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DHS and FEMA
Updates

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This Citizen Corps News Digest is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners.

DHS -FEMA Updates

Be heard…Email comments or suggestions to us at cert@dhs.gov

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3 Ways to Make a Difference During Red Cross Month

Did you know that March is Red Cross Month ?

Every March, the American Red Cross recognizes our country's everyday heroes who give their time to help people in need. In addition to supplying about 40 percent of our Nation's blood, the American Red Cross relies on the heroic efforts of its workers and volunteers to provide shelter, food, and emotional support during emergencies and disasters.

Here are three ways that you can become a hero for the American Red Cross:

March is a great month for you to join with other heroes and volunteer with the American Red Cross. More information on how you can help is available on the American Red Cross website .


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Apply to Join FEMA's Youth Preparedness Council

There are just over two weeks left to encourage a young person you know to join the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). The YPC is open to students in grades 8-11 across the Nation. If you know a good candidate, encourage them to apply.

Benefits of being a YPC member include:

  • Designing and conducting local and national preparedness projects;
  • Adding a youth viewpoint on emergency preparedness;
  • Helping prepare their local area for emergencies;
  • Meeting with FEMA regularly; and
  • Giving input to FEMA leadership and staff.

Adults working with youth should share the application . Applicants should submit a complete form , provide two letters of recommendation, and their academic records.

Applications are due March 18, 2018 . For more information, visit the Youth Preparedness Council website .


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Put a Freeze on Winter Fires

An old adage says March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” While many of us may be thinking of warmer spring weather, many locations across the U.S. can continue to see severe winter weather throughout the month.

Help the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) put a freeze on winter fires by practicing and promoting fire safety.

Share the following tips to reduce the risk in your neighborhood:

  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from any heat source;
  • Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at one time;
  • Never use an oven or stovetop to heat your home;
  • Only use space heaters that have an automatic shut-off if it tips over;
  • Use a metal or heat-tempered glass screen when using your fireplace;
  • Store cooled ashes from your fireplace in a tightly covered metal container, and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings; and
  • Keep snow and ice three feet away from fire hydrants to help fire fighters.

In addition to these fire safety steps, install carbon monoxide alarms in your home and visit the USFA website for more information.


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Webinar - Preventing Human Trafficking in Disasters: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (DHS Center), the DHS Blue Campaign, the Office on Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are co-hosting a webinar on Preventing Human Trafficking in Disasters: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will provide information and resources on how to identify the risk factors that may lead to human trafficking. This also includes information on how to better prepare faith and community groups, first responders and emergency managers to recognize social and emotional impacts caused by disasters..

Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Time: 1:00 – 2:00p.m. (ET)

The following organizations have been invited to present on this webinar:

  • All Healers Mental Health Alliance
  • Wheaton College, Humanitarian Disaster Institute
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Trafficking in Persons
  • DHS Blue Campaign

How to Join the Webinar:

We hope that you will be able to join us on March 13!

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Important Dates to Remember


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Disclaimer: The reader recognizes that the federal government provides links and informational data on various disaster preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal events, entities, organizations, services or products. Please let us know about other events and services for individual and community preparedness that could be included in future newsletters by contacting: citizencorps@dhs.gov

About FEMA

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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