Text Shelter and zip code to 43362 #Florence #ncwx #scwx

Hurricane Florence Response

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.

You are back at school. What's your Safety Plan for Fire? #OKfire #KSfire

Fire Safety on Campus

As a new semester begins, add fire safety to your college preparation list! From 2000-2015, the U.S. Fire Administrationreports 85 fatal fires in dorms, fraternities, sororities, and off-campus housing. The specific causes of fires in college housing include cooking, candles, smoking, and overloaded power strips. Follow these tips to be fire safe: Have a fire escape plan that includes two ways out of every room. Use surge protectors or power strips with internal overload protection. Never leave a candle unattended. Use flameless candles, which are both safe and attractive. Keep your cooking area clean and free of anything that can burn. Close the door and unplug the unit if a fire starts in your microwave. Make sure cigarettes and ashes are out all the way. Put water on the ashes and butts to make sure they are really out before you put them in the trash. Do not let a campus fire ruin your semester. Take action now, and know how to prevent fires by visiting:  www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/college.html.