Help Preserve Iron Hill Park!

Join the New Castle County Department of Special Services and the Friends of Iron Hill Park and national Civiliam Community Corps in CLEANING UP Iron Hill Park. Volunteers will be working on a variety of projects including trash removal, trail post removal, moving piles of debris and removing brush from around the exterior of the museum. Gather family and friends and join your community in preserving this beautiful park for yourself and future generations.

Saturday April 2nd 9am - noon

Police Departments Benefit from Volunteers

An article by Jesse McKinley in the New York Times online, published March 1, 2011, highlights how police departments around the country are turning to volunteers for help in getting their challenging work done. According to the article, many jurisdictions are participating in "an experiment by departments across the country that enlists trained amateurs to perform a broad — and occasionally dangerous — array of investigative duties like collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, searching for missing persons and looking into long-dormant cases." Read the full article here. Also, check out Volunteers In Police Service, a Citizen Corps partner organization that provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency.

March is American Red Cross Month

March is American Red Cross Month, a great opportunity for citizens, families and businesses to review disaster plans and build or restock emergency kits. According to FEMA Region IX Administrator Ken Murphy, the American Red Cross not only provides help, hope and healing when disaster strikes, but also offers a wide selection of CPR/AED, first aid, disaster response and emergency preparedness training. "The Red Cross is FEMA's major partner coordinating food and shelter during catastrophic disasters, but the key to any successful emergency response, regardless of the nature of the event, is personal preparedness," said Murphy. "Red Cross classes and resources help people prepare with a few simple steps: build an emergency supply kit, make an emergency plan, and stay informed of the hazards in your area. These resources can go a long way towards empowering our communities to make a real difference when the chips are down." To read more about the American Red Cross go to their website at www.redcross.org.

DELAWARE TO DISTRIBUTE POTASSIUM IODIDE

DELAWARE TO DISTRIBUTE POTASSIUM IODIDE TABLETS
APRIL 6, VOLUNTEER HOSE CO, MIDDLETOWN
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the Delaware Division of Public Health will conduct distribution of potassium iodide (KI) tablets, free of charge, on Wednesday, April 6, 1-7 p.m., to Delaware residents in the area who live within 10 miles of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations. Tablets will be available to those who have received potassium iodide during previous distribution dates and to those who have never received potassium iodide.
Wednesday, April 6, 1 - 7 p.m., Volunteer Hose Co., 27 W. Green St., Middletown, DE
Potassium iodide (KI) is an over-the-counter medication that can protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine, which may be released in the event of a radiation emergency.
Potassium iodide does not protect against external radiation, but it can help protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine that is ingested or inhaled. Potassium iodide is a supplement to Delaware’s existing emergency plans developed for use in a nuclear incident. Evacuation remains the primary method of protecting Delaware residents; the potassium iodide will offer additional protection.
All Delaware residents who live within the 10-mile EPZ, and those who work or own businesses within 10 miles of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in New Jersey are eligible for free potassium iodide tablets.
Those eligible for potassium iodide are asked to bring photo identification, such as a driver’s license, and proof of residency, such as a utility bill. If you currently have potassium iodide that has passed the expiration date, please bring the tablets with you when you come to pick up your new tablets.
For additional information regarding the potassium iodide distribution program in Delaware and the use and properties of potassium iodide, and the radiological preparedness program visit the DEMA website, www.dema.delaware.gov. You may also call the Delaware Emergency Management Agency Radiological Emergency Planning section at 302-659-3362,

FEMA asks: How do you stay prepared on a budget?

This Citizen Corps notice is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division to highlight community preparedness and resilience resources and activities recently announced by federal agencies and Citizen Corps partners.
FEMA asks: How do you stay prepared on a budget? The economic downturn has made staying prepared more difficult in recent years. Fortunately, many Americans have found creative and inexpensive ways to be ready in case of an emergency. FEMA asks, what steps have you taken to stay prepared on a budget? We are looking for items and their uses, tips, stories, and good practices. What items do you keep in your home, car, or workspace that help you stay prepared? Have you been involved in a disaster and found a particular yet inexpensive item especially useful? Are there inexpensive ways that help you fulfill the Ready.gov recommendations (http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTEyNTY1ODMmbWVzc2FnZWlkPVBSRC1CVUwtMTI1NjU4MyZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTEyNzY1ODY1ODUmZW1haWxpZD1kY2FycGVudGVyQGNvLm5ldy1jYXN0bGUuZGUudXMmdXNlcmlkPWRjYXJwZW50ZXJAY28ubmV3LWNhc3RsZS5kZS51cyZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html) for a preparedness kit? To help you get started thinking of ideas, we have provided an example guide for preparing on a budget from the Seattle Red Cross, the Everett Office of Emergency Management, and ReadyCorps. Before April 30, 2011, please send your suggestions to citizencorps@dhs.gov and put “Preparing on a Budget” in the subject line. We look forward to reading your ideas and examples!
This notice and other Individual & Community Preparedness news can be found on our website at http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTEyNTY1ODMmbWVzc2FnZWlkPVBSRC1CVUwtMTI1NjU4MyZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTEyNzY1ODY1ODUmZW1haWxpZD1kY2FycGVudGVyQGNvLm5ldy1jYXN0bGUuZGUudXMmdXNlcmlkPWRjYXJwZW50ZXJAY28ubmV3LWNhc3RsZS5kZS51cyZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&102&&&http://www.citizencorps.gov/.
Sincerely, The National Office of Citizen Corps FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division

Get Ready for Flood Safety Awareness Week - March 14-18, 2011

Get Ready for Flood Safety Awareness Week - March 14-18, 2011 Flooding is a coast to coast threat to the United States and its territories in all months of the year. National Flood Safety Awareness Week, from March 14 to 18 this year, is intended to highlight some of the many ways floods can occur, the hazards associated with floods, and what you can do to save life and property. You can prepare yourself and help prepare your communities by educating yourself on the risks of flooding and the ways you can prepare and respond to flooding. Here are some resources to get you started: The Ready Campaign has a page dedicated to flood safety awareness at www.ready.gov/floodawareness. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program has a variety of resources at www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/. Also, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a Flood Safety page at www.floodsafety.noaa.gov. The DHS Center for Faith Based & Neighborhood Partnerships will hold a National Flood Awareness Safety Week Stakeholder conference call, Tuesday, March 15 from 12-1PM EST that will provide additional information on what it means to get ready for flood season. There is a limit of 300 people on the call. Call-in information is: 1-888-391-6569 Pin # 8622712.

Flash Flood Safety at Home

Flash Flood Safety at Home
Mar 28th, 2008 By Keli Tarp Category: Podcasts

Another home in West Virginia was torn apart by the flooding of the nearby Clear Fork Creek on July 14, 2001. Photo by Leif Skoogfors/ FEMA News Photo

It’s time yet again for another podcast of “That Weather Show,” brought to you by the NOAA Weather Partners in Norman, Oklahoma. I’m Rachel Forsyth.
When you hear the word ‘water’, you may think of swimming pools or weekends at the lake. You might even think of a long rainy day. But that seemingly harmless rain water can become so dangerous that it kills more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes and lightning. We call this a flash flood.
A flash flood is not something that takes days to happen, like a regular flood. Instead, it’s a situation that can develop quickly.
In some cases, it may not even be raining where you live. However, if the rain has fallen upstream, that means it will be heading to your area soon.

This Garland, WV home was damaged by the flash flood of May 2, 2002. Bob McMillan/FEMA Photo
A Flash Flood Watch means that flash flooding is possible in or near the watch area. While a Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring in the area or will be very soon.
If you live in a low-lying area or near a river, stream, or dam then you need to be prepared to evacuate quickly. If not, the rapidly rising flood waters could leave you trapped. The last place you want to be is on your roof, waiting for a boat or helicopter to take you to safety.
You can find out all types of hazardous weather conditions by listening to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.
Thanks for listening to another podcast of That Weather Show brought to you by the NOAA Weather Partners in Norman, Oklahoma. I’m Rachel Forsyth.