Widgets are web tools that can be put on your webpage, blog, and social media sites.  Citizen Corps' widgets are free and display information provided by FEMA's Community Preparedness Division through continually updated data feeds.  Citizen Corps widgets are easily placed on your web page by copying the code of the widget and placing it within the html code of your web site's editor.  CitizenCorps.gov currently offers three widgets in several sizes:

Citizen Corps Web Banners:  www.citizencorps.gov/councils/banners.shtm

Web banners are graphic files that can be used by individuals to link from their website to CitizenCorps.gov.  These banners are free and are available in several styles and sizes.

Citizen Corps RSS Feeds:  www.citizencorps.gov/rss/

RSS feeds provide subscribers with automated updated information through user-defined applications without having to continually visit CitizenCorps.gov.  These RSS feeds can be imported into self-made widgets and many other social media sites.  CitizenCorps.gov currently offers two RSS feeds:

Citizen Corps Twitter:  www.twitter.com/citizen_corps

Twitter is a Microblog that gives FEMA's Community Preparedness Division the opportunity to provide users with specific community preparedness information in a timely manner. Current followers of the Citizen Corps account include Citizen Corps Councils and partners, the emergency management community, and the general public.

Citizen Corps News Emails:  www.citizencorps.gov/subscribe.shtm  

Citizen Corps also promotes transparent communication and collaboration through using an email subscription service that allows any visitor to the CitizenCorps.gov website to register to receive Citizen Corps News updates and to receive updates during disasters in their local area.

FEMA FaceBook:  www.facebook.com/fema

Citizen Corps regularly contributes to the FEMA Facebook page to provide disaster preparedness information to the general public and information on how citizens can get involved in preparing their communities.

Sincerely,

The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Community Preparedness Division

• Thanksgiving Day: This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26.  Thanksgiving kicks-off the holiday season and reminds us of the importance of coming together with our families and communities.  Take advantage of this time to spread the message of family and community preparedness.  Encourage your family members to work with their neighbors to create preparedness plans and to become involved in community safety initiatives.  For information on making a family preparedness plan visit Ready.gov and to learn how to get involved in local community safety initiatives, visit the Citizen Corps website.  

A complete list of weekly and monthly outreach themes for 2009 is available at http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/themes.shtm.

In the coming weeks the Ready Campaign will be launching a new campaign designed to encourage emergency preparedness around New Years. As part of this campaign, we will be offering several resolution-oriented tips through our official twitter account, and would like to invite you to follow these before the campaign's launch.

The Ready Campaign's official twitter can be found at http://twitter.com/ReadydotGov. If you have any questions or would like further information on the Campaign, please email us at ready@dhs.gov.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by The Ready Campaign. Visit us on the web at http://www.ready.gov/.

We are truly grateful that you are actively participating and serving as a volunteer for our Program.  Thank you for your service! 

Although our Basic CERT and supplemental classes are over for the year, we are excited about the remaining events and projects in 2009.  We hope you are too.  Most of all, we would like to ask you to continue to help us make a profound difference in the lives of the people in our community.  

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with your family, friends and your community!

Loretta

Community Preparedness Program Coordinator

Chandler Fire

Get the facts on the H1N1 Flu online at: www.flu.gov

The Chandler Fire Department staff has been working actively to update their information on the City of Chandler www.chandleraz.gov and the Chandler Fire www.chandlerfire.org websites.  This is great news for the CERT Program.  We now have visibility on both of the sites!

Direct links:

Emergency Preparedness & CERT

http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=905

CERT

http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=922

The Seasonal Influenza Flu Exercise also known, as the Mass Immunization/PODs Exercise will be held on Saturday, 10/31/2009, 6:00am - 1:00pm at Chandler Gilbert Community College located at 2626 E Pecos Road, in Chandler.  Please report to the College at 6:00am for your assignment for the day.  Police and the security personnel will direct you to the appropriate parking area and tell you where to check-in.  

IMPORTANT TIPS

1. You must be registered for the Seasonal Influenza Flu Exercise to gain access through the security area at Chandler Gilbert Community College.
1. A list of volunteers will be provided to the Police and Security personnel on site.
2. A continental breakfast and box lunch will be served. 
3. Please bring your AZ identification and volunteer badge; wear your volunteer uniform and vest, if applicable.
1. Chandler CERT members - Please bring the badge you have regardless of the expiration date.
4. Chandler CERT Members will earn annual drill credit when they work at least 4 hours at the POD site during the Exercise.
1. All other volunteers should contact their Volunteer Coordinator for more details.
5. FREE Seasonal Flu Shots (Not H1N1) will be given to all volunteers 18 years or older while supplies lasts and for those who would like one.
6. FREE Seasonal Shots (Not H1N1) will be given to the general public who are 18 years or older from 8:00am - 11:00am or while supplies last. 

If you have already submitted your forms, you do not need to do so again at this time. Should you require more information, please contact Chandler CERTAdmin at 480-782-2116.

A Mass Immunization Command Leadership & Volunteer Meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, 10/28 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the Chandler Gilbert Community College located 2626 E Pecos Road, in the Student Center Rooms SC 140-144, in Chandler.  Please visit: www.cgc.maricopa.edu for a map of the college and directions.

This meeting is primarily for volunteers who will be working in the following command leadership staff positions: POD Manager, POD Assistant Manager, Operations Lead, Line Lead, and Logistic Lead.  

The brief meeting will highlight the Exercise Plan for Saturday, 10/31.  More specific details will be given on Saturday.  The job descriptions are explained in the Job Action Sheets that can be download via the link below. 

You will be notified by Wednesday, 10/28 if you have been selected to work in a command position. All other positions will be assigned on Saturday.  To qualify for a leadership role, you must have successfully completed the PODs Leadership Training in the past.  You can still participate in the Exercise even if you have not completed PODs Leadership training.

If you have not already done so, please confirm whether you plan to attend the meeting by Monday, 10/26.  Please email CERTAdmin or call 480-782-2116.

D1JobActionSheets.doc

Shot Clinics to distribute H1N1 vaccine in Chandler.  Be advised that two of the County's H1N1 Vaccine distribution Points will be in Chandler  Saturday, 10/24.  Locations will be the Fry's Pharmacy at Riggs & McQueen  and the other will be the Super Walmart at Arizona Ave. & Pecos Rd. Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Thursday, 10/8/2009

1:00 pm - 5:30 pm

City of Chandler

Neighborhood Resources Dept., Conference Room

Boyer Bldg at 55. N. Arizona Place, 3rd floor

Registration deadline:  Wednesday, 10/7/2009

Contact:  Anthony Dominguez, Risk Management and Safety Div.

Telephone: 480-782-2386 

Email:

Anthony Dominguez 

Please indicate in the subject line:  Subject: Sign-up 15 Passenger Van Operator Training, 10/8/2009.  Students are asked to bring a copy of their AZ valid drivers license with them to class so that a 39-Month Driving History check can be completed.

H1N1 Flu Hotline VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

Volunteers are being recruited to answer phone calls from the public regarding the H1N1 Flu when it hits Arizona.  Volunteers are needed to assist with answering incoming calls.  Also, volunteers are asked to sign-up for the stand-by list.  

No medical experience is required.  However, if you do have some, great!  Flexible hours are available between 7am - 7pm, every day of the week, from October 2009 - February 2010. 

To volunteer, please contact the Community Information and Referral by telephone or e-mail at:

Community Information & Referral

2200 North Central Ave. Suite 601

Phoenix, AZ 85021

602-263-8845 x 140

Margie Coggins

mcoggins@cir.org

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR CHANDLER CERT 

1.       Contact CERTAdmin after you have scheduled yourself to work. 

2.     Download and complete your hours on the Chandler CERT CI&R Time Sheet.xls by filling in the hours you worked and getting your site supervisor's signature. 

3.     Fax your completed timesheet to CERTAdmin at:  480-782-2125 at the end of each week you work.   

4.     Enter your hours into Sharepoint via this site.

5.  You will earn annual drill credit when you work a minimum of four hours on one day.

­­ONSITE TRAINING

Onsite training will be provided at the beginning of your shift.  You will be given information from the Arizona State Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Health Services on current H1N1 efforts will be presented.  Also, the CIR will present training on call center operations, the types of calls to expect, use of our phone system and recording Hotline caller data. 

Novel H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.

Download the latest information on where adults 18 years old and older can get a free seasonal flu shot.  Free flu shots will be given on Saturday, 10/31 at 8:00am - 11:00am at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College, 2626 E. Pecos Road in Chandler.

Flu Shot Flyer 2009 FINAL version 2.pdf