FEMA urged a wide area of the country to stay alert for weather risks from today into the weekend. The National Weather Service is predicting intense and widespread severe thunderstorms including tornados in some areas.
Preparedness Now Saves Lives and Property
Remain alert, keep your cell phone charged, and take the basic precautions needed now to potentially save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes.
Severe weather, that could include long-track tornados, may occur from Friday afternoon into the overnight hours for a large portion of the Middle Mississippi Valley and the Mid-South. This dangerous weather risk will continue eastward into the Lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley.
Anyone living in these areas should take precautions now ahead of the storms:
- Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the updated free FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to receive real-time emergency alerts from the National Weather Service and find a nearby shelter.
- Pay attention to local alerts and warnings and follow any guidance by local officials.
- Check on neighbors. As you prepare your family and loved ones for a disaster, check on neighbors and folks in your community to see if they are doing the same or help them get started.
- Older adults may need extra assistance to prepare for the storm. Visit gov/seniors for more information. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Visit Individuals with Disabilities to learn more.
- Prepare your property for dangerous weather now by cleaning of any large or loose materials near your property. Remove dead trees, hanging branches, and loose objects in your yard or patio that could become a dangerous projectile during severe winds.
- It’s not too late to create a plan with your family. Visit gov/plan and use the new “Make a Plan” fillable form to walk you through all the steps to begin your plan and then easily save an electronic copy, or share with other family members. Many shelters do not take household pets, remember to create a plan and have supplies for your pets.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Office of External Affairs:
- Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
- Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
- Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
- Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
Follow Us
Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.
Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
FEMA Mission
Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
