emergency preparedness

August 2015 - There are several steps to prepare your mobile device in case of an emergency. One of the most basic is making sure there are a set of emergency contacts easily accessible on your device. This means ensuring that your contacts are saved to the device and to the SIM card.  Various apps are also available for an array of functions such as first aid information, emergency shelter locations, and geographical emergency alerts. It is also always a good idea to have power backup strategies in case a situation where the power goes out.

Disaster Resistant Community Group, a Florida based organization, has expanded their organization’s “Just In Time Disaster Training” video library to feature a wide array of video training, now available in eighteen spoken languages and two forms of sign language. “Just In Time Disaster Training” offers viewers over 1,800 videos from various sources, specifically related to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery for individuals, families, organizations, and first responder personnel.

April 2014 – The White House is currently readying for FEMA’s PrepareAthon, which will take place on April 30, 2014.

March 2014 – Due to the increase in emergency and disaster concerns in the Arctic, Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) has embarked on a new initiative to ensure the protection, security and inclusion of people with disabilities in that region.  On Thin Ice, a project funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnership Program, aims to implement international best practices, effective communications, compliance with regulations, emergency preparedness, capacity to sustain life during an emergency, school participation in emergency management

February 2014 — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now seeking applicants to serve on the National Advisory Council (NAC).  The NAC, composed of 35 subject matter experts in the field of emergency management, provides direct council to the FEMA Administrator to ensure “effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation” for natural and technological disasters. The three-year positions are currently available for individuals in the following disciplines: