Blog
Each year on Dec. 3, the United Nations leads a global effort to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) is a good opportunity to take a closer look at the work being done by FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC).
At FEMA, we know that emergency management requires expertise at all levels of government to be successful. We are at our best when we work together to help people before, during and after disasters. In July, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell implemented the new Emergency Management Exchange (EMX), a new staff collaboration designed to better understand, communicate and share emergency management practices and information across all levels of government.
The holiday season is a time for family, friends and feasts. This might mean you end up spending more time than usual in the kitchen, so it’s important to brush up on safety tips.
Meet Emily! She is a Community Planner with FEMA Region 8’s Mitigation Division. Emily joined FEMA in the Fall of 2019 with a background in land-use planning.
When disasters happen, one of the first groups to jump into action are volunteers and voluntary organizations. These organizations rally to support communities from short-term response efforts to long-term recovery. Voluntary organizations are some of the first to arrive during an emergency and the last to leave, remaining even after federal assistance is exhausted.
In the days after October 31, many put aside frights and treats to remember and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us. That is the premise behind Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead), which is observed in many Latin American communities and across the nation at the start of November. For many at the agency, dia de Muertos is a special time to reflect.
Ten years ago, Hurricane Sandy became one of the most-powerful storms to strike the most densely populated areas of our nation, killing 160 people and causing more than $65 billion in property damage. FEMA led a large-scale response that involved federal, state and local officials and resources to help the millions impacted from Florida to Maine and inland to West Virginia and Ohio, particularly those in the harder hit areas of New York and New Jersey.
Around FEMA headquarters, this friendly face is a welcome sight. Quick to a smile and eager to educate those around him, Aaron Kubey is a positive force for inclusivity and effective communication.
EMA Region 8 Regional Administrator Nancy Dragani oversees FEMA activities in the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming and the 29 federally recognized tribal nations located in these states. Below she shares the importance of being prepared for earthquakes.
FEMA Region 8 Building Science Specialist McGowan works in the Mitigation Division and serves as the regional earthquake program manager. He shares more about the work his team did after the 2021 Marshall fire and how he works to mitigate the impact of future wildfires.
Last updated September 9, 2021