FEMA Accepting Youth Preparedness Council Applications

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for members to join their 2020 Youth Preparedness Council (YPC).

The Youth Preparedness Council formed in 2012 and engages members in local and national emergency preparedness projects, bringing youth from across the Nation together who have a mindset for preparedness and community service. Each year, teens apply to the YPC for an opportunity to join FEMA in moving people to action. As part of the YPC, members can build leadership skills, represent their schools and communities, and share their perspectives, feedback, and opinions with FEMA.

If selected, over the course of a two-year term, members represent the youth perspective on emergency preparedness and share information with their communities. They also meet with FEMA on a regular basis to provide ongoing input strategies, initiatives, and projects throughout the duration of their term.

Youth across the Nation have the opportunity to make a difference and transform the resilience and preparedness of their communities and beyond. Students 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, or 11^th grade, who have engaged in community service or are interested in emergency preparedness, are encouraged to apply to serve on the YPC. Applications are due on March 1, 2020 and must be submitted online at the application website at https://community.fema.gov/applytoYPC.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) encourage all students 8^th – 11^th grade to apply for the opportunity to serve on the council. In 2016-2017, the council member for the region (Region IX) was Ms. Kiahna Espia, from Guam. Kiahna served on the council in 2016-2017 and was the co-chair for the FEMA Youth Preparedness Program in 2017.

For more information contact the Whole Community Preparedness Program Manager Jaimie Cruz (671) 688-0438 or via email at jaimie.cruz@ghs.guam.gov. For media inquiries, contact Public Information Officer Jenna Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.