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Duluth Area Residents Part of FEMA Disaster Recovery Team

Duluth, Minn. – When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responds to areas affected by disaster, people from all over the United States come to help in the recovery efforts. Minnesota is no exception, with FEMA disaster reservists deployed from more than 30 states, from California to Connecticut, from Texas to New York and from Washington to Maine.

FEMA is also committed to hiring locally. Working with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, FEMA has expanded its disaster assistance team to include several people from the Duluth area. The hiring of local unemployed individuals provides FEMA and its state and local partners with skills and insight that enhances efforts to help communities affected by recent severe storms get back on their feet.

“FEMA recognizes the importance of helping others in their time of need. This includes helping some very qualified individuals in search of employment to be hired to help their communities; helping others get back on the job is a win-win for everyone, “said Federal Coordinating Officer Mark Neveau.

The positions filled by local hires range from administrative assistants to planning specialists, from media specialists to data processors to staff support. They receive introductory disaster response training and become an integral part of the recovery effort.

Corrie Voorhees of Duluth, an administrative assistant for the Command Staff, said “I’m just grateful for the opportunity. It’s going to be a great learning experience.”

Terry Bynum also of Duluth is a planning reports specialist. He’s also the former News Director with Channel 3 Television and more recently retired from the Duluth Schools as a library media specialist.

Bynum says “It gives local hires a window in seeing how the whole process works. I’ve already learned a lot about how FEMA gets involved in helping with disaster recovery.”

FEMA has hired 11 individuals to assist its staff of disaster employees at its joint field office in Duluth. They are among more than 200 applications received in response to an online advertisement posted on www.minnesotaworks.com detailing temporary, full-time work. The positions are in support of recovery efforts that are underway in the area struck by severe storms and flooding June 14-21, 2012.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Duluth Area Residents Part of FEMA Disaster Recovery Team

FEMA Announces Development of Youth Preparedness Council

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the formation of its first Youth Preparedness Council—bringing together youngsters from across the country, including Nimansha Jain of Omaha. As a member of the council, she will support FEMA’s emphasis on and dedication to involving the whole community in preparedness related activities.

FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council is a unique opportunity for a select group of youth leaders to serve on a highly distinguished national council and to voice their opinions, experiences, ideas and solutions to help strengthen the nation’s resiliency for all types of disasters. Nominated by individuals who can attest to their preparedness activities, Council members demonstrate a willingness to represent the youth perspective on emergency preparedness and take information back to their communities to share it.

“Young people are truly amazing influencers in society. They influence their families and friends and it changes us all for the better,” said Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman. “The Youth Preparedness Council will engage them and harness their ideas and energy to support disaster preparedness, during and after a crisis and it will make the country more resilient.”

Children comprise approximately 25 percent of our nation’s population and are the future of our communities. They can play an important role in disaster preparedness and each have the unique ability to help their communities be safer, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster or emergency event. As such, we all have a vested interest in engaging and empowering youth to become active participants in individual, family, and community preparedness. Research states that:

Youth who are trained in preparedness are more resilient in actual disasters.
Youth are highly effective messengers for reaching and influencing parents and other adults.
Youth who are engaged today will ensure a future generation of prepared adults.

Additionally, youth have proven to be positive influencers, leaders, and first responders to their families, peers, and neighbors when they take the preparedness message home. The Youth Preparedness Council will provide a venue to engage an often overlooked population and take into account their perspectives, feedback, and opinions.

The Youth Preparedness Council is comprised of 13 diverse leaders (13 – 17 years of age) from across FEMA’s ten regions and who are:

dedicated to public service;
making a difference in their community; and
expanding their impact as a national advocate for youth preparedness.

The distinguished members selected are as follows:

FEMA Region I: Rachel Little (Massachusetts)
FEMA Region II: Gabriela Rodriguez Boria (Puerto Rico)
FEMA Region III: Donald “Diesel” Embrey (Virginia)
FEMA Region IV: Benjamin Cooke (Tennessee)
FEMA Region V: Jason Reed (Indiana)
FEMA Region VI: Dorian Tre’Vaughn Gregory (Louisiana)
FEMA Region VI: Jonathan DeLong (Texas)
FEMA Region VII: Nimansha Jain (Nebraska) *See biography below
FEMA Region VIII: Ashley Houston (Utah)
FEMA Region IX: Divya Saini (California)
FEMA Region IX: Tiffany Espensen (California)
FEMA Region IX: Christian Chowen (Hawaii)
FEMA Region X: Cayman Kirkhart (Idaho)

This year council members will have the opportunity to participate in a community preparedness roundtable event in Washington D.C. where they will advise and ask questions on youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of national organizations working on this critical priority. It is also expected that members will meet with FEMA on a quarterly basis via conference call or webinar and provide ongoing input on strategies and initiatives. Council members are eligible to serve on the Council for two years.

To learn more about FEMA’s youth preparedness efforts please visit: http://www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex.shtm.

Together, we can make the Nation more resilient and secure.

* Nimansha Jain of Omaha, NE

Nimansha is a member of the Ralston Fire Explorer’s Unit, which provides training for fire and medical emergency preparedness and is certified in CPR. She has been elected to the University of Nebraska Medical Center Student Advisory Group, which works with high school students to promote public health and preparedness messages through monthly community sessions for almost 100 teens. Because some teens could not attend every session, Nimansha started using social media to share information from the sessions and promote various volunteer opportunities for youth.

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Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Announces Development of Youth Preparedness Council

FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Utah’s Shingles Fire

Release Date: July 2, 2012
Release Number: R8-12-023

» 2012 Region VIII News Releases

DENVER, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for Utah’s Shingles Fire in Kane County after it was determined the fire threatened to create a major disaster. This is the fifth Fire Management Assistance Grant for Utah this year. Previously, FEMA approved such grants for the Dump Fire in Utah County, the Wood Hollow Fire in Sanpete County, the Clay Springs Fire in Millard County and the Rose Crest Fire in Salt Lake County, all between June 22 and June 29.

FEMA Regional Administrator Robin Finegan approved the Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Shingles Fire upon receiving the state’s request. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 500 homes in Kane County, and more than 1000 people were under mandatory evacuation. The fire is also threatening a major electrical utility line that feeds power to Nevada and California. Three shelters had been set up and were housing approximately 100 people. Temperatures were in the mid-80s despite the fire being at an elevation of 9000 feet. Dry thunderstorms, with wind gusts of up to 35-40 miles per hour, were predicted for the next two days. Six major uncontrolled fires are currently burning in Utah.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating and controlling the fire. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 03-Jul-2012 08:44:41

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FEMA Authorizes Funds To Help Fight Utah’s Shingles Fire

FEMA Deputy Administrator Praises Emergency Medical Services

Release Date: May 23, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-036

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Emergency Medical Services Week is May 20-26, and is an opportunity to recognize medical personnel for their dedication and service to the community. As part of this important week, FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino praised EMS professionals nationwide, and emphasized the important role they play in their communities – especially during times of disaster.

On May 23, Serino spoke at the Alameda County Emergency Services Conference in California, where he thanked those in the EMS profession for their hard work and dedication. He recognized that medical personnel are an important part of the emergency management team, operating at the intersection of public health and public safety.

“In a time of crisis, it is the EMS professionals who are the first on the scene,” said Serino. “They are the first to offer care and comfort, and they are the first to offer that immediate assistance when we are most vulnerable and hurting.”

Serino previously served as the Chief of Boston EMS and the Assistant Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, and has been in the EMS community for more than 35 years.

“Over the years, I have watched how technology and new innovations have changed the EMS profession. While the tools that we use have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t: the selfless commitment and dedication that EMS professionals bring to their jobs each and every day,” said Serino.

“I am very proud and honored to not only be part of the EMS community, but also to salute my fellow EMS professionals for the great work they do to save lives, while sometimes putting their own lives at risk.”

Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-May-2012 16:43:58

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FEMA Deputy Administrator Praises Emergency Medical Services

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