FEMA Rumor Control upon Federal Government Shutdown!

FEMA Rumor Control

FEMA is purchasing ammunition, vaccines, etc. in anticipation of a disaster in Region III on or about October 1st, 2013. This is FALSE.

FEMA is aware of the speculation surrounding procurement of materials throughout the United States, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region. There is no specific threat, catalyst, or alert that causes FEMA to purchase additional supplies. Throughout the year, FEMA routinely purchases materials and prepositions them throughout the country in anticipation of disasters. No unusual or inordinate purchases are being made.

From its offices in Philadelphia, FEMA Region III works closely with the emergency management agencies of theDistrict of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards. To help accomplish its mission, Region III maintains strong partnerships through its councils-the Regional Advisory Council and the Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group.

Emergencies can be scary for people of every age; they can be especially scary for youth because they generally have little control over how their family or community has prepared, and how they will respond.  Too often youth are viewed as a liability rather than an asset, when instead they have so much to offer their families and their communities if only they were better prepared and better engaged.

“Involving youth in the preparedness process teaches them about what to do, who to contact, and what the plan is,” said Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney, “it also reduces some of the fear associated with an emergency, but most importantly, youth have excellent ideas that can help everyone prepare for a disaster.”