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Hurricanes are the biggest natural disasters threatening the Southern USA. The official hurricane season is from June 1 through November 30 with the strongest activity usually occuring in August and September.

This page contains information about hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery.

Tips for Communicating During an Emergency

1. Limit non-emergency phone calls. This will minimize network congestion, free up "space" on the network for emergency communications and conserve battery power if you are using a wireless phone;
2. Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, try to use it only to convey vital information to emergency personnel and/or family;
3. For non-emergency calls, try text messaging, also known as short messaging service (SMS) when using your wireless phone. In many cases text messages will go through when your call may not. It will also help free up more "space" for emergency communications on the telephone network;
4. If possible, try a variety of communications services if you are unsuccessful in getting through with one. For example, if you are unsuccessful in getting through on your wireless phone, try a messaging capability like text messaging or email. Alternatively, try a landline phone if one is available. This will help spread the communications demand over multiple networks and should reduce overall congestion;
5. Wait 10 seconds before redialing a call. On many wireless handsets, to re-dial a number, you simply push "send" after you've ended a call to redial the previous number. If you do this too quickly, the data from the handset to the cell sites do not have enough time to clear before you've resent the same data. This contributes to a clogged network;
6. Have charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for backup power for your wireless phone;
7. Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers in your phone;
8. If in your vehicle, try to place calls while your vehicle is stationary;
9. Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact, and make certain all family members know who to contact if they become separated;
10. If you have Call Forwarding on your home number, forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an evacuation. That way you will get incoming calls from your landline phone;
11. After the storm has passed, if you lose power in your home, try using your car to charge cell phones or listen to news alerts on the car radio. But be careful – don’t try to reach your car if it is not safe to do so, and remain vigilant about carbon monoxide emissions from your car if it is a closed space, such as a garage;
12. Tune-in to broadcast and radio news for important news alerts.

Find more information at www.ready.gov, http://www.redcross.org, or www.fema.gov.

Releases

• 9/21/2011
  Tips for Communicating Before, During & After Disasters
  Joint FEMA & FCC Release: Word
• 9/21/2011
  FEMA & FCC Unveil New Tip Sheet for Consumers on How To Communicate During Disasters.
  News Release: Word
• 8/27/2011
  Important Tips to Communicate During Emergencies for Residents Preparing for Hurricane Irene. FCC closely monitoring path of Hurricane Irene, coordinating with FEMA and other federal partners for emergency preparation and response.
  News Release: Acrobat
• 8/26/2011
  The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces the Activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) in Response to Hurricane Irene.
  Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
• 8/26/2011
  The International Bureau Issues Procedures To Provide Emergency Communications in Areas Affected by Hurricane Irene.
  Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
• 5/26/2010
  In Preparation for Hurricane Season the FCC Reminds Communications Providers that the Agency can Assist Them with Their Emergency Response Efforts.
  Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

Outreach Tour

• Carolinas Outreach Tour 2010
• Pennsylvania Outreach Tour 2010
• Alaska Outreach Tour 2010
• Alabama Outreach Tour 2009
• Gulf Coast Outreach Tour 2009

Additional Resources

• American Red Cross
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• National Hurricane Operations Plan (2010)
• U.S. Coast Guard Storm Center

Published: February 10 2011