Here's your November weather summary from the Oklahoma MesoNet #AltusOK

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 = Nov record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	Nov. Averages High Temp 65 F Low Temp 38 F Avg Temp 52 F Precip 1.23" Snow 0.3"				1 T Avgs: 70/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 91 (2001) Low T 26 (1991) Precip 2.25 (1928)
2 T Avgs: 69/43 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 88 (1924) Low T 19 (1966) Precip 1.77 (1961) Snow 0.2 (1951)	3 T Avgs: 67/42 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 91 (2005) Low T 16 (1991) Precip 1.24 (2004)	4 T Avgs: 68/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 91 (2005) Low T 20 (1936) Precip 1.60 (1990)	5 T Avgs: 68/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 91 (1924) Low T 25 (1939) Precip 1.20 (1964)	6 T Avgs: 68/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 91 (1945) Low T 20* (1959) Precip 0.60 (1983) Snow 1.5 (1938)	7 T Avgs: 68/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 90 (1980) Low T 22 (1993) Precip 1.47 (1920) Snow 1.5 (2000)	8 T Avgs: 67/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 88 (2005) Low T 21 (1991) Precip 0.85 (1916) Snow 0.3 (2000)
9 T Avgs: 67/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 90 (1988) Low T 25 (1955) Precip 1.07 (1919)	10 T Avgs: 66/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 4% Extremes: High T 87 (1995) Low T 23 (1950) Precip 1.00 (1929)	11 T Avgs: 66/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 83* (1949) Low T 13 (1950) Precip 0.27 (1923)	12 T Avgs: 66/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 84* (1938) Low T 22 (1919) Precip 0.48 (1922)	13 T Avgs: 66/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 85 (1967) Low T 15 (1940) Precip 0.64 (2010) Snow 3.0 (1976)	14 T Avgs: 66/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 84 (1927) Low T 14 (1916) Precip 0.82 (1924) Snow trace* (1920)	15 T Avgs: 64/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 83 (1965) Low T 18* (1940) Precip 2.71 (2004)
16 T Avgs: 63/37 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 86 (1963) Low T 16 (1932) Precip 1.94 (1931)	17 T Avgs: 64/37 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 81 (1999) Low T 13 (1959) Precip 1.15 (1964)	18 T Avgs: 64/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 83 (1999) Low T 14 (1951) Precip 1.36 (2001)	19 T Avgs: 63/37 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 83* (1950) Low T 19 (1921) Precip 1.15 (1963)	20 T Avgs: 64/35 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 83* (1949) Low T 18 (1937) Precip 2.98 (1994)	21 T Avgs: 63/36 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 85 (1970) Low T 21 (1926) Precip 1.01 (1916) Snow 2.0 (1972)	22 T Avgs: 62/36 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 84* (1927) Low T 22 (1945) Precip 0.44 (1963) Snow trace (1971)
23 T Avgs: 61/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 82 (2005) Low T 19 (1970) Precip 0.60 (1983)	24 T Avgs: 60/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 81 (1946) Low T 14 (1938) Precip 0.82 (2000) Snow 1.0 (1918)	25 T Avgs: 62/35 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 86 (1965) Low T 18 (2003) Precip 1.24 (1940) Snow 3.0 (1918)	26 T Avgs: 61/35 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 89 (1970) Low T 12 (1993) Precip 1.11 (1935) Snow 0.5 (1918)	27 T Avgs: 60/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 81 (1960) Low T 17 (2002) Precip 0.64 (1968) Snow 1.0 (1918)	28 T Avgs: 58/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 80 (1927) Low T 16 (1976) Precip 0.46 (1968) Snow 3.5 (2001)	29 T Avgs: 58/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 84 (1975) Low T 12 (1976) Precip 0.82 (1996) Snow 2.0 (2001)
30 T Avgs: 60/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 79* (1924) Low T 14 (2001) Precip 0.71 (1981) Snow 2.0 (2006)

Assistance to Firefighters Grant #AltusOK #OKfire #tweko

Dear Fire and EMS Personnel within FEMA Region 6,

We are contacting you as a courtesy to inform you the application period
for the FY2014 Assistance to Firefighters Grant will be opening soon,
tentatively in early November. Region 6 has developed a recorded web based
workshop which any department can access online at any time.

Region 6 FY 2014 AFG Recorded Web Workshop (available 24/7 using Adobe
Connect)
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/p8jbsjwxrm6

Region 6 will also host two live webinars to allow for questions and
answers.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 9:00 AM CST at
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/afgwebinaroct29
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 1:00 PM CST at
https://fema.connectsolutions.com/afgwebinarnov4

Now is the time to do some preliminary work on your potential grant
application.  Following your local procedures, determine what needs exist
and confirm costs as appropriate.  This will make the application process
less cumbersome once the final Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is
released. Departments can also begin compiling department information on
budget, population served, call volume, current age of equipment, etc. in
preparation for the application.

As a reminder, all recipients of Federal grant funding must have a valid
registration in the System for Award Management or SAM (www.sam.gov).
Take time now to confirm that your department’s SAM registration is up to
date and active.  Below are several links to documents on the AFG Program’s
FAQ page. The first link is to the slide deck used for the web workshop.
The last two links provide user friendly training videos on how to prepare
an AFG grant application, and specifically how to prepare a grant
application for a vehicle.

FY 2014 AFG Regional Workshop Slides
http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/98221

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - Most Frequently Asked Questions
https://edit.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant-program-most-frequently-asked-questions


Training Video: Getting a Grant - Assistance to Firefighters Grant
http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/83188

Training Video: AFG Vehicle Grants
http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/83176

We thank you for the daily work you do for your citizens and look forward
to the opportunity to help you in providing that service. Our goal in
Region 6 is to provide you with the best possible support in applying for
and managing your grant. Please do not hesitate to contact either myself or
Brad Cole at (940-898-5310) or brad.cole@fema.dhs.gov if you have questions
or need additional information.

Very respectfully,

Nick Zotos
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Division
DHS/FEMA Region 6

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This annual initiative sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is designed to educate the public and raise awareness about cybersecurity and increase the resiliency of the nation for cyber incidents.

Whether we use the Internet at home, work or school, there is a risk of abuse, fraud or identity theft. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility in which we all have a role. DHS has developed a series of events and activities to engage the public on this important topic.

Participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Month is easy. Here are some things you can do to stay safe:

• Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone;
• Keep your operating system, browser and other critical software optimized by installing updates;
• Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends and community about Internet safety; and
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.

For resources you can use or share throughout the year, download the DHSStop.Think.Connect.  Toolkit. If you have a Twitter account, join Stop.Think.Connect. for a series of weekly Twitter Chats throughout the month of October. Use the hashtag #ChatSTC to follow along.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

CERT Competitive Events Webinar #OKready #AltusOK

The CERT National Program Office is pleased to announce a can’t-miss event! On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (EDT) we will be hosting the first of six annual CERT webinars, each of which will focus on a different topic. Last month, one of our stories in the National CERT E-Brief profiled three programs that have planned and organized competitive events (often referred to as CERT Rodeos/Games/Olympics) for their CERT volunteers. As a follow-up to that story, this month our webinar will feature the organizers of the Northern Nevada Regional CERT Rodeo, the Mississippi CERT Olympics, and the Kansas City CERT Rodeo.  Presenters will share their experiences and insights from developing and hosting competitive events. Speakers will discuss how they planned and organized their events, lessons learned, and how their events benefitted their programs and communities. The webinar will last one hour, with the final 15 minutes reserved for a Q&A session.

We hope that you will be able to join us on October 22 to learn how you can organize your own competitive event for your CERT program!

Date/Time

• Wednesday, October 22, 2014
• 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) / 12:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Join the Webinar

• Click here for the Adobe Connect Registration Web Link.
• Please register for the event.  Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting by clicking here.
• This webinar will offer closed captioning.

Presenters will include representatives from:

• State of Mississippi
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Carson City, Nevada
• Washoe County, Nevada

Storm Damage in #AltusOK

Emergency Management volunteers surveyed storm damage in Altus from the 12 October storm that produced measured 76-mile-per-hour winds in Altus and 75-MPH winds on the Air Force Base.

Of most importance, there was damage to a local motel and a home damaged in the Elmer area.  

Three vehicles had tree damage caused by dead trees falling on them.  While likely a casualty of the lingering drought in southwest Oklahoma, this kind of damage could be mitigated if home owners would cut down the trees before the wind falls on them.

Speaking of the drought, the image at left shows our recent rainfall.  It's welcome but not enough to get out out of the drought.

One of three vehicles damaged by falling trees

Damage to a motel roof in Altus.

The second vehicle with tree damage

The final tree-damaged vehicle.

City Employees worked clearing debris

Damage to the roof of the former lumber yard

Jackie Dickerson receives award

Jackie Dickerson, former emergency management director for the City of Altus, received a plague honoring his hard work establishing the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Jackie Dickerson, seated, received an award for his hard work with
the Local Emergency Planning Committee in Altus.  Presenting
the plaque was (left to right) Jackson County Memorial Hospital
Chief of Operations Jim King, Altus Mayor David Webb,
and LEPC Secretary-Treasurer Phillip Beauchamp.

Not only did his efforts help establish the LEPC, he also played a significant part in its growth as an officer and former chairman. Today the CoA/Jackson County LEPC is one of the most active in the State of Oklahoma.

The LEPC serves a vital function in the community by bringing public safety, business and industry leaders together to plan for responses to disasters and emergencies. The group worked tirelessly, behind the scenes, during the 2010 ice storm to ensure the public was safe and provide emergency generators for vital healthcare functions. Many additional emergency response functions were carried out during that event. 

Dickerson served as the Jackson County Memorial Hospital Emergency Manager, providing essential information to the City and County while coordinating the Hospital’s response.

For more information about the role of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, visit http://www.deq.state.ok.us/lpdnew/saratitleiii/ohmerc.htm.

Webinar: Citizen Corps and CERT Showcase #AltusOK

How does your Citizen Corps or CERT program compare with others around the country? The National Citizen Corps and CERT Program Office will host a webinar on October 15, 2014 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to showcase registration data collected from local Citizen Corps and CERT programs last year and discuss updates to the registration system.

This webinar will highlight strengths, document national trends, and also identify needs and potential areas of growth for Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs. We will also clarify how the National Program Office uses your registration data to demonstrate how your programs contribute to resilience at the local, county, tribal, and state levels, and to make the case for continued support for Citizen Corps and CERT.

In addition, the webinar will present recent enhancements to the registration website, as well as anticipated new features, such as a future capability allowing state and local programs to generate their own individual reports based on the data they’ve entered. This is intended to make it easier for programs to use their data to demonstrate the value they bring to their communities, justify continued support, highlight areas of growth, identify needs for new resources, and set strategic direction.

We hope to see you on the webinar! Additional details are below.

Date/Time

• Wednesday October 15, 2014
• 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time /10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Join the Webinar

• Adobe Connect Registration Web Link:https://icpd.adobeconnect.com/showcasereg/event/registration.html
•  Please register for the event.  Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting by clicking here.
• This webinar will offer closed captioning.

Coming Soon: The Great ShakeOut #AltusOK

The September 30, 2014 National PrepareAthon! Day may be over, but another exciting preparedness initiative is just around the corner! Join the millions of people, schools, and organizations worldwide who will participate in earthquake drills as part of the Great ShakeOut on Thursday, October 16 at 10:16 a.m. Participants will Drop, Cover, and Hold On, practicing the appropriate protective actions to take in response to earthquakes.

Sign up and be counted! Make sure to register your participation on the ShakeOut website. Can’t participate on October 16?  No worries – You can select another day during the month of October.

To learn more about Great ShakeOut, visit www.shakeout.org. You’ll find valuable information about this initiative, including an earthquake preparedness guide for individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Practicing for disasters is a great opportunity to engage your entire family in preparedness. Check out FEMA’s new animated video “When The Earth Shakes” to see what you can do to prepare for earthquakes.

Locating Loved Ones #AltusOK #OKready

Have you ever thought about how you will communicate with and locate your loved ones in the event of a disaster?  You never know where you will be or with whom you will be when a disaster strikes. This week, the focus for National Preparedness Month is, “How to Reconnect with Family After a Disaster.” Use this time to build a family communications plan. Your priority will be to get to a safe place, contact your loved ones and reunite with them as soon as possible. The best course of action is to have a plan for each of the common locations where you spend most of your time – home, work, gym, or place of worship. 

Below are some tips on how to get in contact with your loved ones in an emergency.

• Complete a contact card for each member of your family and have them placed in purses, wallets and book bags;
• Have a contact that does not live in your area that each family member can notify when they are safe if unable to contact family in the affected area. An out-of-area contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members;
• Remember you can use text messaging when calling does not work because phone lines commonly have network disruptions after disasters; and
• In addition to text messaging, use social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, to alert family members that you are safe. You can also use the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program.

Check out America’s PrepareAthon! to participate in other drills and exercises with your family, and practice the communications plan you just developed

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

Additionally, please consider amateur radio for your family.  The American Radio Relay League can help.