Following an intense earthquake that occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, which
prompted tsunami watches, advisories and warnings across many state coastlines,
FEMA continues to highlight safety tips for those who live in or visit coastal
communities. While today’s immediate threat has passed, the situation
serves as a reminder to all that there are steps that can be taken now, to
prepare for future events.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tsunamis
are one of the most powerful and destructive natural forces, delivering a
series of extremely long waves which can cause dangerous coastal flooding and
powerful currents that can last for several hours or days. Caused by an
underwater disturbance such as an earthquake,
landslide,
volcanic
eruption, or meteorite, tsunamis radiate outward in all directions from the
point of origin and can move across entire ocean basins.
If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, areas are at
greater risk if they are less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of
the shoreline. The first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few
minutes, even before a warning is issued.
FEMA encourages citizens to protect themselves and their families by taking
the following steps to ensure they are ready in the event of a tsunami:
- Create and practice an evacuation
plan with your family. If you live in a tsunami evacuation zone you
will find signs in your community. Familiarity may save your life. Be able
to follow your escape route at night and during inclement weather.
- Create a family
communications plan to know how you’ll contact each other and
reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar
and easy to find.
- Build an emergency
kit to ensure you and your family are prepared to be on your own for
at least 72 hours.
- If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local
tsunami evacuation protocol.
Familiarize yourself with tsunami notification information:
Tsunami Watch
- A tsunami watch is
issued to alert emergency management officials and the public of an event
which may later impact the watch area.
- Prepare to take action
and stay alert for further information.
Tsunami Advisory
A tsunami advisory is
issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or
waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is imminent or
expected. The threat may continue for several hours after initial
arrival, but significant inundation is not expected for areas under an
advisory.
Tsunami Warning
- A tsunami warning is
issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate widespread
inundation is imminent or expected.
- Warnings alert the
public that dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents
is possible and may continue for several hours after initial arrival.
- Move inland, out of the
water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays
and inlets.
- Be alert to and follow
instructions from your local emergency officials because they may have
more detailed or specific information for your location.
- If you feel a strong
earthquake or extended ground rolling take immediate protective actions
such as moving inland and/or uphill preferably by foot.
- If told to evacuate,
evacuate immediately, taking your animals with you. If you are in a
high-rise building and instructed to shelter in place, stay on floors
just above flood water. Stay in hallways or interior rooms.
- Do not return to the
coast until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so.
The FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) provides National Weather
Service alerts, safety tips for what to do before/during/after more than 25
natural and man-made emergencies, emergency kit and family communication plan
checklists, and more: www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
For more information about tsunamis and how to prepare visit www.ready.gov/tsunamis.
Because wildfires can make the ground more vulnerable to flooding, FEMA encourages
those who live
near land that has suffered from a wildfire to protect their homes with flood
insurance, even if their home hasn’t flooded before. Residents who live near wildfires on federal
lands may be eligible to receive coverage immediately for a future flood
without the typical 30-day wait.
In general, newly purchased flood insurance policies become
effective following a 30-day waiting period. However, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 provided
an additional exception to this requirement related to flooding caused by
post-wildfire conditions, referred to as the “Post-Wildfire Exception.”
Under the Post-Wildfire Exception, those purchasing a flood
insurance policy may not be required to meet the 30-day waiting period for
their new flood insurance policy, if
- a flood that originates on federal land damages
the policyholder’s property;
- post-wildfire conditions on federal lands caused
or worsened the flooding; and
- the policyholder purchased the policy either:
-- before the fire containment date or
-- during the 60-calendar day period following the
fire containment date.
Regardless of the waiting period, FEMA encourages everyone to consider buying flood insurance, as those who are insured recover more quickly and more fully following a flood.
Wildfires may char
the ground to the point where it can no longer absorb water quickly—creating
the ideal conditions for flash flooding and mudflows that can strike without
warning. Burnt ground can be affected
for about five years, which is why residents are encouraged to take important
steps to protect their families and homes by purchasing flood insurance. NFIP flood insurance policies cover damage
from flooding and mudflows.
For more
information about flood risk and flood insurance,
visit, www.fema.gov/flood-after-fire.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation
Assistance Division is hosting an informational webinar about the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24 Building Codes for Mitigation.
Presenters will provide information on ASCE 24 flood-specific building code
requirements as they relate to Hazard Mitigation Assistance. This will
include information about mitigation projects such as elevations,
flood-proofing, and mitigation reconstruction.
Date: Thursday,
January 25, 2018
Time: 2-3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Conference
Number(s): 1-800-320-4330 Participant Code: 338559
Adobe Connect: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/asce24-mitigation/
Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to
the meeting.
FEMA’s
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is hosting a series of “One Link, One
Bridge, Many Voices” e-Forums every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET). EMI e-Forums are one-hour, moderated webinar discussions that
provide an opportunity for EMI and the emergency management community to
discuss matters of interest on national preparedness training. The e-Forums
showcase whole community partners and peers, sharing their experiences. The
panel format offers opportunities to provide technical assistance in training
management by facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of best practices.
January and February EMI e-Forums
- 1/24, Incident
Management Teams: Innovation and Evolution to Build Community Capability
- 2/7, An Emergency Management Reference Guide for Elected
Officials
- 2/14, Training and
Exercise Planning Workshop: Best Practices for Preparation
- 2/21, Healthcare Facility Emergency Management. Is
it really a different animal? Best Practices in the Healthcare Community
- 2/28, X, Y, Z Learning: Bridging the Gap in
Multigenerational Classrooms
Participation
link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/emieforums
Conference
call-in: 800-320-4330, PIN 107622
Questions:
https://training.fema.gov/contactus/sendcomment.aspx
EMI e-Forums on Adobe
Connect are mobile device accessible.
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Notice of Funding Opportunity for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
FEMA announced that the annual funding opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2017
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) is now open, and the application
period will close on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5 p.m. (Eastern). The Fiscal Year 2017 AFG program will
award $310.5 million to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters
against fire-related deaths and hazards.
Applicant
tools, including the AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity, for this program will
be available at www.grants.gov
and at www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.
Further, the “Get Ready Guide”
may also be useful for potential applicants and is provided to answer questions
and to help prepare grant applications.
For
fire departments/applicants requiring assistance please visit www.fema.gov/grants,
or contact the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or 1-866-274-0960.
FEMA and Interagency Partners Release Draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy for Public Comment
For
our nation to become more resilient, we must develop a more effective and
efficient way to invest in mitigation. The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security tasked the Mitigation
Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG) to develop a National
Mitigation Investment Strategy (Investment Strategy). As of January
11, the public is encouraged to review the draft Investment Strategy and
provide comment. The draft Investment Strategy makes a series of recommendations, organized by six
desired outcomes which, if met, could result in a nation better equipped for,
and less vulnerable to, natural hazards. The draft Investment Strategy
provides a national approach to investments in mitigation activities and risk
management across federal, state, local, and territorial and tribal government
and the private and non-profit sectors.
The draft Investment Strategy is now available on the National Mitigation Framework
website at www.fema.gov/national-mitigation-framework. Comments on the
draft Investment Strategy will be accepted until March 11, 2018 either through
email to fema-nmis@fema.dhs.gov or through the
IdeaScale site at https://fema.ideascale.com/a/ideas/recent/campaign-filter/byids/campaigns/60968.
To learn more about FEMA’s commitment to the
National Mitigation Investment Strategy and building a true culture of
preparedness across all communities, read Investing in
Mitigation to Build a More Resilient Nation at www.fema.gov/blog.
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