Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 1 September 2023

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against, and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Staying Alert to Disaster-related Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides advice on avoiding disaster-related scams.

The FTC’s website goes into detail on:

• • Avoiding clean-up and repair scams,
  • Spotting imposters,
  • Being alert to job scams,
  • Being wise to rental listing scams,
  • And spotting disaster-related charity scams.

Analyst Comment:

Victims of natural and other disasters are in no position to research how to respond to their situation once a disaster has occurred. In addition to other pre-disaster preparations recommended by FEMA’s  Ready.gov, preparations must be made to avoid scams.

Also, since individuals and Faith-Based Organizations typically want to provide aid to victims of disasters, scammers know how to take advantage of strong sympathetic emotions to prey on unsuspecting victims. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that donations actually go to disaster victims. Advice on avoiding donation scams can be found at the FTC’s Before Giving to a Charity.

CISA warns of malicious cyber activity following natural disasters at CISA Warns of Hurricane-Related Scams | CISA .

National Preparedness Month

FEMA’s Ready Campaign promotes National Preparedness Month each September.

“The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.”

“Emergency managers and all those who work with and support older adult communities to access the new webpage available in English and Spanish languages at Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores. For more information on preparing with disabilities visit Ready.gov/disability or Ready.gov/es/discapacidad in Spanish.””

Analyst Comment:

Many FBOs assist older adult communities and FEMA’s resources may be of help. Older adults are often the most vulnerable population during all stages of an emergency. Older adults may experience challenges that come with advanced age, such as hearing or vision problems or cognitive impairment, which may make it difficult to access, understand, and respond to emergency instructions. Older adults and organizations supporting them, therefore, must be cognizant of the unique requirements of this vulnerable population during disasters. Organizations and older adults can enhance their emergency preparedness by taking concrete actions before, during, and after an emergency, which can ultimately save more lives and reduce property damage.