Hello, I'm John Kelly, Secretary of the United States
Department of Homeland Security.
As we enter hurricane season,
we at the Department of Homeland Security
and FEMA are working closely with our state, local,
and federal partners to increase preparedness
and coordinate response and recovery capabilities.
We're also empowering individuals to take an active role in
preparing themselves, their families,
and their communities.
It only takes one hurricane to change your life and your community.
Hurricanes are one of nature's most powerful
and destructive events.
They've caused eight of the 10 costliest disasters
in U.S. history.
Now is the time to prepare,
especially if you or a family member
live in an area prone
to hurricanes or inland flooding.
Here are three things you can do:
First, know your risk.
Find out today what types of impacts
could happen where you live.
Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem.
High winds, heavy rainfall, tornadoes,
and flooding can be felt hundreds of miles inland.
They can potentially cause loss of life
and catastrophic damage to property.
Two - prepare. Take action now.
When a storm is approaching, it's too late.
Make sure you have family evacuation
and communications plans.
Update your emergency supply kit,
and evaluate your flood insurance well
before a storm is on its way.
Three - stay informed. Know where to go for trusted sources of information
during a hurricane event.
To search for information about risks in your area,
visit www.ready.gov and search for your state.
To find hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings,
check with NOAA's National Hurricane Center,
the Central Pacific Hurricane Center,
and www.weather.gov.
You can also download the FEMA app. The app includes disaster resources,
weather alerts, safety tips,
and push notifications to users' devices.
It is designed to help families better prepare for disasters.
I encourage you to visit each of these sites as soon as possible to make sure
you know what to do to protect your family
and property during hurricane season.
Thank you