Flu season is almost here again. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tell us that influenza, or “the flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Flu viruses occur year-round in the United States, but they are prevalent during the fall and winter months.

The vaccine for the 2017-2018 flu season is current and better matches circulating flu viruses. To best prepare yourself and your loved ones for the upcoming flu season, the CDC recommends:

• Vaccination with an injectable flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older before the end of October, if possible.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may have germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

People who do contract the flu virus will often experience these symptoms:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Fever (It is important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever)

Help your family and friends stay safe from the flu this season too. Share this important health message and visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm for more flu safe information.

During the third week of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), October 16-20, learn how to keep your personal information safe online.

To build on the theme for NCSAM - Securing the Internet is Our Shared Responsibility, this week focuses on Today’s Predictions for Tomorrow’s Internet. Smart cities, connected devices, digitized records, as well as smart cars and homes have become a new reality. This week reminds citizens that their sensitive, personal information is the fuel that makes smart devices work. While there are tremendous benefits of this technology, it is critical to understand how to use these cutting-edge innovations in safe and secure ways.

Follow these tips from the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop. Think. Connect.™ campaign to own your online presence:

• Treat personal information like money. Information about you, such as your purchase history and location, has value - just like money. Protect your data by being cautious about how mobile apps and websites collect your information.
• Own your online presence. Control and limit who can see your information online by checking the privacy and security settings on your accounts and apps. A cybercriminal can potentially see anything you post publically, so keep your personal information private.
• Share with care. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it, and how someone could perceive it now and in the future.

Join in celebrating National Cybersecurity Awareness Month throughout October. Please visit www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month or www.dhs.gov/StopThinkConnect for more information.

This morning millions of people practiced how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during the ShakeOut, the world's largest earthquake drill.

In order to keep the momentum going, there are further actions you can take to prepare for an earthquake.

Follow these four steps from the Earthquake Country Alliance:

1. Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items like bookshelves, televisions, and water heaters.
2. Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
3. Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
4. Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.

For more information, including a video about When the Earth Shakes, visit the Prepareathon™ Earthquake page or Ready.gov. You can also download the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Earthquake Safety Checklist. 

If you have been impacted by the recent hurricanes or wildfires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers resources to help you recover. Apply online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, for the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance.

Visit the pages for Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria, or the California Wildfires for trusted recovery information.

• To donate or volunteer, contact the voluntary or charitable organization of your choice through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org.
• NVOAD is coordinating closely with the Puerto Rico Governor’s Office on offers of assistance. To make a cash donation directly to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, visit www.unitedforpuertorico.com. 
• Make donations for the US Virgin Islands at https://www.usvirecovery.org.
• For more information on the California Wildfires, visit the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.