FEMA Launches New Initiative to Increase Preparedness, Community Resilience Following Disasters; FEMA hosts April 1 workshop in Oakland with local…

For Immediate Release:  March 28, 2014
Media Contact:  Mary Simms, mary.simms@fema.dhs.gov, 510-627-7006 or
Kelly Hudson, kelly.hudson@fema.dhs.gov, 510-207-4011

FEMA Launches New Initiative to Increase Preparedness,
Community Resilience Following Disasters
FEMA hosts April 1 workshop in Oakland with local leaders from San Francisco Bay Area

Oakland, Calif., — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) invites you to join us for the 1st ever FEMA Region 9 Whole Community Workshop in Oakland, Calif., on April 1, 2014.  The event will provide representatives of the public, private and non–profit worlds the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and participate in preparedness activities they could then share with their respective communities.  The panelists will share their stories on how to improve community resilience before a disaster strikes.

Weather-related disasters in the United States continue to increase in size, frequency and impact, and experience repeatedly demonstrates that communities are better prepared to withstand an emergency and recover more quickly when everyone is involved.   The workshop is being held as part of a new initiative, America’s PrepareAthon!, a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience.

FEMA’s Acting Regional Administrator Karen Armes will be joined by preparedness partners from the Bay Area and greater Region 9 area.  The workshop will include a presentation from San Francisco’s Daniel Homsey, Director of Neighborhood Resilience, to discuss San Francisco’s Empowered Communities Program, Building Resilient Cities One Neighborhood at a Time.  Divya Saini, a FEMA Region 9 Youth Member from Palo Alto, Calif., will also discuss local preparedness engagement strategies and activities.

The Emmy award-nominated documentary, “A Village Called Versailles” by San Francisco based documentary filmmaker Leo Chiang will also be screened during the workshop.

Twice yearly through drills, group discussions and exercises America’s PrepareAthon! will provide a national backdrop for individuals, organizations and communities to prepare for local hazards, and practice actions to stay safe.

The goals of America’s PrepareAthon! are to increase the number of citizens who:
• Understand the hazards most relevant to their community;
• Know the corresponding action to stay safe;
• Practice a real-time behavior to increase their preparedness; and
• Contribute to increased whole-community preparedness planning

WHEN:                            Tuesday April 1st, 2014 – 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM*
*Please RSVP to the listed media contacts to request an agenda and media access in advance.
WHERE:                          FEMA Region 9 – 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94607
COST:                             Free

Members of the media:  Please email Mary Simms at mary.simms@fema.dhs.gov or Kelly Hudson at Kelly.hudson@fema.dhs.gov for additional details and to coordinate attendance and interview requests in advance.
Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femaregion9.

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