FEMA Continues to Monitor Severe Winter Weather

U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Intergovernmental Affairs Division
Telephone 202-646-3444
Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory
#3
January 28, 2015
FEMA Continues to Monitor Severe Winter Weather
Situation
• FEMA, through its regional offices in Boston, New York and Philadelphia are continuing
to monitor the severe winter weather, and remain in close coordination with state and
tribal officials.
•
According to the National Weather Service, the coastal storm is pulling away from the
U.S. and all related weather impacts have diminished across the Northeast. Lingering
snow will persist through the morning hours across Maine, but additional accumulations
will be light.
•
We encourage those in the areas affected to continue to monitor local radio, TV stations
or official social media accounts for updated emergency information, and to follow the
instructions of state, tribal and local officials.
•
When natural disasters strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works
personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations and numerous private interest groups.
They provide emergency assistance required to protect the public's health and safety and
to meet immediate human need.
Federal Disaster Declarations
• Although there have been no requests for federal Stafford Act assistance, FEMA
continues to stand ready to assist states and tribes, as needed and requested.
Federal Coordination and Mobilizations
• FEMA is working with its federal partners through the Regional Response Coordination
Centers in Boston to help coordinate any potential requests for assistance from the
affected states. These centers bring together partners from the federal family to closely
coordinate federal resources that may be requested from the affected state and tribal
governments.
•
FEMA has liaisons in the emergency operations centers in Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island and New Hampshire to help coordinate any requests for federal assistance.
•
FEMA has increased its staffing at our 24 hour National Watch Center in Washington,
D.C. to provide additional reporting and monitoring of the situation.
•
FEMA’s Incident Management Assistance Teams are poised to deploy anywhere in the
country to support the incident as needed and requested.
•
At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions
of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution
centers throughout the United States and its territories.
Safety and Preparedness Tips
• In any emergency, always follow the instructions given by state, local or tribal
emergency management officials.
•
Check on neighbors who may require assistance such as infants, children, older adults,
people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
•
If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by
an open window or door. Call 911!
•
Watch for signs of frostbite. These include the loss of feeling and white or pale
appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. If
symptoms are detected seek medical attention immediately.
•
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or
charcoal burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially
enclosed area. Locate unit outside and away from doors, windows and vents that could
allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
•
FEMA encourages all Americans to visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more
about how to be better prepared and how to protect your family during emergencies.
•
Get to know the terms that are used to identify weather threats and discuss with your
family what to do if watches or warnings are issued.
o A Winter Storm Watch is issued when there is the potential for significant and
hazardous winter weather within 48 hours.
o A Winter Storm Warning is issued when a significant combination of hazardous
winter weather is occurring or imminent.
o A Winter Weather Advisory is issued when 2 to 4 inches of snow, alone or in
combination with sleet and freezing rain, is expected to cause a significant
inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning.
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Intergovernmental Affairs Division at (202)
646-3444 or at [email protected].
Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema
and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at
www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA
does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
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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