28 Days Left until National Preparedness Month!
There are 2173 Coalition Members and counting. Find out more about National Preparedness Month 2010 and how your organization can become a Coalition Member!
DHS and FEMA Updates
DHS Expands “If You See Something, Say Something” Campaign for General Aviation
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole launched on July 26th two major enhancements to general aviation security – the general aviation component of DHS’s nationwide “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, and a streamlined system for vetting passengers and crew on general aviation aircraft entering and exiting the United States through a single, Department-wide process. For more information, click here.
Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates Updates
National Weather Service draft Strategic Plan Ready for Public Comment
The National Weather Service (NWS) draft Strategic Plan is ready for public comment. This strategic plan works to “anticipate service needs in the 2020 time frame, project what science and technology will allow, and establish meaningful outcome-oriented goals and objectives for NWS 2020.” Please go to the NWS website to read the strategic plan and to make comments from now until September 7th, 2010.
Earthquake Audio, Video, and Multimedia Resources
The CDC has a variety of earthquake Audio, Video, and Multimedia Resources available to provide timely messages about what you can do to protect yourself and your family from earthquakes. The resources include Public Service Announcements (PSAs), Podcasts, TV Crawls, and American Sign Language Resources. Sign up for these podcasts on the CDC website.
Gulf Oil Spill 2010 Health Surveillance
CDC, along with the affected Gulf Coast states, has developed a plan to track potential short-term health effects related to the oil spill. Surveillance systems track changes in the number and severity of illnesses and injuries in a population, alerting public health officials to trends that require further investigation. Read about this plan on the CDC website.
Inaugural Social Innovation Fund Grants Awarded to Experienced Innovators
In response to the increasing health needs, economic challenges and gaps in youth achievement facing low-income rural and urban communities, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced its inaugural Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grants. The grants will target millions in public and private funds to grow effective solutions to persistent social challenges across more than 20 states. See the details on the CNCS website.
Awards and Grants
$2.25 Billion in Grants Extend Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration
Americans with disabilities will have more help to live independently and remain in their homes and communities instead of in institutional long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, through the availability of $2.25 billion in grants to states. The new grant solicitation issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) encourages states not yet part of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration to apply for grant funds. The MFP Rebalancing Demonstration is the largest demonstration program in the history of Medicaid. It provides $1.75 billion in funding to states support chances to institutional and home and community-based long-term care services under State Medicaid programs. The details of these grants can be found here.
National Preparedness Month Coalition Member Spotlight
We are providing the following links to third party sites for your reference. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, or applications.
Home Safety Council
The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. Learn more about them on their website at www.homesafetycouncil.org.
These news stories and other Individual & Community Preparedness news can be found on our website at www.citizencorps.gov.
Sincerely,
The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division