Coming To A Lowe's Near You: Free Rebuilding Advice For Georgians

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation specialists are on the road again setting up in a store near you.

This weekend, three new information outreach booths will open at home improvement stores in Cherokee, Fulton and Gwinnett counties to provide one-on-one assistance for Georgians who are interested in better protecting their homes and properties from disasters.

Beginning Sat., Oct. 17, information displays are opening at 8 a.m. at the following locations:

Lowe’s
5924 Roswell Road, NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Lowe’s
2044 Cumming Highway
Canton, GA 30114

Lowe’s
3260 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road
Suwanee, GA 30024

The booths will be staffed with specialists from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 22, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 23.

An outreach booth at the Lowe’s home-improvement store in Austell at 1717 East-West Connector remains open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 22, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 23.

Three outreach booths that opened last week closed at noon today.

Those locations are:

Lowe’s, 7001 Douglas Blvd., in Douglasville

Lowe’s, 3250 Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw

Lowe’s, 733 Pleasant Hill Road in Lilburn

Since Oct. 3, FEMA mitigation specialists have been setting up booths at home-improvement stores throughout disaster-stricken communities, to provide residents with important information on ways to repair or improve their homes to reduce or prevent future disaster damages.

Those techniques include such ideas as: reducing mold and mildew, protecting electrical systems, furnaces, and other appliances; reinforcing structures against high winds and flooding; safeguarding valuables; and securing other important personal property. Information on flood insurance also is available.

The information, which includes reference booklets, is free and provided both in English and Spanish. No registration is required. There is no limit on the number of times someone can visit with a specialist or on the number of publications they can have.

So far, the teams have talked with more than 4,000 visitors to home-improvement stores throughout the metro Atlanta area.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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On Heels Of Updated NOAA Hurricane Outlook, FEMA Emphasizes Public Preparedness

Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a revised hurricane outlook for the 2009 hurricane season. While this outlook provides important trends and cycles, FEMA is taking this opportunity to remind the public that no one can predict where the next storm will strike or what the impacts of that storm will be. That is why it is critical, as we move into the more active phase of the hurricanes season, that we all take steps now to prepare ourselves and our families.

“If you live in a hurricane prone area, it is common sense to ensure your family is prepared,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “We do not know where the next hurricane will strike, but what we do know is that the more the public does now to prepare, the better the outcome will be. I’m encouraging anyone in a hurricane prone state to take a few small steps to ensure their family is ready.”

Everyone, even, those living outside of hurricane-risk areas, should ensure they have taken steps to prepare including developing an emergency kit, getting training in CPR or first aid, and knowing if they live in an evacuation route.

Important items to have ready in case of an emergency include a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, medicines, non-perishable food, hand-operated can opener, utility knife, and first aid supplies. Copy and store your important documents in a waterproof bag. These may include medical records, contracts, property deeds, leases, banking records, insurance records, and birth certificates.

Earlier this week Administrator Fugate released a video message on the importance of personal preparedness. The video can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/fema.

For more preparedness information, please visit www.fema.gov and www.ready.gov.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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FEMA Teams Up With Minor League Baseball And Boy Scouts To Help Families Prepare For Emergencies

On the heels of the 2009 All-Star Games, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is joining with Minor League Baseball and the Boy Scouts of America to kick off the second half of their campaign to ensure fans and their families are Ready when emergencies strike. In partnership with FEMA's Ready Campaign, Dozens of baseball teams and local Boy Scout councils across the nation are stepping up to the plate and encouraging fans to prepare for all types of emergencies and disasters. The Ready Campaign is a national public awareness effort designed to help all Americans prepare their families before the next emergency or disaster, by making a kit and getting a plan.

"As we enter hurricane season, the partnership with Minor League Baseball will help educate thousands of baseball fans about the need to prepare our families now, before disaster strikes," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Preparing your family now, will have an impact on the outcome of the next disaster. That's why through FEMA's Ready Campaign we are encouraging all Americans to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about the different types of emergencies that can occur in their areas We appreciate the continued support of Minor League Baseball, the Boy Scouts and all of the organizations helping us to spread this critical message to American families."

"Minor League Baseball is proud to team up with the Boys Scouts of America in advancing the Ready Campaign," said Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner. "Through the years we have seen Minor League Baseball communities seriously impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters. We are convinced the Ready Campaign is a valuable resource to citizens in harms way and our teams enthusiastically support spreading this important message."

Throughout the 2009 season, Minor League Baseball teams are participating in a variety of ways, including featuring the Ready public service advertisements on their monitors and in game programs as well as partnering with local Boy Scouts, Emergency Management Agencies, and Citizen Corps Councils to distribute Ready's emergency preparedness materials. These brochures and educational materials provide valuable information to help individuals and families prepare for emergencies and are also available at www.ready.gov.

Local Boy Scouts taking part in this effort can work toward earning their Emergency Preparedness merit badge and a Good Turn for America Award, which fosters joint community service projects between the Boy Scouts and organizations like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Personal preparedness is a fundamental principle we teach all of our scouts, so it makes great sense that our scouts would help share that message with others through our partnership with the Ready Campaign," said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America.
To learn more about how your local team can get involved and to find out what teams are doing, please visit www.ready.gov.
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Georgia Receives Presidential Disaster Declaration for 14 Counties Damaged By Mother’s Day Tornadoes

Governor Sonny Perdue announced that President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for the 14 counties that Governor Perdue requested aid for following the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that hit Georgia on May 11-12.

“I am grateful to President Bush and FEMA Director Paulison for their quick action in offering assistance,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “This Federal Disaster Declaration will broaden our capability to recover from these devastating storms.”

This means that individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in 10 counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs.
The President has also designated that Bibb, Carroll, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, Treutlen, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties will all be able to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent the cost of the initial emergency response, debris removal and restoration of damaged public facilities.

For the counties receiving individual assistance, aid can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Governor Perdue made the request May 16 for a federal declaration after touring the areas and reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.

Residents and business owners in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs counties who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, visit http://www.gema.ga.gov/.