Delaware Citizen Corps Current Events

Delaware Citizen Corps Program Honored

2012-01-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

For the fourth year in a row, FEMA Region III honored the Delaware Citizen Corps Program with National Preparedness Month Challenge Awards. Jamie Turner, Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, presented Robert George, Program Manager, and Marny McLee Sr., Training and Outreach Coordinator, with two National Preparedness Month Challenge Awards: the “Leading by Example” and “Together We Succeed” awards.

These awards reflect their efforts to be inclusive of all members of the community in their planning by integrating the access and functional needs of people with disabilities in their preparedness efforts. Additionally, the awards were in recognition of working with the many diverse organizations Citizen Corps partnered with on the Delaware Minor League Baseball Preparedness Night. Delaware Citizen Corps received 'National' recognition earlier in the year as a runner-up for the best 'State' Citizen Corps Council.

Resolve to be Ready in 2012

2011-12-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

Help your friends and neighbors “Resolve to be Ready” in 2012.” Visit www.ready.gov/resolve for more information designed to encourage citizens to make disaster preparedness a New Year’s resolution. Spread the word to local businesses, schools, faith-based, and other community organizations.

Statewide CERT Training

2011-12-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

On December 9th and 10th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) conducted its end of year waiting list training in Smyrna. The class was held at the St. Poly Carps Church.

Citizens from Sussex, Kent and New Castle Counties attended, with approximately forty individuals receiving CERT training.

The class was made up of members of the State Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Sussex County Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Del Tech- Terry Campus students, and Smyrna Police Department's Volunteers in Police (VIPS). Additionally, citizens from Smyrna, Wilmington, and New Castle, and a DEMA Staff member attended. The Smyrna/Clayton Times Newspaper and Smyrna Mayor Pat Stombaugh visited the training. Jack Dinge’e was the local point of contact for this class.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Father Thomas Flowers for offering his Parish for allowing Citizen Corps to conduct the training.

Winter Fire Safety

2011-12-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

Each winter, an estimated 108,400 home fires occur in the United States, resulting in approximately 945 deaths and $1.7 billion in property loss. Cooking is the leading cause of winter home fires, and holiday decorations and winter storms can cause people to turn to alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, which account for about one third of home heating fires and approximately 80 percent of home heating fire deaths.

Winter fires can be prevented! The following fire safety tips can help maintain a fire-safe home this winter season:

Stay in the kitchen when cooking something on top of the stove or when grilling or broiling food.
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters, woodstoves, etc.
Replace damaged electrical or extension cords.
Never use the oven or stovetop to heat a home; carbon monoxide gas can kill people and pets.
Don't put a live Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water.
Avoid using lighted candles; try flameless candles instead.

For more information, visit the U.S. Fire Administration Web site and the National Fire Protection Agency Web site.

Hospital Preparedness Presentation

2011-12-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

On November 30th, the Delaware Citizen Corps Staff and lead Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor Dave Young provided a third Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Seventeen members of the Legal Council and Risk Management Team received the presentation at their bi-monthly staff meeting.

The point of contact for the presentation was Gay Lynn Rice.

Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health CERT Class

2011-11-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

On November 17th and 18th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provided a CERT Training class for the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) Staff.

Twenty two members attended the class held in the Lower Sussex Building's Training Room at the Herman Holloway Campus in Newark. This was the second CERT Course held at the campus; the first was held in 2008. The point of contact for the class was Dr. Carol Kuprevich, Training Office Administrator.

Delaware State University Preparedness Presentation

2011-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

On November 10th, Citizen Corps Staff members Bob George and Marny McLee provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Delaware State University (DSU) campus as part of a "Crisis Management and Preparation Workshop" for staff and students.

They were joined by Joe Papili of the United States Marshals for Delaware and Delaware State Police (Ret.), who presented on "Emergency Planning for Active Shooters." He tailored his presentation for college students and campus staff. The point of contact for the workshop was Rashidah McCoy as part of her Senior Capstone Project.

Marydel Community Preparedness Presentation

2011-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

On November 9th, Bob George and Marny McLee (Citizen Corps Staff) were joined by Don Knox (Natural Hazards Supervisor) of DEMA as they presented a Disaster Preparedness Presentation for the Marydel Senior Community Association at their monthly meeting. Dave Carpenter, the New Castle County Coordinator of Emergency Management, gave a presentation on Kent County's Evacuation Plan and how it applies to their organization during a disaster.

He was joined by Ashley Reilley of the Emergency Services Corps (ESC) at the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). To start things off, Representative Osienski gave a presentation on a few current events in the district that applied to seniors and the MaryDel Community. The point of contact for the event was Ms. Adie Ecret.

Kent County Crime Watch Presentation

2011-11-10T13:32:00.000-08:00

On November 3rd, Bob George and Marny McLee (Citizen Corps Staff) provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation in Dover at the Kent County Levy Court Building. Approximately 75 members of the Kent County Crime Watch Committee, as well as members from each community, attended the monthly meeting and presentation.

Citizen Corps showed their Disaster Preparedness DVD, which focuses on “Making a Plan, Making a Kit, and Sheltering in Place and Evacuation Procedures.” Preparedness materials were also distributed to those in attendance. The Delaware State Police (DSP) are part of the committee, and oversee the Crime Watch Group for Kent County. The Point of Contact (POC) for the presentation was Bill Hulik.

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test on Nov. 9th

2011-11-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Nov. 9th, Delaware will join all other states in conducting the first nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. At 2 p.m. EST, radio, television and cable stations will broadcast the familiar alert warning sound. Following the alert sound, the recorded message on broadcast media will state “This is a test.” The audio message will be the same for both radio and television.

At the conclusion of the 30 second test script, all broadcast media will return to normal programming.

This test is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Even though the EAS is tested regularly throughout Delaware, on radio and television, it is the first nationwide test conducted with all states participating at the same time.

The season and timing chosen for the test reflects an effort to involve states and communities with as little disruption of regular schedules and routines as possible. In November, the hurricane season is very near closing at the end of the month and, in most years, it is early for winter storms and nor’easters. In spite of this year’s end of October snow storm in many Atlantic states, chances are that calmer, routine seasonal weather will prevail on Nov. 9.

The 2 p.m. EST time will be prior to evening rush hour along the east coast and after morning rush hour in the most western time zone.

DEMA Planner Arthur Paul said, “Our agency has the role of facilitator for the Delaware State Emergency Communications Committee as the Governor’s designated representative during state emergencies. We work with EAS partners all year, and we are very supportive of this nationwide test.”

“In emergency management and the communications industry, we recognize the importance of communication and notification in response to emergencies,” he said. “There may never be an incident that requires the use of the EAS nationwide; however, having that capability is vital to our country’s homeland security.”

When it sounds on Nov. 9, the test will last 30 seconds. According to FEMA, the National-level EAS test will demonstrate a public alert and warning system that would enable the President of the United States to address the American public during an extreme emergency. Similar to local EAS tests that are conducted frequently, the nationwide test will involve the same broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline providers that participate regularly.

FEMA and FCC representatives said that the nationwide event has been two years in planning and it is part of ongoing national preparedness efforts. FEMA, the FCC and other federal partners, along with state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and those who participate in EAS activities have been working toward making this test a reality.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate reminds everyone, “We want you to know this is a test. It’s our opportunity to check to make sure that our systems are working across the country if we have a national emergency. Because of the system design, not all of you will see the crawl that says this is a test. It will say this is an emergency alert, but we want you to understand, this is a test.”

As the federal, state, tribal, territorial and local governments prepare for and test the EAS capabilities, DEMA officials remind you that this event serves as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses. Anyone can visit www.prepareDE.org, or www.Ready.gov for more information about how to prepare for and stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.

For additional information, visit FEMA's EAS page or the FCC's EAS Page.

Video with Director Fugate (FEMA): http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407

Video in Spanish: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408

Video with American Sign Language: http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407

55+ Community CERT Class

2011-10-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

On October 14th and 15th, The State Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Team provided a class for the Bon Ayre 55+ Community in Smyrna.

Twenty Two (22) residents took the course, and now provides a CERT team to their community. The training prepared team members to come together during a disaster to help one another until first responders arrive.

Home Health Care Preparedness Presentations

2011-10-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

On September 21st and October 1st, Bob George and Marny McLee (DE Citizen Corps staff) and Dave Hamm (DE Citizen Corps volunteer) gave two separate Disaster Preparedness Presentations to the Home Health Care Comfort Keepers.

Each presentation was held at the Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware, with approximately forty members attending each presentation. Gary Mears from the UD Center for Disabilities Studies joined the Citizen Corps Staff on October 1st; taking a few minutes to brief those attending on its mission on the possibility of collaboration between the groups. The point-of-contact for both presentations was Patricia Lentz.

Hospital Preparedness Presentation

2011-10-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

On September 27th, the Delaware Citizen Corps staff provided two back-to-back Disaster Preparedness Presentations at the Christiana Care Hospital for Staff Safety Day.

Preparedness materials were also provided for the Wilmington Hospital's Staff Safety Day, held the week before. The point-of-contact for the presentations was Richard Marrow, the new emergency manager for Christiana and Wilmington Hospitals.

DE Citizen Corps Teaches CERT Class for Christian Growth Ministries

2011-09-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

On September 16th-17th, The State Community Emergency Response Team taught a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Class to fifteen members of the Christian Growth Ministries in Wilmington.

The point of contact for the class was Arthur Bowers. The Bishop at the ministries is Billy Lane.

FEMA & FCC Unveil New Tip Sheet for Consumers on How to Communicate During Disasters

2011-09-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission released a new tip sheet to help citizens understand how to better communicate during a disaster. It also includes advice on how to prepare for communications shortcomings before a disaster occurs. From the article:

As part of National Preparedness Month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released new tips for consumers aimed at preparing them for major disasters when communications networks are more likely to be compromised or damaged. Nearly one month ago, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast. In the minutes and hours that followed, mobile networks experienced significant network congestion, temporarily making it harder for millions of people to reach loved ones and emergency services. This tip sheet aims to help prepare Americans about how to communicate with each other, and loved ones, in the event of another disaster.

"Between the East Coast earthquake, Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and wildfires in Texas and California, we have had a lot of powerful reminders lately that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere - and can often make it difficult for the public to communicate with friends, loved ones or emergency personnel," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "An important part of preparing for disasters includes getting ready for potential communications challenges, whether caused by power outages or heavy cell network congestion. These simple tips are easy for anyone to follow and could make a world of difference when it matters the most."

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, "When disaster strikes, the ability to communicate is essential. However, power outages and other issues can interfere with the way people ordinarily communicate, making it harder to reach loved ones or emergency services. The FCC is committed to ensuring the public's safety through the reliability of our nation's communications networks. But there are also simple steps that consumers can take to prepare for a disaster as well as practical ways to better communicate during and after an event. I encourage all Americans to become familiar these tips and share them with friends and family."

Read the full article on FEMA.gov.

Help Us Prepare: Point of Distribution Exercise

2011-08-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, August 25th, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) will be conducting a Point of Distribution (POD) exercise from 10:30AM until 12:30PM. The exercise will be at the Southern Patrol Headquarters, located on 605 N. Broad Street, Middletown DE.

Volunteers are needed. The first one hundred participants will receive a FREE case of water. See the attached flyer for more information.

Hurricane Irene Nears the U.S. Coast: Are You Ready?

2011-08-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

As the first major hurricane of the 2011 hurricane season approaches the U.S. coast, it's more important than ever to ensure that your family or business is prepared.

As Hurricane Irene nears the Florida coast, present projections show there is some possibility our region may be impacted. Check out Ready.gov and PrepareDE.org's preparation guides for this natural disaster. It is essential that families and businesses prepare themselves prior to a storm's impact, as supplies, communications, and routes of transportation may be limited. The NOAA has issued a Hurricane Safety flyer with safety tips for before, during, and after a storm.

For up to date tracking of Hurricane Irene and future hurricanes, the National Hurricane Center maintains an up-to-date website of named storms.

Craig Fugate Visits the Delaware Emergency Management Agency

2011-08-15T07:19:00.001-07:00

Craig Fugate, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), visited Delaware on Friday, August 12th. Director Fugate met with DEMA Director Jamie Turner and his staff. Director Fugate continues to emphasize the importance of citizen and community preparedness. Visit PrepareDE or Ready.gov to learn how to better prepare for a disaster.

Family Emergency Preparedness Day

2011-08-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

National Preparedness Month kicks off Thursday, Sept. 1. The Delaware Citizen Corps will sponsor its 7th Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day at the Agriculture Museum in Dover on Saturday, October 8th, from 10:00AM - 2:00 PM.

The Museum is located on 866 N. DuPont Highway, in Dover. The day will provide residents with FREE FOOD, free training sessions on citizen emergency readiness, writing a plan and building a kit, emergency preparedness for pets, and preparedness games for kids. Exhibitors, such as Citizen Corps, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the Medical Reserve Corps, Public Health, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Red Cross, will distribute materials listing supplies and tips on the key points of a family emergency plan. Local emergency responders, fire trucks, police vehicles, and more will be on hand. Many exhibitors will have interactive displays that all ages can enjoy, and free disaster preparedness/emergency kits will be raffled off.

NOAA Predicts Higher of Named Hurricanes for 2011

2011-08-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook today raising the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, updates its Atlantic hurricane season outlook every August. “The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”

Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active season. These include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña. Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season.

Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects, with a 70 percent probability, a total of:

•14 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:

•7 to 10 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:

•3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

These ranges are indicative of an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States.

The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year. "It is still early in this hurricane season and we know it can take only one storm to devastate communities and families," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino. "Many disasters come without warning, but that’s not the case with hurricanes. This is hurricane season, if you haven't already, now is the time to take a few simple steps to get you and your family prepared. Anyone can visit www.ready.gov to learn more."

Be prepared for the hurricane season with important information available online at hurricanes.gov/prepare and at FEMA’s ready.gov.

4th Annual Preparedness Night at the Blue Rocks

2011-07-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

On July 14th, DE Citizen Corps, NCC OEM/Citizen Corps and Wilmington EOC/Citizen Corps hosted their 4^th Annual Preparedness Night at the Riverfront Stadium with the Wilmington Blue Rocks Minor League Baseball Team. Minor League Baseball is a National Partner of Citizen Corps. Also sharing the night were partners DEMA, The American Red Cross, DE Medical Reserve Corps and the Public Health Preparedness Section and many volunteers from throughout the state. A Preparedness Sign is posted in the outfield to be viewed all season long, Citizen Corps/Blue Rocks Backpacks were given out to the first 1000 fans, a Disaster Preparedness Kit was given out during each inning, preparedness messages were viewed on the jumbo electric scoreboard, as well as preparedness questions announced throughout the game. It was another great family fun filled night, a lot of fun was shared by the fans as well as the organizations hosting and sharing the event.

2nd CERT Training for DTI

2011-06-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

On Jun 8-9, The State Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Team returned to the Department of Technology and Information (DTI), to teach it’s second class in three weeks. Twenty members of DTI, DelDOT, The Court of Common Pleas, Crisis Intervention Service, The Attorney General’s Office and the Developmental Disabilities Division attended the two day training held in Dover. The POC for both classes was Peggy Sue Cole of DTI and the First State Chapter President of the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP).

1st CERT Course for DTI

2011-06-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

On May 25-26, The State Community Emergency Response Team taught a CERT Training Course for the Department of Technology and Information (DTI) at their office in Dover. Twenty members from DTI and one each from DELDOT and the State Lottery Office attended the Disaster Preparedness training. The team is scheduled to go back to DTI and teach another course on Jun 8-9, the POC for the training was Peggy Sue Cole.

Fire Suppression Training for YMCA

2011-05-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

The State Community Emergency Response Team supported the YMCA of Delaware with a CERT Fire Suppression Module on May 22nd, 2011 at the Western YMCA. Instructors Justin Kates from DEMA/Christiana Fire Company and Matt Marsella from New Castle County Emergency Service Corps/Minquadale Fire Company provided the classroom and hands-on training. Kevin Semonelle from the YMCA was the POC for the training.

Del Tech (Terry Campus) CERT Training

2011-05-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

On May 6, Marny McLee, Justin Kates and Ken Brennan of the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), assisted DTCC (Terry Campus) with teaching their first CERT Training Class. Ten Emergency Management and Criminal Justice students completed the training and are now part of the Campus CERT Team. The Manager for the DTCC Campus CERT Team is Dr. Jeff Peck.

Rehoboth Kiwanis Preparedness Presentation

2011-05-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

On May 4 Bob George and Marny McLee of Delaware Citizen Corps gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Rehoboth Kiwanis Club at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Ten members attended their weekly luncheon meeting in which a new member was sworn in. Bob and Marny were presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Kiwanis President James Kunkle for their efforts in preparing the club and Delawareans. The POC for the presentation was Joe Brake.

Preparedness Night in Millville

2011-05-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

Citizen Corps and DEMA were again invited to join The Town of Millville and its Volunteers as they put on their annual Preparedness Night at the Millville Fire Hall. Bob George Citizen Corps Program Manager introduced the Preparedness DVD and answered questions along with Rosanne Pack, DEMA PIO, after the crowd of approximately 100 viewed it. One Guest speaker was Chief Ken McLaughlin of the Ocean View Police Department and POC of the first Citizen Corps Council/Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) in Delaware.

Rosanne Pack also manned a display table with Don Minnich, Citizen Corps Volunteer as well as Marny McLee and Justin Kates of Citizen Corps. The POC for the event was Doc Flick, the Manager of the Millville Volunteers is Steve Micciche.

Chinese Community Fire Suppression

2011-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps returned to the Chinese American Community Club in Hockessin to teach the Fire Suppression Block of instruction from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course. Justin Kates of Citizen Corps and Volunteer Firefighter of Christiana Fire Company taught the inside portion, he received help outside with the practical hands on training from Kevin Semonelle also a Volunteer Firefighter from Christiana. Just as last time the classroom presentation had to be translated through a Chinese interpreter (Dr. Lin), approximately 70 members of the group attended the weekly meeting, the POC for the training was Johanna Shay.

PREPAREDNESS BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN

2011-03-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Citizen Corps launched its PrepareDE.org campaign on March 7th, which will run through August. Billboards will be located throughout Delaware in all three counties to announce the Preparedness website. Citizens can go to site to find preparedness materials and information that will help aide them during an emergency or an all hazards disaster. Part two of the campaign to start in June will also add the 911 Special Needs Registry.

Kiwanis Preparedness Presentation

2011-03-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Seaford Kiwanis Club at their monthly meeting. Twenty Five members attended the presentation held at the Manor House in Seaford. The POC’s for the presentation was Jim Thompson and Mrs Rose Poole, who took the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training with the Dover District AME Churches.

Spring Showers or Spring Flooding?

2011-03-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

Flooding is a coast to coast threat to Delawareans during all months of the year. Anywhere it rains, it can flood. This week, 26 States are reporting flooding and flash flooding, with flood watches and warnings currently in effect throughout the Eastern and Southern United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Midwestern states are especially susceptible to snow melt and ice jam that cause spring flooding, but states in every region of the country are at risk. Floodsmart.gov defines a flood as a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.

The 14th through 18th of March is National Flood Safety Awareness Week. Its purpose is to highlight some of the many ways floods can occur, the hazards associated with floods, and what can be done to safe life and property. “It is important to be prepared for flooding regardless of location, but particularly if situated in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam.”

The following resources are available to promote flooding awareness and preparedness to enhance personnel safety:

· The Ready Campaign

· National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Flood Safety

· FEMA’s FloodSmart Program

· FEMA’s Flood Preparedness

· Flood Insurance

Clayton-Smyrna CERT Presentation

2011-02-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

Delaware Citizen Corps gave a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Preparedness Presentation at the St. Polycarp Church in Smyrna. Over 40 people attended the presentation which was hosted by the Clayton Knights of Columbus. Also invited were the Towns of Clayton and Smyrna to attend this monthly meeting. The POC for the presentation was Jack Dungee. Plans in the future include a possible partnership between the two towns to host a CERT Class.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation for Early Head Start

2011-02-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

On January 31 – DE Citizen Corps gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation for the New Directions Early Head Start Program at the University Of Delaware. Twenty staff members of New Directions and three members of the UD Center for Disabilities Studies were present. This is the first of future presentations for early Head Start, Citizen Corps is also working on a new project with the UD Center for Disabilities Studies in addition to one from last year. Cindy Genau is the POC for New Directions and Phyllis Guinivan is the POC for the UD Center for Disabilities Studies.

Disaster Preparedness Workshop

2011-01-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

On Jan 22, Citizen Corps provided a Disaster Preparedness Workshop to the New Hope Recreation and Development Center in Ellendale, Sussex County. Twenty people attended the workshop which focused on Family Emergency Planning. Their mission and focus is providing educational opportunities to at risk youth through after school programs. Some of the programs provided are help with home work, one on one tutoring with special emphasis on math and reading, lecturers that provide instruction on bullying, healthy eating, science, read a long and tobacco abstention programs. They are also expanding their offerings to include Adult Programs that will involve Adult Computer Training, Red Cross -CPR Training, Health Awareness, Financial Planning and Emergency Preparedness. The POC and Director of the Center is Mr Kendal Tyer.

Be Ready in 2011: Make a Plan

2010-12-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Be Ready in 2011: Make a Plan: " Originally Posted By: Rachel Racusen, Director, Public Affairs FEMA

We make plans for almost anything. In a typical day, you might plan for how you’ll make your morning commute, what you will have for lunch, how you will accomplish projects at work, and what meal you will have upon returning home.

As the New Year approaches, we’re encouraging Americans to take three simple steps to get prepared before a disaster strikes: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed. Planning for a potential emergency can ease the stress of an emergency situation, and can ultimately save your life, or the life of someone you love.

We hope you will take this opportunity to Resolve to be Ready in 2011 and create your emergency plan today. Here are a few tips from Ready.gov, FEMA’s preparedness website, to get you started:

Write down your family’s plan, and store it in a safe place (preferably with your emergency kit).
Decide on a safe meeting place in your home, in your community, and in a nearby town. In case your home or community is damaged, family members will know where to go.
Review (and practice!) your family emergency plan at least two times per year.
Decide how family members will communicate after a disaster. Text messaging often works despite phone network disruptions, so teach family members how to use text messaging.
Subscribe to alert services in your area. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site.

What creative ways does your family, or workplace, practice its emergency plan? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

Preparedness Presentation at the Federal Courthouse

2010-12-14T10:55:00.001-08:00

Bob George, Marny McLee and Justin Kates of Delaware Citizen Corps provided two separate Preparedness Presentations at the Federal Court House in Wilmington (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). Members of the United States Attorney General’s Office, United States Marshals’ Service, United States Attorney’s Office, Federal Public Defender’s Office, United States Probation Office, United States District Court Clerk’s Office, and the United States Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office attended the training . The presentations were done jointly with the Wilmington Office of Emergency Management, Director George Giles and Margie Williams which briefed on the cities evacuation plan. The POC’s for the Presentation were Joe Papili of the U.S. Marshals Office and Bob Prettyman of the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Winter Storm Tips

2010-11-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

Freezing rain from an ice storm covers everything with heavy, smooth glaze ice. Ice-covered roads become slippery and hazardous, as the ice causes vehicles to skid out of control, which can cause devastating car crashes as well as pile-ups. Pedestrians are severely affected as sidewalks become slippery, causing people to slip and fall, and outside stairs can become an extreme injury hazard.

In addition to hazardous travel conditions, branches or even whole trees may break from the weight of ice. The weight of the ice itself can easily snap power lines and also break and bring down utility poles, just one quarter of an inch of ice accumulation can add about 500 pounds of weight per line span.

The following winter storm home-preparation suggestions may be helpful:

Make sure flashlights and battery-powered radios are working, and keep extra batteries, candles and matches on hand.
Unplug sensitive appliances such as the TV, VCR, computer and microwave. If the power goes off, turn off all major electrical appliances.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If you lose power, frozen food will generally keep for 48 hours. Discard perishable food that has been at 40 degrees for more than two hours. Odor or appearance is not an indicator that food is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
If you use an emergency-heating source such as a wood stove, kerosene heater or fireplace, keep fuels away from the flames and ventilate properly. Never leave a fire unattended.
If it seems likely that your home will be without heat for several days, drain your water pipes.
If you use a generator, read all the instructions that accompany it and be aware of the hazards that come with misuse. Use a qualified electrician to connect a generator to the house wiring. Never run a gasoline-powered generator in the house-the fumes are deadly.

Wilmington District Churches CERT Class

2010-11-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

The State Community Emergency Response Team taught a (CERT) Training course for the Wilmington District Churches. Fourteen members attended the class which was held at the Emmanuel AME Church in Hartly Delaware, Pastor Rev. Michael Washington. The POC was Rev. Rita Mishoe-Paige, she asked that another class be scheduled for next year and that a Disaster Preparedness Presentation be scheduled for her place of employment at the Delaware State Housing Authority. In Oct a CERT class was taught for the Dover District Churches held in Frankford DE.

Citizen Corps Takes CERT Training to Delaware Tech

2010-11-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Citizen Corps and State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) taught a CERT Train-the-Trainer Class at Del Tech. Del Tech faculty, staff, and students completed a CERT class last year, formed a CERT Team and will now be able to teach the course for their current and incoming Criminal Justice and Homeland Security students. The Del Tech team will teach their first CERT Course next month with assistance from the State CERT Team.

Chinese Community Presentation

2010-11-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

Bob George, Delaware Citizen Corps Program Manager provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to a Chinese American Community Group in Hockessin. The presentation was conducted through an interpreter provided by the Community Group to approximately 75 members. The message was very well received and appreciated, and Citizen Corps was invited back to do an additional presentation in Feb, 2011. The POC for the group was Helen Yates.

Medical Reserve Corps CERT Training

2010-11-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Bob George and Marny McLee, along with the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) taught a CERT Class for the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps on Oct 22-23, 2010. The class was held in the DEMA Training Room, with twenty –four (24) members in attendance plus two (2) individuals from the CERT waiting list, one from DelDOT (Dover) and one from Wilmington Trust Bank of Wilmington. The POC for the class was Nicole Desmarais of the Public Health Preparedness Section and DMRC State Coordinator. This was the third class taught for the MRC which falls under the Citizen Corps umbrella, another class is scheduled for Oct 7-8, 2011.

NCC Award of Appreciation

2010-10-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

DEMA Director Jamie Turner and Citizen Corps Program Manager Bob George present Brian Bannon of New Castle County Emergency Management and NCC Citizen Corps with a Certificate of Appreciation. The award is in recognition of their invaluable leadership & contributions to the 6^th Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day, the Citizen Corps Program, Emergency Management and for their efforts to embrace the communities, organizations and educational facilities in their county.

Dover District Churches CERT Class

2010-10-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

The State Community Emergency Response team traveled to Frankford DE to teach a CERT Class for the Dover District Churches, which was held at the Antioch AME Church. Thirty two (32) students attended the training which represented (10) churches throughout the district. The POC for the training was Rose Poole of Macedonia AME Church and the Christian Education Department.

Busy Week for Delaware Citizen Corps

2010-09-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

Business embraces CERT Awareness. The DE State CERT Team and the Office of Emergency Management from City of Wilmington partnered Friday September 24, to provided Wilmington Trust Bank with a full day of Preparedness Training . The day included Evacuation and Shelter in place procedures, Fire Safety, Search and Rescue and Citizen Preparedness. How prepared are your employees? The more prepared they are, the quicker your business will be able to reopen after disaster.

Faith Based Training; The Mount Calvary AME church invited Citizen Corps on Saturday September 25 to their Emergency Preparedness Day in Seaford. Bob George and Marny McLee spoke to the group about Emergency Preparedness and assisted in their efforts to actually prepare a disaster kit for all participants. Donations from the local business coupled with Emergency Kits and training from DE Citizen Corps helped to make the day productive and enjoyable. If your community group is interested in learning about preparedness, please contact us!

Family Emergency Preparedness Day A Success!

2010-09-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Family Emergency Preparedness Day (FEPD) which is an annual state observance of National Preparedness Month attracted an estimated crowd of more than 2,000 visitors to Glasgow Park on Sept. 11. Admission and all events at FEPD were free and the rapid consumption of the first 400 free burgers prompted Jake’s to send for more. Delmarva Power was a corporate funding supporter along with Jake’s Hamburgers, Rita’s Water Ice and ServPro of Bear/New Castle which provided free bottled water.
New Castle County Office of Emergency Management was the 2010 host sponsor with co-sponsors including the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, DEMA, Citizen Corps and the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. NCC Executive Chris Coons attended and delivered a proclamation of September as Preparedness Month in New Castle County. He presented the proclamation to NCC OEM Coordinator Dave Carpenter. Previous events have been hosted by Sussex and Kent County Emergency Management offices.
A field full of more than 20 exhibitors provided displays and information on preparedness and safety. Many people participated in free training for fire extinguisher use, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and family emergency planning and emergency supply kit building. The Delaware National Guard climbing wall attracted a crowd and encouraged young people to get high without drugs. Citizen Corps basic emergency supply backpacks were given away during training sessions and in drawings throughout the day.

Gov. Markell proclaims Delaware Preparedness Month

2010-09-09T11:41:00.001-07:00

In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, Gov. Jack Markell and Lt. Gov. Mathew Denn have declared September as Delaware Preparedness Month. In issuing a declaration, the Governor and Lt. Governor encourage all Delawareans to take steps to be better prepared for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.

Markell advises residents to take advantage of opportunities to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies from natural disasters to potential terrorist attacks. Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Citizen Corps and FEMA have programs and informative web sites that can guide the public in creating emergency plans and stocking emergency supply kits.

The Governor also asks citizens to be part of the anti-terrorism team by reporting suspicious activity to the Delaware “See Something, Say Something” tip line, 1-800-FORCE-1-2.

The declaration refers specifically to the importance of not only having a plan and a kit, but also being knowledgeable about evacuation or sheltering decisions, and being aware of potential conditions and threats.

Delaware Emergency Management Agency joins the national initiative for preparedness by encouraging and teaching preparedness. The agency, including Delaware Citizen Corps, offers materials, presentations and instruction in household and community preparedness. Events scheduled to observe National Preparedness Month include Family Emergency Preparedness Day, Saturday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Glasgow Park in New Castle County.

Free family emergency preparedness presentations are available statewide. DEMA-trained presenters can be scheduled for a presentation that features step by step guidance in creating a family plan, an example of an emergency supply kit and preparedness materials. The presentations are appropriate for civic and educational organizations, church groups and neighborhood associations as well as for businesses. For information or to schedule a presentation, call 856-5815 in Sussex County, and 659-2210 for Kent or New Castle counties.

Citizen Corps also offers Community Emergency Response Team training and emergency preparedness classes. For information, call 659-2243.

Emergency preparedness information is also available at www.dema.delaware.gov, www.delawarecitizencorps.org, www.preparede.org, andwww.ready.gov.

9/11 Drill Down

2010-09-09T10:44:00.001-07:00

As part of the 9/11 Drill Down for SAFETY Campaign, Safe America Foundation is focusing on the use of wireless devices as “safety tools”. The campaign is called “Test First, Talk Second”. We all know land lines work exceptionally well; however with most of the population out and about on a daily basis and cell, text and internet are common modes of communicating.

So on the anniversary please join me in a call down drill with your family. Whether a disturbance at school, mall, airport or a weather event, stay connected with FOUR simple letters ----I M O K -texting IMOK takes less than 2 seconds, faster than a call, it is a fraction of the bandwidth so 800 additional people can send out the same message in comparison to just one phone call.

So please take some time at dinner and discuss with the family, if there was an event and you needed someone to know you are okay –then text –I M O K.

2010-09-06T15:03:00.001-07:00

ANNUAL FAMILY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DAY, SEPT. 11, GLASGOW PARK

2010-08-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

After back-to-back blizzards in February and with threats of a heavy storm season ahead,
state emergency management and public safety officials and responders are organizing a free
event to help prepare the public for such storms and other disruptive events in Delaware.

As the state observes National Preparedness Month in September, New Castle County
Emergency Operations Center hosts the Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day, 11 a.m.-3
p.m., Saturday, September 11. The free event is located in Glasgow Park, Route 896 and Route
40, Glasgow.

Joining New Castle County as sponsors are the Department of Safety and Homeland
Security, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Delaware Citizen Corps, and the
American Red Cross of Delmarva.

The annual event is open to all and includes free food and refreshments, free training and
door prizes, and a variety of activities for all ages. Family Emergency Preparedness Day
features displays and demonstrations by state, regional and local emergency responders,
emergency managers, law enforcement and other public and private groups.

Jake’s Burgers will provide free hamburgers and hot dogs, and free water and drinks will
be available throughout the day. Free treats from Rita’s Water Ice will serve those with a sweet
tooth.

The Delaware National Guard climbing wall will challenge those who are
adventuresome. Participation in games and activities at different exhibits can earn useful and fun
rewards for all ages. Materials and information on emergency preparedness for families will be
available from a variety of exhibitors. Hand-outs and displays include information on emergency
plans for all the family members, including pets.

Free training classes cover emergency plans for family preparedness and guidance on
assembling an emergency supply kit to serve your family. A door prize of a basic emergency kit
will be awarded in each training class.

WSTW 93.7FM will be broadcasting live from the event!

DuPont Disaster Preparedness Presentation

2010-08-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Bob George, Citizen Corps Program Manager (pictured above) shares Preparedness information with DuPont employees. Delaware Citizen Corps gave (3) separate Disaster Preparedness Presentations to a total of (5) groups at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington. Approximately 200 employees received the information on Aug 10, 17 and 23 as part of their quarterly Safety Day. Over the last year Citizen Corps has given (10) presentations at the site, the POC’s for these presentations were Marianne Politowski and Tina George.

Dave Young, Citizen Corps/ Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training, Lead Instructor (pictured below) teaches Utility Safety.

Disabilities Forum

2010-08-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps participated in a forum that the Developmental Disability Center (DDC) from the University of DE sponsored in August to help educate citizens of the importance of planning for those with disabilities in a disaster. The DDC utilized Inclusive Preparedness to facilitate a scenario where citizens had to think about Emergency Planning from a Nor'Easter hitting Delaware. Citizen Corps provided a presentation on Emergency Preparedness which included Special Needs considerations. There were 4 events over a period of two days, all conducted at Del Tech- Wilmington Campus, Stanton, Dover and Georgetown. The target audience was the Special Needs community and their support staff and or Agency.

National Night Out

2010-08-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Marny McLee, Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator, manned a Citizen Corps/DEMA Display Table at the Dover National Night Out. The night was held at and Sponsored by Target and the Dover Police Department. Hundreds of people came out to take advantage of the many give-a-ways and drawing by Target as well as many other local venders, there were local Police Departments, Fire Companies and much more. DEMA and Citizen Corps were present in all three counties on the night with, Bob George Citizen Corps Program Manager participating in the New Castle County event held at Del Castle Recreation Center in Greater Wilmington, and Rosanne Pack, DEMA PIO participating in the Milford National Night Out sponsored by the Milton PD, held at the Bicentennial Park.

Heat-related Illnesses Information

2010-08-04T13:28:00.001-07:00

Your body normally cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially with high humidity, sweating just isn't enough. Your body temperature can rise to dangerous levels and you can develop a heat illness. Most heat illnesses occur from staying out in the heat too long. Exercising too much for your age and physical condition are also factors. Older adults, young children and those who are sick or overweight are most at risk. Drinking fluids, replenishing salt and minerals and limiting time in the heat can help.

Heat-related illnesses include

Heatstroke - a life-threatening illness in which body temperature may rise above 106° F in minutes; symptoms include dry skin, rapid, strong pulse and dizziness
Heat exhaustion - an illness that can precede heatstroke; symptoms include heavy sweating, rapid breathing and a fast, weak pulse
Heat cramps - muscle pains or spasms that happen during heavy exercise
Heat rash - skin irritation from excessive sweating

The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

· Heavy sweating

· Paleness

· Muscle cramps

· Tiredness

· Weakness

· Dizziness

· Headache

· Nausea or vomiting

· Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. See medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.

What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

· Get the victim to a shady area.

· Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.

· Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.

· If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.

· Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.

· Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

What steps can be taken to cool the body during heat exhaustion?

· Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.

· Rest.

· Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

· Seek an air-conditioned environment.

· Wear lightweight clothing.

How can people protect their health when temperatures are extremely high?

Remember to keep cool and use common sense. Drink plenty of fluid, replace salts and minerals, wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen, pace yourself, stay cool indoors, schedule outdoor activities carefully, use a buddy system, monitor those at risk, and adjust to the environment.

How much should I drink during hot weather?

During hot weather you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour. Avoid drinks containing alcohol because they will actually cause you to lose more fluid.

Can medications increase the risk of heat-related illness?

The risk for heat-related illness and death may increase among people using the following drugs: (1) psychotropics, which affect psychic function, behavior, or experience (e.g. haloperidol or chlorpromazine); (2) medications for Parkinson’s disease, because they can inhibit perspiration; (3) tranquilizers such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones, and thiozanthenes; and (4) diuretic medications or "water pills" that affect fluid balance in the body.

How effective are electric fans in preventing heat-related illness?

Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Air conditioning is the strongest protective factor against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness. Consider visiting a shopping mall or public library for a few hours.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Easter Seals Disaster Preparedness Presentation

2010-07-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps gave its second Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Easter Seals Organization in Newark. Approximately 40 clients and a few staff members attended the presentation, the POC for the presentation was Sandi Nugent Activities Coordinator.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation

2010-07-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Bob George, Delaware Citizen Corps Program Manager gives a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Sussex County Republican Woman’s Group at the Sussex Pines Golf Course in Georgetown. Approximately 70 members and spouses attended the presentation, in attendance was Mrs. Castle, wife of Delaware Congressman Castle. This was the second presentation given to other members of the group the POC was Pat Woodring.

Disaster Preparedness Seminar at Bethany Beach

2010-07-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

On June 12, Marny McLee Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator, participated in a Disaster Preparedness Seminar at the Bethany Beach Public Safety Building. The event was attended by approximately (60) members of the local community, full-time and part-time residents. The primary Disaster Preparedness Presentation was given by Cami D’Attilio, DEMA Trained and Sussex Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer. April Willey RSVP Coordinator gave a brief overview of the program and ways to sign up to volunteer. Ralph Mitchell Bethany Beach Director of Public Safety, and event coordinator, gave a briefing on the Town of Bethany’s preparedness procedures and handed out a preparedness packet. Marny had a Citizen Corps display table with materials to give away and gave a short briefing on the Citizen Corps Program, which focused on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course. Bethany Beach established a Citizen Corps Council in 2005, which is run by the Police Department, the POC is Lt Rick Haden and Sgt Patrick Foley.

Preparedness Night at the Ballpark

2010-05-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Come out June 3rd at 7:05

Delaware Citizen Corps, New Castle County OEM/CCP, Wilmington OEM/CCP, the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps and the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula will continue its partnership with the Wilmington Blue Rocks Minor League Baseball Team to put on a Preparedness Night at the Ballpark. This is the fourth year of the partnership, an outfield billboard is displayed with a preparedness message and state and local websites, preparedness messages will be digitally shown throughout the game, and throughout the season for all events held at the stadium, which will reach approximately 300,000 fans. A Citizen Corps Back Pack will be given to the first 1000 fans, disaster preparedness messages will be broadcasted over the public address system, over 5,000 fans are expected to attend the game. A Disaster/Emergency Kit will be given away after each inning, display tables will be located in the second level walkway for individuals to stop by to get information, 500 small plastic bags filled with preparedness material will be placed on cars to be taken home.

Church Group Preparedness Presentation

2010-05-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps gave a combined Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Mt Calvary United Methodist Church in Bridgeville. Twenty five (25) members of the Mt Calvary and Bethel United Methodist Church Group attended the 2 hour presentation held in the Church Fellowship Hall. The training was one part of other events the Health and Wellness Ministry had planned for the day, to include Fire Training at another location Local Bridgeville PD Officer Hogan sat in on the presentation, Dr. Alstacia Waters-Hall and member of Mt. Calvary Church was the POC for the presentation, Rev Barron N. Hopkins Sr. is the Pastor.

Harrington Citizens Police Academy

2010-05-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Harrington Police Department held a Citizen Police Academy Graduation on May 4, 2010. The course was taught by off duty police officers Fifteen Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) completed the 12 week course, which was held every Thursday evening from 6-9 pm. The course was taught by off duty police officers, retired emergency professionals and local pastors. It was designed for the volunteers to understand the inner workings of the police department so they will have a better understanding of the responsibilities of the officers and the department.

The guest speaker was Kenneth Wagner, Youth Pastor of Calvary Wesleyan Church in Harrington, he runs a youth program called “UNITED” in which 200 youth participate in every Friday evening to meet, play games, play music, sing etc…. His message was to mentor a youth in the community and to congratulate the volunteers for taking an interest to help the PD in patrolling the city and neighborhoods, to help make Harrington a better and safer place.

Chief of Police Norman Barlow is very satisfied with the interest of the volunteers and noted that everyone attended all classes and were very eager to learn and participate. He is also excited with the extra eyes and ears he will now have in the community which will take some of the workload off of the officers. The POC for the event was Ruth Peterman who is the Admin Support for the PD.

Red Cross CEO Receives Award

2010-05-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

DE Citizen Corps Program Manager Bob George gives American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula CEO Dan Valle an “Award of Excellence and Certificate of Appreciation” at the Quarterly State Citizen Corps Council Meeting. Dan is a Charter member of the Delaware Citizen Corps Council, the award is in recognition of his invaluable leadership & contributions to the Delaware Citizen Corps Program, Emergency Management and Citizen Preparedness.

DTCC Campus Exercise

2010-05-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Delaware Technical Community College (Terry Campus) held their Annual Exercise based on a Campus Bomb Explosion in which members of the Campus Community Emergency Response team (CERT) Team were called into action. The team was made up of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Students who were CERT Trained in Nov. Marny McLee State CERT Coordinator and Dave Young (Lead CERT Instructor) participated as shadows/evaluators during the exercise.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation for Easter Seals

2010-05-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

DE Citizen Corps provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to Easter Seals and the Amputee Support Group, the two hour training session was conducted in New Castle at the Easter Seals Facility. The two groups have recently formed a partnership and decided to train together. Gloria Price the POC is the President and Founder of the Amputee Support Group and Nancy Rinalli was the POC for Easter Seals.

ACP Preparedness Presentation

2010-03-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

Bob George and Marny McLee gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the First State Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) at DEMA. Fifteen (15) members attended the presentation, they got a chance to view the Disaster Preparedness DVD as well as go away with a Citizen Corps Disaster/Emergency Kit and other preparedness materials. ACP focuses on Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Audit Compliance and Emergency Planning and is a member of the NCC Citizen Corps Council. The POC for the presentation was Brian Bannon of NCC OEM/Citizen Corps and member of the group along with ACP President, Peggy Cole of DTI.

Preparedness DVD Kick-Off

2010-03-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

Sussex Central High School hosted a Citizen Corps Press Conference in regards to the release of the Spanish and English subtitled versions of the Disaster Preparedness Video created in 2008 by the Preparedness Coalition. The coalition consist of DEMA, Citizen Corps, the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP- Sussex County) and the Public Health Preparedness Section. With the goal of educating all Delawareans on how to prepare for a disaster, in 2010, the Disaster Preparedness Coalition is expanding the campaign to reach students and all other members of the public, including the Spanish speaking population and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. This multi-faceted approach will increase the number of Delaware Citizens who are prepared for disasters, whether natural or technological.

Angela Manos, FEMA Region III Community Preparedness Officer, came from Philadelphia to support the Disaster Preparedness DVD Kick-off. In addition to Gov. Jack Markell, Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Lewis Schiliro, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police Colonel Robert Coupe, DEMA Director James Turner III, Indian River School Superintendent Susan Bunting, Sussex Central Principal Timothy Capone, had brief comments at the event. A signing translator for the deaf and hard of hearing ensured that all attending were aware of speakers’ comments. There were also Spanish speaking attendees from Citizen Corps/CERT and DSP to assist if language translation was necessary.

Citizen Corps Disaster/Emergency Kits were presented to (from L to R) Secretary Lowery, Superintendent Bunting, Principal Capone and Gov. Markell (pictured above). Officiating the event was DSP PIO Sgt Walter Newton, the Signing Interpreter for the event was Caroline Greene (below) of DEAFinitions and Interpreting LLC. DSP Sgt Jennifer Griffin was the POC and coordinator for the event.

CERT Workshop for IFMA

2010-02-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

On Feburary 17th, Delaware Citizen Corps and members of the State Community Emergency Response Team, provided a CERT Workshop for the International Facilities Managers Association of Delaware (IFMA). Twenty Five members and guest attended the training which was held at the Community Services Building in downtown Wilmington. The POC’s for the class were Scott Stilley and Pamela Nelson, pictured is Colonel Dallas Wingate of the DNG teaching the Terrorism Awareness Module.

Making A Difference Awards from DEMA and FEMA Region III

2010-01-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

DEMA Director Jamie Turner presents a “Making a Difference Award” from FEMA and DEMA signed by Region IIII Acting Director and Director Turner to Daniel Valle Chief Executive Officer from the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. The award certificates were presented at the Quarterly Citizen Corps Council meeting held at DEMA. The award “recognizes dedicated service and commitment to community emergency preparedness and for planning, coordinating and executing a significant event to residents about preparedness during National Preparedness Month” in September. They were presented to Citizen Corps partners, organizations, county and local councils that continually help to prepare Delaware residents.

CERT Presentation to Dover Rotary

2010-01-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

Bob George Citizen Corps Program Manager gives a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Presentation to the Dover Rotary Club. The meeting was held at the Maple Dale Golf Club in Dover, the POC’s were Dr. Wilma Mishoe, Dean at DTCC-Terry Campus and Rev. Rita Paige from the Delaware Housing Authority.

Millville/Ocean View CERT Class

2009-12-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Delaware State Community Emergency Response Team held a CERT Training Class at the Millville Town Hall on Dec 4-5. The class was made up of 20 Millville Volunteers and Ocean View Neighborhood Watch members. POC’s for the Class were Tom Sheeran and Steve Micciche.

DuPont Disaster Preparedness Presentations

2009-12-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

Delaware Citizen Corps gave five Disaster Preparedness Presentations at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington on Nov 5, 10, 11, 16 and 17th. The presentations were part of the monthly safety meetings and approximately 200 employees received the briefings which generated many questions. Two Disaster Kits were given away at each session as well as preparedness materials for all! The POCs for the briefings were Yamaira Gonzalez and Mike Brady.

CERT Training for Delaware Tech

2009-11-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

On November 13th and 14th, the State Community Emergency Response Team, taught a CERT Class at the Delaware Technical Community Terry Campus in Dover. Twenty-five participants completed the two day course which was made up of Faculty, Staff, Security and students who Major in Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Nursing etc. Free CERT Kits and Disaster Preparedness material were given to each student as well as a Certificate of Completion signed by the DEMA Director Jamie Turner and Citizen Corps Program Manager Bob George. The POC for the course was Dr Jeff Peck, Criminal Justice Department Chairman, a Train–the-Trainer Course will be planned for next year. Please see the additional pictures in the photo gallery.

CERT Training for Christ Our King Church

2009-11-04T08:20:00.001-08:00

The State Community Emergency Response Team with the assistance of the Wilmington Citizen Corps Council taught a CERT Training Course at the Christ Our King Church in Wilmington. It was part of the 9^th Wards Community Preparedness Week, sponsored by the United Way, members from COK Church, Sojourners, Al Kauthar Masjid, Ezion Mt. Carmel UM, Mother COGIC and Karen’s Little Walkers made up the class. CERT Kits and certificates were given to those who completed the course, LaVaida White was the coordinator for the class.

Presentation for Wilmington Amputee Support Group

2009-11-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

On October 22nd, the State Citizen Corps team provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to 20 members of the Wilmington Amputee Support Group. This is the third presentation given by DE Citizen Corps, the meeting was held at the Riverside Hospital, the Founder and President is Gloria Price.

Get Ready for Winter!

2009-10-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

You likely have all sorts of things in your home right now that would serve you well in an emergency, with a few additions and some organization, you'll have a functional kit and contingency plan.

Creating a home emergency kit can be a simple to enormous undertaking depending on the level of energy and preparation you want to invest into it. Most people are on the "Stay warm and fed until the power comes back on" camp, not the "Prepared for zombie apocalypse" camp, and though it never hurts to prepare for the worst we'll be focusing more on the former than the latter.

Once you read over the following tips you can adopt them to fit your needs based on your locale and weather, size of your homef, and how much storage space you have available.

Know The Lay of the Land: Before all else you want to know how to control your home in the event of an emergency. Do you know where the water shutoff valve is? The emergency shut off valve for the gas? Which circuit breakers go to which part of your home? Many home emergencies can be quickly neutralized by knowing how to shut down the infrastructure of the home. Make sure the rest of the people in the house know how to do things like kill the water or electricity. It may not seem critical now, but if a pine tree comes crashing through your kitchen and water is spraying everywhere, knowing how to stop the geyser of water becomes quite important.

Rotate Your Semi-Perishable Food: Canned goods and bottles of water keep well enough, but not forever. Arranging your pantry so that cans don't linger at the back ensures that when you're snowed in you'll be eating fresh canned fruits and vegetables instead of the dusty cans from three Thanksgivings ago. You can go all out and build a rotating shelf to keep your canned goods fresh, but for smaller scale storage a simple wire-frame can dispenser will fit on most pantry shelves.

Keep Batteries and Flashlights on Hand: You'll always want batteries on hand. When it comes to keeping the lights on when the power is out, flashlights are king. Candles are a tragedy waiting to happen. Hundreds of house fires are started every year during power outages as people light up candles en masse to brighten their dark homes. It's 2009, you can buy ultra-efficient LED flashlights for less than the cost of a DVD. Even with the power out there's no excuse for lighting your home with fire.

Have Alternative Heat: If you're preparing for a winter storm you most likely live somewhere with icy winter conditions and deep snow fall. When keeping warm during a winter storm there are two levels of warmth: safe and comfortable. If you're wearing layered clothing and have lots of blankets, 40-50F in your house is safe but not particularly comfortable. Nobody will get frost bite and pipes won't freeze. Comfortable is a personal thing—I'm comfy at 55F, most people prefer at least in the upper 60s—and you'll need to plan accordingly for it. Fireplaces, kerosene space heaters, and other combustion-based sources of heat are less than ideal compared to the efficiency and safety of a central furnace but when operated properly can help keep you warm until power and order are restored.

You absolutely need to make sure that whatever alternative source of heat you plan on using during an outage is clean, operational, and that everyone who will be using it understands how to use it safely. Clean out the chimney before you need it and give that kerosene heater a trial run when you're not under pressure. Unfortunately, unlike swapping candles for LED flashlights, there isn't an ultra modern replacement for ditching combustion-based heat for something fancy. Safety first!

Tools and Materials for Emergency Repairs: You don't need to be ready for a full scale remodeling project but you do need some basics. What if a tree branch falls and breaks a window? In the middle of summer it an annoyance, in the middle of a winter outage it's a giant icy hole to the outside world that will drop the temperature of your home below freezing in a matter of hours. Some heavy duty plastic sheeting and duct tape might not have the insulation value of a triple-pane window but it will keep hot air from drafting right out into your yard.

Communicating from the Winter Wonderland: Phone lines can be damaged by winds and ice, but it is very rare for a winter storm to wipe out the cellular network in an area. Keep your cellphone charged and make sure you have a car charger for it—if the power outage is extended you'll need to top it off at some point. If cellphone service is spotty, you may want to consider sending an SMS message to communicate with friends and family. Often times SMS messages go through just fine when trying to place and actual voice call is sketchy due to weak signal. If you live in the country side you might consider investing in a couple GMRS/FRS hand-held radios with some neighbors. You can pick up a modest but functional walkie-talkie set for around $30.

Stay Well Stocked: If you live in an area where weather can keep you holed up, you need to get into the practice of shopping ahead. When you're buying your regular groceries, purchase a few extra non-perishable things to stock in the pantry. Don't wait to do your grocery shopping until it is critical that you get out that day to do so. The same principle applies to non-food items like batteries, salt and sand for your walk and driveway, and keeping your gas tank full in your car.

Scaling Preparation for Your Situation and Budget: Finally, as we mentioned above, you'll need to scale your level of preparation to your budget and needs. If you can afford it and live in an area with frequent power outages, although a bit pricey, a home generator is a great investment. An apartment dweller that experiences extremely infrequent and brief outages could simply stockpile some batteries under the bed.

The important part in preparing for inclement weather and power outages is to run through potential and reasonable scenarios and what you need to do in various situations that may arise. What if an ice-laden tree falls onto your house? What if the power is out for more than a day? How will I heat food with no electricity? Does the heating system of your home require electricity? Have I told my roommate, spouse, or child what the plan is in the event of an emergency? Asking and answering questions like these well before you're under the stress of the actual situation helps you plan properly and keep stress to a minimum when that Douglas Fir actually does come through the picture window or the guy on the emergency weather radio says power won't be restored until next Tuesday. A small amount of planning now yields a lot of comfort later.

Article by Jason Fitzpatrick of Lifehacker

Wesley College Disaster Preparedness Presentations

2009-10-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

On Oct 15 Marny McLee Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator, gives a Disaster Kit to a Wesley College Student, during one of two Disaster Preparedness Presentations given to back to back classes taught by CSI Professor Tommye Stayle. Professor Stayle is coordinating with Citizen Corps to bring a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Class to the College for Staff, Security and Students.

CERT Training for Whethersfield Block Watch

2009-10-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Citizen Corps gave a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) briefing to the Whethersfield Block Watch Group of Bear DE, in the basement of one of their members, Chris Webb. Whethersfield is planning a CERT Course for the near future and will affiliate themselves with the New Castle County Citizen Corps Council. They will be the newest Neighborhood Watch Group partnered with DE Citizen Corps. Michelle Tiberi-Jenkins is the coordinator for the group.

National Preparedness Month and Delaware Citizen Corps Featured in the News

2009-09-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Schools, families be “Ready” during National Preparedness Month

For many families, school is back in session this month, but students shouldn’t be the only ones with homework. The Delaware Citizen Corps program and Delaware Emergency Management Agency encourage parents to become familiar with their child’s school emergency plan.

As part of National Preparedness Month and throughout the year, parents and schools are encouraged to visit delawarecitizencorps.org/ or Federal Emergency Management Agency website at ready.gov/ for helpful tools and tips on what it truly means to be prepared. The websites list potential hazards and provide preparedness checklists, kids’ activities and more.

Whether people are faced with weather emergencies such as nor’easters or floods, technological or other manmade disasters such as hazardous material spills or terrorist attacks, emergency readiness helps assure that children are protected physically and psychologically in the event of a disaster.

Sponsored by the Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign, NPM is a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies.

National Preparedness Month focuses on helping Americans understand what it truly means to be “Ready,” which goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry. Being ready includes: getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about emergencies and their appropriate responses and getting involved in community efforts such as Citizens Corps. And being ready is important all year round, not just for the month of September.

This year, Delaware Citizens Corps is collaborating with other FEMA Region III Citizens Corps programs in West Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania to distribute preparedness messages. Each office is sending preparedness information to local media as well as social networking sites, blogs and websites. This is the first time the regional offices have worked together to coordinate a mass outreach.

By following simple preparedness steps in advance, Americans can reduce the impact of emergencies on themselves, their families and their businesses. Individuals can visit the websites listed above and the local American Red Cross at redcrossdelmarva.org/ and DEMA at dema.delaware.gov/.

http://www.communitypub.com/education/x1128385687/Schools-families-be-Ready-during-National-Preparedness-Month

Delaware Family Emergency Preparedness Day a Huge Success!

2009-09-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

On September 12th, Citizen Corps and its partners conducted the 5^th Annual DE Family Emergency Preparedness Day in Support of National Preparedness Month. The event was held in Dover at the DelDOT Administration Building on Bay Road. Approximately 40 exhibitors including Emergency Responders, State Agencies and Volunteer Organizations shared their preparedness message to an estimated attendance of 300-350 citizens. FREE Training was also provided for the public, Disaster Preparedness by the American Red Cross of Delmarva, Emergency Kits by Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and Animal Preparedness by the Delaware Animals in Disaster Service (DADS). A FREE Disaster kit was given away in each Training Class as well as to the winners of the Scavenger Hunt. Jakes Hamburgers served FREE burgers, hotdogs, chips, water and soda, The Pepsi Company of Del-Mar donated 10 cases of their products, WAWA donated 200 drinks and Serv-Pro of Newcastle/Bear donated bottles of water. Angela Manos Community Preparedness/Citizen Corps Program Officer from FEMA Region III attended the event.

Thanks to the Family Emergency Preparedness Day Coalition which is made up of: The Department of Safety and Homeland Security-Kimberly Chandler, Delaware Emergency Management Agency- Rosanne Pack, Citizen Corps- Bob George and Marny McLee, Kent County Public Safety- Colin Faulkner, Allen Metheny, Dave Mick, Jennifer Graham, Nicole Vautard, The American Red Cross-Holly Newton and Sarah Gilmour, DHSS-PHPS-Medical Reserve Corps-Nicole Desmarais, RSVP of Sussex County-Mary Ann Hook and April Willey, and City of Dover-Wayne Hutcheson. A special thanks to the Kent County Public Safety Office for hosting this year’s event.

Preparedness Presentation for Rotary Club

2009-09-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

On September 1st, Bob George and Marny McLee gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Georgetown - Millsboro Rotary Club at the Sussex Pines Golf Course. Over 30 Business men and women attended the briefing, Gen Ret-Reid Beverage was the POC for the meeting.

H1N1 Flu

2009-09-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Wash your hands with soap and clean running water. Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective. GET VACCINATED.

Share this Flu e-Card with friends and family! Click here.

Learn more about novel H1N1 Flu and what you can do to stay healthy.

Need Novel H1N1 flu Information? Get it at http://www.flu.delaware.gov

Delaware Family Emergency Preparedness Day

2009-08-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

We will be having our 5^th Annual DE Family Emergency Preparedness Day Event in Dover on Sep 12, 09 from 10 AM - 2PM at the Delaware Department of Transportation (DELDOT) Administration Building on Bay Road. There will be approx 40 State and Volunteer Organizations on hand to share their Preparedness Message.

We will have FREE FOOD from Jakes Hamburgers and, FREE DRINKS from WAWA, also our newest business partner SERVPRO of Bear /New Castle will have bottles of Water at their display. There will also be PREPAREDNESS TRAINING (with a couple Emergency Kits given away in each class) as well as GAMES for the kids to include Fire Safety Smoke House, a Climbing Wall and a K-9 Demonstration. Some organizations on hand will be, The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), Citizen Corps, The American Red Cross, The National Guard, The State Police, Public Health Preparedness Section, Medical Reserve Corps, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Dept of Highway Safety, State Fire School, Dover Air Force Base, plus much much more. This is an opportunity for the public to come out and meet their First Responders face to face, the DE Homeland Security Secretary will also be there to meet and greet the public.

Come out meet your First Responders, learn some preparedness tips for your family, and share this important day with us. This year’s event will be hosted by the Kent County Office of Public Safety.

Click here to view the event flyer.

Congregations Keeping Communities Safe

2009-07-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

Post By Lisbeth R. on the new Serve.gov

I have been a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member in Cobb County, Georgia since 2004. It all started with my desire to help my family and neighbors to survive a disaster.

I started searching on the internet to find out if any volunteer opportunities were being offered in my community, and that's how I found CERT through Citizen Corps and ultimately Cobb County. I participated in exercises, drills, training and recruitment opportunities. I took numerous FEMA independent courses in emergency management until I decided to enroll in a formal study program in emergency management. That is when I started the graduate certificate program in emergency management at Georgia State University.

Today that knowledge has allowed me to create a ministry in my church focusing on awareness of emergency management including conducting drills, exercises and training. Through that ministry, I have created vital documents such as emergency operations procedures for church and faith-based schools, continuity of operations plans, and evacuation plans--documents that I am happy to share with my neighbors.

In addition to the purpose of sharing those documents, and in the spirit of cooperation, I have established communication between the church and the Public Safety authorities including, the sheriff, police, fire and emergency management departments in the county. After all how good is a plan if it not shared with those who are there to help you?

Lastly, as a congregation we have agreed to become a Point of distribution (POD) for the CDC Strategic National Stockpile to the surrounding community should a pandemic occur. Our intent at Grandview 7th Day Adventist Church is to serve our community. We do that by being prepared and by helping prepared for unforeseen disasters. To learn more about Citizen Corps or to make sure that you and your community are ready, please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/ready/.

Preparedness Tips From Winners Of ‘In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog - CaliforniaVolunteers Disaster Kit Contest’

2009-07-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Below are the winners of the ‘Send Me A Preparedness Tip, Win A Disaster Kit’ Contest. Readers were asked to send one of the following: an emergency preparedness tip, something you have done to prepare for a disaster, or a suggestion to improve preparedness in your community. Entries came by email, on the blog and through Twitter. The winners, chosen by random, will receive a disaster kit (see photo below) thanks in part to the CaliforniaVolunteers’ WEPrepare program. (Though I have also listed some of the other entrants at the bottom whose preparedness tips will also hopefully be helpful).
The Winners:
Scott Kidder/Oakland, California
I recommend keeping backup copies of your personal records in electronic form both at home and off-site. This can prove very useful in the event that your home is severely damaged or destroyed in a disaster. I purchased several rewritable DVDs with a capacity of 4.7 GB. Rewritable CDs may work, too, depending on how much information you want to store. To keep the information secure, I created an encrypted disk image (256-bit AES encryption) that contains all of my sensitive and valuable information. I consider it important to encrypt the data on the DVD so that the information is inaccessible should the disc become lost or stolen.
Jei-Nhy Quirantes/Kekaha, Hawaii
Information I store on the backup disc includes personal finance records (Quicken, Money, etc), tax returns, insurance policies, a home inventory (photos, videos, receipts), and irreplaceable photos and videos. I update the contents of the DVDs at roughly 6 month intervals. The update process takes only about 1-2 hours. You might keep a copies of the discs at work, in your briefcase/work bag, and in your go-bag/emergency kit at home. Having the information distributed lessens the likelihood of a total loss.
I’ve gathered important documents i.e. birth certificates, medical cards, insurance papers, will, placed them in a ziplock bag, and put them in my emergency kit. I’ve also scanned digital copies of each of them and uploaded them to a jump drive and emailed them to myself.

Rich Madden/Aurora, Illinois
The thing that most people overlook with emergency preparedness is that anything that you can do to mitigate the uncomfortableness of an emergency goes along way to keep them safe and sane. If you need to use restroom facilities and there are none, what are you going to do; I have heard to many stories of people using unknown leaves to clean themselves and using something like poison ivy, “Ouch”. Having a roll of toilet tissue and a garbage bag to contain the waste will go a long way to keeping you comfortable and safe. Also having a toothbrush and toothpaste helps with that morning after mouth that tastes so foul. Also having an extra pair of glasses just in case you loose your current pair so you can at least see clearly or not. The comfort of an event will go along ways to help ease the rehab of getting over the event.
One other thing if you have to evacuate your residence due to flood, fire, or earthquake, you will have to prove yourself to re-enter your community a copy of your homeowners insurance your, marriage license, your driver’s license or passport, will go a long way to secure your right to be in the community. These copies in certified form or in microfilm are acceptable.
Jon Abolins/Trenton, New Jersey

Mentally prepare for resilience in daily activities. One way is to develop the habit of “having an exit plan” mapped out as you go along. In the train carriage, note where the exits — including the pop-out window emergency exits — are. Count how many seats you are from the nearest exist. Similar practice applies to plane travel. When going into an office, school, etc. pay attention to the emergency exits, fire alarms, extinguishers, and such.
Mike Everett-Lane/Brooklyn, New York
Here are a couple I’ve gleaned from various sources:
1) Get several hundred dollars out of the bank, in small bills (ones and fives). If there’s a power outage, the ATMs and credit card machines will be down. Stores will run out of small bills quickly. Put the money in an envelope, and store it some place where you won’t spend it.
2) Make sure at least one of your phones can be powered with just the phone line, again in case of power outage you’ll still be able to make calls.
3) Keep a pair of old slip-on shoes under your bed, and a flashlight at hand. I use a Pak Light ( http://www.9voltlight.com/ ), attached with velcro to the underside of the bed frame.
David Chesler/Leesburg, Virginia

I work for the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross. As part of our Community Disaster Education (CDE) program I provide to any group or organization a free one-hour Disaster & Emergency Preparedness presentation. I promote Be Red Cross Ready… Build a Kit, Make a Plan and Get Informed. I start out with a ‘Shelter in Place’ scenario to get the group thinking. I enjoy this part of my job. I let them know when it comes to Disaster & Emergency Preparedness… I talk the talk, but more importantly I walk the walk.

CaliforniaVolunteers’ WEPrepare Disaster Kit

Patty Brooks/San Jose, California
Turn off your power and water for a weekend and survive it. You don’t really know how it will go until you try it. Trying this before you lose it in a real situation will give you an idea of what you will need when it really happens. Take notes and make a list of items most important to your survival. This is the best time of year for this drill. (its a great way to conserve energy and lower your bill).
I started a neighborhood association to get my neighbors together, then I held an Emergency Preparedness Awareness Fair and Blood Drive. We had a total of 327 attendees as follows: 275 guests, 12 staff , 12 agencies / 37 agency representatives, 3 City representatives &. 6 sponsors,
Our blood drive goal, 25 pints and we managed to collect 34 pints. The agencies included Ca, Highway Patrol (1) San Jose Crime Prevention Unit (3) Moreland School District (1) R.A.C.E.S (5) www.Iprepare.com (1) San Jose Prepared/CERT (4) Pelican Products (1) San Jose Fire Dept. & Paramedics (6) Ca Firesafe Council & Smokey Bear (2) San Jose Mounted Police (2 officers & 2 horses) Stanford Blood Center Mobile (6) S P N A (4) + 3 photographers + 10 staff volunteers. City Reps: Kim Shunk Director of the Office of emergency Services (1) District 1 Councilman Pete Constant & 1 photographer (2) Mayor Chuck Reed & 1 aide, 1 photographer (3)
Joseph Colon/Freehold, New Jersey (via Twitter)
Preparedness tip: cotton balls soaked with petroleum jelly stored in a medicine bottle make great firestarters — even in the rain!
Richard Holland/Houston, Texas

I have been through three hurricanes. It is certain that I will lose electrical power. I have started a spreadsheet listing the battery powered items that I have and the number and type of batteries it requires. I also have added an inventory of the batteries I have. This way I know how many to buy when a hurricane is noted in the Gulf. I have a 12 volt marine battery for my television and a solar charger to keep it charged. My current problem is my digital to analog converter. It is 9 volts. I will have to get a 12 to 9 volt adapter or a inverter to get 110 volts for the converter.
Rion Motley/Hampton, Virginia

I have a bit of property, and I grow fruit and vegetables (mostly blackberries and apples/pears/persimmons). So far I have randomly dropped by and talked to three relatively new folks in the neighborhood, and asked if they liked whatever fruit was coming into season at that point. Worked out pretty well. I’ve now got a retired (Armed) security guard, an experienced fisherman about my age, and a retired dominion power lineman on my list of neighborhood acquaintances. If you don’t have fruit trees (and why not?! it’s shade you can eat!) then bake some cookies or throw a barbecue or two and invite someone you drive past on your way to or from work. I was surprised at how readily people chatted with someone they didn’t know lived a few houses away. ;-)
Dadsfun5 (via Twitter)

Have a 3 party outside of ur area code ready for your family to call to pass infor on when us are a part in a disaster
The following entrants did not win the kit but offered good tips which I wanted to share:
Lloyd Colston/Altus, Oklahoma
For communications during a disaster, nothing beats amateur radio. The American Radio Relay League (http://www.arrl.org) is a group that helps obtain licenses. Local clubs abound nationwide to help local folks benefit from their new privilege.
Dennis Hanlon/Greenwich, Connecticut
Suggest people go home and turn off all their power (or at least pretend it’s off.) No tv (especially after June 12), no computer. Do they have flashlights at the ready? Do they have a battery powered radio? Do they have sufficient prescription drugs for 3 days? Do they have a first aid kit? Do they have a telephone that does not rely on electricity? Once folks see where there weaknesses are, they will be more open to other preparedness measures.

Jonathan Haber/Bethesda, Maryland
Here’s my preparedness tip: Help educate your neighbors by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper reminding them and urging them to take preparedness into their own hands. Just today, I sent the following letter to the editor of my local “gazette” newspaper: “Thanks to the free “Alert Montgomery” notification system, I received a text alert today about the potential for flooding during this week’s rain storm. Alerts from the system have also warned me about road closures and more. An interesting statistic was published at the bottom of the alert. It said that the alert was sent to 544 users. If true, doesn’t that sound like a very low number in a county of almost one million residents? Come on neighbors, it shouldn’t be news to you that taking a few simple steps can make a big difference in ensuring your safety and well-being during an emergency. Go online now and check out the free resources that federal, state and local governments provide to help you stay informed and prepare for an emergency. At the very least, you should visit Ready.gov and pandemicflu.gov. If you live or work in Montgomery County, visit the county home page (just Google it) and follow the link to sign up for the free “Alert Montgomery” system to stay informed of emergencies (weather, traffic, etc.) in your community. Don’t be caught off-guard. Take the time now to prepare you, your family and your business to weather the storm.”
p.s. As a follow-up to my suggestion above, the local newspaper (Gazette) did publish my letter to the editor under the heading “Free services prepare us for emergencies”: http://www.gazette.net/stories/06032009/montlet173009_32523.shtml.
Blair Buchmeyer/St. Louis, Missouri
I think that one of the best things you can do to help with community preparedness is to help everyone learn to grown their own food either on their own lots or in community gardens.
John Armstrong/Ottawa, Ontario
Led worklight can be used hands-free (it has magnets and a hook for hanging) produces enough light to light a large room and runs for 5 hours.
Sarah Ward/Orem, Utah
I recently invested in a solar oven as an outlet for cooking in an emergency. Since it’s difficult to acquire new skills under duress in an actual emergency, I have begun cooking with my solar oven now to familiarize myself with it. It is absolutely amazing. No water. No messy clean up. No worries of scorching or burning. No constant monitoring. And no fuel of any kind is required. The solar oven is now officially my new cooking nirvana. So far I have used my solar oven to cook delicious chicken, roast, baked bread, sausage, ham and even pasteurize water. In fact, this is a pic of my yummy chicken - look at all the natural juices that come from cooking it in the solar oven! http://twitpic.com/60rgi. For people who don’t want to shell out more money, it is possible to make your own. Details at http://solarcooking.org/plans/funnel.htm.
Bryan Salamon/Queens, New York
Simple trick I learned to get waterproof matches. Dip a match head into hot wax, and let it cool. Once the wax is hardened, you have yourself a waterproof match.

Andrea Truelson
I think the best tip I have is, not to overwhelm people! I have taught a couple of classes for my church on preparedness. I always tell people it isn’t about getting everything today, it is about getting one thing at a time, or learning something new. For example, have a flashlight under each bathroom sink, tape the power company phone number to it, and make sure it is always in the same spot! Also, learn how to open a garage door manually, or grow a basil plant in a sunny window for practice. Build on these new skills, and soon you will be a regular pioneer!

President Obama Unveils 'United We Serve'

2009-06-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a video message, President Obama unveiled United We Serve, an extended call to service challenging all Americans to help lay a new foundation for growth in this country by engaging in sustained, meaningful community service. The initiative will be led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency dedicated to fostering service in communities across the country. Since his Inauguration, the President has called on all Americans to serve their communities and be a part of building a better future for our country.

The United We Serve summer initiative begins on June 22nd and runs through the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th. The National Day of Service and Remembrance was created by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which President Obama signed in April to help encourage and facilitate community service across the country. During this summer, the President is renewing his call to all Americans to identify needs in their communities, engage in meaningful service to create change – and stay engaged with those projects long after September. The President’s call focuses on four key areas where everyone can have a continuing impact in their community: education, health, energy and the environment and community renewal. To create new service projects, to find service projects in their communities and to share stories about projects that are making a difference, Americans can visit the Corporation’s website, http://www.serve.gov/.

President Obama’s video was distributed via email by the Corporation for National and Community Service. View President Obama’s full video message at http://www.serve.gov/.

“The challenges we face are unprecedented in their size and scope, and we cannot rely on quick fixes or easy answers to put us on the road to recovery,” President Obama says in the video message. “In this new century, we need to a build a new foundation for economic growth in America. My Administration has already begun this work with dramatic new investments in education, health care and clean energy – investments that will create new jobs and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity. But we cannot do this alone here in Washington…’

‘Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

The goal of United We Serve is to help make volunteerism and community service part of the daily lives of all Americans in order to help build a new foundation, one community at a time.

Disaster Preparedness for Kids

2009-06-08T07:24:00.001-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps has added a new section on the links page with disaster preparedness activities for kids. There are a variety of resources available from FEMA, Red Cross, and many more that can be used both at home or in a school setting. As we find links in this subject, we will add them to the page.

Check out the link below for these resources:

http://www.delawarecitizencorps.org/links3

Preparedness Night At The Ballpark

2009-06-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

On May 28, Delaware Citizen Corps and Wilmington OEM/Citizen Corps partnered with the Blue Rocks Minor Leagues Baseball Team to promote a Preparedness Night at the River Front Ball Park in Wilmington. Over 4,000 people attended the event, with FREE Citizen Corps/Blue Rocks Duffle Bags given to the first 1,000 fans The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), New Castle County OEM/Citizen Corps, DHSS-Delaware Medical Reserve Corps and the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, joined DE Citizen Corps and Wilmington with display tables and gave away disaster preparedness materials. Twenty Seven (27) lucky fans won Disaster Kits when their ticket and seat number was announced, 9-Citizen Corps, 9-Red Cross and 9-DMRC Coolers with material and supplies in them were given away between each inning of the game. Disaster Preparedness announcements were and will be made between innings of each game, as well as electronic messages to be shown throughout the season. The Disaster Preparedness Sign in centerfield which says "Make a Plan, Make a Kit" will also be displayed for the entire season. Five Hundred (500) small plastic bags filled with disaster materials were placed on car windows parked outside the stadium for fans to take home and share with their families. Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator Marny McLee threw out the first pitch.

CERT for Medical Reserve Corps Group

2009-05-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Delaware Citizen Corps taught a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Class for the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps. 20 plus members and partners attended the class held at the Blue hen Corporation Center in Dover. MRC is a partner under the Citizen Corps umbrella and is run out of the Public Health Preparedness Section, Nicole Desmarais as the State Coordinator and was the POC for the class.

Citizen Corps Visits Sussex County Womens Group

2009-05-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Citizen Corps gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Sussex County Republicans Women’s Group. Over 60 members attended the presentation held at the Sussex Pines Golf Course in Georgetown. Pat Woodring was the POC for the event

CERT for Division of Medicaid and Medicare

2009-05-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

Paula Foster and Kim Marsh learn Bandaging during the Medical Operations II, Block of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Class. The class was given by DE Citizen Corps for the DHSS Division of Medicaid and Medicare. 20 members and partners attended the class held at Carroll’s Plaza in Dover, Karen Marsh was the POC for this class.

CERT Class for Wilmington Trust

2009-05-12T12:08:00.001-07:00

DE Citizen Corps assist Wilmington OEM/Citizen Corps in teaching a Community Emergency response Team (CERT) Course for the Wilmington Trust Bank. This is the second CERT Class for WTB, the class was held at the Wilmington Office of Emergency Management on Heald Street.

Disaster Preparedness for the IRC

2009-05-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Bob George Citizen Corps Program Manager gives a Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the Independent Resource Center in Wilmington. This was the third presentation for the IRC, Debra Matthews was the POC for the event.

Delaware Swine Flu Information

2009-04-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

Public Health in Delaware is closely monitoring the situation. Please practice good hygiene which requires covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, washing your hands frequently with soap and water, avoid crowded places where people can spread the illness and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

For more information about this, view information on the Centers for Disease Control website below:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Preparedness Brochure for Pets from the AVMA

2009-04-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

The American Veterinary Medical Association has produced a preparedness guide for pet owners during a disaster. The guide overviews how you should plan and take care of specific types of animals during a disaster. Please review this guide and the other pet plans we have available on the Delaware Citizen Corps Website under the resources tab.

Click Here To View The Brochure

New Castle County Train-The-Trainer

2009-04-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

The State CERT Team provided a Train-the-Trainer Course, for the New Castle County Citizen Corps Council CERT Instructors. The class was taught in an effort to revitalize their Instructor pool in teaching more CERT Classes throughout the county and to assist the State CERT Team. Nineteen Instructors took the course which was made up of NCC/OEM, American Red Cross, ESC, FC, NCC ARES/RACES, Del Tech, and the NCC Council.

Water During A Disaster

2009-04-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

The amount of water needed during a disaster continues to be confused. There are a variety of important facts that everybody should know about water.

FEMA Suggests the Following:

One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.
Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water.
If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary.
Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles.
Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.

Family Emergency Preparedness Day Flyer

2009-04-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to our Family Emergency Preparedness Day flyer which will be happening on September 12th. Print out a few copies and post it around your workplace!

http://www.delawarecitizencorps.org/EmergPrepDayFlyer.pdf

Presentation to IFMA of Delaware

2009-04-08T16:37:00.001-07:00

On March 31st, Delaware Citizen Corps gave a Presentation to 30 members of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) of Delaware, in Wilmington at the Barclays Dryrock Building. The presentation was on Citizen Corps and all its components with a special emphasis on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course. The Disaster Preparedness Video/DVD was also shown. Citizen Corps will be contacted in the near future to schedule various CERT Courses for some of their individual establishments. Pictured from (L to R) are Scott Stilley, Mary Anne Conine, Pamela Nelson of IFMA, Marny McLee and Bob George of DE Citizen Corps.

New CDC Fact Sheet Available

2009-04-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

The United States Centers for Disease Control have developed a 2-page fact sheet on recovery information after a hurricane or flood. This fact sheet talks specifically about the importance of sanitation during and after one of these events. Information includes food storage, water illnesses, and much more.

To view the fact sheet click here.

Also check out the CDC Hurricane page here.

Flood Safety Awareness Week

2009-03-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

In partnership with NOAA, the National Flood Insurance Program has developed a webpage featuring an interactive map depicting historical information about how floods have impacted millions of Americans in recent years. The site also provides tools and resources for understanding your risk and knowing what to do: before a flood, during a flood, and after a flood. To learn more about Flood Safety Awareness Week and to utilize these resources, visit www.floodsmart.gov/noaafloodweek.

Deaf Link for Emergency Preparedness

2009-03-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Deaf Link has produced some short preparedness videos using American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for the State of Texas. While much of the information contained in each video is generic, there may be an occasional reference to Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. Some of the topics include Flood cleanup, Hurricane Preparedness and Evacuation, and Special Needs planning.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/deaflink.htm

Does your Emergency Preparedness Kit contain recalled or expired items?

2009-03-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

Currently the United States is in the midst of one of the largest food recalls in American history. As Americans dig through their cabinets and refrigerators to remove potentially contaminated food associated with the recent peanut recall, we would like to also remind citizens to open and check their Emergency Preparedness Kits to remove any potentially harmful items from these also.

Because peanut products are often recommended as staples in Emergency Preparedness Kits due to their long shell life and because they are a good source of protein, we encourage all kit owners to look at their kits to ensure food products are not on the peanut recall list. Please keep in mind that the peanut product recall extends beyond peanut-flavored products. The following are some examples of foods also included in the recall that may contain peanuts:

Granola

Snack bars

Crackers

Cereal

Trail Mix

Noodles

Dog treats

A full list of recalled peanut products and what individuals should do with recalled items can be found on the Food and Drug Administration’s Web site, http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.

In addition to checking for peanut-related items, please be sure to check for other items in your kit that may have expired, including medications, food and pet food, water, and other recalled items. The U.S. government provides information on unsafe, hazardous, or defective products ranging from consumer products, food, medicine, and cosmetics at www.recalls.gov.