PHILADELPHIA – As Hurricane Florence makes its way inland, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region III and the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) are encouraging the State of West Virginia to prepare for potential flash flooding, rising rivers and streams, and landslides from the remnants of Florence over the weekend. FEMA and DHSEM both continue to monitor the storm and prepare for any impacts it may have on the State of West Virginia.
West Virginians are encouraged to stay tuned in to potential changes in the forecast. FEMA Region III and DHSEM have been proactively preparing for any potential impacts from Florence, including staging emergency supplies, coordinating directly with the state, and learning forward. FEMA, DHSEM, and the National Guard have coordinated closely to stage supplies at Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base and to collocate with the state in their emergency operations center to coordinate as the remnants of Florence approach.
“All West Virginians should be prepared for potential flooding. We are partnered closely with FEMA, the WV Army National Guard, and others to ensure we are ready for any potential flood event.” - Jimmy Gianato, Director, DHSEM.
“We have been actively coordinating with our state partners in West Virginia since last week. FEMA works closely with DHSEM and the National Guard. We have a team that consists of many West Virginians working on recovery efforts, but also are now part of the response team. We are grateful to Governor Justice for his support.” – Mark Landry, Federal Coordinating Officer, FEMA
“FEMA is a key part of our West Virginia team and part of our West Virginia family. I’m glad we have such an incredible partnership with FEMA for times like these. As Hurricane Florence approaches I again want to encourage all West Virginians to listen closely to our state and federal officials, heed their advice, and stay safe.” - Governor Jim Justice
Individuals are encouraged to follow the guidance of local officials and stay tuned to official forecasts for updates. Individuals can remain safe by:
- Stay safe.
- Let first responders do their job. Call 911 for emergency needs.
- Text, don’t call. During an emergency, phones lines may be overwhelmed. To let your loved ones know you are safe, send a text instead.
- Save power. If the power goes out, turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can cause damage. Only use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery outdoors and away from windows.
- Stay tuned. Follow the guidance of your local officials, and tune into official forecasts for the latest on the storm.
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Just 6 inches of water can knock a person over, and 12 inches can move your vehicle. Do not attempt to drive or cross flooded areas.
- Know your risk. If you are at risk of flooding, or have flooded in the past, take steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property. In the event of a flash flood, move to higher ground immediately.
For more information, please visit www.ready.gov/floods.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Learn more about FEMA Region III at www.FEMA.gov/region-iii. Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.
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