Prepare to beat the heat this summer. Heatwaves often cause power outages. Be ready in case one affects your neighborhood.

Learning to prepare for power outages this summer is easy. The Ready Campaign offers the following tips:

• Make sure you have alternative charging methods for your phone or any device that requires power.
• Learn about the emergency plans in your area. Visit your state's website to locate the closest cooling center.
• Build or restock your emergency kit . Include food, water, prescription medicines, flashlight, batteries, hearing aid batteries, cash, copies of important financial documents, and first aid supplies.
• Be prepared to stay cool if the power is off for a long time. Consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall, or library that has air conditioning.

For more information on preparing for power outages this summer, visit www.ready.gov/power-outages . 

Learn life saving skills and share them on your social media channels by either directly copying or customizing the messages from the Life Saving Skills Social Media Toolkit.

The toolkit contains preparedness messages and graphics  to help protect individuals, families, and homes.

Share the social media content now and make sure you:

• Know basic home maintenance to protect your family and home.
• Reduce common electrical and fire hazards around your house and property.
• Place natural gas detectors on every level of your home.
• Develop an emergency plan and discuss it with your family.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Teach children what to do when they hear a smoke alarm.

Use the Life Saving Skills Toolkit today. If you missed yesterday's webinar on the toolkit, the recording is available .

John and Michelle Tipton lost everything during Hurricane Matthew. The flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) enabled them to rebuild and elevate their home to better endure future storms.

“Living in Florida, we've experienced our own fair share of hurricanes but never a flood,” said John Tipton. “We have had flood insurance ever since we moved here and never ever dreamed we would ever use it. If it wasn't for this flood insurance, we would be in dire straits.”

Watch this Survivor Story video to learn how raising the level of their floor four feet above where it used to be will help their home endure future storms. For more information on flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov .