Thanks to the Oklahoma MesoNet for October's data

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Periods of Record Temps #1903-2010 Precip #1903-2012 Snow #1903-2012 # - large gaps in record	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Oct record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	Oct. Averages High Temp 78 F Low Temp 50 F Avg Temp 64 F Precip 2.85" Snow 0.0"	1 T Avgs: 85/54 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 104 (1977) Low T 39 (1985) Precip 1.46 (1941)	2 T Avgs: 85/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 102 (2000) Low T 40* (1975) Precip 1.12 (1986)	3 T Avgs: 84/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 104 (2000) Low T 40 (1975) Precip 2.15 (1955)	4 T Avgs: 83/56 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 102 (1928) Low T 38 (1979) Precip 3.57 (1953)
5 T Avgs: 82/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 98 (1937) Low T 37 (1932) Precip 3.45 (1919)	6 T Avgs: 82/55 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 99 (1937) Low T 35 (2001) Precip 2.31 (1930)	7 T Avgs: 80/53 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 101 (1979) Low T 31 (1952) Precip 1.13 (1919)	8 T Avgs: 80/53 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 99 (1979) Low T 34 (1976) Precip 1.54 (1919)	9 T Avgs: 81/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 99* (1928) Low T 26 (2000) Precip 4.44 (1918)	10 T Avgs: 80/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 96 (1963) Low T 27 (2000) Precip 1.66 (1926)	11 T Avgs: 79/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 97 (1954) Low T 34 (1932) Precip 1.43 (1931)
12 T Avgs: 79/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 95 (1979) Low T 28 (1977) Precip 1.71 (1960)	13 T Avgs: 80/53 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 100 (1954) Low T 34 (1986) Precip 3.73 (1923)	14 T Avgs: 79/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 99 (1928) Low T 34* (1969) Precip 1.89 (1960)	15 T Avgs: 78/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 23% Extremes: High T 97 (1917) Low T 35* (1914) Precip 3.31 (1915)	16 T Avgs: 78/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 96 (1917) Low T 30 (2001) Precip 1.80 (2006)	17 T Avgs: 77/50 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 98 (1972) Low T 31* (1976) Precip 1.05 (1942)	18 T Avgs: 77/49 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 95 (1972) Low T 33 (1948) Precip 4.16 (1965)
19 T Avgs: 77/48 Sig Prcp Freq: 4% Extremes: High T 95 (1940) Low T 25 (1989) Precip 1.40 (1983)	20 T Avgs: 75/48 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 95 (1979) Low T 25 (1976) Precip 7.10 (1983)	21 T Avgs: 76/48 Sig Prcp Freq: 18% Extremes: High T 95 (2003) Low T 32 (1917) Precip 1.96 (1972)	22 T Avgs: 75/48 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 93 (1939) Low T 29 (1990) Precip 2.76 (1986)	23 T Avgs: 73/47 Sig Prcp Freq: 20% Extremes: High T 92 (2003) Low T 28 (1917) Precip 1.33 (1977)	24 T Avgs: 73/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 95 (2003) Low T 27 (2005) Precip 1.25 (1949)	25 T Avgs: 73/46 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 91 (1939) Low T 28 (2005) Precip 2.18 (1923)
26 T Avgs: 73/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 93 (1950) Low T 26 (1957) Precip 2.60 (1918) Snow trace* (1913)	27 T Avgs: 72/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 91 (1930) Low T 26 (1997) Precip 0.74 (2000)	28 T Avgs: 72/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 90 (1937) Low T 26 (1925) Precip 1.95 (1991)	29 T Avgs: 73/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 92 (1950) Low T 20 (1980) Precip 1.50 (2009)	30 T Avgs: 72/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 90 (1963) Low T 17 (1917) Precip 1.90 (1979)	31 T Avgs: 70/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 21% Extremes: High T 88* (1944) Low T 17 (1993) Precip 1.88 (1940) Snow trace (1941)

30 Days 30 Ways Preparedness Challenge #AltusOK

The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) in Vancouver, Washington is challenging everyone to get more prepared by doing one simple task each day in September. Every day this month, a new challenge is issued to complete a five minute preparedness action. This year’s challenge focuses on actions that encourage preparedness within your whole community and neighborhood. Through partnerships with local organizations, CRESA has crafted fun and interactive activities that open up the preparedness conversation between families, friends, coworkers and neighbors. 

There’s still time to meet the challenge to take simple steps towards preparedness. The 30 Days 30 Ways Preparedness Challenge is an effective way to answer the America’s PrepareAthon! call for everyone to make the move from awareness to action. Join participants from all over the world in preparing for emergencies and disasters.

Ways to participate:

• Visit the 30 Days 30 Ways website
• Follow @30Days_30Ways and use #30Days30Ways on Twitter
• Like the 30 Days 30 Ways Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/30days30ways

Abby's Story #AltusOK

With two autistic children ages three and five, Abby’s life revolves around her family’s routine. Between therapies, school and gymnastics, she manages over 30 appointments a week. She says, “Routine is everything to autistic kids. It reduces their anxiety.” On a warm day in May 2013, Abby saw the routine she had carefully constructed destroyed by an EF-5 tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma and neighboring Oklahoma City.

Although forecasts that day called for severe weather, Abby and her husband wanted to take advantage of a rare day off and went to a movie. She says, “We thought, we are going to a movie, it is two hours, [it’s] not even raining outside, if something is going to get bad then it will get bad later tonight.” About halfway through the movie, Abby got a call from the daycare center across the street from where her children were playing—a tornado was coming and they were evacuating the children to a storm shelter.

• How did Abby and her husband get to their children?
• Did they have a family communications plan?
• Were they prepared for a tornado?

Find out what happened by watching the latest America’s PrepareAthon!disaster survivor video, “It Started Like Any Other Day.”

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

2014 National Preparedness Report Now Available #NPM14 AltusOK #OKready

FEMA has released the 2014 National Preparedness Report (NPR). The NPR is an annual status report on the nation's progress toward reaching the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation established in the Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness.

The NPR identifies areas of sustainment and progress made across 31 core capabilities towards building a secure and resilient nation while identifying opportunities for improvement. Key overarching findings from the 2014 NPR include:

·        Embracing a new approach to disaster recovery: Major events, such as Hurricane Sandy and the severe 2012-2013 drought, have served as catalysts for change in national preparedness programs, drawing clearer links between post-disaster recovery and pre-disaster mitigation activities.

·        Launching major national initiatives: The Federal Government has initiated several national-level policy and planning initiatives that bring unity of effort to preparedness areas, including critical infrastructure security and resilience, cybersecurity, recovery capabilities, and climate change.

·        Managing resource uncertainties: Budget uncertainties have created preparedness challenges at state and local levels of government, resulting in increased ingenuity, emphasis on preparedness innovations, and whole community engagement.

·        Partnering with tribal nations: Tribal partners are now more systematically integrated into preparedness activities. However, opportunities remain for Federal agencies and tribal nations to increase engagement and expand training opportunities on relevant policies.

For a copy of the full report go to: www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-report .

As this NPR indicates, as a nation we can continue to become better prepared. One way to do this is by registering for the America’s PrepareAthon! campaign and participating on September 30—National PrepareAthon! Day. Learn more about America’s PrepareAthon! atwww.ready.gov/prepare.

Congratulations @Do1Thingus for #NatlPrep award

2014 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Winners

FEMA has announced the winners of the 2014 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. The Awards recognize individuals who have taken action to prepare their communities. This year, FEMA asked applicants to highlight accomplishments took place between January 1, 2013 and May 30, 2014.

“Strong emergency management requires teamwork, community engagement, innovation, and strong relationships at all levels before disasters occur,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “This year, we recognize individuals and organizations that exemplify this approach, and I congratulate them on their dedication to make our nation stronger and safer.”

Award winners will attend a ceremony in their honor in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 9. During the event, several recipients will have the opportunity to share their perspectives, insights, experiences, success stories, and lessons learned with emergency management leadership. A live broadcast of the ceremony will begin at 10:40 AM EST atwww.whitehouse.gov/live.

A complete list of the recipients and the honorable mentions for each category is available at: http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/citizen-corps-awards. Award recipients by category are as follows:

• Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Delaware State Citizen Corps Council
• Outstanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Initiatives: MOCERT1
• Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives: Albany County Citizen Corps
• Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness: The Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative  (MyPI)
• Community Preparedness Heroes: Lieutenant Brian K. Rand and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP)
• Awareness to Action: Do 1 Thing
• Fourth Annual Recipient of the John D. Solomon Whole Community Preparedness Award: Smyrna Emergency Management Agency and New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Ready New York for Seniors Program
• Survivor Empowerment and Integration: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management
• Technical Innovation: Partnerships in Assistive Technologies (PATHS, Inc)  

Congratulations to all the award recipients and honorable mentions! You continue to make your communities and the Nation proud! 

Watch Your Water Waste Outside #OKdrought #SPdrought #AltusOK

With a hot summer on the rise, drought has gotten even worse for many of the states on the West Coast, especially California. Even if your community is not directly impacted by a drought, it can still impact you in other ways, such as an increase in the cost of produce.

Conservation of water is absolutely imperative to combat the effects of a drought. As much as 50 percent of the water used outside our homes is wasted. The majority of our misuse of water comes from lawn maintenance and upkeep of our cars.

There are preventative measures you can take to reduce your water waste outside of the home.  Follow these tips and you will be well on your way:

• Inspect your sprinkler system for clogged, broken or missing pieces. Consult a professional for more serious issues.
• Select a proper watering schedule for your sprinkler system.
• Check for local mandated water restrictions to help ensure there is enough water for necessary uses.
• Raise the lawn mower blade. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system, and holds soil moisture. 
• If you wash your own car, use a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted.

For more tips and resources, visit ready.gov/drought and stay tuned! In next week’s e-Brief we will explore how to conserve water inside the home!

Don’t go Dry #AltusOK #SPdrought

Previously, information has been given about how to conserve water outdoors since many communities are experiencing droughts, especially on the West Coast. It is critical that everyone also be mindful of indoor water maintenance and conservation. Did you know the average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year? Droughts affect everyone from farmers to those of us just trying to take a shower. Even small efforts, like being mindful of whether or not your faucet is completely off (dripping faucets alone lose 2,700 gallons of water a year!) make a huge difference.  

There are many things you can do to improve your conservation, from purchasing water-saving technologies to how you do your laundry. Test your knowledge and check out these effective conservation strategies:

·        Choose energy and water-efficient appliances;

·        Check all plumbing for leaks;

·        Avoid letting the water run while you shave or brush your teeth;

·        Only use your dishwasher when it is full and on the “light wash” setting to use less water;

·        Avoid using running water to thaw frozen meats and foods; and

·        Wash your clothes only when you have a full load.

By practicing these tips every day and making them part of your routine, you will save money and preserve this essential resource during drought season.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

Preparing Older Americans in #AltusOK to be #OKready

Partnering with older Americans and engaging them in preparedness efforts can make a significant difference in communities before, during, and after disasters. On July 11-12, the Delaware State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hosted a two-day Disaster Preparedness class at the Barclay Farms Senior Community in Camden, DE.  40 staff members and residents received fire extinguisher training in preparation for a digital fire suppression exercise, and participated in several other activities.

Everyone has a role in disaster response. Here are a few ways you can engage older Americans in your community and empower them to prepare for disasters:

• Discuss what hazards might impact their community.
• Help them to sign up for Local Emergency Alerts.
• Help them to create a disaster support network.
• Make sure their Emergency Supply Kits are updated.
• Discuss evacuation and shelter-in-place plans.
• Be sure their critical documents and valuables are protected.

Remember preparedness is vital for everyone! For more information and resources on engaging older Americans in disaster preparedness, read Ready.gov’s Preparing Makes Sense for Older Americans or visit the Red Cross website.