AS HURRICANE EARL APPROACHES, FEMA URGES EAST COAST RESIDENTS TO BE PREPARED

Families Should Visit Ready.gov to Learn Steps to Prepare for Hurricanes and Severe Weather

Hurricane Earl has been categorized by the National Hurricane Center as a Category 4 hurricane.  As Hurricane Earl moves towards the East Coast of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging all Americans in East Coast states to take steps now to prepare their families and businesses for hurricanes and severe weather. 

While there are currently no hurricane warnings or watches in effect for the U.S. mainland, current projections from the National Hurricane Center show the storm could affect states up and down the East Coast and storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly.  With this in mind, FEMA is coordinating through its regional offices to aggressively prepare should severe weather affect the East Coast and encouraging all Americans to visit www.ready.gov / www.listo.gov (Spanish) for helpful tips on preparing for hurricanes, flash flooding, and other disasters.

"Hurricane Earl should serve as a reminder to all of us of the importance of being prepared for hurricanes and other emergencies," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  "At FEMA, we're taking steps to aggressively prepare should a hurricane make landfall along the East Coast, but FEMA is only one part of the team.  Even if this storm doesn't make landfall, everyone should visit Ready.gov now and learn how to make your family safer and better prepared."

Personal preparedness is critical and it is never too early for individuals and families to take action. One of the most important steps individuals in impacted areas can take is to follow the guidance provided by local authorities. Additionally, FEMA recommends taking the following preparedness actions:
 

Prepare a disaster kit for your home:
Stock up on non-perishable food and water to sustain you and your family for up to three days or longer. Ensure you have important papers (e.g. insurance, identification), first aid kit, a supply of prescription medicines and other specialty items in your preparedness kit. In addition, plan to have an emergency kit for your car in case you need to evacuate. While creating a disaster kit, pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for their pets. Find more information on preparing your disaster kit at www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.
 

Create an emergency plan:
Know what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have an emergency contact number for someone out of state that knows where you are in the event of an emergency.
 

Be informed:
Know evacuation routes and listen to local authorities when asked to evacuate. Whether you live in a coastal community or inland, speak with your insurance agent now about flood insurance and review your homeowner’s policy. Every state is at risk for flooding and homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a cost-effective way to financially prepare for floods. To learn more about your risk and flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

It's also important to remember that hurricanes frequently bring with them heavy rains and the threat of flash flooding, which can occur hundreds of miles inland from the coast. People along the coast should also be aware of dangerous rip tides and surf.  Floods are the costliest natural disaster in the United States, and so valuables and important documents should be copied and kept in a safe place.

FEMA personnel are also monitoring the storm and reaching out to Governors and local officials up and down the East Coast to ensure they are prepared should they be affected by severe weather in the coming days. FEMA has life-saving and life-sustaining commodities and supplies strategically located across the country to support states in their response, including in the areas of possible impact. These supplies, including water, meals, tarps, blankets, generators and other essential items, can be replenished through the national logistics supply chain.

The National Weather Service remains the source of official severe weather watches and warnings, including flash flooding which can take only a few minutes to develop in the case of heavy rains. FEMA encourages all individuals in the region to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for severe weather updates, and to follow the directions provided by their local officials especially concerning any potential evacuations.

FEMA’s mobile website, m.fema.gov, makes it easier to access critical information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster right on a smartphone.

FEMA emphasizes the importance of being prepared for hurricane force winds, tropical storm force winds and heavy rain as the storm system moves north.

Fairfax County Emergency Management Homepage
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/

PW Co Emergency Management Homepage
http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=010007