FEMA Urges Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Isaias

FEMA urges Gulf Coast residents to prepare for Hurricane Isaias. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin's leadership, the safety of the American people is DHS's top priority.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to strengthen as it moves toward the Gulf Coast on Friday. Isaias could bring storm surge, heavy rainfall and flooding to portions of the Southeast.

FEMA headquarters and regional offices are fully engaged, with the National Response Coordination Center and FEMA Region 4's Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta activated. States in the path of the storm are taking the lead in their response efforts while FEMA stands ready to support any emerging needs. FEMA Regional Administrators and agency leadership remain in close communication with governors and emergency management officials across the Southeast to support seamless coordination.

NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft continue critical reconnaissance flights to refine tracking and forecasts. FEMA deployed a liaison to the National Hurricane Center in Miami to support forecasting and coordination efforts.

FEMA staff are embedded with state emergency operations centers across the Southeast and remain in communication with state emergency management officials. Additionally, Incident Management Assistance Teams are deploying to Alabama and Florida to enhance coordination on site, facilitating any state requests for federal support. Additional FEMA personnel are ready to deploy in support of state operations, when needed.

FEMA is prepositioning emergency supplies at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, to supplement state resources if requested. The agency operates multiple distribution centers across the United States that are available to rapidly deploy additional emergency resources. National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams will be activated and staged in multiple locations in Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia for potential movement if needed.

FEMA urges residents to identify their risks, make a plan and stay informed. Residents should take the following steps now:

• Stay informed: Sign up for local weather alerts and listen to local officials.
• Make an evacuation plan: Know where you will go, how you will get there and where you can stay if an evacuation becomes necessary.
• Make a communications plan: Know how you will communicate with family and friends after a disaster.
• Get supplies: Keep enough food, water and essential items on hand to last several days.

FEMA continues to monitor the storm's development and coordinate closely with state and local officials to ensure readiness for potential impacts.

For more information on preparing for hurricanes and other severe weather, visit www.ready.gov.

For state updates, follow:

• @AlabamaEMA for Alabamians
• @FLSERT for Floridians
• @LAGovJeffLandry for Louisianans
• @MSEMA for Mississippians