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Federal funds authorized to help fight Chiwakum Fire

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Chiwaukum Fire, burning in Chelan County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Chiwaukum Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 16, 2014 at 11:54 p.m. PDT.

On July 16, 2014, the State of Washington submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Chiwaukum Fire burning in Chelan County. At the time of the request, 800 primary homes were threatened, but the number increased to 2,000 when the spreading fire began to threaten the Lake Wenatchee area. Approximately 7,200 people have been evacuated, including campgrounds and recreational homes. Two shelters have been opened, one by the County at Cascade High School, and another by the American Red Cross at the Baptist Church. Both are operating around the clock at the time of the request. Highway 2 is closed in directions, as well as local roads and bridges, and railroad lines within the threatened areas. The fire has damaged or threatened electrical distribution lines and substations, with the potential to shut off power to the area. Impacts to irrigation facilities, wildlife and cultural resources are a concern in and around the fire perimeter. The fire started on July 15, 2014, and currently at least 10 fires are burning uncontrolled and have consumed approximately 4,500 acres of Federal, State, and private land. Firefighting resources fighting the fire include: Type 2 Incident Management Team, mixed air platforms, helicopters (although limited because of visibility due to smoke in some areas), engines, water tenders and fire hand crews. The Federal Principal Advisor has confirmed the threat to homes. The fire is currently is uncontained.

A state of emergency was declared by the Governor late Tuesday, July 14 in 20 Eastern Washington counties in response to multiple wildfires threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and natural resources in many parts of the state as fire crews face continued severe fire weather conditions.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of Washington State’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants provide reimbursement for firefighting and life-saving efforts. They do not provide assistance to individuals, homeowners 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 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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Federal funds authorized to help fight Chiwakum Fire

Federal funds authorized to help fight Carlton Complex Fire

Seattle, WA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Carlton Complex Fire, burning in Okanogan County, Washington.

FEMA Region X Regional Administrator, Kenneth D. Murphy determined that the Carlton Complex Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Murphy approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) on July 17, 2014 at 12:25 a.m. PDT.

On July 16, 2014, the State of Washington submitted a request for a fire management assistance declaration for the Carlton Complex Fire burning in Okanogan County. At the time of the request,

no homes had been burned, but 80 primary homes were threatened and approximately 80 people had evacuated the area. One shelter in the Twisted Community Center was operating around the clock at the time of the request. State highway 153 and local roads were closed, as well as bridges. The fire has damaged or threatened electrical distribution lines and substation, with the potential to shut off power to the area. Impacts to irrigation facilities, wildlife and cultural resources were a concern in and around the fire perimeter. The fire started on July 15, 2014, and has burned approximately 3,500 acres of Federal, State, and private land. The fire is about one mile from the Town of Charlton. Firefighting resources committed to this incident include: mixed air platforms, helicopters, although limited because of visibility due to smoke, engines, water tenders and a Type 2 Incident Management Team. The Federal Principal Advisor confirmed the threat to homes. The fire is at approximately 40 percent contained.

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Federal funds authorized to help fight Carlton Complex Fire

5 Days Left to Register with FEMA in Alabama

Tuesday, July 15 is the deadline to register with FEMA and to return an application for physical damage to the SBA.

There are four ways to register with FEMA:

Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Visit m.fema.gov from a Smartphone,
Dial 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585,
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362.

The toll-free numbers are operated from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers remain open in Baldwin and Mobile counties 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through Tuesday, July 15. These disaster centers are located in:

Baldwin County

Elberta Town Hall,10352 Main St., Elberta, AL 36530

Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532

Mobile County

Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Dr., Mobile, AL 36608

Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the SBA will be on hand to answer questions.

Survivors also can reach the SBA:

To complete an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Call the SBA customer service center with questions at 800-659-2955.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339.
For more information, visit www.sba.gov.

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5 Days Left to Register with FEMA in Alabama

Faith-Based Organizations Host Disaster Recovery Volunteers

ANCHORAGE, AK – Faith-based organizations in Anchorage and Fairbanks are welcoming hundreds of volunteers with open arms, providing them food, transportation and shelter as they prepare for the final leg of a journey to help rebuild communities hit by last year’s flooding and ice jams along the Yukon River. Armed with a wide range of construction skills, men and women from across the country began arriving in Fairbanks on the first of June and more arrived in Anchorage starting the first of July.

The host groups are partnering with the State of Alaska and Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure the volunteers have a local base where they receive training and orientation before heading out to the affected communities. Many are returning to continue the repair efforts they supported last summer.

“I feel really good about the volunteers coming in,” said FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison Susie Calvert. “The churches are prepared to host them in ways that will be a pleasant transition. I feel we have the staff to support them and spent the whole winter preparing for their arrival.”

Where volunteers stay prior to their departure depends on which community they will assist. About 55 volunteers from Disciples of Christ and Mennonite Disaster Service stationed in Emmonak or Alakanuk are scheduled to connect in Anchorage throughout the summer.

The majority of volunteers, around 210 from the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and Mennonite Disaster Service aiding Galena or Circle will arrive in Alaska via Fairbanks.

“This year, eight different churches in Fairbanks have stepped up to the plate to share the hosting responsibility,” said Disaster Response Coordinator Debbie Ervin for the Alaska Methodist Conference. “We’re all taking turns and helping one another to make sure that this goes as smoothly as possible to help Galena and the other communities return to where they were before the flood happened.”

Churches and other faith-based organizations hosting volunteers in Fairbanks include the Fairbanks Native Chapel, Fairhill Community Church of God, Friends Community Church, First United Methodist Church, University Community Presbyterian Church, Monroe Catholic School, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Church, True Victory Baptist Church and the Salvation Army.

Participating organizations in Anchorage include the First Presbyterian Church, Prince of Peace Mennonite Church, Trinity Christian Reform Church, Anchorage Lutheran Church, the Presbytery of Yukon, St. Patrick Catholic Church Parish and First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

“I think there’s been a good collaboration between state and federal government and the voluntary agencies,” said Anchorage pastor John David Thacker with the Mennonite Disaster Service and chairperson of the Alaska Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster. “We all have a common goal in mission: serving Alaskans who have been affected by the disaster, and if we all work together, great things can happen.”

Follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Twitter @AlaskaDHSEM and on Facebook. You can also follow the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Twitter @femaregion10.

FEMA recovery photos and videos can be found online by visiting www.fema.gov/disaster/4122, selecting “Blog, Newsroom, Videos and Photos,” and clicking on either “Photos” or “Videos” under the Multimedia Library section.

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Faith-Based Organizations Host Disaster Recovery Volunteers

Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – While the public may know the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the government entity that offers financial resources following disasters, FEMA is but one member of a team that brings much more.

Supporting the recovery is the coordinated effort of many federal, state and local partners, who together provide a wealth of programs and services to impacted communities and their residents.

Volunteers

Many volunteer agencies provide for the basic needs of survivors immediately following a disaster – a hot meal, a place to sleep and a change of clothes. Established organizations like the Salvation Army, United Way, Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross and others provide these vital services until they are no longer needed.

Individuals, churches and neighbors also step in. As local governments begin to clean up and address damages, so do homeowners and others begin the task of recovering.

These volunteers assist in clearing debris, a task that can seem insurmountable for survivors. Crews from such organizations such as Mennonite Disaster Service, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and Team Rubicon have all responded to Alabama with experience, the tools and the equipment to begin repairing and rebuilding.

In Alabama, other groups of concerned residents have banded together with the state Emergency Management Agency, federal agencies including FEMA, local governments and volunteer groups to comprise the state’s Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) to help disaster survivors recover.

VOADs, usually organized on a county-by-county basis, establish and operate what are known as Long Term Recovery Committees. The committees address a wide range of unmet needs that survivors can either not afford or are unable to provide for themselves.

FEMA Corps

FEMA Corps members are volunteers aged 18-to-24 who provides direct aid to survivors in their homes and elsewhere. They volunteer for 10 months and gain on-the-job training in the emergency management field.

Corps members are supplemented with other specialists to make up Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams, all of whom go door-to-door to provide information on registering for federal aid, guide people in the registration process and follow-up on pre- or post-disaster needs. They also coordinate with local, tribal and state governments and other partners. More than 8,000 Alabama homes were visited.

Among those 8,000 homes, the teams aided seniors, shut-ins, and people with disabilities as well as those who do not speak English to obtain federal disaster aid.

Opportunities for Employment

One of FEMA’s top priorities is to provide temporary full-time jobs to the community. In Alabama, these jobs range from human resource specialists, information technology, couriers, engineers, communications, finance and administration.

FEMA has employed 18 local individuals to fill a variety of positions.

Not only do these jobs bring work opportunities for the community, these employees bring local experience and a feeling for the community to the federal government.

Help with Child Care Costs

Childcare costs following a presidential disaster declaration have been added in 2014 as a reimbursable expense in some cases.

To be eligible, survivors must live in a declared county and use a licensed childcare service (center-based, group home, in-home or other provider). The children can be up to age 13, disabled children, as defined by federal law and who need assistance in caring for themselves, may be up to age 18.

They also must be occupants of the household, are listed on the Application for Disaster Assistance and are dependents of the applicant.

Costs per child may be awarded for a total of eight weeks, which may or may not be consecutive.

Helping to Rebuild Stronger and Safer

Lowe’s and Home Depot home improvement stores around the state teamed up with FEMA mitigation specialists to provide advice on how to rebuild homes and other structures in a way that will be less susceptible to flooding, wind damage and other hazards.

The outreach program took place throughout June. In the first five days of operation, more than 300 shoppers stopped to ask questions, with the most frequently asked question — how to build to withstand tornadoes and high winds.

Overall, FEMA mitigation specialists spoke with more than 1,600 shoppers during the month.

The mitigation specialists also can offer advice on cleaning up mold and mildew, how electrical systems, furnaces and other appliances can be protected from flooding, how to build a safe room as well as information on the National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Legal Services

How do you go about recovering important legal documents that have been lost during the disaster? Another group of volunteers has stepped up to provide free legal assistance to survivors.

The Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Alabama State Bar Association offers low-income individuals and families with legal assistance on such topics as assistance with insurance claims, landlord/tenant problems, home repair contracts, consumer protection-foreclosure problems, replacement of important legal documents, drafting powers of attorney, preparation of guardianships and conservatorships, as well as referring individuals to local and state agencies for assistance.

Disaster legal services are available by calling the hotline phone number 888-857-8571 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the Huntsville area of Limestone County, call 256-539-2275 and in Mobile and Baldwin counties call 855-997-2857.

Disaster Unemployment

A program that FEMA funds and has been completed in Alabama is Disaster Unemployment. The program, to which 63 individuals applied, is aimed at workers who would not qualify for regular unemployment insurance. It is operated by the state of Alabama.

Eligible workers included the self-employed who lived or worked in affected areas during the storm, those who are unemployed as a result of the storm, workers who were unable to reach their jobs as a result of the storm and those who were to begin employment but were unable to work because the business was damaged as a result of the disaster.

Individuals who became the primary or major wage earner due to the disaster-related death of the head of the household also may be eligible, as may workers who could not work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the storm.

Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for the Alabama disaster, said recovery needs to be inclusive of all disaster survivors.

“FEMA and all recovery partners work together to mitigate the tough, long-term whole community inclusive issues to make sure everyone gets information and access to recovery programs they need in an appropriate manner.”

All of these programs are available because FEMA, its state and federal partners and volunteer agencies are committed to providing help to those in need. In Alabama, these agencies will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder to recover as long as needed.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

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

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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Whole Community Disaster Recovery Takes Many Hands

FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Madison

JACKSON, Miss. – Rebuilding or repairing property damaged from the recent severe storms? Residents in the Madison area can get advice on building safer and smarter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mitigation specialists from FEMA will be at Home Depot in Madison to offer information on rebuilding after a disaster. The advisers can answer questions about protecting homes from future disaster-related damage and offer tips to build hazard-resistant homes.

FEMA officials estimate that every dollar spent on mitigation saves almost four dollars if another disaster hits.

Homeowners and contractors can learn more at:

Home Depot

211 Colony Way

Madison, Miss. 39110

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tues., July 8 – Sat., July 12

For more information on Mississippi disaster recovery, go to FEMA.gov/Disaster/4175. Visit the MEMA site at msema.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/msemaorg.

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FEMA Rebuilding Specialists to Provide Advice in Madison

Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches $34.5 Million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal aid provided to Alabama residents affected by the April 28 through May 5 severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding has reached $34.5 million.

The following numbers, compiled July 3, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

$15.8 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
$3.7 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
$13.4 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.
$1.5 million for Public Assistance programs. Of that amount, $576,528 has been allocated for debris removal. Another $363,310 will go toward storm response and $401,142 has been obligated for infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

15,368 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. As of mid-May, 3,048 volunteers from numerous organizations throughout the country had donated nearly 22,000 hours to help survivors clean up debris, repair and rebuild their homes following the spring storms.

Alabama residents affected by the disaster now have 11 days to register as the governor-requested extension ends Tuesday, July 15.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

County	Approved Registrations	Housing Assistance	Other Needs Assistance
Baldwin	1,975	$7,310,860.69	$1,289,955.57
Blount	26	150,296.00	13,080.03
DeKalb	25	71,001.00	20,674.77
Etowah	57	427,634.13	53,507.05
Jefferson	421	1,082,025.85	202,440.98
Lee	52	267,722.71	54,150.10
Limestone	295	946,749.48	501,038.04
Mobile	3,988	5,294,375.11	1,551,068.46
Tuscaloosa	60	274,814.67	66,951.64
Total:	6,899	$15,825,479.64	$3,752,866.64

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal loans, are located in Baldwin and Mobile counties. These offices are located at:

Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, July 15. Outreach centers will be closed Friday, July 4.

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For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

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Disaster Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches $34.5 Million

Recertify to be Eligible for Continued Rental Help from FEMA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – If your household is getting rental assistance from FEMA and repairs to your home are taking longer than expected, don’t forget you have to recertify your need to continue aid.

Alabama households currently receiving rental assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency because of damage from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from April 28 through May 5 must provide the necessary paperwork to recertify for continued rental help.

FEMA may pay, through its Individuals and Households program, up to 18 months of rental assistance to both qualified homeowners and renters if they need to relocate while repairs are being made to their disaster-damaged residences.

An application for continued temporary housing will be sent to applicants who have received initial rental assistance approximately two weeks after the first rental award.

The application reaffirms that applicants have an ongoing financial need for temporary housing, either because disaster-related repairs are not completed or they have been unable to find permanent replacement housing.

Documents required to be submitted for recertification include:

The completed application,
A copy of the current lease or rental agreement signed by the applicant,
Rental receipts, canceled checks or money orders showing proper usage of previous rental assistance,
Current income statements from family members living in the rental.

The form must be completed in full and turned in on time for each rental cycle to apply for continued assistance.

FEMA will evaluate the information each cycle to determine if the applicant qualifies for ongoing federal rental assistance, based on financial need.

An applicant’s current monthly rent is compared to the person’s housing costs before the disaster. Income for all household members, ongoing homeowner mortgage, insurance and utility costs for the damaged home, and other housing commitment costs are all taken into consideration when determining continued eligibility.

Residents of Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile or Tuscaloosa counties who suffered storm damage during the period April 28 through May 5 should apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline to register for FEMA assistance is Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

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Recertify to be Eligible for Continued Rental Help from FEMA

FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded Public Assistance grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work for Hurricane Sandy recovery projects.

Recent awards include:

• Nearly $12.2 million to Nassau County for waterway debris removal in Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, Freeport and Island Park.

• Nearly $10 million to City of New York Department of Citywide Administrative Services for emergency protective measures, including labor, communications, light towers, generators and fuel truck rental.

• More than $6.1 million to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for citywide debris removal.

• More than $4.5 million to New York Health and Hospitals Corporation to provide a temporary facility for the Ida Israel Community Health Clinic.

• More than $2.1 million to Nassau County Police Department for emergency protective measures, including evacuations, patrols and identification of public hazards.

• More than $1.6 million to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for permanent repairs to portions of John F. Kennedy International Airport fencing.

For Hurricane Sandy, FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses local, state and tribal governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations 90 percent of eligible costs for emergency and permanent work. So far, FEMA has awarded $2.4 billion in Public Assistance grants to eligible New York applicants.

Not included in this total is recent approval of $1.4 billion to Long Island Power Authority for repairs, restoration and hazard mitigation. FEMA and LIPA agreed on that amount in a pilot program, Public Assistance Alternate Procedures, in which grants are determined on the basis of fixed estimates, with applicants accepting responsibility for any actual costs that exceed the estimates. If actual costs are less than the fixed estimate amount, the applicant may use the excess funds for certain other purposes that mitigate damage from future disasters.[

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

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FEMA awards Public Assistance grants for Sandy recovery projects

New Yorkers: Prepare for severe weather before it strikes

NEW YORK – New Yorkers know about severe weather. After Hurricane Sandy, 2013 brought 15 significant weather events to New York, including winter snow and ice storms, a tornado, extreme heat, brush fires, heavy rains and flooding. Two of those events resulted in major disaster declarations for the state.

Next week, March 2-8, is National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a nationwide campaign to remind everyone that severe weather can affect anyone. The effort is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Across the U.S. last year, there were seven severe weather events that crossed the $1 billion mark in economic and property damage. These disasters, including floods, tornadoes and wildfires, caused the deaths of 109 people.

NOAA and FEMA urge all New Yorkers to understand the risks where you live and how severe weather could affect you and your family. Check weather forecasts, get a NOAA Weather Radio and sign up for local weather alerts from emergency management officials. Check NOAA’s National Weather Service website for more information: www.weather.gov.

Next, make sure you and your family are prepared for severe weather. Develop a family communication and disaster preparedness plan, keep important papers, medications and other essential items in a safe place and visit www.Ready.gov/severe-weather to learn more.

Being prepared for severe weather need not be complicated or costly. Keeping a few simple items handy in a disaster kit, for example, could end up being a lifesaver. Go to www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit to find out more about what to include in a basic kit and how to develop one for those with unique needs. The same information is available in Spanish at www.listo.gov.

Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, set an example by sharing your story with family and friends on any social media site. Be a “force of nature” and inspire others in your community to take action too. Pledge to prepare by signing up for America’s PrepareAthon on April 30 at www.fema.gov/americas-prepareathon.

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New Yorkers: Prepare for severe weather before it strikes

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