Yeah, I know, I know. FEMA is not going to save our butts come SHTF, but they offer a treasure-trove of free courses and certification.
They offer courses such as:
Active Shooter - What You Can Do
Human Trafficking Awareness
Livestock in Disasters
Now, their planning and coursework might be inadequate, but I do think it's helpful at least to learn how they plan their operations. Plus, it's free, eligible for college credit through Frederick Community College (for a cost of $88 per college credit) and it can't hurt on a resume. I plan on tackling some of these free courses this summer, and will report back on my experience.
What do you guys think, am I wasting my time with these?
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I think I might not want FEMA to know where to find me, or who I am if SHTF. I think you can get alot of free EMT and other basic training like CPR and things directly through your local fire dept, but it might be different in each area?
Though I do agree, it could be helpful to know their operation plans...
that's an excellent point. I don't like the idea of registering with them, either. From the bit of poking around i did, it looks like all the coursework is accessible without needing to register. Registration seems to be required only if you want the certificate (which some employers require).
They have been doing training in football fields here in CO, hundreds of people, on how to handle mass casualties from biochemical warfare.
I know it will be good for the masses, especially if there are biohazards. It will keep the fear level down and all...but then I also recall New Orleans, where FEMA blocked everyone into the area, with no incoming food, medical or anything.
Some people might be good at helping, but for me, part of prepping is to drop off grid.
I could help others some because I know alot of basic emergency med stuff, but I would be far from the FEMA happenings and chaos.
Wow! I think the plague & chemical probabilities scare me the most. I don't have any desire to head off to the front line in the event of a disaster, but I do want to know how to help my neighbors and I feel like I'm lacking in this area right now. From what I understand, FEMA has come a long way from the disaster that was the Katrina effort and they really learned from it and have made a lot of improvements since then. Ted Koppel covers this in his book Lights Out, which discusses cyberattacks on our electric grid resulting in blackouts.
Interesting, I had not heard of his book, but you know now I will have to read it ;) I really hope they have learned since then. I think it would take the other side of WWIII for me to believe it though, haha.
It is always good to learn as much as we can. My weak area is firearms...I have no clue how to hunt, so that is what I need to work on.
I hope so too though preparing and follow-through are two different animals and I don't have any faith in the govt to actually do what it says it's going to do. I think you'll enjoy the book, it's written by a renowned journalist and I felt he gave a great, unbiased analysis of the whole situation.
I am not keen on firearms, either. We have guns and I still have not learned to use them because I feel skittish. If all else fails, some small animal traps and a BB gun for squirrels and rabbits works, too. And don't forget fishing, that totally counts!
And fishing I can do :) I look forward to reading!
It never hurts to let them think you're on their side.
true! I do like that they have courses that are designed for groups. So if your place of worship is trying to put a plan together on how to handle a mass casualty event, they have a course for that. Kids can take their courses and earn credit for groups like the Scouts.
I'll have to seeif I can find what the program was but there's something now similar to what they used to call the civil defense program that they have that gives you an official looking vest & hardhat with the logo on it, and it's run by local government, that might just give you some inside connections with local first responders (i.e. police & fire) in case something cataclysmic does occur.
is it this organization? I am a total dork and would love to have an official vest and hardhat. 🤓 I already scoped out our local fire station, the first responders nearest to our home. They won't have food or water for the community but they'll have medical supplies & knowledge.
I want to say it was something different that was put together after 9/11 but that would do. Anything to become less regarded as one of "them" in the eyes of "The Officials" and increase the likelihood that someone will go "Oh, that's the Flusterfarms, let them in."