NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is joining thousands around the country who pledge to prepare and are taking action to be ready for this hurricane season.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 26 through June 1. It highlights the importance of planning ahead to protect our families, homes and communities in advance of the upcoming hurricane season.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and extends through Nov. 30. Hurricanes are powerful storms that can cause severe coastal and inland flooding, dangerous storm surges, high winds, tornadoes and heavy rainfall. Their effects can be devastating to entire communities and can have long-lasting consequences, including loss of life and property.
As we saw with Hurricane Sandy, communities from the Gulf and all along the East Coast and inland from Maine to West Virginia sustained damage and loss of life. Even as we continue to work on long-term recovery from Sandy, we must prepare now for this year’s approaching hurricane season.
Being prepared begins by knowing your risk and taking the appropriate actions before, during and after a hurricane strikes. You can start by visiting www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
With these risks in mind, join your friends, neighbors, businesses and community in pledging to be prepared for hurricane season by:
- Knowing your risk: Understand how hurricanes and tropical storms can affect where you live, work, play and worship. Check weather forecasts regularly during times of increased likelihood. Sign up for local alerts from your emergency management officials and get a NOAA Weather Radio.
- Taking action: One action is to develop an emergency plan and practice how and where you will evacuate if instructed by your emergency management officials. Sit down with your family and build an emergency communications plan. If you are a business, post your plan where your employees can see it, and rehearse it by conducting drills. You can also download FEMA’s mobile app so you can access important safety tips on what to do before, during and after a hurricane. Understand the National Hurricane Center warning and alerts. Join emergency preparedness groups to promote disaster preparedness in your community.
- Being an example: Once you have pledged and taken action, be an example by talking to your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors on what you have done to prepare. Inspire others by posting your story on your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Post the Hurricane Widget on your social media profiles. It could help save a life.
Join us today and pledge to prepare at www.ready.gov/hurricanes during National Hurricane Preparedness Week.