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Ten Years Later: Remembering Hurricane Ivan

ATLANTA—Ten years ago “Ivan the Terrible,” as the deadly hurricane was dubbed, ripped across the Gulf Coast as the strongest storm of the 2004 season. Ten years later, Hurricane Ivan serves as a reminder that the time to prepare for the next hurricane is now.

Ivan is remembered for its storm surge, extensive rains, and 117 tornadoes that caused coastal and inland flooding and tornado damage across much of the southeastern United States. Strong winds spread well inland—damaging homes, and downing trees and power lines. Ten states from Louisiana to New York received federal disaster declarations, including five in the southeast.

Ivan made its first U.S. landfall on September 16, as a strong Category 3 hurricane, just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama, with its strongest winds occurring near the Alabama-Florida panhandle border. Wind and high surf caused extensive damage to Innerarity Point and Orange Beach, Alabama. In Florida, storm surge took out portions of the Interstate 10 bridge system in Pensacola Bay and Perdido Key was significantly damaged. Thousands of homes in Baldwin County (Alabama) and Escambia, and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida were damaged or destroyed. In Escambia County alone debris piles were more than three-quarters of a mile long and 70 feet high. In all, Ivan was the most destructive hurricane to affect this area in more than 100 years.

“Hurricane Ivan serves as a reminder, especially during National Preparedness Month, that we all need to be ready for disasters and emergencies,” said FEMA Region IV Acting Regional Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. “September is also the height of hurricane season, so preparing now is even more critical for families and businesses in the Southeast.”

Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare

September marks National Preparedness Month, and this week’s anniversary of Hurricane Ivan is an opportune time to plan for specific needs before a disaster. Whether you are planning for your family, your business or a faith-based or voluntary organization, use this week to understand your preparedness needs. Develop plans ahead of the next disaster. Information to help you make an emergency plan is at www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov. National Preparedness Month culminates on September 30 with America’s PrepareAthon! Check out the information and plan to participate.

Following Hurricane Ivan, FEMA provided:

In Alabama—More than $190 million in grants to more than 89,200 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance; more than $222 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities;

In Florida: More than $164 million in grants to more than 79,390 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance; more than $695 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities;

In Georgia: More than $4 million in grants to more than 1,300 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance; more than $11 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities;

In Mississippi: More than $8.5 million in grants to more than 4,530 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance; more than $14 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities;

In North Carolina: More than $13 million in grants to more than 4,000 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance; more than $32 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities.

The time to prepare for the next hurricane is now. September is National Preparedness Month, and there is no better time to consider how prepared you and your family are for the next disaster. Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov for a wealth of emergency preparedness resources, including how to create a family emergency plan, build an emergency kit and take part in a community preparedness event. Be Smart. Take Part. Prepare.

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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Ten Years Later: Remembering Hurricane Ivan

FEMA Region 6 Urges You to “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

DENTON, Texas — September is National Preparedness Month, so the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 6 office is urging you to “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.”

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is part of a campaign called America’s PrepareAthon! The theme this year for NPM is “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.” Emergency managers are asking you, your family, friends and co-workers to take action by planning a National PrepareAthon! Day on or around September 30. It can be a simple, specific activity to increase you and your family’s preparedness, or it can be something more elaborate that involves your neighborhood, your entire workplace or your community.

“You should do the basics to prepare for hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, earthquakes or any other type of disaster – be informed, make a plan, build a kit and get involved,” said FEMA Region 6 Administrator Tony Robinson. “We encourage you to take things one step further and make sure you are financially ready too. You should do things like put your important personal documents, such as insurance information, in a waterproof container or develop a family communications plan.”

Visit www.ready.gov/prepare for more information on America’s PrepareAthon! You can find tools to stage your own emergency preparedness drills, as well as register any preparedness activities for you or your community.

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FEMA Region 6 Urges You to “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare”

Changing Weather in the Northeast Calls for Greater Local Preparation

FEMA and Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management Improve Community Disaster Resiliency through America’s PrepareAthon!

New York, NY – New York and New Jersey have seen their share of weather disasters in recent years. Based on recent experience and on current assessments of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the region is likely to endure continuing shifts in weather patterns, prompting a need for emergency management expertise, as well as community preparedness for severe weather.

According to a 2012 national survey on preparedness by FEMA, a mere 39 percent of Americans reported having a household emergency plan, and almost 50 percent did not have supplies set aside in their homes for use in a disaster.

Playing a pivotal role in disaster preparedness is the new Manhattan-based Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management, the first high school in the United States devoted exclusively to emergency management. This Wednesday, April 30, 120 of its students will interview some 1500 residents across New York City’s five boroughs about their families’ preparedness. Survey results will be used to determine how prepared the general public is post-Super Storm Sandy, and if preparedness levels differ in flood prone areas. The survey’s results will be made public on the school’s website.

The students will be joined by Jerome Hatfield, Regional Administrator of FEMA at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan at 10:30 am this Wednesday. This event is being held in coordination with the NYC Office of Emergency Management. Mr. Hatfield will be available for interviews on the role of the new emergency management school and the need for preparedness, as well as the evolving weather climate in FEMA’s Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The joint effort by FEMA and the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management to interview and inform the public about emergency preparedness constitute one of many events occurring across the country as part of America’s PrepareAthon!, a national community day of action encouraging millions of individuals, organizations, and communities to take action to improve their levels of disaster preparedness.

About America’s PrepareAthon!

America’s PrepareAthon! provides a national focus for millions of individuals, organizations, and communities to take action to improve their level of preparedness. Twice a year—in the spring and fall—individuals, communities, and organizations across the country will organize days of action to discuss, practice, and train for relevant hazards.

Follow the discussion on Twitter by following @PrepareAthon or #PrepareAthon. For more information, go to www.ready.gov/prepare.

About Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management

The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) is a public Career and Technical Education high school that prepares students to engage in complex quantitative and qualitative reasoning skills with an understanding of the principles of Emergency Management. Visit www.uasem.org to learn more.

http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/sandy-one-year-later

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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Changing Weather in the Northeast Calls for Greater Local Preparation

Ten Years Later: Remembering Hurricane Frances

ATLANTA – September 5 marks 10 years since Hurricane Frances hit Florida and brings timely reminders to be prepared for hurricanes.

Floridians were still recovering from Hurricane Charley as Frances bore down on the east coast of Florida three weeks later. Frances was as big as the state of Texas and twice the size of Charley. As Frances moved slowly over the ocean and approached the coast, orders were given and 2.8 million residents of 41 Florida counties evacuated—the largest evacuation in Florida’s history since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Frances made landfall on Florida’s east coast as a Category 2 hurricane early on September 5, crossed the Florida Peninsula, and later that night made a second landfall in the Big Bend region.

While Hurricane Frances is remembered for the evacuation, situations requiring people to leave their homes, can happen without warning. Hurricanes may give residents a day or two to move to a safer location, but a fire, chemical spill or transportation accident may require immediate evacuation. Many disasters allow little time for people to gather even the most basic necessities, which is why planning now is essential.

Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare

September marks National Preparedness Month, and this week’s anniversary of Hurricane Frances is an opportune time to plan how to ‘Reconnect and Reunite with Family Following a Disaster.’ Take time this week to talk with your family about where you will meet and how you will contact each other if separated. Develop plans, including knowing your evacuation zone and routes, ahead of the next severe storm. Information to help you make a family emergency plan is at www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov. Start your plan today! National Preparedness Month culminates on September 30 with America’s PrepareAthon! Check out the information and plan to participate.

Following Hurricane Frances, FEMA provided:

Nearly $412 million in grants to more than 229,500 applicants through the Individuals and Households Program for lodging expenses, rental assistance, minor home repairs and other needs assistance;
Nearly $2.5 million for Disaster Unemployment Assistance;
More than $649 million for emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of public infrastructure and public utilities;
More than $99 million in funding for mitigation projects to help reduce damage from future storms.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provided:

More than $227 million in low-interest disaster loans to nearly 11,000 renters and homeowners;
More than $200 million to nearly 2,000 businesses.

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Ten Years Later: Remembering Hurricane Frances

Being Prepared for Disasters Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive

Here in Alabama, residents are no strangers to natural disasters. Civic histories of many cities and towns throughout the state include references to natural disasters such as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

Alabamians know they must be prepared. Every home should have a smoke alarm; every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready.

What not everyone realizes, however, is that being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster preparedness website, www.ready.gov is a destination site for information about getting your family prepared for a disaster.

“FEMA urges residents of every community in every state to Be Informed, Have a Plan and Prepare a Kit,” said Albie Lewis, federal coordinating officer for the Alabama recovery. “Each of these may be critical in a family’s ability to recover from disaster. A family preparedness kit, particularly, is one of the most important tools at your disposal to keep your family safe in a disaster.”

Commercially available disaster kits can range from $75 to $300 and up, but most of the pieces of a disaster kit already may be in the home and just need to be gathered together and stored in one place.

“The rule of thumb for residents who are survivors of a disaster is that they should be prepared to take care of their family’s needs for the first 72 hours after a disaster strikes,” says Art Faulkner, director of Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency. “It may take that long for responders to get to you.”

FEMA recommends that an emergency preparedness kit include food and water for each member of the family for three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, spare batteries, first aid kit, non-electric can opener, local maps and personal sanitation items such as hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties.

Water supplies should be sufficient to meet both health and sanitation needs.

Family emergency kits also should include important family documents such as wills or property deeds, personal identification and any prescription medicines a family member may be taking.

Other items to consider include sleeping bags or blankets, paper towels, books, puzzles and games for children, pet food and medications for family pets.

It’s helpful to have cash in case banks are closed and there is no power for ATMs.

The emergency supplies can be stored in an easy-to-carry plastic storage container or duffel bag, making them easy to grab and go when an emergency forces people to leave their home.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for childcare, medical, dental expenses and/or funeral expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, those who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

For more information on Alabama’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://www.ema.alabama.gov/. For the joint Facebook page, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/AlabamaEMA or www.twitter.com/femaregion4

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Being Prepared for Disasters Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive

May 25-31 is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Be Prepared. Get a Plan. Know Your Evacuation Zone

DENTON, Texas – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is joining its federal, tribal, state and local partners in Louisiana and Texas to commemorate Hurricane Preparedness Week by sharing critical information about the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season which starts on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.

The week-long campaign not only provides an opportunity for emergency management experts to remind everyone about this year’s hurricane season outlook and how to prepare in advance, but it also gives individuals, families, and communities a chance to take action now and practice for an emergency.

“We encourage everyone to take basic steps to get ready before hurricane season begins,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “In addition to talking about what you should do and building emergency kits, people can also take part in exercises, drills and discussions about emergencies that are being held in their communities.”

Those in hurricane-prone areas are urged to visit www.ready.gov/prepare to learn about America’s PrepareAthon! and get involved in local training sessions. Basic hurricane preparedness tips include:

Before a hurricane
Prepare an evacuation kit; you can find more information on what you need in the kit at www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov.
Secure any important papers in a waterproof container.
Fill your vehicle’s tank up with gas.
Get any necessary prescription medications refilled.
Have enough cash on hand to last for several days.
Make sure you have enough extra food and water for your pet.
During a hurricane
Listen to the radio or TV for information.
If you are directed by local authorities to evacuate, be sure to follow their instructions.
Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
After a hurricane
Safety is a primary issue, as is physical and mental well-being.

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May 25-31 is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Be Prepared. Get a Plan. Know Your Evacuation Zone

America’s PrepareAthon! First National Day of Action

WASHINGTON — Today is the first national day of action for America’s PrepareAthon! Today, individuals, families, workplaces, schools and organizations are coming together to practice simple activities to stay safe before, during, and after four types of hazards−floods, wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

It’s not too late to join the more than 5 million people expected to participate in events across the country today and in the coming weeks and be counted in the movement.

The goal of America’s PrepareAthon! is to build a more secure and resilient nation by increasing awareness about what disasters could happen in communities and what to do to be safe and prepared. The campaign is focused on getting people to take action to increase their level of emergency preparedness and participate in community resilience planning. Resources to help you get started are available at www.ready.gov/prepare.

Here’s how to take action today:

Be Smart: Download guides to learn how to prepare for a tornado, hurricane, flood or wildfire
Take Part: Plan activities and host an event locally in the coming weeks.
Prepare: Practice a drill or have a discussion about preparedness
Share: Promote activities, events and best practices with national preparedness community members. Register an event at www.ready.gov/prepare.

Alerts and warnings: Timely information about severe weather or disasters can make all the difference in an emergency. Sign up for local alerts and warnings and check your mobile device to see if it is capable of receiving free Wireless Emergency Alerts by contacting your cellular service provider or visiting www.ctia.org/WEA.

Safeguard critical documents: Following a disaster, having access to personal financial, insurance, and medical records is crucial for starting the recovery process.

America’s PrepareAthon! events are happening around the country. Here is just a sampling:

May Day Houston – Hosted by the Houston Community Preparedness Collaborative, this citywide event has designated May 1 as the city’s official preparedness day. Individuals, companies, and groups join together to celebrate and promote preparedness.

#Petpared Twitter Challenge – Complete pet preparedness actions, like creating a pet emergency kit and taking pets on an emergency drill. After finishing, take a picture of your pet and yourself and tweet it with the hashtag #Petpared by April 30.

Colorado Federal Employee PrepareAthon! Exercise – All federal agencies in Colorado are participating in a tornado and evacuation drill on April 30.

Jefferson County Lunch and Learn Session (West Virginia) hosts a “lunch and learn” session on personal financial preparedness for national disasters on April 30 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Finger Lakes Disaster Volunteer Campaign (Rochester, NY) – Finger Lakes Regional Volunteer Center are kicking off a nine county virtual event to recruit non-medical disaster volunteers on April 30.

Red Cross Community Presentation (Culver City, CA) – Community ambassadors for the American Red Cross are hosting a quarterly meeting to discuss community support for the Red Cross mission to prepare, respond and recover from disaster on April 30 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Local AM Radio Station Hosts Preparedness Talk – WINY1350 in Putnam, Connecticut are hosting a one hour presentation on preparedness education airing April 30 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center National Preparedness Awareness – On April 30, Brookdale are educating staff, communities, patients and their families of the importance of being prepared.

Learning protective actions and taking time to practice them, you, your family and your community can be ready to respond.

America’s PrepareAthon! participants commit to taking at least one concrete step to prepare for a hazard they might face in their community. The America’s PrepareAthon! website, www.ready.gov/prepare, provides Day of Action guides, How to Prepare guides, and customizable promotional materials designed to help Americans take action and join the growing number of individuals who recognize that preparing for disasters is a shared responsibility.

Follow the discussion on Twitter by following @PrepareAthon or #PrepareAthon. For questions about America’s PrepareAthon! contact PrepareAthon@fema.dhs.gov. For more information, go to www.ready.gov/prepare.

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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America’s PrepareAthon! First National Day of Action

Keeping Your Family Safe During a Disaster

TRENTON, N.J. ─ With another hurricane season approaching, now is the perfect time to develop a plan that will help keep your family safe and in touch should normal life be disrupted by a hurricane or other natural or man-made disaster.

Working together to plan and prepare for a potential disaster can help you and your family remain calm and to cope efficiently when an emergency occurs.

There are many things you can do to become better prepared for the unexpected. Here are a few things to consider as you design your family preparedness plan:

Take Advantage of Technology:

Update your contact lists in your phone, email and social media. This will make it easy to reach out to the right people quickly to get information and supply updates. Consider creating a group list serve of your top contacts.
Learn how to send updates via text and internet from your mobile phone to your contacts and social channels in case voice communications are not available. Text messages and the internet often have the ability to work in the event of a phone service disruption.
Keep extra batteries for your phone in a safe place or purchase a solar-powered or hand-cranked charger. These chargers are good emergency tools to keep your laptop and other small electronics working in the event of a power outage. If you own a car, purchase a car phone charger because you can charge your phone if you lose power at your home.
Program “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone. Let your ICE contacts know that they are programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have.
If you have a traditional landline (non-broadband or VOIP) phone, keep at least one non-cordless receiver in your home because it will work even if you lose power.
If you are evacuated and have call-forwarding on your home phone, forward your home phone number to your cell phone number.
If you do not have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card to use if needed during or after a disaster.
Prepare and distribute a family contact sheet with names, relationships and phone numbers. This should include at least one out-of-town contact that may be better able to reach family members in an emergency.

Store your financial and other critical records “in the cloud” or on a flash or jump drive.

Important documents such as personal and financial records can be stored now in a password-protected area in the Cloud or on a secure flash or jump drive that you can keep readily available. A flash drive can be kept on a key ring so it can be accessed from any computer anytime, anywhere.
Remember important documents, such as personal and property insurance, identification including Driver’s license/passport (for family members, as well) and banking information.

Prepare a Disaster Supply Kit

Plan to stock enough non-perishable food and other supplies to last your family three days without outside assistance
Customize your kit to meet your family’s specific needs such as prescription medications, infant formula and diapers and pet supplies.
Plan to store one gallon water per person per day for drinking and sanitation
Include a battery-powered radio, a NOAA weather radio and extra batteries
Flashlights and extra batteries
First Aid supplies
A whistle to signal for help
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Dust masks or cotton t-shirts to help filter the air
Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
A tool kit that includes a wrench and pliers to turn off utilities
A manual can opener
A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Clothing appropriate to the climate that includes one complete change of clothing per person

Maintain Your Kit

It’s important to make sure that your disaster supplies are in good condition and ready to use. Periodically use or discard the supplies you’ve stored and replace them so that they are ready for use when disaster strikes.

Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life
Throw out any canned goods that become swollen, dented or corroded
Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.
Change stored food and water supplies every six months
Review your disaster kit every year to make sure that it fits your family’s changing needs.

In advance of a storm or other anticipated emergency:

Make sure your automobiles are fully fueled: gas stations may run out of fuel or be unable to operate gas pumps if the power goes out
Make sure you have enough cash on hand to cover emergency purchases. ATM machines may not be working.

For more tips on developing a family disaster plan, visit www.Ready.gov.

FEMA Region II News Desk: 877-434-4084

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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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Keeping Your Family Safe During a Disaster

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