FEMA Region IX Youth Preparedness

08/24/2014

Live in American Canyon... Hope my fellow AC citizens are alright.

08/16/2014

Hi everyone! It's Fire Safety Friday (the first one, yay!), so I wanted to start out by sharing some stats on the American Red Cross related to home fires.

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240203_FireSafetyFactSheet.pdf

According to the link, "Eighty percent of Americans don’t realize
that home fires are the single most common disaster across the nation." Don't be a part of this statistic by being prepared!! Scroll down this page for a Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist. Also, here's the Fire Safety Friday tip for the week about smoke alarms (a very important part of fire preparedness!):

08/07/2014

Everyone in Hawaii, TheBus and Handi-Van service will be stopped at 10pm on Thursday night and will not run at all on Friday for the safety of its drivers

City to cancel TheBus, Handi-Van service Friday

http://hsalinks.com/XFmCcj

08/06/2014

GET PREPARED! Keep your families and homes safe against fires by taking simple measures to prepare your houses.

Take a few minutes to check out this amazing Fire Prevention and Safety Checklist (made by the American Red Cross)! With all of the fires going on in California, taking some time out of your day to become prepared will be worth it in the long run.

See the entire checklist by following this link:

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340073_FireSafety.pdf

08/06/2014

Fires have become a huge hazard in California. The drought has not helped the situation (dry grass/fields are a huge hazard since they can easily spark fires), but lightning bolts has also become a concern in these last few weeks. According to the LA Times, "lightning bolts have been blamed for dozens of brush fires in state and national forest lands in Central and Northern California."

There have been major fires in recent months, including the Bald and Eiler fires in the Lassen National Forest (which have destroyed almost 70,000 acres). Currently, there are 14 major wildfires across this state. All of these fires have threatened hundreds of homes, with many parts of the state prompting evacuations. In response to these fires, Governor Brown has declared a state of emergency.

Protect your families and homes against fires by taking simple preparedness measures. Make a preparedness kit for fires/earthquakes and take safety precautions in your home. Check back for tips on "Fire Safety Fridays" for little things you can do to be prepared!

Remember:

"By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail."
-Benjamin Franklin

08/06/2014

Another good way to prepare for Iselle and Julio is to download our free Red Cross apps.

With our Hurricane and Flood app, you can monitor conditions in your area, prepare your family and home, and let others know you are safe. Our first aid app is also great for step-by-step instructions and videos for everyday emergencies.

The preloaded content on these apps mean users have instant access to all safety information at anytime, even without reception or an Internet connection.

For more information, go to http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps

08/06/2014

Predicted wind speeds for Hurricane Iselle may reach wind gusts of up to 70 mph when it hits the islands, and older homes may be vulnerable to wind damage.

Chris Tanaka has the details: http://shout.lt/BgbB

Track the storm: http://bit.ly/1sp1Gk5

08/06/2014

Please prepare for Hurricane Iselle!

Hurricane Iselle is now located 905 miles east of Hilo. Since the last advisory package, Iselle has started to weaken and microwave passes have indicated a deterioration of the eyewall. Iselle is expected continue moving WNW, and is still forecast to pass near or over the Hawaiian Islands in 48 to 72 hours. A tropical storm watch is up for the Big Island. This means that tropical storm conditions (winds between 39 to 73 mph) are possible within 48 hours. There is also a Flash Flood Watch in effect from 4am Thursday to 6am Saturday for all islands.

08/06/2014

Look out for school closures this week and next for Hurricane Iselle and Julio! Stay safe everyone!

Precautions are being taken in advance of storms that are expected to impact the Islands over the next few days. Please check back for updates as Iselle and Julio advance.

08/06/2014

The suggested 7-Day Disaster Supply Kit

Your disaster supply kit should contain enough of the following items to last for 7-days:

Water - One gallon of water per person per day for seven days for drinking and sanitation
Food - Non-perishable food that does not require cooking. Popular local foods such as Spam, corned beef and Vienna sausage
Eating Utensils – Plates, mess kits, forks and chop sticks. Don’t forget a non-electric can opener for canned foods
Radio - Battery-powered or hand crank radio with NOAA Weather alert
Light - Flashlight and/or a portable fluorescent or LED light
Spare batteries - Check annually
First Aid – Get a first aid kit and consider enrolling in a certified first aid, CPR and AED course
Whistle – Important for signaling for help. A whistle carries much farther than the human voice and uses less energy than yelling
Dust Mask – Helps to filter contaminated air
Sanitation - Moist towelettes, toilet paper, 5-gallon bucket, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Tools - Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, duct tape
Maps - Local area maps
Prescription – Special medications and glasses
Baby - Infant formula and diapers
Pets - Pet food and extra water for your pet