January is a great time to plan ahead and make positive changes. As you make a list of resolutions for 2023, resolve to add a few that will help you prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Remember, you don’t need to enact all your resolutions at once. Take small steps throughout the year so that you’re ready to weather the unexpected.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Make an emergency plan. Choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes and establish an out-of-town contact.
• Take stock of your emergency supplies. Use those that will expire soon and add new ones as needed.
• Sign up for alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app to get real-time alerts, safety tips and locate open shelters.
• Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes.
• Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online. In addition, consider filling out FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to keep all your documents and important information in one place.
• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.
• Take a class in CPR and first aid.
• Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.
• Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like floods, hurricanes and earthquakes.
• Save for a rainy day! Start and grow your emergency fund by adding a small amount at the start of each month.
• Learn more about preparedness actions you can take at FEMA’s Preparedness Community.

Snow, sleet and ice can spell trouble both on the roads and at home. Use these tips to help you weather winter storms safely.

Check for advisories, watches and warnings. A Winter Weather Advisory is issued for snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet that will cause inconveniences and can be hazardous if you’re not cautious. A Winter Storm Watch is an alert to the possibility of a blizzard or snow, freezing rain, or sleet that could be heavy, and it’s issued 12 to 48 hours before a winter storm. When a Winter Storm Warning is issued, heavy snow, freezing rain, or sleet is expected soon or may be occurring already. These warnings usually come out 12 to 24 hours before the storm. Sign up for your community’s warning system to receive alerts and other information about emergencies in your area. The Emergency Alert System and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.

Stock up before the storm. Have a supply of nonperishable food, medications and water so you don’t need to go out in a winter storm. Make sure you also have flashlights and extra batteries. If you lose power, only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home’s doors and windows.

Stay safe when outdoors. If you need to go out, wear layers of warm clothing. Only drive if you need to. Keep your car’s gas tank full and keep an emergency kit in your car that includes a blanket.

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes. If these symptoms occur, go to a warm room and soak the affected part in warm water. Do not massage or use a heating pad. Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature, and a temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. Signs include shivering, exhaustion, slurred speech, or drowsiness. If someone is experiencing hypothermia, move them to a warm room. Then warm them from their head to their hips by wrapping them in warm blankets.

Get help with heating bills if needed. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. To find out if you are eligible to receive LIHEAP benefits, contact your state or territory LIHEAP office. For help call: 1-866-674-6327.

Visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather for more information.

The Douglas County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in Lawrence, Kansas, has participated in many outreach events over the years, supporting first responders by going door-to-door with evacuation and shelter-in-place materials, assisting in searches in rural areas, and participating in various roles in many exercises. CERT volunteers have also been involved both with supporting festive events and responding to disasters.

In the late afternoon of May 28, 2019, a large tornado tore diagonally across the county. Volunteers were on full alert. The Skywarn Team was out spotting, the ham radio Auxiliary Communications Team (ACT) was standing by to provide communications support, and CERT members knew that their support would be needed over the next hours and days. Volunteers acted in various support roles, including accountability, assessing damage, staffing a volunteer reception center, and providing donation support. 

Volunteers were a wonderful asset, and knowing that the Douglas County Department of Emergency Management could count on their help and unflagging support was more important than can be fully expressed. Response and recovery work lasted well into the summer, which also brought two major floods to the county. Again, the CERT stepped up. Read more... 

Starting on Jan. 23, teens with a passion for preparedness can apply to join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC)! The YPC offers an opportunity for teens to share their ideas and feedback with FEMA, improve their leadership skills, and develop preparedness projects. YPC members also participate in an annual youth summit in Washington, D.C. with FEMA leaders and preparedness professionals to network and learn more about the field of emergency management.

FEMA created the YPC in 2012 to bring together young leaders from across the country who are excited about emergency preparedness and making a difference in their communities. Since then, hundreds of young people have served on both the FEMA National YPC and FEMA Regional YPCs. Throughout the years, YPC members have started preparedness clubs at their schools, hosted fairs and events in their communities, led Teen Community Emergency Response Teams (Teen CERTs), and developed a variety of preparedness materials, from children’s books to informative videos.

Applicants can apply through either a written or video response. They must provide two letters of recommendation and a list of extracurricular activities and trainings. To showcase their qualifications, applicants can also add optional supplemental materials, such as links to news stories, awards, blog posts, and more.

Once applications are evaluated, FEMA staff will conduct interviews with selected semi-finalists. Successful applicants highlight their preparedness, service and leadership experience and provide a well-rounded overview of their qualifications. FEMA will notify selected candidates in May. Interested students can apply online at https://community.fema.gov/PreparednessCommunity/s/apply-to-ypc. The application period begins Jan. 23, 2023 and closes March 6, 2023.  

Save the dates! FEMA will host two webinars for potential applicants to learn more about the YPC application process and to ask FEMA staff questions about the application. The first is on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The second is on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Register here for the Jan. 30 webinar and here for the Feb. 28 webinar. Read more... 

Residents of Manville, New Jersey say no one could have predicted that much rain in a short amount of time.

Often, people who don’t have flood insurance will say they don’t need a policy because they don’t live near the ocean, their mortgage doesn’t require it, or they don’t need to worry more about more things than they have to.

The unfortunate truth is that extreme weather is becoming more common due to climate change, and the reality is that flooding can happen to anyone anywhere. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has seen a 40% increase in flood insurance claims coming from areas that are not considered at high risk for flooding.

The risk is rising, so protecting the life you’ve built with flood insurance is even more important. This was the case in the Manville Borough and Hillsborough Township areas of Somerset County, New Jersey, which faced severe flooding and damage after dramatic rainfall caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

A new video from the NFIP is available on YouTube, in both English and Spanish, sharing the story of one area resident and his process of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida flooding. Read more and visit Floodsmart.gov to explore flood insurance options and how to contact an agent near you.