Preparing for Extreme Heat

Indoor Sheltering During Disasters

Sometimes it's best to stay inside.

Whether at home, work, school, or elsewhere, there may be situations when remaining where you are inside a sturdy building and taking additional actions for the specific hazard is the safe thing to do to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm. The following are examples of indoor shelter for weather specific emergencies:

• Extreme Heat :  Stay indoors with air conditioning and limit sun exposure. If you do not have air conditioning, go to a building that does.
• Flood :  Stay on high ground or get to high ground. If you are advised to evacuate, follow directions. And never walk or drive through floodwaters.
• Thunderstorm, Lightning, and Hail :  When thunder roars, go indoors ! Get or stay inside a sturdy building if you hear thunder or see lightning. Stay away from windows, skylights, and plumbing.
• Wind (Tornado or Hurricane) : Seek cover in a FEMA Safe Room, ICC 500 Storm Shelter , or Best Available Refuge Area (BARA) identified by a qualified architect or engineer.  If that is not available, go to a small, interior, windowless room (e.g., bathroom, closet) in a sturdy building on the lowest level of the building not affected by floodwaters.
• Winter Storm :  Prepare to stay warm at home or at work. Stay inside and off the roads.

Before any emergency, be sure to learn how to obtain alerts and warnings, develop shelter and communications plan s , and gather emergency supplies .

If you have a generator to use in the event of a power outage, be sure it's located outside the home and far enough away to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the building. 

New HurricaneStrong.org Launches During Hurricane Preparedness Week

Webinar: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Preparing Communities Through Partnerships

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships invites you to a webinar on Thursday, May 26, 2016 , focused on engaging the public on disaster preparedness and resilience efforts serving Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Title: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Preparing Communities Through Partnerships
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Featured Speakers:                                 

• Doua Thor , Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Debra Boudreaux , Executive Vice President, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
• Ramona K. Mullahey , Senior Analyst, Field Policy & Management, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Honolulu Field Office

 How to Join the Webinar:

• Please register for the webinar using the Adobe Connect registration web link .
• Be sure to test your Adobe Connect connection prior to the meeting.
• This webinar will offer closed captioning.

We hope that you will be able to join us on May 26! 

Dates for Your Calendar

• May 15 – May 21: Hurricane Preparedness Week
• May 15 – May 21: National EMS Week
• May 16 – May 18: Annual Safety Conference – Wisconsin Dells, WI 
• May 17: Webinar: Protect Your Business This Hurricane Season
• May 20 – May 22: Lancaster County Firemen's Association FIRE EXPO 2016 – Harrisburg, PA
• May 22 – May 25: 2016 National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster – Minneapolis, MN
• May 26: Webinar: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Preparing Communities Through Partnerships
• June 9: 2016 NH Emergency Preparedness Conference : Manchester, NH
• June 11 –June 16: National Emergency Number Association Conference and Expo – Indianapolis, IN