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Due to the ongoing response to
Hurricane Florence, the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will now be conducted on the backup date of
October 3, 2018.
October 3 was the previously
scheduled back-up date for the test, which was originally set for Thursday,
September 20. A backup date is always planned in case of widespread severe
weather or other significant events on the primary test date. The WEA portion
of the test will start at 2:18 p.m. EDT on October 3, and the EAS portion will
follow at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The test, being held in coordination with the Federal
Communications Commission, will assess the operational readiness of the
infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether
technological improvements are needed.
For further information on the
test, go to www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.
Can your finances weather an
emergency?
The final week of National
Preparedness Month (NPM) 2018 begins on Sunday, September 23. Each week NPM
focuses on a different action.
The theme for September 23-30 is,
“Save For an Emergency.” 40 percent of all Americans do not have $400 in
savings according to the Federal Reserve. Become
financially prepared for an emergency by following these steps from the Ready
Campaign:
Take action to prepare this September! You can find resources,
including the NPM social media toolkit, at www.ready.gov/september.
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After a hurricane, it is important to know how to
clean up safely.
Listen to local authorities to determine
when it is safe for you to return home. Do not return home until local
officials indicate it is safe to do so. Stay
vigilant and monitor radio or TV stations for local emergency management
officials’ guidance.
Ensure
water is safe to drink, cook, or clean with after flooding. Often local
officials put a boil
water order
in place following a flood or hurricane.
Remember,
never run a generator inside your home, and keep it away from windows,
doors,
and vents.
Tips from FEMA for clean-up after returning home:
-
Always wear
protective clothing including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, rubber or
plastic gloves and waterproof boots or shoes.
- Before entering your
home, look outside for damaged power lines, gas lines, and other exterior
damage.
- Take photos of your
damage before you begin to clean up and save repair receipts.
-
Get rid of mold. Mold may have contaminated your home, which raises
the health risk for those with asthma, allergies, and breathing
conditions.
- Open doors and
windows so your house can air out before spending any length of time
inside.
-
Turn off main electrical power
and water systems and do
not use gas appliances until a professional can ensure they are safe.
- Check all ceilings
and floors for signs of sagging or other potentially dangerous structural
damage.
-
Throw out all foods, beverages, and medicines exposed to flood waters or mud, including
canned goods and containers with food or liquid.
- Throw out any items
that absorb water and you cannot clean or disinfect (i.e. mattresses,
carpeting, stuffed animals, etc.).
- Beware of snakes,
insects, and other animals that may be on your property or in your home.
- Remove all drywall
and insulation that has been in contact with floodwaters.
- Clean all hard surfaces
(flooring, countertops, appliances, sinks, etc.) thoroughly with hot water
and soap or detergent.
To
learn more about what to do after a flood or a hurricane, visit Ready.gov/floods, and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Flood Water After an Emergency or Disaster.
If you experienced a flood or
other damages due to recent hurricane activity, please visit www.disasterassistance.gov to
register for federal assistance.
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Disclaimer: The reader recognizes
that the federal government provides links and informational data on various
disaster preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal
events, entities, organizations, services, or products. Please let us know
about other events and services for individual and community preparedness that
could be included in future newsletters by contacting FEMA-prepare@fema.dhs.gov.
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