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 Continues to Monitor Tropical Storm Dorian for Potential Impacts to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

August 27, 2019

• The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Puerto Rico Tuesday morning, with tropical storm conditions expected and hurricane conditions possible on Wednesday.
• FEMA urges residents in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to follow instructions from Commonwealth, Territorial, and/or local officials and complete their preparations today.
• FEMA is coordinating closely with the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, recognizing an effective disaster response is locally executed, state managed and federally supported. 
• The response to Tropical Storm Dorian will be on top of a complex recovery effort.  Even a smaller and less severe storm could have significant impact.
• Residents can 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 Preparations for Tropical Storm Dorian:

• The White House has been in touch with the Governors and congressional delegations of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• FEMA is taking all possible preparatory actions in anticipation of impacts, including the forward deployment of personnel.
• FEMA deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) to both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian.
• Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Disaster Emergency Communications are in both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• FEMA Logistics Staging and Transportation Teams are in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support response to Tropical Storm Dorian.
• Five FEMACorps teams are deploying to the Caribbean and an additional 20 teams are ready to deploy.
• FEMA has nearly 3,000 federal employees in Puerto Rico ready to respond to a new disaster if needed.
• Through its regional office in New York City and Joint Recovery Office in San Juan, the agency is conducting checks of its primary, secondary and contingency communications systems to ensure the ability to execute emergency-response activities.
• Since 2017, FEMA has prepositioned life sustaining commodities throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enable an even faster response to events in the Caribbean.  The stock levels of these commodities are well above what was in place on-island in 2017, to include: millions of liters of water and meals, as well as tarps and other necessities.

Now is the Time to Prepare:

• History shows that storm tracks can change quickly.  Island residents should closely monitor weather forecasts, follow instructions from Commonwealth, Territorial, and/or local officials, and be prepared to take shelter if ordered to do so.
• For a list of shelters and other important information, visit www.manejodeemergencias.pr.gov or call the Puerto Rico Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Bureau at 787-724-0124 to find your nearest shelter.
• U.S. Virgin Island residents can receive real-time updates on emergencies impacting the U.S. Virgin Islands by registering for Alert VI through the Everbridge Public Safety app.  The link is available on vitema.vi.gov.
• Tropical Storm Dorian could cause power outages that last for several days.  All residents should prepare an Emergency Supply Kit:
  • A gallon of water per person per day for at least 10 days.
  • A 10-day supply of non-perishable foods for each person in the household.
  • A first aid kit.
  • Food and water for pets for at least 10 days.
  • Cash on hand for emergency expenses in case ATMs are down.
  • Battery-powered or solar radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
  • Charge your cell phone and other battery-operated devices now so you will have a full battery in case you lose power.
• Residents who believe their home might be damaged by the storm due to a blue roof or other ongoing repairs, should seek out their nearest shelter. 
• Plan how you’ll communicate with family members once the storm passes.  Remember that during disasters, text instead of calling because phone lines are often overloaded.
• In addition to local and commonwealth resources, more hurricane preparedness information is available at:
  • Ready.gov
  • Listo.gov

Potential for Response on Top of Ongoing Recovery:

• FEMA continues to support its Caribbean partners with their ongoing and complex recovery efforts from hurricanes Irma and Maria.
• The vast majority of infrastructure throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands was significantly damaged during the 2017 hurricanes.  Permanent restoration efforts are ongoing, and repairs are being made to meet current industry standards wherever possible.
• While repaired systems are in a more resilient condition than they were prior to the 2017 hurricanes, there is still more work to be done; therefore, even smaller and less severe storm systems could have a significant impact to infrastructure, individuals, and communities.

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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.

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 and the Ad Council Launch Public Service Announcement for National Preparedness Month

As part of National Preparedness Month, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Ad Council promote being “Prepared, Not Scared” in new PSAs and online videos

FEMA and the Ad Council kick off National Preparedness Month with new public service announcements from FEMA’s Ready Campaign that promote the importance of preparing children and teenagers for possible emergencies and disasters.

Involving young people in preparedness efforts can help youth, families and communities be prepared and able to respond when faced with disasters.

The campaign products this year, with the tagline “Prepared, Not Scared,” encourage parents, teachers, and caregivers to visit Ready.gov/kids so they can teach our youth what to do when a crisis occurs, and how to take preparedness actions together. 

“Imagine you are at work or at home and your child is at school or on a playdate when a disaster strikes. Do they know what to do if you are not around?” said Acting FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor. “It is important to have these conversations now and prepare ahead of time to be ready for the unexpected.”

Production partner Newfangled Studios created pro bono TV, digital and out-of-home ads. FEMA is also teaming up with Sony’s “Zombieland 2: Double Tap” to promote the crucial message of emergency preparedness.

“Emergency preparedness should be top of mind for every American,” says Chief Campaign Development Officer, Michelle Hillman. “For families with kids in the home, it’s especially important. This campaign will continue to empower families to have peace-of-mind knowing their children know what to do in case of a disaster.”

This preparedness effort by the Ready Campaign follows 16 years of educating the American public about disaster and emergency preparedness. In that time, $1.6 billion in donated media enabled the campaign to reach millions of Americans and encouraged more than 100 million visits to the campaign’s website, Ready.gov.

Each week of National Preparedness Month, the Ready Campaign will emphasize a unique aspect of preparedness:

• September 1-7:            Save Early for Disaster Costs
• September 8-14:          Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters

• September 15-21:        Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
• September 22-30:        Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness

To view and download all of the Ready Campaign’s PSAs, visit the Ad Council website.

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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
FEMA Office of External Affairs
FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov

Private Sector Advisory
FEMA Urges Puerto Rico Residents to Finish Preparations Ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian

WASHINGTON – As Tropical Storm Dorian approaches, FEMA urges people in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to listen to government officials on the islands and complete final preparations now.

Dorian is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds to communities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands still working to recover from hurricanes Irma and Maria. Residents should take this storm seriously as even smaller and less severe storms could have significant impacts.

Now is the Time to Prepare     

A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Puerto Rico.  Tropical storm conditions are expected, and hurricane conditions are possible in portions of Puerto Rico on Wednesday. History shows that storm tracks can change quickly. Island residents should closely monitor weather forecasts, follow instructions from commonwealth and local officials, and be prepared to take shelter if ordered to do so.

Follow Instructions from Local Officials If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

• Puerto Rico residents: for a list of shelters and other important information, visit www.manejodeemergencias.pr.gov or call the Puerto Rico Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Bureau at 787-724-0124.  
• U.S. Virgin Island residents: for real-time updates on emergencies, register for Alert VI. The link is available on vitema.vi.gov.

Stay Alert and Informed

• 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.
• Expect disruptions from utility outages and debris. Government officials urge residents to gather 10-days’ worth of needed supplies.
• Check-in with neighbors if safe to do so. You may be the help they need.
• Avoid flooded areas that can hide hazards such as debris and damaged roads. Turn around, don’t drown! 
• Visit Ready.gov and Listo.gov for disaster preparedness information in English and Spanish.

Government Coordinating Efforts to Serve Survivors

An effective disaster response is locally executed, state-managed, and federally supported. FEMA and other federal agencies have staff and commodities in position, ready to support local response efforts as needed.

FEMA

• Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) are in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
• Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Disaster Emergency Communications are in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Logistics Staging and Transportation Teams are in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support response efforts, if needed.
• Life-sustaining commodities have been pre-positioned throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enable an even faster response to events in the Caribbean, to include: millions of liters of water and meals, as well as tarps and other necessities.

U.S. Army Corps (USACE)

• USACE has mobilized infrastructure assessment, debris management staff and other experts to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Incident management personnel and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are positioned in Puerto Rico should medical assistance be needed in the Caribbean.
• The Disaster Distress Helpline is available to help cope with stress. To speak with a trained crisis counselor, call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (for Spanish, press 2 or text Hablanos to 66746).

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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.