Fire Corps National Preparedness Month Resource Center

Over the past decade, Americans have endured tragedies including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Virginia Tech massacre.  During such times of crises, citizens are often called to action to help protect not only themselves, but also their neighbors. Community members have come together during these past adversities, but when the next natural or man-made disaster occurs, will the American people be prepared?

 

September has been declared as National Preparedness Month (NPM) to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, communities, and schools. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies of all kinds and to encourage individuals to take action. Events and activities are being planned across the nation to encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses, and get involved in preparing their communities.

 

Each week will have a different theme promoting preparedness. The themes this year are as follows:

 

 

For more information on National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov.

 

Fire Corps has developed this NPM Resource Center to provide tools, resources, and materials that Fire Corps teams can utilize to help ready themselves and their community for emergency situations. The NPM Resource Center will be periodically updated, so check back in the upcoming weeks and months for additional information and resources.

 

Recognizing the potentially tragic impact a devastating emergency could have on our nation's fire and emergency service responders, Fire Corps, its partners, and members of its National Advisory Committee have worked to generate awareness not just among fire and emergency service personnel, but also among the thousands of Fire Corps volunteers that support them every day. The following resources, tools, and ideas are meant to assist Fire Corps members in helping their communities prepare for emergencies.

 

Minor League Baseball and the Boy Scouts of America have joined together to educate Americans to prepare for all types of emergencies. Fire Corps teams can participate by contacting and partnering with a local Minor League Baseball team to host a National Preparedness Month Recognition Night. During the game, Fire Corps members can distribute emergency preparedness information to the attendees. This partnership is made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Ready Campaign. For more information or to get involved, call the DHS Press Office at (202) 282-8010.

 

This guide outlines how Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Fire Corps can work together to build stronger communities. It looks at the challenges faced by both programs and shows how working together can help overcome these challenges. This guide also includes profiles of departments that have successfully combined their CERT and Fire Corps efforts to develop a comprehensive program that benefits fire and emergency service departments and the communities they serve. 

 

Fire Corps program coordinators, citizen volunteers, fire and emergency service representatives, and Citizen Corps Council members are invited to join the Fire Corps Connection listserv, a valuable network for getting and sharing information about Fire Corps programs across the nation. Use this forum to ask questions, get answers, and share ideas and experiences about Fire Corps and your NPM activities.

 

Learn safety tips, lesson plans, and fire prevention procedures during Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13 by utilizing and sharing the Fire Prevention Week Tips brought to you by Fire Corps (coming soon)

 

Fire Corps and the Home Safety Council have partnered to develop a Fire Safety Module that can be used by Fire Corps teams across the nation to implement a comprehensive fire and life safety public education program at the local level. This All-Ways Fire Safe at Home module is comprised of four fire safety education programs that Fire Corps teams can use to promote fire and life safety to community members in all stages of life, from preschool to older adults. It can be ordered free of charge from the Fire Corps national office at 1-888-FC-INFO1 (324-6361) or info@firecorps.org.

 

July 26 marks the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law in 1990 to guarantee equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. To recognize the needs of this important part of the population, Fire Corps would like to offer Fire Corps teams tips and information to assist those with disabilities and share opportunities for those with disabilities to get involved with their local Fire Corps program.

Brought to you by DHS and the Ready Campaign, this hurricane resource center provides you with valuable information for preparing and planning for this natural disaster, including how to protect your property from hurricane damage.

 

The NVFC provides a compendium of resources and tips to help individuals and communities prepare for hurricanes.

 

Hurricane Season Preparations

DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been working closely with state and local governments and relief organizations to remind residents and businesses in coastal areas to make emergency preparations.

 

Learn about hurricane hazards and what you can do to help protect yourself, your family, and your property. Receive current updates and get the latest breaking news.

 

This web site consists of detailed weather information and forecasts for each U.S. state.

 

The NVFC provides an overview of the Department of Homeland Security, as well as information on terrorism-related grants, training and learning resources, informational tools, and standards and guidelines to provide citizens critical information on what to do in case of a terrorist threat.

 

This Guidance provides recommended actions for citizens in a number of emergency situations. Actions to take include preparing a family emergency plan and creating an "emergency supply kit" for the household. It also recommends completing a CPR course.

 

The Department of Homeland Security provides links for citizens to research regarding preparation for unexpected occurrences. Also provided are links about safety and security, as well as DHS contact information.

 

 

As the U.S. Government prepares for the possibility of a pandemic influenza outbreak, Fire Corps has launched this Pandemic Influenza Resource Center in order to provide links to key information resources such as pandemicflu.gov, as well as information on how Fire Corps volunteers can help.

 

Stay informed about pandemic influenza and be prepared to respond. Consult www.pandemicflu.gov frequently for updates on national and international information on pandemic influenza.

 

The U.S. Surgeon General has outlined priorities for the health of individuals and the nation as a whole. The overarching goal is to improve health literacy, and in support of this, work towards increasing disease prevention, eliminating health disparities, and improving public health preparedness.

 

 

These councils help drive local citizen participation by coordinating Citizen Corps programs, developing community action plans, assessing possible threats and identifying local resources.

 

State Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Links to homeland security and public safety web sites from the states and the District of Columbia.

 

FEMA Regional Offices.

Links to contact information for FEMA regional offices.