Apply Now for 2016 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for the 2016 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards through March 28.

The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared and more resilient.

Emergency management is most effective when the entire community is engaged and involved. Everyone, including faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, the private sector, tribal organizations, youth, people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and older adults can make a difference in their communities before, during, and after disasters.

FEMA will review all entries and select the finalists. A panel of representatives from the emergency management community will then select winners in each of the following categories:

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Council 

  • Community Preparedness Champions

  • Awareness to Action

  • Technological Innovation

  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness

  • Preparing the Whole Community

  • Outstanding Inclusive Initiatives in Emergency Management (new category)

  • Outstanding Private Sector Initiatives (new category)

  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program

  • America’s PrepareAthon! in Action (new category)

To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must be received by March 28, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, and must feature program activities taking place between January 1, 2015, and March 28, 2016. Applications should be submitted to citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov. Winners will be announced in the fall of 2016 and will be invited as FEMA’s honored guests at a recognition ceremony.

More information about the awards is available at ready.gov/preparedness-awards.                       

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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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Apply Now for 2016 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards

Mart High School Teen Group Receives 2015 FEMA Community Preparedness Honorable Mention Awards

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recognized the members of the Mart High School Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for their accomplishments in responding to and preparing their community for emergencies. The group received honorable mentions in two categories of the 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness and Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team.

Among the group’s accomplishments:

  • The Mart High School Teen CERT program has certified 20 students in disaster preparedness and advanced medical training.

  • The team assists with fire and weather drills conducted at the school.

  • The Mart High School Teen Cert team is part of the city’s emergency disaster plan.

  • The team trains with paramedics from Limestone Medical Center and facilitates the group providing career information for high school students.

  • Certified students are able to assist in emergencies before nearby Emergency Medical Services arrive.

Each year, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division recognizes the preparedness efforts of organizations around the country. This year 138 organizations applied for recognition. There were 11 award winners and 37 honorable mentions.

The categories are:  

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award

  • Community Preparedness Heroes

  • Awareness to Action 

  • Technological Innovation

  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness

  • Preparing the Whole Community

  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program

  • Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability

Several other groups in Texas and Louisiana received recognition and awards as well:

  • Arlington (Texas) Christian Disaster Networks received an honorable mention in the category of Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability.

  • New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps won the award for Outstanding Citizen Corps Program.

  • The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana received an honorable mention in the category of Technological Innovations.

Visit www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards for more information on this year’s award recipients and honorable mentions.

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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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Mart High School Teen Group Receives 2015 FEMA Community Preparedness Honorable Mention Awards

Arlington Group Receives 2015 FEMA Community Preparedness Honorable Mention Award

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recognized the Arlington Christian Disaster Network’s accomplishments in coordinating preparedness and emergency response efforts. The group received an honorable mention for Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability in the 2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards.

FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson and Region 6 Federal Preparedness Coordinator Randy Meshell presented the award during a recent ceremony at the Arlington Emergency Operations Center.

“Arlington Christian Disaster Network has utilized key partnerships to offer volunteer reception, shelters and emergency preparedness support in countless ways that will benefit Arlington citizens and visitors for years to come,” Robinson said. “I applaud the efforts of both the Arlington Office of Emergency Management and the Arlington Christian Disaster Network for coming together to address the need to coordinate the preparedness and emergency response efforts in your community.”

Among the group’s accomplishments:

  • Bringing together 17 local faith-based organizations to coordinate resources to serve the Arlington community.

  • Recruiting members and managing the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program.

  • Responsible for an additional 55 trained individuals to complement the Arlington CERT program.

  • Providing CERT train-the-trainers and instructors to Arlington Office of Emergency Management.

Each year FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division recognizes the preparedness efforts of organizations around the country. This year, 138 organizations applied for recognition. There were 11 award winners and 37 honorable mentions.

The categories are:  

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award

  • Community Preparedness Heroes

  • Awareness to Action 

  • Technological Innovation

  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness

  • Preparing the Whole Community

  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program

  • Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability

Several other groups in Texas and Louisiana received awards and recognition as well:

  • New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps won the award for Outstanding Citizen Corps Program.

  • Mart High School Teen CERT, near Waco, Texas, received two honorable mentions: Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness and Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiative.

  • The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana received an honorable mention in the category of Technological Innovations.

Visit www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards for more information on this year’s award recipients and honorable mentions.

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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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Arlington Group Receives 2015 FEMA Community Preparedness Honorable Mention Award

2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Application Period Now Open

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce that the application period for the 2015 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is open.

The awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient.

Emergency management is most effective when the whole community is engaged and involved. Faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, the private sector, tribal organizations, youth, older adults, people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and all individual citizens can make a difference in their communities before, during, and after disasters.

FEMA will review all entries and select the finalists. A distinguished panel of representatives from the emergency management community will then select winners in each of the following categories:

  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Council 
  • Community Preparedness Heroes
  • Awareness to Action
  • Technological Innovation
  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness
  • Preparing the Whole Community
  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives
  • Outstanding Citizen Corps Partner Program
  • Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability

Winners will be announced in the fall of 2015 and will be FEMA’s honored guests at a community preparedness roundtable event. The winner of the Preparing the Whole Community category will receive the John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award.

These awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the work an individual or organization has done to build a more resilient nation. More information about the awards is available at http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards.

To be considered for this year’s awards, all submissions must be received by April 10, 2015, at 11:59 P.M. EST and must feature program activities taking place between January 1, 2014, and April 10, 2015. Applications should be submitted to citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov.

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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 FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, 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.

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2015 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Application Period Now Open

FEMA Honors Achievement in Community Preparedness

2014 Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners Announced

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the winners of the 2014 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards, recognizing the outstanding efforts of individuals, programs and organizations throughout the country working to prepare their communities for emergencies.

“Strong emergency management requires teamwork, community engagement, innovation and strong relationships at all levels before disasters occur,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said. “This year, we recognize individuals and organizations that exemplify this approach, and I congratulate them on their dedication to make our nation stronger and safer.”

This year’s honorees developed and implemented innovative tools, programs and resources, which provided opportunities for a wide variety of stakeholders to make their communities better prepared and more resilient. Some examples include:

  • The Mississippi State University Extension Service launched the Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative (MyPI), a grassroots effort to train and educate approximately 3,500 teens annually about emergency preparedness.  Participating youth also completed service projects to prepare families in their communities for disaster.
  • The Delaware State Citizen Corps Council, Partnerships in Assistive Technologies, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management supported the development of smartphone apps to enhance communications between professional responders and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
  • The Smyrna Emergency Management Agency in Georgia became the nation’s first municipality to participate in America’s PrepareAthon!, conducting a community-wide tornado drill involving 200 businesses.
  • The New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Ready New York for Seniors Program conducted approximately 200 presentations to more than 8,000 older Americans living in the city.

This year’s winners of FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Awards are:

  • Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Delaware State Citizen Corps Council (DE)  
  • Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Initiatives: MOCERT1 (Southwestern Missouri Regional CERT) (MO)
  • Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Albany County Citizen Corps (NY)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness: The Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative (MyPI) (MS)
  • Community Preparedness Heroes: Lieutenant Brian K. Rand (MA) and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) (CO)
  • Awareness to Action: Do 1 Thing (MI)
  • Technological Innovation: Partnerships in Assistive Technologies (PATHs, Inc.) (WV)
  • Survivor Empowerment and Integration: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (MA)
  • Fourth Annual Recipients of the John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award: Smyrna Emergency Management Agency (GA) and New York City Office of Emergency Management:  Ready New York for Seniors (NY)

FEMA received more than 230 applications for the Individual and Community Preparedness Awards from public, private, tribal and nonprofit organizations as well as from individuals. Leadership from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the American Red Cross, Target and FEMA selected winners from among applicants from 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The eleven recipients of FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Awards will be recognized at a ceremony being held during National Preparedness Month in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, recipients will share their perspectives, insights, experiences, success stories and lessons learned with fellow emergency management leaders.

More information on this year’s award recipients, along with details on the honorable mentions, is available at www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards.

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FEMA Honors Achievement in Community Preparedness

Texas-based Organizations Win Nearly Half of 2013 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards

DENTON, Texas – Three out of seven winners in this year’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual and Community Preparedness Awards are from the state of Texas. 

The annual awards, which are announced during September’s National Preparedness Month, recognize the innovative practices and achievements of individuals, Citizen Corps Councils, and nonprofit, faith-based, and private sector organizations working throughout the nation to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any disaster or emergency event.

The seven categories include Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives, Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives, Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Initiatives, Outstanding Achievements in Youth Preparedness, Preparing the Whole Community, Awareness to Action and Community Preparedness Heroes.

“I am extremely proud of these organizations and the individuals in Texas who have been recognized nationally by FEMA for their creative initiatives to keep their communities prepared,” said Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “Thanks to the selfless dedication of the various volunteer groups across Texas, they are making Texas a safer place to live.”

“We applaud our Texas partners for the great work they are doing when it comes to preparedness,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “These awards more than demonstrate the commitment that the Lone Star State has to ensuring its citizens are ready for any emergency.”

The Texas awardees include:

  • The City of Austin for Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team Initiatives:           

Last year, the Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) conducted a community-wide survey to measure how well Austin’s whole community is prepared for major disasters and emergencies.  The basic consensus indicated that Austin residents were not well prepared for natural or man-made disasters. Based on these results, the city of Austin’s Community Emergency Response Team greatly enhanced its program by developing six new partnerships to help prepare Austin’s whole community respond to local incidents, and fill gaps that left the Austin community vulnerable in times of emergency.  In the past 16 months, members of Austin CERT have worked tirelessly to help maximize their efforts to make their program exemplary. Parts of the program’s success include the Austin CERT Water Utility Partnership, the Austin Fire Department Partnership, Austin’s Teen CERT Partnership, the Disaster Ready Austin Preparedness Partnership, and the Austin CERT Podcast.

  • The Heart of Texas Citizen Corps Council for Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives:

On the evening of April 17, 2013, a fertilizer plant exploded in West Texas killing 14 people including 12 first responders, injuring hundreds, and destroying houses and buildings. The enormity of this disaster triggered a massive response from first responders as well as volunteers. The volunteer response included no fewer than 10 Citizen Corps teams organized under the Heart of Texas Citizen Corps Council, which is organized and overseen by the Homeland Security Division of the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG). Local CERT teams in the area contributed over 120 hours of volunteer service and made a significant impact in assisting those in need.

  • The Texas School Safety Center for Outstanding Achievements in Youth Preparedness:

The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) developed a statewide approach to emphasize youth preparedness and educate the whole community in disaster preparedness.  Through the delivery of a statewide youth summer camp that includes emergency response training, community specific action planning, and leadership development, the TxSSC prepares teams of youth to lead preparedness efforts in their local communities and schools.  In June 2012, the TxSSC funded 30 participants, made up of three youth groups and their adult sponsors from across Texas, to attend the 2012 Youth Preparedness Camp.  The camp spanned across five days and was held at Schriener University in Kerrville, Texas. 

In addition to the three awardees, one Texan, a Texas youth program and a Texas county received honorable mentions for their programs:

  • Stephanie Parker for Community Preparedness Heroes
  • Texas School Safety Center for Awareness to Action
  • Harris County CERT for Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team

“We encourage everyone to take steps now to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses and communities,” Robinson added.  “What better time to make this commitment than National Preparedness Month.”

For more information, visit www.citizencorps.gov, http://community.fema.gov, and http://ready.gov/kids

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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 www.twitter.com/femaregion6  and the R6 Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/region-vi/region-6-preparedness

 

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Texas-based Organizations Win Nearly Half of 2013 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards

FEMA Honors Achievements In Community Preparedness

2013 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Winners Announced

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the winners of the 2013 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards.  The Awards recognize individuals who have taken action to prepare their communities. This year, highlighted accomplishments were achieved between January 1, 2012 and June 5, 2013.

“We can only be prepared for disasters if we have strong leadership in our communities,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Today’s winners represent a cross-section of our community and demonstrate how emergency management is a shared responsibility.”

FEMA received nearly 200 applications from faith-based, non-profit, private sector, and community-based organizations, as well as individuals. Leadership from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA, with input from representatives of the whole community, selected this year’s winners from among applicants from 39 States and the District of Columbia.

The finalists each demonstrated remarkable innovation and creativity in preparing and supporting their communities. For example, the Texas School Safety Center developed a statewide approach to emphasize youth preparedness by establishing a youth preparedness summer camp that included emergency and community specific action planning in addition to leadership development. The volunteers of the Hoboken Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in New Jersey were essential in assisting the Hoboken Office of Emergency Management following Hurricane Sandy. The Illinois Citizen Corps Council leveraged local partners in their communities to help support their emergency preparedness programs.

This year, the third annual John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award is presented to the Los Angeles Fire Department South Los Angeles Teen CERT Collaborative. Solomon, founder of the blog In Case of Emergency, Read Blog, was an advocate of whole community engagement and collaboration, and noted that youth are the segment of any community most likely to bring about change in attitudes and behaviors toward emergency preparedness and resiliency. The LAFD South Los Angeles Teen CERT Collaborative, which partners with a wide variety of community organizations and empowers local youth, exemplifies many of the core themes of Solomon’s work.

Recipients of FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Awards will be invited to a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. during National Preparedness Month. During the ceremony, recipients will share their community preparedness successes and lessons learned with emergency management leadership.

A complete list of this year’s recipients and the honorable mentions for each category is available at: www.ready.gov/citizen-corps-awards. Award recipients by category are as follows:

• Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Illinois Citizen Corps

• Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Initiatives: City of Austin CERT

• Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Heart of Texas Citizen Corps

• Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness: Texas School Safety Center

• Community Preparedness Heroes: Volunteers of the Hoboken CERT Program

• Awareness to Action: What To Do To Make It Through Campaign

• Third Annual Recipient of the John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award: The Los Angeles Fire Department South Los Angeles Teen CERT Collaborative

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 Honors Achievements In Community Preparedness