FEMA Private Sector Advisory: FEMA Urges Residents in Hurricane Dorian’s Path to Prepare Now

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Public-Private Partnerships Team
Office of External Affairs
FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov

Private Sector Advisory

FEMA Urges Residents in Hurricane Dorian’s Path to Prepare Now

August 29, 2019

• The risk of dangerous storm surge and hurricane-force winds along the east coast of Florida later this week and this weekend continues to increase.
• Those in the Caribbean impacted by Dorian should use caution as they return home or begin clean up.  Residents in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands should continue to follow the directions of local officials.
• FEMA continues to support both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands governments to assess impacts from the storm. 
• FEMA is working with Florida officials ahead of Dorian’s predicted landfall and is moving response resources in position.  Residents along the East Coast should be implementing their hurricane preparedness plan now.
• An effective disaster response is locally executed, state managed and federally supported.

Ready to Support Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands:

• Residents should continue listening to local officials for safety information.
  • Both Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands’ officials are telling residents to avoid dangerous areas, only return home if it is safe to do so, and to check on your neighbors.
  • Residents are advised to keep out of the water.  Flood water can contain dangerous debris, downed power lines, and germs.  Do not attempt to walk, swim, wade, or drive through flood waters.
  • Check-in with neighbors if safe to do so.  You may be the help they need.
• If you suffered property damage, you should report it to your local emergency management officials and contact your insurance company to file a claim.
  • Individuals who had a blue roof or other ongoing repairs from the impacts of the 2017 hurricanes damaged by Dorian should report it to local emergency management officials. 
• FEMA personnel and resources are in place in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support should needs be identified. 
  • FEMA has five warehouses in the Caribbean to support Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The warehouses are stocked with life-sustaining commodities including millions of liters of water and meals, as well as tarps and other necessities.
  • President Donald Trump approved an Emergency Declaration Tuesday night for Puerto Rico and Wednesday evening for the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide federal funding to assist with emergency and life-safety actions in response to Dorian.  

Florida Residents Should Prepare Now:

• Response and recovery are a whole community effort.  It takes everyone being prepared and neighbor helping neighbor.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency for counties in the path of Hurricane Dorian.
• The Florida Division of Emergency Management urges residents along its eastern coast to remain alert and take steps to prepare.   
  • Know your evacuation routes.
  • Have 7 days’ worth of supplies including food, water, prescription medications, flashlights and batteries.
  • Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for information on emergency preparedness, shelters, road closures and evacuation routes.
  • Follow @FLSERT and @GovRonDeSantis on Twitter for live updates.
  • Download the FEMA App to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, locate open emergency shelters and community recovery centers, and get additional preparedness information.

FEMA Supporting Local, State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments:

• FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) is activated to Level I (the highest activation level).
• FEMA, through the NRCC and its regional offices, is monitoring the effects and track of Hurricane Dorian and remains in contact with state and tribal emergency management officials.
• FEMA Region IV deployed a liaison officer and a Regional Incident Management Assistance Team to the Florida Emergency Operations Center.
• FEMA logistics staging and transportation teams are in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support response efforts.
  • FEMA deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams to Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian that are based in San Juan, Ponce and Aguadilla.  A team is also in the U.S. Virgin Islands and additional teams are on standby.
• FEMA’s Mobile Emergency Response Support Disaster Emergency Communications are in both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help support local emergency communication systems.

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The 2018-2022 Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for the field of emergency management and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country. We invite all of our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a stronger Agency and a more prepared and resilient Nation.

 

Download the FEMA App to locate and get directions to open shelters across the state, and receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States. Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor's activities at https://twitter.com/fema_pete. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.