Know Your Risk, Take Action & Be a Force of Nature during Flood Safety Awareness Week

DENTON, Texas – Severe weather season is just around the corner, which brings with it the possibility of tornadoes and flooding.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States and can happen anywhere at any time. That’s why National Flood Safety Awareness Week, which runs from March 15-21, is the perfect time to know your risk, take action and be a force of nature.

“Everyone should take steps now to prepare for flooding and any potential adverse situation,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “Getting ready before something happens can save your life and the lives of your loved ones. It also helps neighborhoods and communities become more resilient, recovering more quickly from disasters.”

Know Your Risk Before a Flood:

•    Do your homework. Be aware of the potential flooding risks for the particular area where you live.

Take Action Before and During a Flood:

•    Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
•    Listen to local officials and monitor your local radio or television for information.
•    Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If it does, immediately move to higher ground.  
•    Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to suddenly flood.
•    Do not drive into flooded areas. Turn Around; Don’t Drown. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

Be a Force of Nature:

•    Help your community by sharing your weather and emergency preparedness story. You may inspire others to take action.
•    Write a post on Facebook or tweet about how you’ve gotten ready for floods.
•    Look for ways to help your neighborhood, town or community prepare such as joining a Community Emergency Response Team.
•    Register for America’s PrepareAthon! to learn how to stay safe during disasters.

Visit www.ready.gov or www.nws.noaa.gov for more information on preparing for floods or other disasters.

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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. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 , and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.  
 
 

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Know Your Risk, Take Action & Be a Force of Nature during Flood Safety Awareness Week

Tips to Prepare Now for Severe Winter Weather Ahead

CHICAGO – Cold temperatures, heavy snow, and treacherous ice storms are all risks of the impending winter season. 

“Severe winter weather can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions,” said FEMA Region V acting administrator Janet Odeshoo. “Preparedness begins with knowing your risks, making a communications plan with your family and having an emergency supply kit with essentials such as water, food, flashlights and medications.”

Once you’ve taken these steps, consider going beyond the basics of disaster preparedness with the following tips to stay safe this cold season:

Winterize your emergency supply kit:

  • Before winter approaches, add the following items to your supply kit:
    • Rock salt or other environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
    • Sand to improve traction.
    • Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
    • Sufficient heating fuel and/or a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
    • Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.

Stay fire safe:

  • Keep flammable items at least three feet from heat sources like radiators, space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. 
  • Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
  • Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. Check it on a monthly basis.

Keep warm, even when it’s cold outside:

  • If you have a furnace, have it inspected now to ensure it’s in good working condition.
  • If your home heating requires propane gas, stock up on your propane supply and ensure you have enough to last an entire winter. Many homeowners faced shortages due to the record freezing winter weather last year, and this season there’s the possibility of lower than normal temperatures again. Don’t be caught unprepared.
  • Avoid the dangers of carbon monoxide by installing battery-powered or battery back-up carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.

Prevent frozen pipes:

  • If your pipes are vulnerable to freezing, i.e., they run through an unheated or unprotected space, consider keeping your faucet at a slow drip when extremely cold temperatures are predicted.
  • If you’re planning a trip this winter, avoid setting your heat too low. If temperatures dip dangerously low while you’re away, that could cause pipes to freeze. Consider draining your home’s water system before leaving as another way to avoid frozen pipes.

You can always find valuable information to help you prepare for winter emergencies at www.ready.gov/winter-weather. Bookmark FEMA’s mobile site http://m.fema.gov, or download the FEMA app today to have vital information just one click away.

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.

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, 312-408-4455
 

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Tips to Prepare Now for Severe Winter Weather Ahead

FEMA Awards Nearly $1.5 Million for Improvements to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop County, Texas

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded nearly $1.5 million to the state of Texas for improvements to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Smithville, Texas.

The grant will fund improvements to defense zones through vegetation management and will fortify existing buildings to better withstand wildfires.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will pay 75 percent or $1.48 million of the combined $1.97 million cost.

HMGP provides grants to states, and tribal and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures that reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

Learn more about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program online at http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program.        

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.

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6, and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

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FEMA Awards Nearly $1.5 Million for Improvements to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Bastrop County, Texas

FEMA’s Public Assistance Dollars Help Rebuild Connecticut Communities

WINDSOR, Conn. — Public Assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency help Connecticut communities recoup much of the costs for Hurricane Sandy response and recovery.

The grants reimburse eligible jurisdictions a minimum of 75 percent of the costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure – such as utilities, hospitals and city halls – to pre-disaster condition.  The state and its agencies, local jurisdictions, tribal nations and certain nonprofit organizations may apply for reimbursement under the program.

“Public Assistance helps communities overwhelmed by the cost of response and recovery efforts,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Albert Lewis of FEMA. “It’s vital that critical services and facilities that contribute to the life of the community be restored.”

Eligible work is divided into two categories:

  • Emergency work, which includes emergency protective measures, and removal and disposal of disaster-related debris; and
  • Permanent work, which includes repair or replacement of roads and bridges; water control facilities; public buildings and contents; public utilities; and parks, recreational and other facilities.

Emergency work must be completed within six months of the disaster declaration, and permanent work within 18 months.

The state of Connecticut, with FEMA support, is conducting Applicants’ Briefings for local jurisdictions interested in applying for Public Assistance. The applicants can ask questions, clarify issues and submit their formal Request for Public Assistance to the state.

After the request is submitted, FEMA and state program officials meet with each applicant individually to discuss damage and prepare applications. To qualify for Public Assistance, applicants must document eligibility of the facilities and work, and the costs must be reasonable.

Under the program, the state is the grantee, and state agencies, local and tribal governments, and eligible nonprofit organizations are the subgrantees. In other words, FEMA grants the money to the state, which then distributes the funds to the applicants after all documentation is received.

The deadline for applicants to submit a Request for Public Assistance is Dec. 30.

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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FEMA’s Public Assistance Dollars Help Rebuild Connecticut Communities