A BEAR!

I have been home in PA all week. I live in Virginia, but home has always been and will be Scandia, Pennsylvania. It has been a beautiful week, and I have had a really good time. Thursday I went to dinner with my friends Derek and Pam McKown. We were driving to the Horseshoe Inn in Onoville, NY (great food and atmosphere, check it out if you are ever in the area) about 1930 and out of the woods wanders a beautiful black bear. That is not uncommon in the area, but this bear really had us laughing. It started across the road, stopped, looked at us, turned and headed back where it came from, then turned around and started back across the road again and then decided to sit in the middle of the right lane! It was a cute bear, jet black with the classic round ears straight up giving a very comical look. Pam moved the car just a little bit so the bear got up and wandered into the woods on the right of the road, when we pulled up slowly there it was just sitting in the woods, looking at us, and then it finally got up and wandered deeper into the woods. It was so cool to see and made us laugh at times during dinner, which was great. Thanks Derek and Pam!

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK Honoring Fallen Firefighters, Preparing as Individuals 3OKT10

I am proud that I was an active member of the Scandia (PA) Volunteer Fire Dept for about 15 years, and I was also an EMT in the department for 10 of those years. Take this time to check the operation of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and to make sure the children in your home know how to get out if there is a fire. In the U.S., if you need a smoke detector for your home or apartment and can not afford one you can contact your local fire department and generally they will be able to provide one for you and will offer information on fire prevention and safety.

This past Sunday, as part of the 2010 Fire Prevention Week, I had the privilege of delivering remarks on behalf of President Obama at the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial, as we recognized and honored 105 firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Here’s a short excerpt:

To the families of those we’ve lost, the thoughts and prayers of a grateful nation are with you.
Firefighters are among the first called to any emergency – and it is a call they selflessly rush to meet. Whether for a fire, a highly specialized rescue, or emergency medical services, the men and women of our nation’s fire services are there, serving their communities in a moment of need. Day after day, in towns and cities across this country, they are fighting structural fires or wildfires, or protecting our troops, bringing relief from fear, from danger, from the hazards of our world.

It takes a certain type of individual to be willing to rush into a burning building as everyone else is trying to get out.  As we remember the sacrifices firefighters and first responders make, along with their families, we as individuals have our own responsibility to make sure our own homes are protected, and the best thing you can do is make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home.
Earlier this week, Glenn Gaines, the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration, joined me in talking about the importance of properly installing smoke alarms:
 Here are few important things to know:

• You should test your smoke alarm once a month.
• You should change your alkaline batteries at least once a year.
• You should install your smoke alarms on every level of your home (including the basement), outside of each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom.
• You should not take the battery out of your smoke alarm if it sounds while you are cooking.

Residential structure fires occur every 79 seconds in this country.  A smoke alarm can alert you and your family to a fire whether you are awake or asleep: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  That piece of mind only costs you the price of the smoke alarm (available at a local drug store or hardware store) and the price of batteries.
As I often say, FEMA is not the team – we’re only part of the team.  That team includes the entire federal family, state and local officials, first responders across our nation, and especially the public.  That’s right - you as an individual and member of your community are a big part of the team.  The better prepared you are, the better prepared your community is.
How do you get started?  Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home and a plan for you and your family in case of a fire.


You never know when a fire or other emergency may strike – so take these simple steps today to make sure you are ready for tomorrow.
Craig Fugate is the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency