Nebraska Raises Awareness for Severe Weather Threats
Project Impact Offers Tips to Keep Homes Safe
Release Date: February 27, 2001
Release Number: R7-01-10
» 2001 Region VII News Releases
Kansas City, MO February 27, 2001 -- As Nebraska holds its annual Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 2-6, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities initiative is encouraging residents to take preventive measures now to reduce the risk of severe weather damage.
"Severe weather has the potential to inflict costly damages to our homes and our businesses," said Art Freeman, Acting Regional Director for FEMA Region VII. "But there are actions you can take to lessen the damage when disaster strikes."
Severe storms can produce a variety of threatening weather. Heavy snows, flooding, high winds and even tornadoes are the most common weather threats in late winter and early spring. To protect yourself and your home from the dangers associated with the various types of severe weather, Project Impact recommends doing the following before severe storms strike:
- Reinforcing garage doors to withstand high winds.
- Securely anchoring manufactured homes to concrete foundations.
- Installing backflow valves in waste lines to prevent contamination.
- Removing old shingles and adding more nails to roof boards.
- Elevating utilities such as fuse boxes, heating and ventilating equipment above known flood levels.
- Building a safe room.
Professional contractors should be retained for major projects and those requiring electrical or plumbing expertise. Preventive actions can range in cost from a few dollars to a few thousand, but every dollar spent can make a difference in protecting a home from disaster.
In 2000, 45 national major disasters were declared, inflicting more than $3.3 billion in damage to homes and businesses across the country. According to the National Weather Service, severe weather caused $26.7 million dollars in property damage in Nebraska alone.
"In communities across the country, Project Impact is helping businesses and residents shift their focus from simply responding to disasters to taking actions in advance to stop devastating property damage and loss of life," said Al Berndt, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. "It is time to take preventive action."
The five communities in Nebraska currently participating in the Project Impact initiative - Beatrice, Superior, Scottsbluff, Gering and Grand Island - have already taken actions to protect residents from the devastating effects of disasters, including:
- Grand Island has been very active in the promotion and construction of tornado shelters in mobile home parks, with two such shelters completed; and
- Grand Island and Hall County participate in the National Flood Insurance Program with 766 policies in force.
Nearly 250 communities and 2,500 business partners have embraced Project Impact since its inception in 1997. Instead of waiting for disasters to occur, Project Impact communities initiate mentoring relationships, private and public partnerships, public outreach and disaster mitigation projects to reduce damage from potentially devastating disasters. Previous community projects have included creating disaster resistance strategies, revising local building codes, and passing bond issues for mitigation measures that will affect the entire community.
For more information about Project Impact or preventing damage, call (202) 646-4117 or visit www.fema.gov.
Last Modified: Friday, 24-Oct-2003 09:55:20