Emergency Resources

FLASH - Resources for safeguarding your home
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. FLASH® is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting disaster safety and property loss mitigation.

FLASH produces a wide variety of materials and programs that focus on educating consumers and building professionals about the importance of strengthening homes and safeguarding families from disaster.

OneStorm ™ - Build your own emergency plan online
OneStorm's mission is to educate and prepare families and businesses for severe weather situations.

Plan for your safety this hurricane season! OneStorm provides a user-friendly, fun interface for building your hurricane preparedness plan online. The site is terrific and provides customized printable to-do lists, reminders, medication lists, contacts, list, shelter location information and more!

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA is an independent federal agency with more than 2,600 full time employees. Often FEMA works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation's emergency management system. These partners include state and local emergency management agencies, 27 federal agencies and American Red Cross.

Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee (HREMC)
The objective of the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee is to promote the inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency coordination of emergency management issues and foster emergency preparedness in the Hampton Roads area. It's purpose is to provide a working group for the exchange of information, experience and technology among the Hampton Roads Emergency Management officials and individuals with responsibilities in emergency management in the Hampton Roads area.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is a state agency that works closely with local government emergency managers, other state agencies, voluntary organizations and federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure a comprehensive, efficient and effective response to emergencies and disasters throughout Virginia.

Ready Virginia
Ready Virginia is a statewide public education effort to prepare Virginians for all hazards, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The Ready Virginia Web site is a central, authoritative resource for preparedness information for all Virginians.

Listo Virginia - en Español
Listo Virginia es un esfuerzo de la educación pública estatal para preparar a los ciudadanos de Virginia para todos los peligros, incluyendo desastres naturales y potenciales ataques terroristas.

El sitio Web Listo Virginia es un recurso central, autorizado para información acerca de cómo estar preparado para todos los ciudadanos de Virginia.

Citizen Corps Council
Citizen Corps, a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies

VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation)
Evacuations can be ordered by local officials if they believe an approaching storm will be a safety hazard or cause serious damage. See the VDOT Travel Center "Hurricane Evacuation Guide" with details on evacuation procedure, downloadable evacuation map and other useful information. Download VDOT's "Virginia Hurricane Guide" or order one online.

National Weather Service
Mission Statement: The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community.

Marine Forecast (NOAA - Nat'l Weather Service)

National Hurricane Center (NOAA - Nat'l Weather Service)
Mission Statement: To save lives, mitigate property loss, and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings, forecasts and analyses of hazardous tropical weather, and by increasing understanding of these hazards.

MetEd (Meteorology Education and Training)
The MetEd (Meteorology Education and Training) Website was established to provide education and training resources to benefit the operational forecaster community, university atmospheric scientists and students, and anyone interested in learning more deeply about meteorology and weather forecasting topics.

FEMA for Kids
This site teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid. Resources for parents & teachers

Just for Kids - YOU Can be Ready for an Emergency
This site teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid.

Playtime for Kids (NOAA - Nat'l Weather Service)
Playtime for Kids is a portal to other sites offering information about weather hazards as well as safety tips, general weather information and other fun stuff.