CERTs Balance Competing Needs During the Pandemic

In mid-May, in Columbus, OH, unrelenting rain led to record rainfall totals over the course of two days. The rain also led to flooding in the area. To help, Franklin County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members joined the county’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security officials to assess the damage. This required CERT volunteers to pivot from their work assisting with COVID-19 response to address the flooding.

Christie LeClaire-Murphy, a member of the CERT, had been helping with COVID-19 testing at nursing homes. She also collected food donations and made cloth face coverings. After the flooding, she shifted gears to help with assigning damage assessment teams and operating the radio. She donned rain gear to review and document damage in the rain by using special paper and pens designed to hold up in wet conditions. “Balancing emergencies and going where you’re needed is part of the role of a CERT,” she says. Read more...

Agencies Pilot Training for Community-Based Organizations

From food banks to childcare centers, community-based organizations (CBOs) play critical roles in many areas across the country. Many people rely on these services during “normal” times. When emergencies occur, however, these organizations can see a surge of need during and after the event.

But what happens if these CBOs themselves are affected by a disaster? CBOs can be more resilient when facing an emergency if they’ve planned ahead of time. To help prepare them, FEMA created a new training called Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (OPEN). A few community organizations and state agencies had a chance to pilot the training before the official release of OPEN. Before COVID-19 restrictions went into effect, FEMA conducted an in-person pilot class in Region I (Lowell, MA). (Note: The photo featured in this article was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Read more...

Plan Your Hurricane Response Now

When hurricanes happen, they often bring rain, wind, and floods. The 2019 National Household Survey revealed over 87 percent of respondents who live in hurricane-prone areas believe they will receive timely reports or directions from local authorities. Most of these folks get that information from TV (59 percent), the internet (17 percent), and newspapers (12 percent). To develop or improve your emergency plan for hurricanes, visit ready.gov/hurricanes#prepare. To learn more about disaster preparedness in general, visit here.

Language Access Resources

On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, FEMA Region II held a webinar about language diversity in the United States and the importance of providing clear strategic messages in the areas of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. In addition, the Office of Equal Rights covered the legal framework of implementing Limited English Proficiency during a disaster. Click here to view the recorded session.

Cyber Security and Other Scams Targeting Small Businesses (English and Spanish)

On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, Region II held a webinar session in English and Spanish with the Federal Trade Commission discussing the types of cyber security scams that target small businesses and how to avoid them. See below on how to view the recordings:

• English: please click here.
• Spanish: please click here.

Community Assets Mapping

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, FEMA Region II held a webinar featuring Keith Adams, the Executive Director of New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NJVOAD). In the session, he discussed how to identify community assets and resources that can be used to meet community needs and to strengthen the community. Click here to view the recorded session.