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Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

ATLANTA, Ga – Take steps now to prepare your family for disasters by downloading the FEMA smartphone app.

Much of the region has been under heat advisories from the National Weather Service over the past few weeks. While it has cooled down in recent days, summer continues for several more weeks. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

To help you stay safe during extreme heat, take the following actions when your area is under a heat advisory:

Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

FEMA Urges Continued Preparedness as Severe Weather Continues; Teams Deployed to Assist States’ Response Efforts and Coordinate Federal Support

WASHINGTON – At the direction of President Obama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is supporting impacted areas after last night’s severe weather outbreak in the central United States. FEMA has Incident Management Assistance Teams on the ground at the State Emergency Operations Centers in Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Today, President Obama called Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to receive an update on the severe weather and express his condolences for those families who lost a loved one and his concern for the individuals still missing. He expressed his gratitude for the heroic first responders working to save lives. Secretary Johnson also called Governor Beebe to offer condolences and the support of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate is traveling to Arkansas today to ensure the appropriate federal resources are being brought to bear to support the state and local efforts.

Overnight, FEMA deployed the Texas Task Force 1 Urban Search & Rescue Team as well as the White Incident Support Team to the State of Arkansas. An additional team based in Nebraska is also on alert and prepared to deploy if requested. FEMA has liaisons in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi prepared to coordinate any requests for federal assistance.

FEMA has activated its National Response Coordination Center in Washington D.C. and the Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta, Georgia to help coordinate any requests for assistance from impacted States or Tribes. These centers bring together partners from the federal family including the National Weather Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others to closely coordinate federal resources that may be requested from the impacted State and Tribal governments.

“Severe weather is continuing to have impacts across the region, so stay informed about changing weather conditions and know what to do during a tornado by visiting ready.gov,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “FEMA is working to support the efforts of state, tribal and local first responders as they help residents affected by these storms.”

FEMA remains in close contact with the National Weather Service, which continues to forecast the potential for severe weather to develop later today. Widespread severe storms — including strong tornadoes, damaging winds and very large hail — are expected Monday and Monday night over parts of the eastern United States from the Mississippi valley to the Appalachians. The greatest risk is forecast from southern Kentucky and Tennessee south into Mississippi and Alabama.

Severe weather can occur anytime, day or night, and residents should be prepared to take action immediately. For a complete listing of weather-related forecasts in the area, visit www.weather.gov.

When natural disasters, such as tornadoes and severe storms strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.

Severe Weather & Tornado Safety Tips

Maintain an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car to help prepare for power outages or impassable roads. Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about how to be better prepared and how to protect your family during emergencies. Find severe weather and tornado preparedness tips at http://www.ready.gov/severe-weather.
Follow the instructions of state and local officials, and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated disaster response and evacuation information. Residents can listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings. The National Weather Service is the source for tornado watches and warnings.
Become familiar with the terms used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe tornado and other severe weather hazards include the following:

For a flash flood:

A flash flood watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; monitor NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
A flash flood warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

For a severe thunderstorm:

A severe thunderstorm watch means that a severe thunderstorm with large hail and/or damaging winds is possible in your area.
A severe thunderstorm warning means that a severe thunderstorm with large hail and/or damaging winds is occurring or imminent, move indoors immediately.

For a tornado:

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area.
A tornado warning means a tornado is either occurring or imminent, take shelter immediately.

Residents are encouraged to prepare for what to do during a tornado and plan where you will go if a tornado watch is issued in your community:

Storm cellars or basements provide the best protection.
If underground shelter is not available, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.
Vehicles, trailers and mobile homes are not good locations to ride out a tornado. Plan to go quickly to a building with a strong foundation, if possible.
If shelter is not available, lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
Plan to stay in the shelter location until the danger has passed.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are now being sent directly to many cell phones on participating wireless carriers’ networks. WEAs sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service are designed to get your attention and to provide brief, critical instructions to warn about imminent threats like severe weather. Take the alert seriously and follow instructions. More information is available on WEA at www.ready.gov/alerts

The American Red Cross Tornado Warning and Alert app has an automatic audible siren that goes off when NOAA issues a tornado warning, provides notification when a warning expires and allows users to let other know they are safe. For more information visit www.redcross.org.

For more information on severe weather and tornado preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to find out how you can protect your family during emergencies.

Follow FEMA online at blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Urges Continued Preparedness as Severe Weather Continues; Teams Deployed to Assist States’ Response Efforts and Coordinate Federal Support

FEMA Urges Preparedness ahead of Severe Weather; Residents Encouraged to Monitor Conditions and Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Denton, Texas, is monitoring a large-scale storm system moving across the western U.S. into the Great Plains which will potentially cause a multi-day severe weather outbreak this weekend and into early next week. Residents in potentially affected areas should take the time now to ensure they are prepared for severe weather.

FEMA is in close contact with the National Weather Service, which is forecasting the development of severe thunderstorms across the central and southern Great Plains this weekend and into the Mississippi Valley and mid-South early next week, with the potential for hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, as the system progresses eastward. Ahead of this storm, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible today in parts of southern Virginia and North Carolina For a comprehensive forecast for your area, visit www.weather.gov.

Many mobile devices are capable of receiving free Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service about imminent threats like severe weather. They look like a text message and show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert.

When natural disasters like severe weather and tornadoes strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.

Severe Weather & Tornado Safety Tips

Maintain an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car to help prepare for power outages or impassable roads. Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about how to be better prepared and how to protect your family during emergencies. Find severe weather and tornado preparedness tips at http://www.ready.gov/severe-weather.
Follow the instructions of state and local officials, and listen to local radio or TV stations for updated disaster response and evacuation information. Residents can listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings. The National Weather Service is the source for tornado watches and warnings.

Become familiar with the terms used to identify severe weather and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe tornado and other severe weather hazards include the following:

For a flash flood:

A flash flood watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; monitor NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
A flash flood warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

For a severe thunderstorm:

A severe thunderstorm watch means that a severe thunderstorm with large hail and/or damaging winds is possible in your area.
A severe thunderstorm warning means that a severe thunderstorm with large hail and/or damaging winds is occurring or imminent, move indoors immediately.

For a tornado:

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area.
A tornado warning means a tornado is either occurring or imminent, take shelter immediately.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Urges Preparedness ahead of Severe Weather; Residents Encouraged to Monitor Conditions and Follow Direction of Local Officials

FEMA, Federal Partners Support Response to Severe Storms in Oklahoma

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor the effects of severe weather that impacted Oklahoma and other areas within the Central United States, and at the President’s direction, are already providing resources to support the response.

Today, President Obama, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, spoke with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to express concern for citizens impacted by the severe weather and tornadoes, to offer support and make clear the Administration stood ready to provide additional resources as necessary. The administration, through FEMA, is closely monitoring the impacts of the storm and remains in close contact with emergency officials to ensure there are not any unmet needs. FEMA and its partners have teams on the ground in hard hit areas, and is prepared to deploy additional teams and resources, if needed by the states. On Sunday night, at the state’s request, FEMA deployed a liaison officer to the Oklahoma emergency operations center in anticipation of severe weather. FEMA commends the efforts of the local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations who are providing emergency assistance to those in impacted areas.

Federal activities underway today to support Oklahoma response efforts include the following:

FEMA deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to the state emergency operations center in Oklahoma City to coordinate with state and local officials in support of recovery operations. FEMA also deployed Urban Search and Rescue Teams and a Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Team to Oklahoma to provide self-sustaining telecommunications, logistics, and operations support elements. FEMA also has additional personnel from the Denton, Texas regional office on alert.
This afternoon, FEMA activated the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., a multi-agency coordination center that provides overall coordination of the federal response to natural disasters and emergencies, to support state requests for assistance. FEMA Region VI Response Coordination Centers (RRCC) located in Denton, Texas remains activated to coordinate any requests for federal assistance, if requested.
A FEMA liaison officer is currently at the Oklahoma emergency operations center to assist with coordination efforts. FEMA’s regional office in Denton, Texas is in constant coordination and communications with Oklahoma’s emergency management team and local officials.
FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration deployed preliminary damage assessments teams to help identify the damages in impacted counties.

We urge residents in impacted areas to listen carefully to instructions from their local officials and take the recommended protective measures to safeguard life and property while response efforts continue. Listen to state, local and tribal officials who ask you to remain in shelters, homes or safe places until they give the “all clear” to travel. Roads are very likely to be damaged or blocked by debris, and traffic jams slow emergency managers and first responders as they attempt to reach hard-hit areas.

According to the National Weather Service, there continues to be a risk of severe weather this evening across areas of the southern Plains including Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas and severe weather is possible further north including parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.

We encourage individuals in the affected area to monitor local radio or TV stations or the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov or a NOAA weather radio for the latest information, for updated weather and emergency information, and to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. For those in areas that are forecast to be affected by severe weather, now is the time to get prepared for tornadoes and other disasters.

There are tools and resources available online to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of disaster. Visit www.ready.gov to learn more. The Spanish language site – listo.gov. Those with a Blackberry, Android or Apple device can download the FEMA app to access safety tips, shelter locations, and more.

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FEMA, Federal Partners Support Response to Severe Storms in Oklahoma

Be Prepared: Severe Weather Is on the Way

WARWICK, R.I.–Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth, according to The National Weather Service. To raise public awareness of severe weather threats and the importance of being prepared, The National Weather Service and FEMA have designated March 3 to 9 as National Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

Each year, Americans cope with an average of 100,000 thunderstorms, 10,000 of which are severe; 5,000 floods; 1,000 tornadoes; and an average of 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes. And this on top of lethal winter storms, summer heat, high winds, wild fires and other severe weather.

“Severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “We urge everyone to take steps in advance and to pledge to prepare, take action and share what you have done with others.”

We have more information than ever before to let us know when severe weather is approaching. “But this information can save lives and property only if individuals and communities know when and how to take proper action,” said Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service.

You can find a tool kit to help your family be prepared for severe weather at ready.gov/severeweather.

This week find tweets about severe weather preparedness at www.twitter.com/femaregion1. Other resources include http://blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. On Twitter, use the hashtags #ImPrepared and #ImAForce to show you’ve pledged to prepare and are taking the first step in preparing your family and friends for severe weather.

Talk with family, friends and neighbors about preparedness. Other ideas for helping to spread the word: creating a preparedness video and posting it on a video sharing site, posting your preparedness story through your social media network or commenting on a blog. Be a good example and share the steps you took to help us achieve the goal of being a Weather-Ready Nation.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

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Be Prepared: Severe Weather Is on the Way

FEMA, Federal Partners Monitoring Major Winter Storm in Central and Southern Plains

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor severe winter weather impacting the Central United States. FEMA’s regional office in Kansas City, Mo., is in contact with state emergency management counterparts and with tribal emergency managers in the path of the storm. In coordination with state partners, FEMA pre-positioned state liaisons in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. FEMA’s National Watch Center in Washington, D.C., continues to monitor the situation and hold regular operational briefings with regional and federal partners as the severe winter weather continues.

According to the National Weather Service, the major winter storm will continue across much of the Central U.S. today, with heavy snow falling at times over the Central Plains, with accumulation of more than a foot expected in some locations. Snow, sleet and freezing rain are spreading across a large area of the Central and Southern Plains into the lower and middle Mississippi River Valley. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect for a large area of the Central and Southern Plains into the upper Midwest, while ice storm warnings are in effect for portions of Northern Arkansas, Southwestern Missouri and the Mississippi River Valley. In addition to winter weather across the Central and Southern Plains, severe storms are also possible across portions of the South this evening and overnight, with a risk of tornadoes and hail.

FEMA echoes the warnings issued by the National Weather Service and local, state and tribal officials in the affected region, and asks citizens and visitors in areas impacted by severe winter storms to avoid all travel both during and immediately following the storm. Individuals in the path of the storm should monitor NOAA weather radio and local weather forecasts or www.weather.gov for the latest information, including additional or changing weather watches and warnings.

Individuals in areas affected by the storm are reminded of these safety tips:

Stay indoors during the storm.
Walk carefully on snowy or icy walkways.
Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
Use generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents.
Older adults and individuals who are dependent on life-sustaining medical equipment or other assistive devices, such as a ventilator or mobility devices, may need additional support in areas that have lost power.
Check on your neighbors or friends nearby who may need assistance or extra support.

For more information on what to do before, during and after winter storms, visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.

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FEMA, Federal Partners Monitoring Major Winter Storm in Central and Southern Plains

FEMA, Federal Partners Continue to Monitor Storm Conditions

Individuals Urged to Continue to Follow Direction of Local Officials and Check on Neighbors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor the major winter storm systems impacting the Northeast and developing across the Northern and Central Plains. FEMA’s regional offices in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, New York City, and Philadelphia are in contact with state emergency management counterparts and with tribal emergency managers in the path of the storm. FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. continues to monitor the situation and hold regular operational briefings with regional and federal partners as the severe winter weather continues.

At the state’s request, FEMA liaisons have been positioned in state emergency operations centers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (both in Albany and New York City), Rhode Island, and Vermont. A National Incident Management Assistance Team is deploying to the Northeast to provide support if additional support is requested to help with emergency response coordination and other needs. These personnel are in addition to the joint state and federal field office staff already in place supporting ongoing disaster recovery efforts in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont following Hurricane Sandy. Other teams and personnel are ready to support, if needed and requested.

According to the National Weather Service, blizzard conditions, heavy snow and high winds are expected to continue today into tonight in portions of the Northeast and will produce moderate to locally major coastal flooding. The wet heavy snow may cause downed tree limbs and power lines, creating power outages. Additionally, the National Weather Service forecasts that snow, and in some areas, blizzard conditions are expected across parts of Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming through the weekend into Monday, in some areas.

“Everyone has a role to play in the response to this winter storm,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Follow the direction of your state, local and tribal officials, and if you are told to stay off the roads, stay home, and when it is safe, check on your neighbors or friends nearby who may need assistance or extra support. Older adults and individuals who are dependent on life-sustaining medical equipment or assistive devices such as a ventilator or mobility devices, may need additional support in areas that have lost power.”

FEMA echoes the warnings issued by the National Weather Service and local elected officials in the affected region, and asks citizens and visitors in areas with severe winter storms to avoid all travel both during and immediately following the storm and to heed all advice and safety information provided by state, tribal and local emergency officials. Individuals in the path of the storm should monitor their NOAA weather radio and local weather forecast office or www.weather.gov for the latest information, including additional or changing weather watches and warnings.

Individuals in areas affected by the storm, are reminded of these safety tips during the storm:

Stay indoors during the storm.
Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways.
Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
Use generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents.
Check on your neighbors or friends nearby who may need assistance or extra support.

For more information on what to do after winter storms, visit www.ready.gov.

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FEMA, Federal Partners Continue to Monitor Storm Conditions