Your life can change in the blink of an eye.
After a hurricane or tropical storm moves on, the danger of personal injury remains. Below is a list of things you should keep in mind if you are in areas that have been hit hard by a tropical storm.
In the Atlantic, last year was the third most active season on record in terms of named storms.
This year, Hurricane Fiona slammed Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, causing flash flooding, mudslides, and widespread power outages. Now all eyes are on Hurricane Ian as it barrels toward Florida. (Read more)
In honor of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 9 – 15), Nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes encourages simple and affordable ways to increase safety, insurance, and home strengthening to ensure Americans are #HurricaneStrong in 2021
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – Americans in hurricane-prone states are more likely to prepare early for storms this year compared to last year, according to a new survey from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). With 30 named storms in 2020, along with more time spent at home due to the pandemic, Americans have turned to quick and affordable options to brace for storms.
A virtual news conference hosted today by FLASH, with special guest National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham, addressed the survey findings and the steps homeowners can take to prepare for hurricanes and mitigate home and financial damage. View the news conference recap at https://www.flashlive.org
FLASH surveyed 500 residents across ten hurricane-prone states to better understand consumer awareness of hurricane safety and their readiness for 2021 hurricanes and recovery efforts.
Top survey findings included:
“As we approach the 2021 hurricane season, it’s crucial that homeowners prepare before a disaster strikes,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “Those precautions include having a thorough understanding of your home and flood insurance policies, completing low-cost DIY home preparation activities, and working out detailed evacuation plans.”
FLASH’s #HurricaneStrong preparation center provides free bilingual DIY checklists and information sheets on topics including building codes, evacuation zones, insurance, power outage, protecting pets and sandbags, as well as strengthening homes against flooding, high winds, and lightning.
Nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) identifies tornado safety knowledge gaps and offers an education campaign to save lives and property.
(Tallahassee, FL) – As communities prepare to mark the 11th anniversary of the deadly April 27 “Tuscaloosa Super Outbreak,” a new survey reveals that Americans in high-risk states continue to struggle with understanding critical tornado weather warnings and life safety protection options.
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) annual tornado research effort, Is America #TornadoStrong? surveyed 500 residents in 12 tornado-prone states. The questions measured awareness and understanding of weather terminology, safe and unsafe protective actions, safe rooms, storm shelters, and affordability.
According to the 2022 survey, 42% percent of respondents mistook a tornado watch for a warning. In comparison, this is an improvement over 2021, when 50% confused the terminology. The terms matter because they prompt distinctly different protective actions. Staying aware (Tornado Watch) vs. taking shelter (Tornado Warning) can make a life-or-death difference.
Additionally, 48% of those surveyed are unaware that safe rooms are affordable and provide near-absolute life safety protection in most tornadoes. 51% overestimated the cost.
“The National Weather Service dubbed April 27, 2011, as the most active and deadliest day for tornadoes,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “That outbreak and the December devastation in places like Mayfield, Kentucky, reflect the need for continued public education efforts like #TornadoStrong. We want to ensure that people in harm’s way know where to go, what to do, and when to do it as tornadoes threaten and strike.”
Visit Tornado-Strong.org to view the 2022 Is America #TornadoStrong?Topline Consumer Survey Findings Report.View and download free resources, including Tornado Watch vs. Warning: Know the Difference and What to Do. Access the Choosing the Right Safe Room for You backgrounder that outlines six different types of safe rooms and includes short video features. Public educators and meteorologists can use the shareable social media graphics and FAQs to spread the word about tornado safety.
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – Americans in hurricane-prone states are more likely to prepare early for storms this year compared to last year, according to a new survey from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). With 30 named storms in 2020, along with more time spent at home due to the pandemic, Americans have turned to quick and affordable options to brace for storms.
A virtual news conference hosted today by FLASH, with special guest National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham, addressed the survey findings and the steps homeowners can take to prepare for hurricanes and mitigate home and financial damage. View the news conference recap at https://www.flashlive.org
FLASH surveyed 500 residents across ten hurricane-prone states to better understand consumer awareness of hurricane safety and their readiness for 2021 hurricanes and recovery efforts.
Top survey findings included:
“As we approach the 2021 hurricane season, it’s crucial that homeowners prepare before a disaster strikes,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “Those precautions include having a thorough understanding of your home and flood insurance policies, completing low-cost DIY home preparation activities, and working out detailed evacuation plans.”
FLASH’s #HurricaneStrong preparation center provides free bilingual DIY checklists and information sheets on topics including building codes, evacuation zones, insurance, power outage, protecting pets and sandbags, as well as strengthening homes against flooding, high winds, and lightning.
In an overnight survey commissioned by the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), 66% of respondents stated they were either extremely likely, moderately likely, or slightly more likely to “prepare for the 2020 Hurricane Season due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic” compared to 16% who reported the opposite. Another 18% reported no effect.
FLASH commissioned the survey of 500 residents in ten hurricane-prone states to gauge consumer attitudes as they balance CDC COVID guidelines with the need to prepare before the June 1 beginning of hurricane season. The nonprofit partnership expanded its annual consumer outreach initiative, #HurricaneStrong, in response to the findings. The effort retitled, “#AtHome and #HurricaneStrong,” is available in Spanish as well.
Additional findings included a 7% increase in overall intentions to prepare in 2020 vs. 2019 with offsetting changes in overall “time to prepare” as some are home with extra time while others are homeschooling children while working.
“This year presents unprecedented challenges, especially for those in hurricane-prone states as they get ready for hurricane season and continue to cope with COVID-19,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “The good news is that nearly everything they need to do to prepare can be accomplished through online planning, DIY projects, online shopping, or curbside pickup.”
The #HurricaneStrong program is presented by FEMA, FLASH, and NOAA and media partners from The Weather Channel. ISO/Verisk, Lowe’s, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA are the national sponsors. Partners and sponsors serve as featured experts and help promote the initiative through information sharing on social media channels.
The 2020 #AtHome and #HurricaneStrong initiative begins April 27 and will continue for five weeks leading up to June 1. The effort provides free bilingual DIY checklists and information sheets on topics including building codes, evacuation zones, insurance, power outage, protecting pets, and sandbags as well as strengthening homes against flooding, high winds, and lightning. The www.hurricanestrong.org website will also include new podcasts, activities for kids, and a downloadable program guide.
Each week, FLASH will host a giveaway featuring $50 Lowe’s gift cards to generate information sharing on social media and raise awareness about hurricane preparation tips. Giveaway participation is free, and details are available on Twitter by following @federalalliance and #HurricaneStrong. The weekly topics fall under five areas, including personal safety, family preparedness, financial security, damage prevention, and community service.
The April 21, 2020 survey included 500 U.S. respondents in Alabama (3%), Florida (23%), Georgia (10%), Louisiana (2%), Massachusetts (7%), Mississippi (2%), New York (19%), North Carolina (10%), Texas (20%), and South Carolina (4%) with a plus or minus 4% margin of error. The survey demographics reflect 54.6% female and 45.4% male respondents spread across the following ages: 18-24 (11.4%); 25-34 (20.0%); 35-44 (21.8%), 45-54 (15.2%), and > 54 (31.6%).
Key findings:
The National Hurricane Resilience Initiative – #HurricaneStrong is an award-winning collaboration created in 2016 to save lives and homes through public awareness and education. The effort offers information through special events, news media partnerships, outreach to schools, and social media outreach.