Preparedness and Resilience Bulletin - Granicus€¦ · Preparedness and Resilience Bulletin: Empowering People and Communities Week 3: Youth Preparedness Emergencies and disasters

Region II

September 18, 2019 Volume 4, Issue 17

Preparedness and Resilience Bulletin:

Empowering People and Communities

Week 3: Youth Preparedness

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time, often without

warning. Disaster planning, response, and recovery efforts must

take into account the unique needs of children, who make up

roughly a quarter of the U.S. population. These efforts should

also engage the unique strengths children bring to emergency

preparedness:

• Children are positive influencers. Children can

effectively bring the message of preparedness home to

their families.

• Children can become leaders. Participating in youth

preparedness programs empowers children to become

leaders at home and in their schools and communities.

• Children can be confident during an emergency.

Children who are prepared experience less anxiety and

feel more confident during actual emergencies and

disasters.

Developed by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Education, and the American Red Cross, the National Strategy

for Youth Preparedness Education presents nine steps communities and organizations can take to help build a

Nation of prepared youth. The steps focus on building partnerships to enhance youth preparedness learning

programs; connecting young people with their families, communities, first responders, and other youth; and

increasing preparedness at school.

9 Priority Steps for Creating a Nation of Prepared Youth

1. Elevate the importance of youth preparedness learning programs at the national, state, and local levels.

September is National Preparedness Month

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 2

2. Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of existing and new youth preparedness programs.

3. Support the implementation of youth preparedness learning programs.

4. Create positive relationships between youth and the first responder community.

5. Link youth preparedness to family and community participation, especially in communities where

English may not be the first language spoken (or understood) among adults, in other underrepresented

communities, and inclusive of individuals with access and functional needs.

6. Make school preparedness a key component of youth preparedness.

7. Build and strengthen productive partnerships among stakeholder agencies and organizations.

8. Identify opportunities to embed youth preparedness in youth culture.

9. Design a sustaining, locally driven model for developing, designing, and delivering programming.

Starting or getting involved with a youth preparedness program is a great way to enhance a community’s

resilience and help develop future generations of prepared adults. The Federal Emergency Management Agency

offers numerous resources that can help. Visit www.Ready.gov/youth-preparedness for the latest offerings and

information.

Week 4: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness

Every community has volunteer organizations

that work in the disaster space. Since 1993,

Community Emergency Response Teams

(CERT) have impacted communities across the

country, building essential skills and capabilities

to prepare for and respond to any disaster. There

are now CERT programs in all 50 states,

including many tribal nations and U.S.

territories; each unique to its community but all

essential to building a Culture of Preparedness

and there are spots waiting for you to join.

CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly, and effectively to

emergency situations, but they can also support their communities during non-

emergency events as well. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide,

with more than 600,000 individuals trained since CERT became a national program.

Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT members:

• Learn how to safely respond to man-made and natural hazards

• Help organize basic disaster response

• Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events

You can find out more about the CERT program at

https://www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team or find other

volunteer efforts at https://www.nvoad.org/.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 3

Summer is the season for camps. With beautiful weather and time off from school, many youths fill their

summertime with various camp experiences in areas like arts, dance, sports, science, technology, and education.

Several states around the country have also started to provide valuable opportunities for youths to enhance their

preparedness and leadership skills through youth preparedness camps. Hosted through partnerships between

various state and local organizations, these preparedness camps bring youth together to help them strengthen the

resilience of their schools and communities against disasters.

Throughout these programs, youth participants of middle and high school age learn life-saving skills, participate

in emergency simulation exercises, have hands-on experience with equipment such as fire extinguishers and

medical supplies, and interact with other peers. They engage in discussions with subject matter experts and local

emergency responders about disaster response mechanisms and the different professions in the field of

emergency management. Participants also have the chance to receive full Community Emergency Response

Team (CERT) trainings, which include lessons on first aid, search and rescue, fire safety, disaster medical

operations, terrorism, disaster psychology, and they receive CERT certification upon completion.

Several of these youth preparedness camps are taking place within Region VI. Inspired by the Texas School

Safety Center’s Youth Preparedness Camp, which has been encouraging children in St. Marcus, TX, to help

their communities prepare for disasters for nearly a decade, FEMA Region VI decided to help expand the

program in 2016. Region VI provided invitational travel funds and contract money to bring youths from other

states and tribes in the region to the camp. Since then, several of these preparedness camps have popped up

across the region; the students and families motivated by their experience brought the idea to their own

communities, and more than 13 preparedness camps in total took place this year alone. Bill Bischoff of FEMA

Region VI recalled, “The investment for a couple of years has paid off…The idea spreads like wildfire, with or

without you.”

In addition, FEMA Region VI recently held the

first-ever tribal youth preparedness camp in

Oklahoma. The preparedness camp took place at the

Otoe-Missouria Cultural center at Red Rock, OK,

for 5 days between July 14th and 18th. The Intertribal

Emergency Management Coalition, the Youth

Warrior CERT, and the Choctaw nation worked

closely with each other to bring together youths

from several tribal nations. A couple of the youths

from Otoe-Missouria who participated in the

original camp in St. Marcus also joined this event as

instructors for some of the sessions. One of the

event’s greatest standout was its flexibility. When

the funding mechanism changed mid-event, the

locals contributed their skills and time to fill the

gaps. “The camp was built out of the heart and soul

and resources of those in Otoe-Missouria,” said Bill.

“[For instance,] the ladies from the tribes cooked

traditional staples known for being delicious and

low-cost!” Entertainment sessions were also

Youth Preparedness Camps

Region VI Youth Preparedness Camp. Source/Twitter #r6prepares

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 4

improvised for kids that arrived earlier than others, given the fact that many youths were traveling from far

away. The success of the event was evident in the inspired kids, who were determined to have camps and youth

councils in their own communities.

Region X also held their Youth Preparedness Summer

Camp last month. 40 students in grades 8 through 12

gathered in Stanwood, Washington, to learn about

tactics to assist in the immediate aftermath of disasters

from subject matter experts and local emergency

responders. Students also participated in a variety of

leadership and team-building opportunities and

traditional camp activities. “Apathy is one of the

biggest threats we face as a nation today, and these

youth bring the empathy needed to turn that around,”

said Region X Administrator Michael O’Hare. “Their

enthusiasm for preparedness and the initiative they’ve

shown to attend the camp and give back to their

communities gives me a lot of hope.”

Opportunities for preparedness camp are also available

in Region II. New Jersey Burlington County held their

youth preparedness camp for the second time this year. The program originated from Rutger University’s My

Preparedness Initiative (MyPI), which is a youth preparedness educational program that teaches FEMA-

certified teen CERT training and corresponding modules. Modeling MyPI’s curriculum, the Burlington Youth

Preparedness Camp consisted of a series of courses taught by professionals in emergency management and fire

service, as well as those from the Department of Homeland Security terrorism department. The participating

youths also had the opportunity to receive training on CPR and receive official certificates. Like Region VI’s

experience, Kevin Shoppas from Burlington County OEM also saw great value in the ability of the youths to

raise awareness about disaster preparedness in their own neighborhoods. “After they are done and receive their

certificates, they will go talk to five others about being prepared,” he said. “Their parents, their neighbors… The

kids continue to put the word out, and we expand our reach through them.” Although these camps last just a

couple of days, the impact extends far beyond.

These states recognize the importance of connecting with youths early and building disaster resiliency with and

through them. The preparedness camps will enable the kids to not only acquire knowledge on disaster

preparedness but also build strong leadership skills and have the confidence to make a difference in their

communities. But most importantly, each preparedness camp is unique; the camps are designed to empower the

youths in their specific contexts. There are many more opportunities for more localities to bring youth

preparedness camps to their areas. To learn more about the recent preparedness camp in Oklahoma, contact

[email protected]. Learn more about Region X’s recent camp by emailing fema-r10-

[email protected]. Contact [email protected] for additional information about the

Burlington preparedness camp.

Region X Youth Preparedness Summer Camp. Source/FEMA

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 5

.

Develop

Region II Staff in Your Neighborhood!

Sept 10 – Debbie Costa spoke to

CERT volunteers about a “blue sky”

mission during the Program Manager

course provided by NJOEM in Passaic

County. FEMA/Debbie Costa

Sept, 12 – FEMA has developed a

positive partnership with Claro, a

major cellphone provider in Puerto

Rico. The text message (above) was

sent to 900,000 clients on the island

and promotes preparedness planning.

Visit:

www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4339/pre

paracion-huracanes)

FEMA/Fritzmarie Cesar

Develop a family

communication plan with a

meeting place and contacts.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 6

to

Coming Soon to Region II

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 7

2018 National Survey Results on Individual and Community Preparedness This September, FEMA will release the results from the 2018 National Household Survey (NHS). Every year,

FEMA surveys the American public to assess how the culture of personal disaster preparedness and resilience

has changed over time. The NHS also measures individuals’ attitudes and behaviors regarding preparedness and

assesses what influences them to begin preparing for a future hazard. Estimates from the 2018 NHS suggest

that an increasing percentage of the American public are actively preparing for disasters. Read more here.

FEMA PrepTalks Live in Washington, DC September 19th is the next PrepTalks Symposium in Washington, DC. Learn

from subject-matter experts and thought leaders who will spread new ideas

in emergency management, spark conversation, and promote innovative

leadership. The event is from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM at George Washington

University. Limited seats are available so register now.

PrepTalk Speakers for September are:

• David Kaufman: “Future Evolutions in Emergency Management”

• Jan Peelen: “Living with Water – How the Netherlands Prevents Flood Disasters”

• Dr. Carolyn Kousky: “Closing the Insurance Gap”

• Dr. Howard Kunreuther: “Human Biases – Why People Underprepare for Disasters”

• Kate Konschnik: “Left in the Dark – Power Outages in an Interconnected World”

• Aaron Titus: “Elegant Solutions to Responding and Preparing with the Community”

Visit the PrepTalks website to learn more about PrepTalks and view videos of past speakers.

FEMA Podcast Episode 45: FEMA’s CBRN Office In this episode, we recognize an organization within FEMA with a unique

mission to plan for the dangerous man-made events that we hope the world

may never face. Join us as we talk to experts from FEMA’s Chemical,

Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) office. We’ll gain a better

understanding of their work through an in-depth scenario-based discussion

focused around how FEMA and other federal agencies would deal with an

improvised nuclear device detonation.

The FEMA podcast is an audio program series available to anyone interested in learning more about the

Agency, hearing about innovation in the field of emergency management, and listening to stories about

communities and individuals recovering after disasters.

FEMA Releases Revised Continuity Guidance FEMA released the updated “Devolution Plan/Annex Template and Instructions” document for use by the

continuity planning community. The document incorporates the concepts found in FEMA "Federal Continuity

Directive 1 and Continuity Guidance Circular” into a template for individuals tasked with the creation of

continuity plans which support their organization’s (government, or non-government, public or private sector)

continuity program. The template may be helpful to organization planners but is not mandatory. Organizations

are encouraged to tailor their devolution plan to meet their specific operational needs. To view the document,

the references listed above, and for additional information about continuity and continuity planning, please visit

the continuity toolkit. Once in the toolkit, click on “Templates” to view the document.

FEMA News

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 8

FY19 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)

On August 26, FEMA announced the Fiscal Year 2019

Application cycle for the PDM and FMA grants. Both are

grants that are given to state, local, and tribal governments to

help minimize the impact of future disasters through

mitigation projects and plans. The application period is from

September 30, 2019 through January 21, 2020. The Notice of

Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted on

www.grants.gov.

PDM Grants are awarded annually for projects and plans that

reduce risk to any natural hazard and is not exclusively for

flooding. In FY19, $250 million will be available nationwide

and on a competitive basis to all eligible applicants. Eligible

activities include property acquisition, relocation, floodproofing, transportation, dry floodproofing of non-

residential structures, small localized flood reduction projects, safe room construction, resilient infrastructure, soil

stabilization, hazard mitigation planning, and advanced assistance (project scoping). Federal funding is available

for up to 75% of all eligible costs, except for small and impoverished communities that may be eligible up to 90%

cost chare.

FMA Grants, as the name implies, are intended to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to

buildings and structure insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). $160 million will be

available on a competitive basis in order of the agency’s priorities for the Fiscal Year 2019 FMA grant program.

Two particular priorities of the program are to reduce what is considered “Repetitive Loss” (RL) and “Severe

Repetitive Loss” (SRL) properties. RL properties refer to those that have “induced flood-related damage on two

occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the market value of

the structure at the time of each such flood event; and at the time of the second incidence of flood-related

damage, the contract for flood insurance contains ICC coverage.” SRL Properties are defined as properties that

“have incurred flood related damage that for which four or more separate claims payments (includes building

and contents) have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding

$5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding $20,000. Or for which at least two

separate claims payments (includes only building) have been made under such coverage, with the cumulative

amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure.” A bonus of this program is that

federal funding can cover 90% of the costs for RL properties, and 100% of SRL. To be eligible, however, the

property must be covered by the NFIP.

Remember that individuals cannot apply for these grants themselves. If you want to get involved in a non-

disaster grant, you should contact your local community officials to let them know of your interest. In addition,

it may help to contact your local emergency management agency so that they can better coordinate with your

community. For New York, this would be the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services; New

Jersey is the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management; Puerto Rico is the Governor’s Authorized

Representative Office; and the Virgin Islands is the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

For further reading: FY19 PDM Fact Sheet FY18 FMA Fact Sheet

Mitigation Matters

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 9

Public Comments about Information Collection

FEMA recently listed a Federal Register Notice for public comments about

information collection, in regards to mitigation grant programs. In accordance with

federal law and as part of the Code of Regulations, part 80, this notice seeks

comments concerning grants for the property acquisition and relocation for open

space. Acquisition and relocation of property for open space use is one of the most

common mitigation activities.

Federal grant funds are available for eligible activities in FEMA’s three mitigation

grant programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant

Program. These programs require all properties acquired with FEMA funds to be deed restricted and maintained

as open space in perpetuity. This requirement ensures that no future risks from hazards occur to life or

structures on that property, and that no future disaster assistance or insurance payments are granted as a result of

damages to that property. Comments are collected via the Federal Register until Oct. 8.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

has been released. FY 2019 NSGP will provide $60 million to support security related investments and

activities for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. Eligible nonprofit organizations

must apply for FY 2019 NSGP through their State Administrative Agency (SAA). A list of SAA points of

contact is available at: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28689?id=6363. Nonprofit

organizations may not apply directly to FEMA for FY 2019 NSGP funds. The FY 2019 NSGP Notice of

Funding Opportunity and all related documents are available at: https://www.fema.gov/media-

library/assets/documents/178521. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Insider Threat Awareness Month The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partnered with the

National Insider Threat Task Force, the National Counterintelligence

and Security Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of

the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence), and the Defense

Counterintelligence and Security Agency to designate September as

“Insider Threat Awareness Month.” This Month will emphasize the importance of safeguarding our nation from

the risks posed by insider threats and to continue to work diligently to mitigate these risks. Past compromises of

national security information have made America less safe because our adversaries have used knowledge

obtained from insiders to change tactics to avoid detection and learn where we are vulnerable. These actions,

couple with incidents of senseless violence perpetrated by insiders ,have highlighted the need for a uniformed

approach to protect our people and our critical information, while preserving privacy and civil liberties. Please

take a moment to review potential risk indicators and how insider threats can be reported. Proactive reporting

can provide early warning, intervention, and assistance for individuals at risk. Such reporting can reduce acts of

harm, prevent the loss or compromise of classified information, and minimize damage to national security.

Other News

Important Deadlines

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 10

EM Higher Education Community Conference Call Friday, September 20th, from 2-3 PM ET, 880-320-4330, PIN: 376368

Please join the next Emergency Management Higher Education Community Conference Call on Friday,

September 20th. Learn from the emergency management academic community about what is new and exciting

in their world. Find out about ongoing projects and discuss higher education community needs that the Higher

Education Program can address. Contact Wendy Walsh at [email protected], with you discussion

topics.

National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference December 2–5th , 2019 , Hilton Americas, Houston, TX The National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference highlights best practices of health care coalitions

across the U.S. and provides opportunities for attendees to network with peers, share ideas, and learn about

building and sustaining effective health care coalitions. For additional details, click here. For info on AAP

disaster preparedness/response initiatives, see http://www.aap.org/disasters or e-mail [email protected].

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 11

Emergency Preparedness Tips

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 12

Green Brook CERT

The Green Brook CERT has been awarded a trailer by the state for

their hours of volunteer work. The trailer will also be loaned to the

town for local functions and to be used as an Incident Command

Center, if the need arises. The trailer contains various equipment for

dealing with emergencies disasters.

Camden County CERT Training Friday, September 20, 2019, 7 PM – 10 PM

Saturday, September 21, 2019, 8 AM – 4 PM

Sunday, September 22, 2019, 8 AM – 4 PM

Mount Ephraim Fire Department, 200 Bell Road, Mount Ephraim, NJ 08059

The Camden County Emergency Response Team is an

all-risk hazard training. This valuable course is

designed to help protect yourself, your family, your

neighbors and your community in disaster

preparedness and response skills. CERT members will

receive 20 hours of initial training provided FREE of

charge. The course is taught with classroom

instruction, practical exercises along with training that

includes types of hazards, disaster medical operation,

fire safety, light search and rescue, lift and carries,

debris removal techniques, and door breaching. Once

you have completed the initial training, you are

eligible for additional skills training year-round.

If you would like to be a part of the CERT, please register to [email protected]. Participants under the age

of 18 must have parent/guardian permission to attend.

CERT Corner

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers

about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them

in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team

organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide

approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely

on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks.

Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters

is built and enhanced.

If you have events you would

like to share please email them

to [email protected]

Camden County CERT/Facebook

Green Brook CERT/Bob Longo

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 13

National Emergency Management

Executive Academy (NEMEA)

Overview/FY20 Application Process

The National Emergency Management Executive Academy (NEMA) is a component of the

Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP). The Emergency Management

Institute (EMI) created the NEMA to provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge curriculum

as the setting for senior emergency management executives to come together to explore

contemporary emergency management challenges. The program hones strategic leadership and critical thinking

for senior executives involved with multi-jurisdictional, national, and international emergency management

policy development and decision-making responsibilities.

The program is a competency-based executive education experience that requires working collaboratively on

projects and participating in activities with a capstone team to address some of the wicked problems in the

emergency management field. Suggestions for a specific emergency management challenge to be addressed by

an executive cohort as an Executive Academy capstone project may be submitted to:

https://training.fema.gov/empp/executive.aspx.

For more information, visit our Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) website

(https://training.fema.gov/empp/executive.aspx).

E0389 Master Public Information Officer Program – Part Three (MPIOP)

This is a three-course series that prepares public information officers for an expanded role in delivering public

information and warning using a strategic whole community approach. Read more Training Opportunity 1487.

Multiple Dates, 2020, Emmitsburg, MD.

L0110 National Emergency Management Basic Academy Train-the-Trainer

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the need to tie training programs to an

established set of emergency management competencies and to a career development program through a

progressive training and education system that includes the Basic Academy. The Emergency Management

Institute (EMI) is offering the opportunity to students who are experienced in emergency management and adult

training to take a step toward becoming qualified as an instructor for the Basic Academy courses. Read more in

Training Opportunity 1524. September 23-26th, 2019, Washington D.C.

L0363 Multi-Hazard Emergency Management for Higher Education

This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) course is designed to be delivered to teams of campus

personnel who are responsible for managing and supporting emergency plans. The target audience for this

course is people who have traditional response or strategic experience, but minimal experience in emergency

management planning. The three-day course is primarily interactive presentations coupled with numerous

individual and group activities and exercises. Read more in Training Bulletin 1548. 2020 Host Application

deadline is September 30, 2019.

Educational/Training Opportunities

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 14

EMI Weekly EMI e-Forums Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 3 PM – 4 PM EST

Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 3 PM – 4 PM EST

EMI e-Forums are 1-hour, moderated, webinar discussion forums that provide

an opportunity for EMI and the emergency management community to discuss

matters of interest on national preparedness training. EMI e-Forums facilitate

a discussion of whole community-presented beest practices. The panel

members are whole ocmmunity, with topics relevant to whole community.

These exchange of ideas are free of charge and available to anyone who

wishes to participate. Use Adobe Connect or call in at 880-320-4330, PIN: 107622.

Webinars

Training Calendars FEMA: https://training.fema.gov/emicourses/schedules.aspx NJOEM: http://ready.nj.gov/training/schedule.shtml

NJOHSP: https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/calendar

NYDSES: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/training/calendar/ DHSOBP: https://cdp.dhs.gov/obp

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 15

FEMA FY 2019 NOFO Application FEMA has posted the Fiscal Year 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements for the Flood

Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant programs on www.grants.gov. FEMA

will offer a series of webinars in September and October on the FY 2019 NOFOs prospective applicants and

how to use Mitigation eGrants, the system that FEMA will use to accept and process all grant applications.

Please call 1-800-320-4330 with PIN 338559 or click the links below.

• eGrants for Beginners

Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 9 AM EST

Thursday, September 19, 2019, 5 PM EST

Wednesday, October 16, 2019, 5 PM EST

Monday, October 21, 2019, 9 AM EST

• Avoiding Application Pitfalls

Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 2 PM EST

Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 2 PM EST

Making Mitigation Work: A Webinar Series The Natural Hazards Center—in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency—will soon

launch a new webinar series, Making Mitigation Work. These free, one-hour webinars will feature innovative

speakers and highlight recent progress in mitigation policy, practice, and research.

• Moving Mitigation Forward: The Past, Present, and Future of Mitigation Assistance

Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 1-2 PM EST

• Disaster Spending and Mitigation: A State-by-State Story

Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 1-2 PM EST

Stop the Bleed This eight-minute training video is intended for educational institutions (Pre-K through higher education) to

raise awareness about training that may stop life-threatening bleeding following natural and man-made disasters

and from everyday accidents. It seeks to empower leaders, employees, and others to do something about

uncontrolled bleeding for injured students, employees, volunteers, and guests before first responders arrive at

the scene, in order to prevent more serious injuries and even death.

Mass Violence in America: Causes, Impacts and Solutions This 96-page report provides insights into the link between mental illness and mass

violence, examining the reasons, contributing factors, and actionable solutions

surrounding mass violence in America through the lens of behavioral health. It

examines the research on mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), and mass

violence, noting that people with serious mental illness are responsible for less than

four percent of all violence and less than one-third of mass violence. It also provides

a series of recommendations for improving risk assessment and violence prevention.

Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States

Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) summarizes key findings from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and

Must Reads

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. 16

Health (NSDUH) for indicators of substance use and mental health among people aged 12 years old or older in

the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States. View a video presentation of the NSDUH

data findings by Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D.,

Ph.D.

Be a Superhero During Food Safety Education Month September is Food Safety Education Month. Learn how to Be a

Food Safety Superhero! Watch Center for Disease Control and

Prevention’s (CDC) food safety superheros take steps to help prevent

food poisoning and show others how to keep food safe. Every year,

an estimated 48 million Americans get sick and 3,000 die from

eating contaminated food. Join CDC in sharing information about

handling and cook safely. You’ll find videos (also in Spanish), tips to

prevent food poisoning, and social media graphics on CDC’s food

safety website. Use #FoodSafetyHero and #FSEM to join the

conversation on social media.

Hazardous Materials Incidents: Guide for SLTT and Private Sector Partners

This 30-page document provides state, local, tribal, and territorial officials with information and resources to

improve resilience to hazardous materials incidents. It provides an overview of hazardous materials

characteristics; hazardous materials incident response; planning for hazardous materials incidents; and practices

to mitigate further damage to communities from hazardous materials.

2019 Wildfire Guide Wildfire smoke events can occur without warning – but we can be prepared. This Guide is intended to provide

state, tribal, and local public health officials with information they need to be prepared for smoke events and,

when wildfire smoke is present, to communicate health risks and take measures to protect the public. Although

developed for public health officials, the information in this document could be useful to many other groups

including health professionals, air quality officials, and members of the public. Click here to read more.

Preparación para Todos: LISTOS Educates the Whole Community September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month recognizes the important

contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. One program known for such contributions is LISTOS.

LISTOS was recently featured at the California For All CERT and LISTOS Conference. Based in California,

LISTOS is an emergency preparedness course tailored to Spanish speakers. Translated from Spanish, “listos”

means “smart,” “ready,” or “prepared.” This program addresses barriers Spanish speakers might face, even

beyond language. For example, some people may feel intimidated when they interact with emergency

responders. Additionally, cost and time to prepare can also be barriers. Read more here.

Emergency Kit Checklist for Kids and Families An emergency kit has all of the things that you and your family may need during an

emergency in which you may have to stay inside for longer than usual or the electricity

could go out. Making a family emergency kit can be fun for the family to do together. Here

is how to have a family emergency kit treasure hunt.