help families prepare for all types of disasters.

WATER: THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY

Stocking water reserves and learning how to purify contaminated water should be among your top priorities in preparing for an emergency. You should store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family. Everyone’s needs will differ, depending upon age, physical condition, activity, diet and climate. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need more. You will need additional water for food preparation and hygiene. Store a total of at least one gallon per person, per day.

If your supplies begin to run low, remember: Never ration water. Drink the amount you need today, and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool.

How to Store Emergency Water Supplies

You can store your water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances, because tiny amounts may remain in the container’s pores. Sound plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles, are best. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums.

Before storing your water, treat it with a preservative, such as chlorine bleach, to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and no soap. Some containers warn, “Not For Personal Use.” You can disregard these warnings if the label states sodium hypochlorite is the only active ingredient and if you use only the small quantities in these instructions.

Add four drops of bleach per quart of water (or two scant teaspoons per 10 gallons), and stir. Seal your water containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool, dark place.

Hidden Water Sources in Your Home

If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water, you can use water in your hot-water tank, in your plumbing and in ice cubes. As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl), but purify it first (described later).

Water beds hold up to 400 gallons, but some water beds contain toxic chemicals that are not fully removed by many purifiers. If you designate a water bed in your home as an emergency resource, drain it yearly and refill it with fresh water containing two ounces of bleach per 120 gallons.

To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the highest faucet in your house and draining the water from the lowest one.

To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve and turning on a hot-water faucet. Do not turn on the gas or electricity when the tank is empty.

Do you know the location of your incoming water valve? You’ll need to shut if off to stop contaminated water from entering your home if you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines.

Emergency Outdoor Water Sources

If you need to seek water outside your home, you can use these sources. But purify the water before drinking it.

• Rainwater
• Streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water
• Ponds and lakes
• Natural springs

Avoid water with floating material, an odor or dark color. Use saltwater only if you distill it first (described later).

Three Easy Ways to Purify Water

In addition to having a bad odor and taste, contaminated water can contain microorganisms that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. You should therefore purify all water of uncertain purity before using it for drinking, food preparation or hygiene.

There are many ways to purify water. None are perfect. Often the best
solution is a combination of methods. Before purifying, let any suspended particles settle to the bottom, or strain them through layers of paper towel or clean cloth.

Three easy purification methods are outlined below. These measures will kill microbes but will not remove other contaminants such as heavy metals, salts, most other chemicals and radioactive fallout.

Boiling is the safest method of purifying water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 10 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.

Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring it back and forth between two containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.

Chlorination uses liquid chlorine bleach to kill microorganisms. (See page 1 for bleach safety information.) Add two drops of bleach per quart of water (four drops if the water is cloudy), stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not taste and smell of chlorine at that point, add another dose and let stand another 15 minutes.

If you do not have a dropper, use a spoon and a square-ended strip of paper or thin cloth about 1/4 inch by 2 inches. Put the strip in the spoon with an end hanging down about 1/2 inch below the scoop of the spoon. Place bleach in the spoon and carefully tip it. Drops the size of those from a medicine dropper will drip off the end of the strip.

Purification tablets release chlorine or iodine. They are inexpensive and available at most sporting goods stores and some drugstores. Follow the package directions. Usually one tablet is enough for one quart of water. Double the dose for cloudy water.

More Rigorous Purification Methods

While the three methods described above will remove only microbes from water, the following two purification methods will remove other contaminants. Distillation will remove microbes, heavy metals, salts, most other chemicals, and radioactive dust and dirt, called radioactive fallout. Filtering will also remove radioactive fallout. (Water itself cannot become radioactive, but it can be contaminated by radioactive fallout. It is unsafe to drink water that contains radioactive fallout.)

Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt and other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.

To make a fallout filter, punch holes in the bottom of a large bucket, and put a layer of gravel in the bucket about 1-1/2 inches high. Cover the gravel with a towel cut in a circle slightly larger than the bucket. Cover soil with a towel, place the filter over a large container, and pour contaminated water through. Then, disinfect the filtered water using one of the methods described above. Change the soil in your filter after every 50 quarts of water.

Family Disaster Supply Kit

It’s 2:00 a.m. and a flash flood forces you to evacuate your home–fast. There’s no time to gather food from the kitchen, fill bottles with water, grab a first-aid kit from the closet and snatch a flashlight and a portable radio from the bedroom. You need to have these items packed and ready in one place before disaster hits.

Pack at least a three-day supply of food and water, and store it in a handy place. Choose foods that are easy to carry, nutritious and ready-to-eat. In addition, pack these emergency items:

• Medical supplies and first aid manual
• Hygiene supplies
• Portable radio, flashlights and extra batteries
• Shovel and other useful tools
• Money and matches in a waterproof container
• Fire extinguisher
• Blanket and extra clothing
• Infant and small children’s needs (if appropriate)

FOOD: PREPARING AN EMERGENCY STOCKPILE

If activity is reduced, healthy people can survive on half their usual food intake for an extended period and without any food for many days. Food, unlike water, may be rationed safely, except for children and pregnant women.

If your water supply is limited, try to avoid foods that are high in fat and protein, and don’t stock salty foods, since they will make you thirsty. Try to eat salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with high liquid content.

You don’t need to go out and buy unfamiliar foods to prepare an emergency food supply. You can use the canned foods, dry mixes and other staples on your cupboard shelves. In fact, familiar foods are important. They can lift morale and give a feeling of security in time of stress. Also, canned foods won’t require cooking, water or special preparation. Following are recommended short-term and long-term food storage plans.

Storage Tips

• Keep food in the driest and coolest spot in the house–a dark area if possible.
• Keep food covered at all times.
• Open food boxes or cans carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use.
• Wrap cookies and crackers in plastic bags, and keep them in tight containers.
• Empty opened packages of sugar, dried fruits and nuts into screw-top jars or air-tight cans to protect them from pests.
• Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use.

Short-Term Food Supplies

Even though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food supply for two weeks, you should prepare a supply that will last that long. A two-week supply can relieve a great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored.

The easiest way to develop a two-week stockpile is to increase the amount of basic foods you normally keep on your shelves. Remember to compensate for the amount you eat from other sources (such as restaurants) during an average two-week period.

You may already have a two-week supply of food on hand. Keeping it fresh is simple. Just rotate your supply once or twice a year.

Special Considerations to Keep in Mind

As you stock food, take into account your family’s unique needs and tastes. Try to include foods that they will enjoy and that are also high in calories and nutrition. Foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking are best.

Individuals with special diets and allergies will need particular attention, as will babies, toddlers and the elderly. Nursing mothers may need liquid formula, in case they are unable to nurse. Canned dietetic foods, juices and soups may be helpful for the ill or elderly.

Make sure you have a can opener and disposable utensils. And don’t forget nonperishable foods for your pets.

How to Store Your Short-Term Stockpile

Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is fairly cool–not above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and not below freezing. To protect boxed foods from pests and extend their shelf life, store the boxes in tightly closed cans or metal containers.

Rotate your food supply. Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.

Your emergency food supply should be of the highest quality possible. Inspect your reserves periodically to make sure there are no broken seals or dented containers.

How to Cook if the Power Goes Out

For emergency cooking you can use a fireplace, or a charcoal grill or camp stove outdoors only. You can also heat food with candle warmers, chafing dishes and fondue pots. Canned food can be eaten right out of the can. If you heat it in the can, be sure to open the can and remove the label first.

Long-Term Food Supplies

In the unlikely event of a military attack or some other national disaster, you may need long-term emergency food supplies. The best approach is to store large amounts of staples along with a variety of canned and dried foods.

Bulk quantities of wheat, corn, beans and salt are inexpensive and have nearly unlimited shelf life. If necessary, you could survive for years on small daily amounts of these staples. Stock the following amounts per person, per month:

Wheat–20 pounds
Powdered Milk(for babies and infants)*– 20 pounds
Corn–20 pounds
Iodized Salt–1 pound
Soybeans–10 pounds
Vitamin C**–15 grams

* Buy in nitrogen-packed cans
** Rotate every two years

Storage and Preparation of Food Supplies

Store wheat, corn and beans in sealed cans or plastic buckets. Buy powdered milk in nitrogen-packed cans. And leave salt and vitamin C in their original packages.

If these staples comprise your entire menu, you must eat all of them together to stay healthy. To avoid serious digestive problems, you’ll need to grind the corn and wheat into flour and cook them, as well as boil the beans, before eating. Many health food stores sell hand-cranked grain mills or can tell you where you can get one. Make sure you buy one that can grind corn. If you are caught without a mill, you can grind your grain by filling a large can with whole grain one inch deep, holding the can on the ground between your feet and pounding the grain with a pipe.

Nutrition Tips

In a crisis, it will be vital that you maintain your strength. So remember:

• Eat at least one well-balanced meal each day.
• Drink enough liquid to enable your body to function properly (two quarts a day).
• Take in enough calories to enable you to do any necessary work.
• Include vitamin, mineral and protein supplements in your stockpile
  to assure adequate nutrition.

Shelf Life of Foods for Storage

Here are some general guidelines for rotating common emergency foods.

Use within six months:

• Powdered milk (boxed)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Potatoes

Use within one year:

• Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
• Canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Hard candy, chocolate bars and canned nuts

May be stored indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):

• Wheat
• Vegetable oils
• Corn
• Baking powder
• Soybeans
• Instant coffee, tea
• Vitamin C
• and cocoa
• Salt
• Noncarbonated soft drinks
• White rice
• Bouillon products
• Dry pasta
• Powdered milk (in nitrogen-packed cans)

Ways to Supplement Your Long-Term Stockpile

The above staples offer a limited menu, but you can supplement them with commercially packed air-dried or freeze-dried foods and supermarket goods. Rice, popcorn and varieties of beans are nutritious and long-lasting. The more supplements you include, the more expensive your stockpile will be.

Following is an easy approach to long-term food storage:

1. Buy a supply of the bulk staples listed above.
2. Build up your everyday stock of canned goods until you have a two-week to one-month surplus. Rotate it periodically to maintain a supply of common foods that will not require special preparation, water or cooking.
3. From a sporting or camping equipment store, buy commercially packaged, freeze-dried or air-dried foods. Although costly, this will be your best form of stored meat, so buy accordingly.

If the Electricity Goes Off…

FIRST, use perishable food and foods from the refrigerator.

THEN use the foods from the freezer. To minimize the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers (meaning foods are safe to eat) for at least three days.

FINALLY, begin to use non-perishable foods and staples.

If you are interested in learning more about how to prepare for emergencies, contact your local or State Office of Emergency Management, or write to the

Federal Emergency Management Agency,
P.O. Box 70274,
Washington, D.C. 20024

and ask for any of the following publications:

Emergency Preparedness Checklist (L-154) Item #8-0872

Are You Ready? Your Guide to Disaster Preparedness (H-34) Item #8-0908

Emergency Preparedness Publications (L-164) Item #8-0822

Your Family Disaster Plan (L-191) Item #8-0954

Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit (L-189) Item #8-0941

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene,
but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours,
or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency
until help arrives?

Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes.
One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster
hits, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you’ve
gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or
home confinement.

To prepare your kit

Review the checklists in this document.

Gather the supplies that are listed. You may need them if your family
is confined at home.

Place the supplies you’d most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry
container. These supplies are listed with an asterisk (*).

Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you
may not have much time to respond.

A highway spill of hazardous material could mean instant evacuation.

A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood,
tornado or any other disaster could cut off basic services–gas, water,
electricity and telephones–for days.

Water

Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid
using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or
glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts
of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can
double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need
more.

• Store one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking,
  two quarts for food preparation/sanitation)*

• Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your
  household.

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods
that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no
water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items
that are compact and lightweight.

*Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies
Kit:

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
• Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
• Staples–sugar, salt, pepper
• High energy foods–peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail
  mix
• Vitamins
• Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets
• Comfort/stress foods–cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops,
  instant coffee, tea bags

First Aid Kit

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first
aid kit* should include:

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
• Triangular bandages (3)
• 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needle
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Thermometer
• Tongue blades (2)
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex gloves (2 pair)
• Sunscreen

Non-prescription drugs

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison
  Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first
aid manual.

SUPPLIES

There are six basics you should stock in your home: water, food, first
aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and special
items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation
in an easy-to-carry container–suggested items are marked with an asterisk(*).
Possible containers include a large, covered trash container; a camping
backpack; or a duffle bag.

Tools and Supplies

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils*
• Emergency preparedness manual*
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
• Flashlight and extra batteries*
• Cash or traveler’s checks, change*
• Nonelectric can opener, utility knife*
• Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Tape
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of the area (for locating shelters)

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes*
• Soap, liquid detergent*
• Feminine supplies*
• Personal hygiene items*
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding

*Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

• Sturdy shoes or work boots*
• Hat and gloves
• Rain gear*
• Thermal underwear
• Blankets or sleeping bags*
• Sunglasses

Special Items

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly
or disabled persons.

• For Baby*
  • Formula
  • Diapers
  • Bottles
  • Powdered milk
  • Medications

• For Adults*
  • Heart and high blood pressure medication
  • Insulin
  • Prescription drugs
  • Denture needs
  • Contact lenses and supplies
  • Extra eye glasses

• Entertainment–games and books.

• Important Family Documents
  Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container.
  • Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
  • Passports, social security cards, immunization records
  • Bank account numbers
  • Credit card account numbers and companies
  • Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
  • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

SUGGESTIONS AND REMINDERS

• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.
  Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of
  your car.
• Keep items in air-tight plastic bags.
• Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh.
• Rotate your stored food every six months.
• Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries,
  update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

CREATE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN

To get started…

Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and
your local American Red Cross chapter.

• Find out which disasters are most likely to happen in your community.
• Ask how you would be warned.
• Find out how to prepare for each.

Meet with your family.

• Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
• Explain how to prepare and respond.
• Discuss what to do if advised to evacuate.
• Practice what you have discussed.

Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster.

• Pick two meeting places:
  1. a location a safe distance from your home in case of fire.
  2. a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

• Choose an out-of-state friend as a “check-in contact” for everyone
  to call.

Complete these steps.

1. Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
2. Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas
   and electricity at main switches.
3. Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near
   bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries two times each year.
4. Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
5. Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter
   for information and training.

Meet with your neighbors.
Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your
neighbors’ skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors
who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans
for child care in case parents can’t get home.

Remember to practice and maintain your plan.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community and Family Preparedness
Program and the American Red Cross Disaster Education Program are nationwide
efforts to help people prepare for disasters of all types. For more information,
please contact your local or State Office of Emergency Management, and
your local American Red Cross chapter. Ask for “Your
Family Disaster Plan” and the “Emergency Preparedness Checklist.”

Or write to:

FEMA
P.O. Box 70274
Washington, D.C. 20024
FEMA L- 189
ARC 4463

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services–water, gas, electricity or telephones–were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.

Families can–and do–cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Follow the steps listed in this brochure to create your family’s disaster plan. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.

Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere–at work, at school or in the car.

How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe?

4 Steps to Safety

1. Find Out What Could Happen to You

   Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and American Red Cross chapter–be prepared to take notes:

   • Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare for each.
   • Learn about your community’s warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
   • Ask about animal care after disaster. Animals may not be allowed inside emergency shelters due to health regulations.
   • Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
   • Next, find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school or daycare center and other places where your family spends time.

2. Create a Disaster Plan

   Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.

   • Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely
     to happen. Explain what to do in each case.

   • Pick two places to meet:
     1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
     2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
   • Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact.” After a disaster, its often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.
   • Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.

3. Complete This Checklist

   • Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
   • Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.
   • Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
   • Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
   • Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it’s kept.
   • Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
   • Conduct a home hazard hunt.
   • Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies
     Kit.

   • Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
   • Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
   • Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.

4. Practice and Maintain Your Plan

   • Quiz your kids every six months so they remember what
     to do.

   • Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
   • Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
   • Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions.
   • Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

   EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

   Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffle bags or covered trash containers.

   Include:

   • A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil.
   • One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
   • A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
   • Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
   • An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash or traveler’s checks.
   • Sanitation supplies.
   • Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
   • An extra pair of glasses.
   • Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car.

   UTILITIES

   Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn these utilities off. Teach all responsible family members. Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.

   Remember, turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines are damaged or if you are instructed to do so. If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

   NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

   Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you’re a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Know your neighbors’ special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can’t get home.

   HOME HAZARD HUNT

   During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a home hazard. For example, a hot water heater or a bookshelf can fall. Inspect your home at least once a year and fix potential hazards.

   Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.

   EVACUATION

   Evacuate immediately if told to do so:

   • Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
   • Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
   • Take your family disaster supplies
     kit

   • Lock your home.
   • Use travel routes specified by local authorities–don’t use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.

   If you’re sure you have time:

   • Shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
   • Post a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
   • Make arrangements for your pets.

   IF DISASTER StrIKES

   If disaster strikes
   Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.

   Check for injuries
   Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.

   Listen to your battery powered radio for news and instructions

   Evacuate, if advised to do so. Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.

   Check for damage in your home…

   • Use flashlights–do not light matches or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
   • Check for fires, fire hazards and other household hazards.
   • Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
   • Shut off any other damaged utilities.
   • Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately.

   Remember to…

   • Confine or secure your pets.
   • Call your family contact–do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
   • Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
   • Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
   • Stay away from downed power lines.

   The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Family Protection Program and the American Red Cross’ Disaster Education Program are nationwide efforts to help citizens prepare for disasters of all types. For more information, please contact your local emergency management or civil defense office, and your local American Red Cross chapter. Start planning now.

   Request free family protection publications by writing to:
   FEMA,
   P.O. Box 70274
   Washington, D.C. 20024

   Ask for: Are You Ready?,
   “Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit” and
   “Emergency Food and Water Supplies.”

FOOD
SAFETY

In the event of a power outage, the following should be discarded:

• Perishable foods including meats, dairy products and eggs that have not been refrigerated for more than two hours
• Foods that have been contaminated by flooding

If your power comes back on after food in your freezer has begun to thaw, use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature in your freezer. Food stored in the freezer at 40° F or colder is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine the safety. Do not rely on appearance or odor.

WATER PURIFICATION

Residents under a boil water notice should bring water to a rolling boil for one minute to kill any disease-causing microorganisms. The "flat" taste of boiled water can be improved by pouring it back and forth from one clean container into another (aeration), allowing it to stand for a few hours or adding a pinch of salt for each quart of water boiled. Drinking bottled water is also an option for people whose water is contaminated.

If you cannot boil water, add six drops of newly purchased, unscented liquid household bleach per gallon of water, stir well and let the water stand for 30 minutes before using it. Remember that bleach will not kill parasitic organisms. You can also use water-purifying tablets from your local pharmacy or sporting goods store.

FLOOD SAFETY

Walking, swimming or driving through floodwaters is extremely dangerous.

• If you are driving and come upon floodwaters, stop, turn around, and go another way.
• A shallow depth of fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. Even six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet and two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.

• Do not drive where water is covering the road. The pavement could already be washed away underneath.

GENERATOR SAFETY

Portable generators can be hazardous if used improperly. In the past two days, four Virginians have lost their lives from using generators in poorly ventilated areas.

To avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning:

• Operate generators outdoors only in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home, and protected from direct exposure to rain (preferably under a canopy, open shed, or carport).
• Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages.

To avoid electrocution:

• Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
• Observe the generator manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.

• Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
• If connecting the generator into the house wiring is necessary, have a qualified electrician hook up the standby electrical system.

CHAINSAW SAFETY

With thousands of trees down across the state, many people may choose to use chainsaws to remove this debris. The following tips will help you avoid serious injury when using these powerful tools:

• Wear protective clothing, including gloves to give you a good grip, a hard hat, safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes with non-slip soles and trim-fitted clothing that won’t get caught in the chain.
• Follow instructions in the owner’s manual for starting and operating the saw.

• Stand to the side of the saw so you won’t follow the cut through into your leg.

• Hold the saw parallel to the ground with your left arm straight for better control and to reduce the chance of "kick back."

• Keep both hands on the saw while it is running.

• Avoid cutting above mid-chest height.

• Never try to cut a tree with a diameter greater than the length of the chainsaw blade.

• Be extremely careful when cutting limbs or stems of trees that are bent or under tension; the branch can spring back into the operator.

• Carry the saw below the waist with the engine off and bar pointed to the rear.

• Do not work alone. Have a companion nearby and keep bystanders and helpers at a safe distance so they will not be injured by the saw, flying chips, sawdust or a falling tree.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

• When disaster strikes, people everywhere want to help those in need. To ensure that this compassion and generosity are put to good use, the media can highlight these facts:
• Financial aid is an immediate need of disaster victims. Financial contributions should be made through a recognized voluntary organization to help ensure that contributions are put to their intended use.
• Before donating food or clothing, wait for instructions from local officials. Immediately after a disaster, relief workers usually don’t have time or facilities to setup distribution channels, and too often these items go to waste.
• Volunteers should go through a recognized voluntary agency such as the American Red Cross or Salvation Army. They know what is needed and are prepared to deal with the need. Local emergency services officials also coordinate volunteer efforts for helping in disasters.
• Organizations and community groups wishing to donate items should first contact local officials, the American Red Cross, or Salvation Army to find out what is needed and where to send it. Be prepared to deliver the items to one place, tell officials when you’ll be there, and provide for transportation, driver, and unloading.

From a Speech given by JFK
• And so, my fellow
  Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for
  your country.
• My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but
  what together we can do for the freedom of man.

John F. Kennedy
Inaugural Address
Friday, January 20, 1961

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Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
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