When a disaster strikes, such as a hurricane, tornado, flood event or whatever causes a large amount of destruction, many communities turn to the state and federal governments for assistance. Aid to these communities may come through the Public Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Topics Related to Emergency Management
In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks the nation developed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate a unified national strategy to protect against and respond to terrorism attacks. These efforts create a united front that includes enhancing security efforts at the border, airports and elsewhere, as well as improving cybersecurity and emergency response activities that provide for national security.
After the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred dropped several inches of rain in Western North Carolina, record flooding occurred along the Pigeon River resulting in six fatalities. The storm is estimated to have caused $18.7 million in damage to public infrastructure, and 11 counties have been approved for FEMA Public Assistance.
The North Carolina Emergency Management Association (NCEMA) held its annual meeting recently and presented awards for 2020 and 2021. These awards included the Col. William A. Thompson Award, which is presented to the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) employee who has demonstrated outstanding achievement assisting local emergency management coordinators with programs, incidents and information. The 2020 Thompson Award recipient is Tim Byers, NCEM Area 6 Coordinator in the Central Branch Office and the 2021 recipient is Dennis Hancock, NCEM Central Branch Manager.
N.C. Emergency Management echoes the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) theme for National Fire Prevention Week, which was Oct. 3 - 9, and encourages everyone to Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.
In the aftermath of the recent storms that dumped heavy rain on western North Carolina, a Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) was deployed to support the Haywood County Communications Center, in providing some relief for the telecommunicators there who worked through the storm and aftermath with little time for rest or relief. In addition to being an Emergency Management watch analyst with the N.C.
As part of the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, the 24-Hour Watch is housed in the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. The Watch is an information and communication sharing hub for incident information and intelligence data from federal, state and local partners. The Watch shares information it receives with all necessary stakeholders via multiple communication platforms.
On August 17, 2021, Tropical Strom Fred swept through western North Carolina. The storm brought devastating floods that claimed at least five lives. Middle Tennessee experienced similar deadly floods the following week, after receiving several inches of rain. During hurricanes, flooding causes more damage and lives lost than any other hazard.
We are about a month into hurricane season. Forecasters have predicted an above normal season and already there have been a few named storms.
Hopefully, you are already prepared for any storms with an emergency supplies kit. If not, it’s time to get your household ready. Be sure your preparations include supplies and plans for taking care of pets during these weather emergencies. If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe your pets either. Make plans now to ensure your pets remain safe.
Whether you are a longtime homeowner or first-time buyer, purchasing insurance can be an intimidating task. The beginning of hurricane season is a great time to look at the types of insurance coverage you have and determine if it is adequate. Remember, new policies usually take 30 days to go into effect. So, plan now.