SEATTLE, Wash. -- Daylight Savings Time in the United States starts on the second Sunday in March of each year and the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages all Americans to use the change to daylight savings time to update emergency preparedness plans. For years, firefighters and safety professionals at every level have asked the public to change smoke alarm batteries throughout their homes, as they move their clocks ahead. According to FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, the March ritual of making homes safer from fire is also a great opportunity to review disaster response plans and restock disaster kits. Read the whole article for full details

DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to communities and unincorporated areas in Hopkins County, Texas. The FIRMs will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions. If you find this of interest, please read the full feature.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for South Dakota. To learn more, use the link.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Craig Fugate today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for South Dakota to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm during the period of January 20-26, 2010. Find out more about this topic. Go to the link.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel and members of FEMA-trained Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from California, Florida, New York, and Virginia today joined other personnel and teams involved in the United States response to Haiti for a Rose Garden ceremony with President Obama. The President thanked all who participated in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-led effort. Find out more about this topic. Go to the link.

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) today announced nearly $24.5 million in additional federal grants to the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control for Katrina-related recovery work at Jackson Barracks. To learn more, use the link.

DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting draft flood risk maps to communities in Caddo County, Okla. The maps will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions. If you find this of interest, please read the full feature.

DENTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presenting draft flood risk maps to communities in Grady County, Okla. The maps will help county officials and local residents identify known flood risks and will be used for insurance and development decisions. Read the whole article for full details

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for South Dakota For additional details, please follow the link contained in the title.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of South Dakota to supplement recovery efforts in the areas struck by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of December 23-27, 2009 Read more about this news.