GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
When major disasters occur in your area the local, state, and federal govenments can be of assistance.
If an emergency situation occurs— You are the first line of defense until the first responders arrive. You need to be prepared.
The Fire department or Police department will be the first responders to your situation. If there is a major emergency situation and the Fire and/or Police are overwhelmed the next group who can come to your aid are
Cert teams are made up of volunteers. CERT groups:
CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as:
- Fire safety
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster medical operations
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) guides all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from incidents.
Website: Click Here
Incident Command System, ICS
Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of on-scene incident management, providing a common hierarchy within which personnel from multiple organizations can be effective. Website: Click Here
Key Points
To get help at the local and federal levels during an emergency, contact your local emergency management officials first; if the situation warrants federal assistance, your state government will need to declare a disaster, which can then open up federal aid through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) by contacting them or your state administrative agency; for immediate emergency assistance, always call 9-1-1.
Key points to remember:
Local level
Contact your local emergency management office to access immediate assistance and information about local shelters, support services, and response plans.
State level
If the emergency exceeds local capacity, contact your state administrative agency to request a disaster declaration, which will allow access to state resources and potentially federal aid.
Federal level
To access federal assistance, a state must declare a disaster, which then opens the door for FEMA to provide support like individual assistance, public assistance, and temporary housing.
How to access help:
- Immediate emergencies: Call 9-1-1.
- Local information: Contact your local emergency management office.
- FEMA assistance: If a state declares a disaster, contact FEMA through your state administrative agency.
- FEMA helpline: Call the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362 for information and referrals.
