The 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service is Monday, January 20. Treat the holiday as “a day on, not a day off,” and consider volunteering for a preparedness activity!

By volunteering this day and throughout the year, you can to engage with your community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King. For example, you can plan to mentor a young person on youth preparedness , help to clean up a public space, or work with your community to prepare for an emergency.

If you are still looking for a way to participate, consider these and other activities that build disaster preparedness:

• Talk with your neighbors about their preparedness plans. Help them create a family plan or tailor one to their individual needs;
• Join a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); or
• Take a training like You Are the Help Until Help Arrives and share with others what you've learned. Encourage them to take the training as well!

Learn about other volunteer activities or search for opportunities in your area! Then, share your thoughts and photos from your volunteer service on social media with the hashtag #MLKDay.

Find more tools, tips, and resources to volunteer and strengthen your community with the Corporation for National and Community Service !

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released results from the 2019 National Household Survey (NHS). The results from the 2019 NHS indicate an increase in the percentage of people who have taken preparedness actions and have savings set aside for an emergency. Read more...

Part I: Preparedness & Individuals

Wednesday, January 22 at 3 p.m. ET

Register Here

Part II: Preparedness & Hazards 

Wednesday, January 29 at 3 p.m. ET

Register Here

FEMA Releases 2018 National Household Survey Data on OpenFEMA for Use by Community Partners

In January 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the full results from the 2018 National Household Survey (NHS) on OpenFEMA .

With the release of the raw data, our partners, from academics and researchers to local emergency managers, can dig deeper into NHS findings. With the data on OpenFEMA, you can ask your own questions and analyze the data that is most important to your work and the communities you serve. Read more...

FEMA released the updated Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training curriculum on January 8.

The CERT Basic training curriculum covers topics in disaster preparedness, fire, medical operations, search and rescue, and team building. This course has been updated to include guidance for emerging types of emergency response, individual and community hazards, and to incorporate feedback from registered CERTs. Read more...

Do you know a teen who has a passion for preparedness? Starting in January, FEMA will accept applications for its 2020  Youth Preparedness Council  (YPC) from youth in grades 8-11. Since 2012, FEMA has brought youth from across the Nation together who have a mindset for preparedness and community service. Each year, teens apply to the YPC for an opportunity to join FEMA in moving people to action. As part of the YPC, members can build leadership skills, represent their schools and communities, and share their perspectives, feedback, and opinions with FEMA. The YPC gives youth the chance to meet peers from across the county to work together on exciting  projects ! Members will also travel to Washington, DC, for the annual  YPC Summit .

The application period begins on January 27, 2020 and will end on March 1, 2020. Read more...

Youth: Apply Today for 2020 Preparedness Summer Camp in Alaska

FEMA Region 10 is seeking forty (40) high-school aged youth representing Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to attend a Youth Preparedness Camp near Anchorage, Alaska in July 2020. This will be an engaging and empowering way for teens to learn about and practice emergency preparedness. There will also be a variety of exciting leadership opportunities, team building, and of course, traditional camp activities to ensure a fun week for all. The deadline to apply is 11:59pm PST on January 19, 2020. You can read about last year's camp on FEMA's Community News page and find additional information about the camp and how to apply here .

As the new year starts, many people are thinking about their New Year's resolutions. Many people resolve to get in better physical shape, but what about getting in better financial shape? Getting in financial shape for emergencies is an easy goal for anyone to set this year! According to FEMA's 2018 National Household Survey , almost seven out of ten people have set aside some money for an emergency, although most have set aside less than $500. In the new year, why not start saving or increase your emergency fund by an amount that makes sense for you? Read more...