The following is for widest distribution.

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
Prepare for Hurricane Dorian Now, Federal Support for State Preparations
September 2, 2019

• Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane, is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and high winds beginning later today.  We don’t have to have landfall to have significant impacts and damage along the East Coast.
• Time is running out.  Be aware of your risk and make sure you are prepared for any scenario.
• Heed the direction of your state, local, and tribal officials, they know best.  If you are in an area that’s been told to evacuate, DON’T TOUGH IT OUT, GET OUT.
• Hurricane Dorian is a big storm, and federal, state and tribal governments are preparing for a big response. 
• President Trump has approved Emergency Declarations for South Carolina, including the Catawba Indian Nation, Georgia, Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida to support state, tribal and local officials in responding to this storm.
• FEMA and partners have resources as far south as Miami and as far north as Roanoke, North Carolina.  We have all our partners, the entire federal family supporting this response.

Finalize Your Plans and Prepare Now

• Dorian is a dangerous storm, and the forecasted storm track could change quickly.  Don’t just focus on the center of the track as only a slight deviation of the forecast could bring Dorian even closer to the east coast of Florida.
• Make sure you are prepared for any scenario – whether Dorian stays out to sea, touches the coast, or makes landfall, residents must be prepared for this unpredictable, powerful storm and the high winds and storm surge it will bring.
• Monitor media reports if you’re in the path of the storm.  Consider evacuating even if you have not yet received an evacuation order, to reduce traffic and ensure you can arrive in a safe location ahead of Hurricane Dorian.
  • In Florida, download the FL511 Mobile App for road and traffic conditions on evacuation routes.
  • Residents in Georgia should visit GEMA.Georgia.gov for evacuation and storm information.
  • In South Carolina, download the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.
  • In North Carolina, download the ReadyNC mobile app.
• Residents in Georgia and the Carolinas must act now to prepare ahead of the storm.
  • Gather supplies for several days, to include: water and food, prescription medications, first aid products, items for infants and toddlers, toiletries and pet supplies.
  • Make sure you have cash on hand and collect important papers or create password-protected digital copies. 
  • Prepare your home or business.  Anchor larger outdoor items, such as grills or propane tanks, to keep them from moving in floodwaters.  Bring lightweight outdoor items inside.
  • Remember that tape alone will not prevent windows from breaking.  Board up windows with 5/8-inch plywood sheets cut to fit.
• Flooding is a key risk with this storm.  TURN AROUND. DON’T DROWN!  Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
• During flood risk, unplug electrical equipment on the ground floor of your home, turn off your gas valve and shut off electricity at the circuit breakers.
• Download the FEMA app (in English or Spanish) for directions to open shelters, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov to learn these and other preparedness tips for hurricanes and severe weather events.

FEMA and the Federal Government Stand Ready to Assist

• Commodities such as water, shelf stable meals, blankets and cots are strategically staged and are ready to support requests from states or tribes. Generators and fuel also are being staged.
• FEMA established staging areas in locations throughout the Southeast: Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia, Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia, Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina.   
• Two FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Team, three Mobile Emergency Response Teams and a mobile emergency operations vehicle are at the Florida Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
• FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams are deployed to Georgia and Florida, and additional teams are being mobilized along with swift water rescue resources.  Ambulance strike teams are preparing to support medical evacuations if needed.
• This is a team effort that includes the whole government, private partners and non-governmental organizations like American Red Cross.
• Five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are deployed and ready to support state and tribal requests. DMATs are staffed with medical professionals and para-professionals who can help area health systems respond by providing expert patient care.

Declarations

• Today, President Trump approved an Emergency Declaration for Georgia and South Carolina, including the Catawba Indian Nation, making direct federal assistance available for emergency and life-safety actions taken ahead of Hurricane Dorian. 
• In Georgia, assistance is available for 12 counties: Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne counties.  All 46 counties in South Carolina are eligible for emergency assistance.
• In addition to today’s emergency declarations, President Trump approved an Emergency Declaration request for the Seminole Tribe of Florida on September 1st and an Emergency Declaration request for Florida on August 30th.

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Please help support FEMA’s mission of “Helping people before, during and after disasters.”

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.

The following is for widest distribution.

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
Residents of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas Urged to Remain Vigilant as Dorian Continues Strengthening
September 2, 2019

As Dorian remains mostly stalled over the Bahamas and its path over the next few days remains uncertain, FEMA urges residents and visitors along the southeastern coast of the United States to complete preparations, monitor the storm closely, and follow instructions and warnings of local officials.

Hurricane Dorian will have dangerous impacts even if it does not make landfall. Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected along Florida’s east coast later tonight as well as along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina this week.

Follow Local Evacuation Orders
Storm tracks can change rapidly – those in the potential impact areas should continue to pay attention to Dorian’s forecast. If you are told to evacuate, don’t tough it out, get out.

• The state of Florida has issued mandatory as well as voluntary or phased evacuations for a number of counties. In Florida, download the FL511 Mobile App for updated road and traffic conditions on evacuation routes.
• The state of Georgia issued mandatory evacuations and contraflow of Interstate 16 will begin at 8 am on Tuesday, September 3. Residents in Georgia should visit GEMA.Georgia.gov for the latest in evacuation and storm information.
• The state of South Carolina has also issued mandatory evacuations along the coast effective today at noon. Those in South Carolina can download the SC Emergency Manager mobile app by visiting www.scemd.org.
• Those in North Carolina can download the ReadyNC mobile app by visiting www.readync.org.

Evacuations may expand to other areas based on the evolving track of the storm. Before evacuating, fill up your gas tank, stock your vehicle with emergency supplies, and know your evacuation routes.

Flooding is a key risk with this storm. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather-related hazard. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Download the FEMA App for preparedness tips, shelter information, and weather alerts. You also can visit Ready.gov for more information on what you can do ahead of this dangerous storm.

Federal departments and agencies have positioned resources from Florida to North Carolina to support the response. Commodities such as water, shelf stable meals, blankets, and cots are strategically staged and are ready to support requests from states or tribes. Generators and fuel also are being staged.

Aid to the Bahamas

A prolonged period of hurricane-force winds and storm surge continues to impact the north western Bahamas. DHS and FEMA leadership are closely monitoring the situation and remain in coordination with leadership from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID is in contact with the government of the Bahamas to determine response needs as Hurricane Dorian continues to impact the islands. The United States Coast Guard, in coordination with the Department of State, has a mutual aid agreement with the Bahamas to provide resources and assist in search and rescue missions. In addition, the American Red Cross has resources and staff in place in the Bahamas and stands ready to assist survivors with emergency sheltering and other immediate needs.

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Please help support FEMA’s mission of “Helping people before, during and after disasters.”

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.twitter.com/FEMAespanol, https://www.facebook.com/FEMA, www.facebook.com/FEMAespanol and www.youtube.com/fema.

Also, follow Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor’s activities @FEMA_Pete.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.