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West Virginians should be prepared for a storm anytime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A storm can impact the residents of West Virginia at any time so it is important to be prepared year-round.

Make sure you can receive alerts and warnings quickly through several different technologies no matter where you are–at home, at school, at work, or in the community.

Know your area’s severe weather risk and practice your emergency plan with your family and pets. In other words, know whether to shelter in place or go to your identified safe place, which could mean leaving town or deciding to stay with friends or family. 

Before extreme weather happens, it’s a good idea to invest in a NOAA Weather Radio. A public service offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, weather information is broadcast directly and continuously from your nearest National Weather Service office. Click Emergency Alerts | Ready.gov to learn more.

Some communities use the Emergency Alert System, a national public warning system, to deliver warnings of imminent threats to specific areas. A severe weather threat such as a tornado warning can be sent by state and local public safety officials. If your community has outdoor warning sirens, become familiar with their warning tone(s).

If you don’t have a safe room you can access in an emergency, the next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on Oct. 16, 2025, for Allen Parish, Louisiana. During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and adopt these new flood maps. 

Residents are encouraged to examine the maps to determine if they are in a low-to-moderate or high-risk flood zone. The current and future Flood Insurance Rate Map can be viewed on FEMA’s Flood Map Changes Viewer at https://msc.fema.gov/fmcv.

By understanding flood risks, individuals can decide which insurance option is best for their situation. Community leaders can use these maps to make informed decisions about building standards and development to help lessen the impacts of a flooding event.

Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their home, personal property and business. Flood insurance is available either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for those in communities who participate in the NFIP. Residents with federally backed mortgages must have flood insurance if their structures are in the Special Flood Hazard Area.

Contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) to review the new flood maps and learn more about your risk of flooding. A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify your community FPA and answer questions about the maps as well. Contact them by phone or online chat.

There

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

FRANKFORT, Ky. – FEMA understands that clean up and rebuilding after a flood can take time and be overwhelming. Guidance is available and it’s always important to put safety first.

Follow instructions from your local officials to ensure it is safe to reenter your home. You can begin the recovery process by documenting damage and taking steps to stop the spread of mold.

First, confirm the electricity and gas are shut off to avoid fire or injury. Have an electrician check the house before turning the power back on. 

Document Your Flood DamageTake photos and videos of the damage, including structural and personal property on the inside and outside of your home, before discarding items. Remember to take photos of the insides of closets and cabinets.Record serial numbers of large appliances, such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators.Keep receipts of any purchases made to replace damaged property or repair property.Retain material samples of damaged items such as carpeting, wallpaper, furniture upholstery, and window treatments. The type and quality of material may impact insurance claims. Contact repair services as necessary to address damage to the building’s electrical, water, or HVAC systems. Consult your insurance adjuster or insurance company before you sign any cleaning, remediation, or maintenance agreement.

After taking photos, you should immediately throw away flooded items that pose a health risk, such as perishable food items, clothing, cushions, and pillows.

Mold and Cleanup

It

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

LOS ANGELES – Today is the last day for property owners to submit a Right of Entry (ROE) form to LA County. In order to have debris removed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), property owners affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires must submit a ROE form by 11:59 p.m. PT today, April 15. 

Federally funded debris removal is available to residents of single family and owner-occupied multi-family units. 

All disaster impacted property owners should submit a ROE form by April 15, 2025, to opt-in or opt-out of the debris removal program. 

If a property owner opts-out of the USACE debris removal program, they become responsible for all permits, inspections and other associated debris removal requirements and costs. 

There is no out-of-pocket cost to have debris removed by USACE, however the program is unable to duplicate other forms of funding specific to debris removal. If a property owner has insurance for debris removal, residual funds not used by the property owner may be remitted to the county to offset the cost of debris removal at a later date.

Submit a ROE form to LA County:Contact Los Angeles County for more information about debris removal:

Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account. For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready.gov, on Instagram @Ready.gov or on the Ready Facebook

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