What We’re Watching: 3/30/12
Ongoing Situations
We continue to watch the ongoing Lower North Fork Fire in Colorado. While significant progress has been made on containing the fire, fire conditions will be elevated this weekend. We're working closely with our state and local partners in Colorado, and recently provided a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help fund their firefighting costs. While parts of our country are dry, other parts are experiencing heavy precipitation. Recent heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in Puerto Rico, and we're working closely with municipalities in the Commonwealth to see what federal assistance may be required.
Weather Outlook
This weekend, heavy rain and flooding is expected for parts of the Pacific Northwest, specifically in Oregon and northern California. State and local officials in those states are working with their residents on voluntary evacuations. For some tips on how to prepare you and your family for an evacuation, visit Ready.gov. Heavy rain and severe weather is also expected in the southeastern U.S. in Mississippi and Louisiana. Beginning Sunday and into Monday, high winds are predicted throughout the western half of the U.S.
We encourage everyone to monitor your area's local forecast as weather conditions can change. Stay up-to-date on your local forecast by visiting weather.gov or mobile.weather.gov on your mobile device.
Careers at FEMA
At FEMA, "every employee is an emergency manager" and we are always recruiting highly motivated people interested in a rewarding career in emergency management. FEMA has positions available across the country, and here are just a few open positions with the agency:
- Emergency Management Specialist - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Civil Engineer - Chicago, Illinois
- External Affairs Specialist - Denver, Colorado
- Environmental Specialist/Tribal Liaison - Denton, Texas
Visit our Careers page to browse through other opportunities that are available, learn more about FEMA, and watch testimonials from employees.
National Hurricane Conference
Earlier this week, Administrator Craig Fugate spoke at the 2012 National Hurricane Conference. The conference is a national forum for federal, tribal, state and local officials to come together to exchange ideas and recommend new policies for improving emergency management efforts related to hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. Check out the video below, where Fugate encourages everyone to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season: