Hurricane Season Started June 1

Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea begins on June 1 and lasts through November. Do you live in a state that could have a hurricane? To find out, go to the What's Happening Now page and click on your state to see if hurricanes happen there. Even states that are not on the coast could get flooded by hurricanes after they've come ashore. While hurricanes slow down and "break apart" when they are over land, they can still bring strong storms, tornadoes and flooding, so it's good to be prepared! Find out more about hurricanes by clicking here.

And be sure to check out hurricane names for 2001. Maybe your name will be a hurricane!

A Special Dog

Ed Stewart and his dog, Izzy, were one of the first members of the Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1. They joined in 1992. Izzy was certified as an advanced Search and Rescue Canine and was one of the dogs selected to be on the 1996 US Olympics Rescue Team. Ed Stewart, Izzy's handler and friend, is a detective on the Stowe (Vermont) Police Department.

He and Izzy spent a lot of time together working to help other people. In December 1999, when six firefighters lost their lives in a warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, it was Izzy and Ed Stewart who found the bodies of the firefighters.

Izzy loved her work so much that she worked right up until the end of her life, even when she was an old dog. Izzy died in April 2001. She is greatly missed by all who knew her. Ed Stewart has been training a new dog but he said no dog will ever take Izzy's place.

Urban Search and Rescue dogs are very special animals. They work long and hard to save humans lost or trapped. They are all truly Canine Heroes.

Free books to order from FEMA

You can order two storybooks and a coloring book free from FEMA. One book, called "Herman, P.I.C. and the hunt for a disaster-proof shell" is best for kindergartners through second grade. "The Adventures of Julia and Robbie: The Disaster Twins" is a book best for third and fourth graders. Both are great stories about disasters.

There is also a great disaster coloring book for everyone who likes to color. How do you get these? Just ask an adult to call the FEMA toll-free number: 1-800-480-2520. FEMA will mail the books to you and you can start a "disaster" library!

Becoming a Disaster Action Kid

Have you become a FEMA Disaster Action Kid yet? No? What are you waiting for? All you have to do is click here to find out what you need to do. Disaster Action Kids are prepared for disasters. They know what disasters might happen in their area. Disaster Action Kids also get a special FEMA certificate and can become part of an E-mail group that receives regular E-mails from FEMA.