FEMA Strategically Positions Personnel and Resources to Support State and Local Officials as Hurricane Isaias Strengthens

FEMA urges Gulf Coast residents to finish preparing for Hurricane Isaias, which is projected to cause life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds along the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coasts, according to the National Hurricane Center. As officials in Alabama and Florida issue evacuation orders and begin activating shelters, FEMA is actively positioning critical supplies, personnel and federal resources to quickly support needs on the ground.

At the direction of President Trump and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, FEMA is committed to working alongside state, local and tribal partners to protect and help the American people before, during and after the storm. Residents should put their emergency plans into action today and take the following steps now:

• Stay informed: Sign up for local weather alerts and listen to local officials.
• Evacuate if told to do so: 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 the storm.

As governors, local emergency managers and communities lead preparedness activities ahead of the storm, FEMA is coordinating federal resources, mobilizing staff and surging resources to boost state capabilities and accelerate potential requests for assistance. FEMA headquarters and regional offices remain fully engaged, activating the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. and FEMA Region 4's Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta.

To facilitate rapid federal support, Incident Management Assistance Teams are deployed to Alabama and Florida to enhance coordination on site, expediting state requests for federal support. Additional FEMA personnel are ready to deploy to bolster state operations and multiple distribution centers across the United States are stocked and ready to provide supplies like food, water and generators.

National Urban Search and Rescue teams are positioned throughout the region ahead of potential impacts to quickly assist with life-saving rescue and evacuation operations, if needed.

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