FEMA is working with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to respond to the impacts of the storm.
When it comes to disaster response, the entire community has a role to play.
See FEMA’s video, Disaster Response is a Team Effort, to see how this works.
If you are in the path of the storm:
Stay safe and take shelter. Everyone should be making final preparations this morning as Hurricane Florence moves towards the United States. Coastal residents in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia may already be seeing tropical storm or hurricane force winds.
Communicate with friends and family. Tell them where you are riding out the storm, and how you will let them know you’re safe. You can call, text, email, or use social media.
Stay informed. Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website for weather updates and emergency instructions.
Keep away from windows. Close storm shutters; flying glass from broken windows could injure you.
Prepare for power outages. Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting, and open only when necessary. If you lose power, food will last longer. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator to check food temperature when the power is restored.
Listen to local officials for evacuation orders. If you need a safe place to go, text SHELTER and your zip code (i.e. SHELTER 12345) to 4FEMA (43362) to locate an open emergency shelter near you. You can also look up shelters on the FEMA App.
Do not drive around barricades, or through high water. Remember, if you encounter flooded roadways, turn around, don’t drown!
During a disaster, information can change quickly and rumors can spread. It’s important to verify information before sharing by checking what local, state, and federal authorities are saying first. For up-to-date resources and information, visit the Hurricane Florence page or FEMA.gov.
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