Reducing fuel for fires around vulnerable homes. Meeting and talking with firefighters about community preparedness plans. Helping seniors with home improvement projects to resist embers. All of these activities and more are anticipated as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm® announce the launch of the project funding awards application period for its sixth national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 4, 2019, which helps communities prepare for and reduce their risk of wildfire damage.
Risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity
State Farm is providing funding to NFPA for the Preparedness Day event and a portion will be awarded to 150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented on Saturday, May 4. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live.
Project applications can be submitted through March 1.
Motivate neighbors and community members to work together to make where they live a safer place from wildfire.
Safety to residents and firefighters
During Preparedness Day 2018, more than 500 projects were undertaken in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Of those projects, 150 received funding from State Farm for activities that helped make residents and firefighters safer when wildfires happen.
On average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago
According to reports, on average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago, and the threat continues to increase. In 2018, California saw its deadliest and most destructive fire, the Camp Fire, burn more than 150,000 acres and claim the lives of 85 people. Wildfires once described by “seasons” are now burning earlier and later in the year across the U.S.
Residents empowered
"NFPA and State Farm are pleased to be working together again on this, our sixth Preparedness Day campaign," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. "Since our initial launch of Prep Day in 2013, we have watched participation continue to grow. In 2018 we saw devastating wildfires affect communities in California and across the United States, but we are encouraged and inspired by the number of residents who feel empowered to take the necessary action with regard to wildfire safety."
“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, underwriting analyst.
