Natural disasters include all types of severe weather, which have the potential to pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security. Natural disasters occur both seasonally and without warning, subjecting the nation to frequent periods of insecurity, disruption, and economic loss. These resources serve to prepare IHEs for a variety of natural disasters, including winter storms, floods, tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, or any combination thereof.
The resources in this section provide useful information related to Natural Disasters. The resources are organized according to the relevant Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mission Area within each category:
Winter storms occur when a significant amount of snow or ice accumulates over a short period of time, blocking roads, disrupting communications systems, causing power outages, and threatening life safety. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from winter storms.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
How to Prepare for a Winter Storm
This document outlines which actions to take before, during, and after a winter storm.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
After a Winter Storm
This webpage provides resources and tips on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a winter storm.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Snowstorm and Extreme Cold
This webpage explains what actions to take following a winter weather storm alert from the National Weather Service, and what to do before, during, and after a snowstorm or period of extreme cold.
Winter Weather | CDC
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for winter storms, prevent cold-related health problems, and protect themselves during all stages of a winter storm.
Winter Weather: Plan. Equip. Train.
These Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for winter weather and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after winter storms.
Ninety percent of natural disasters within the United States involve flooding. Consequently, floods inflict more economic damage and loss of life and property than any other natural hazard. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from floods and their cascading consequences.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Prepare Your Organization for a Flood Playbook
This document provides tools and resources to support flood preparedness efforts and conduct an America’s PrepareAthon! Day of Action.
Flood Preparedness Response | OSHA
These Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for floods and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after a flood.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Floods | Ready.gov
This webpage explains what actions to take following a flood watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service and provides tips on what to do before, during, and after a flood.
Floods | CDC.gov
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for, respond to, and recover from flooding disasters.
More than one thousand tornadoes hit the United States every year, causing significant disruption to transportation, power, gas, water, and communications services. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from tornadoes.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P-361: Design and Construction Guidance for Community Safety Rooms
This publication presents important information about the design and construction of community and residential safe rooms that will provide protection during tornado and hurricane events.
How to Prepare for a Tornado
This document outlines what actions to take before, during, and after a tornado.
Prepare Your Organization for a Tornado Playbook
This document provides tools and resources to support tornado preparedness efforts and conduct an America’s PrepareAthon! Day of Action.
Tornado Preparedness and Response | OSHA
These Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for tornadoes and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after a tornado.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Tornadoes (Ready.gov)
This webpage explains what actions to take following a tornado watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service, and what to do before, during, and after a tornado.
Tornadoes (EPA.gov)
This webpage offers advice and resources to help community members prepare for, respond to, and recover from a tornado.
Tornadoes (CDC.gov)
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for, respond to, and recover after a tornado.
Hurricanes can inflict catastrophic damage to both coastal and inland regions of the United States, subjecting affected areas to dangerously high winds, heavy rainfall, and severe flooding. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Hurricane Preparedness - Be Ready
The National Hurricane Center offers resources for people to prepare for and recover from a hurricane, including hurricane risk analyses, evacuation guidelines, a basic disaster supplies kit checklist.
Hurricane Preparedness
This webpage provides tips and resources for developing an evacuation plan.
Hurricane Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff
This online course discusses the risks of hurricanes and outlines basic mitigation methods.
Prepare Your Organization for a Hurricane Playbook
This document provides tools and resources to support hurricane preparedness efforts and conduct an America’s PrepareAthon! Day of Action.
Hurricane Preparedness and Response
These Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for hurricanes and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after a hurricane.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Hurricanes | National Weather Service
This webpage explains what actions to take following a hurricane watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service and provides tips on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.
Hurricanes | NOAA
The National Ocean Service offers numerous resources to help federal, state, and local decision-makers to prepare for, monitor, and respond to hurricanes.
Hurricane Response/Recovery
OSHA's Hurricane eMatrix outlines the activities most commonly performed during hurricane response and recovery work, provides detailed information about the hazards associated with those activities, and offers recommendations for personal protective equipment, safe work practices, and precautions.
Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for, respond to, and recover after a hurricane or tropical storm.
Each year, the United States experiences dozens of severe earthquakes, any of which can cause power outages, fires, water-supply emergencies, and significant loss of life and property. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from earthquakes.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Prepare Your Organization for an Earthquake Playbook
This document provides tools and resources to support earthquake preparedness efforts and conduct an America’s PrepareAthon! Day of Action.
Earthquake Preparedness Response
These OSHA webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for earthquakes and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after an earthquake.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Earthquakes | READY.gov
This webpage describes what actions to take during, and, after an earthquake.
Earthquakes | CDC
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for earthquakes.
Both natural and human-caused wildfires frequently devastate natural, commercial, and residential areas and make the affected lands more susceptible to subsequent flooding and mudslides. In addition to this, falling embers can expand the wildfire by as much as a mile, while smoke inhalation raises health concerns for surrounding communities. IHEs should use these resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires and their associated impacts.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Wildfire Mitigation Basics for Mitigation Staff
This online course discusses the risks of wildfires and outlines basic mitigation methods.
Prepare Your Organization for a Wildfire Playbook
This document provides tools and resources to support wildfire preparedness efforts and conduct an America’s PrepareAthon! Day of Action.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources that fall into the "All" category contain useful information and guidance that is relevant to all FEMA Mission Areas.
Wildfires | READY.gov
This webpage discusses what actions to take following a fire weather watch alert from the National Weather Service and what safety measures to follow before, during, and after a wildfire.
Wildfires | CDC
This Centers for Disease Control webpage provides advice and resources to help individuals and institutions prepare for, respond to, and recover after a wildfire.
Wildfires | OSHA
These Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) webpages help businesses and their workers prepare for wildfires and provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after a wildfire.
Preparedness (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation)
- Prevention: This mission area focuses on the ability to avoid, prevent, or stop an imminent threat.
- Protection: This mission area focuses on the ability to secure and protect a community against a variety of threats and hazards.
- Mitigation: This mission area focuses on the ability to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster.
Protecting Large Outdoor Campus Events from Weather
This article discusses the effects of severe weather and the need for campuses to plan and respond appropriately.
Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk, 2nd Edition
This online course provides emergency managers and other decision makers with background information about weather, natural hazards, and preparedness.
Response
This mission area focuses on the ability to save lives, protect property and the environment, as well as meet the basic needs of a community during a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
Recovery
This mission area focuses on the ability to assist communities in recovering effectively following a disaster.
Please see the "All" category for resources that encompass the Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Mission Areas.
All
Resources organized into this "All" category contain information that is relevant for all types of Natural Disasters.
FEMA P-1000, Safer, Stronger, Smarter: A Guide to Improving Natural Disaster School Natural Hazard Safety
This document provides advice on both successful operational policies and practices, as well as recommendations on how to improve the physical protection of the school facility to resist applicable natural hazards would help improve overall school safety.
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