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Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

 

Current News

Date: December 14, 2011
Contact: FEMA News Desk, (202) 646-3272

WASHINGTON - As 2011 - one of the most active years for disasters in recent history - comes to a close and Americans get ready to ring in a new year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all Americans to Resolve to be Ready in the by making a new year's resolution to be prepared for emergencies.

As a recent report by the National Climatic Data Center highlights, 2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record. This year alone, the U.S. experienced its first hurricane landfall since 2008, the most deadly series of tornadoes since the 1950s, significant earthquakes and severe flooding - hazards that impacted every region of the country. All of these events have served as important reminders that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and being prepared is one of the most effective things we can do to protect our homes, businesses and loved ones.

Today, FEMA kicked off its annual campaign, Resolve to be Ready in 2012, which urges Americans to make preparedness a priority during the holiday season by making a new year's resolution to be ready for disasters or by thinking about preparedness tools for last minute gift ideas.

"One of the most important lessons we can take away from this year is that disasters can impact all of us, no matter what part of the country we live in," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "While we can't control where or when they might hit, we can take steps in advance to prepare for them - efforts that can go a long way toward protecting our families, homes and business. Resolving to be Ready in 2012 could be the most important pledge you make this year."

By making a resolution to take a few simple steps in advance, Americans can minimize the impact of an emergency on their families, homes or businesses. To take the pledge, visit www.ready.gov/resolve or www.listo.gov, which includes free information, checklists, and guidelines about how to put together a kit, make a plan, and stay informed.

Resolve to be Ready in 2012 is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the New Year. This effort is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. For more information, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov or follow the campaign on Twitter using the hashtags #ready2012 and #resolve.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
 

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FEMA Updates now Mobile

App now available

In the new FEMA App, you’ll be able to:


  * Check off the items you have in your family’s emergency kit,
  * Enter your family emergency meeting locations,
  * Review safety tips on what to do before, during and after a disaster,
  * View a map of shelters and disaster recovery centers across the U.S., and
  * Read our latest blog posts.

When we built the app, we kept the disaster survivor in mind, making sure much of the information would be available even if cell phone service isn’t, so you’ll be able to access the important information on how to safe after a disaster, as well as your family emergency meeting locations.

Download our app today in the Android market
http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android

Look for FEMA App for Blackberry version 6 devices and iPhones in the coming weeks.

*FEMA Text Messages*

A new and separate service from the new app, our text message updates will allow cell phone users to receive text message updates from FEMA.

  * Text *PREPARE* to *43362* (4FEMA) to sign up to receive monthly disaster safety tips
  * Text *SHELTER* + your ZIP code to *43362* (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: *shelter 12345*)

(For availability of shelters and services, contact your local emergency management agency.)
  * Text *DRC* + your ZIP code to *43362* (4FEMA) to find the nearest disaster recovery center in your area (for example, if you lived in Annandale, Virginia with a Zip Code of 22003, you’d text* DRC 22003*).

We’re excited to provide these two new ways you can access information on your mobile device, in addition to our already existing mobile site – m.fema.gov.

Stay tuned to our blog http://blog.fema.gov/

Facebook http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.facebook.com/fema

Twitter http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.twitter.com/fema channels as we roll out our app to the remaining smartphone operating systems and make enhancements to our text messages program.

So download the app https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android or text *PREPARE* to *43362*, and then leave us a comment and let us know what you think. We encourage you to tell a family member, friend, or neighbor as well, so they can have disaster safety information always at their fingertips.

*FEMA app frequently asked questions *

"Q: Will I get emergency alerts and warnings through the FEMA App?"
A: No. The FEMA App provides preparedness and disaster recovery information only. If you are in an emergency situation and need to reach a first responder, you should always dial 911. And remember to listen to your state and local officials for instructions and updates about emergencies where you live.

"Q: Can I discontinue using the App at anytime?"
A: Yes. To discontinue using the FEMA App, simply delete the icon on your smartphone or remove it just like you remove any other App on your smartphone.

"Q: What are the future enhancements?"
A: If you have suggestions/ideas for future enhancements, please send them to: FEMA-new-media@dhs.gov. FEMA will continue to develop enhancements and add them to updated versions of the App, and we welcome your input.

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*FEMA text messages frequently asked questions *

"Q: Can I discontinue using this service at anytime?"
A: Yes. To stop receiving Text Messages from FEMA, simply text: *STOP* to *43362* (4FEMA).

"Q: How often will I receive these messages?"
A: If you sign up for the monthly preparedness message, then obviously once a month. When we create additional keywords to sign up for more information, we will let you know how often we think we will send updates. At any time, you can unsubscribe from updates by texting: *Stop* to *43362* (4FEMA).

"Q: What are the future enhancements?"
A: If you have suggestions/ideas for other information you would like to receive via text message, please send them to: FEMA-new-media@dhs.gov  <FEMA-New-Media@dhs.gov>

"Q: Will I get emergency alerts and warnings through the FEMA Text Messaging?"
A: No. FEMA Text Messages are not for emergency alerts or notifications. If you are in an emergency situation and need to reach a first responder, you should always dial 911. And remember to listen to your state and local officials for instructions and updates about emergencies where you live.

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