FEMA’s National Level Exercise 2018 Will Occur April 30 to May 11, 2018
David Maurstad, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation, FEMA
(Washington D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2018) – The unprecedented 2017 hurricane season highlighted the importance of all of us working together before, during, and after disasters of all kinds and sizes. FEMA’s National Level Exercise 2018 — a key activity in building a culture of preparedness throughout the country — will occur April 30 to May 11, 2018 and will examine the ability of all levels of government, private industry, and nongovernmental organizations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a major Mid-Atlantic hurricane.
The scenario involves a major hurricane that makes landfall near Hampton Roads, Virginia, causing severe damage to residences, businesses, and critical infrastructure throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including the National Capital Region. The aim of the exercise is to help ready all levels of government for this type of disaster in advance of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.
David Maurstad, who serves as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation, is leveraging the National Level Exercise to urge and renters, homeowners, business owners, and faith-based organizations to act now and consider their personal preparedness plans.
SOUNDBITE #1:
YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER, BUT YOU CAN PREPARE FOR IT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS RESIDENTS CAN TAKE TODAY IS TO BUY FLOOD INSURANCE. IT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, AND BUSINESSES TO RECOVER FASTER AND MORE FULLY AFTER FLOODS. THE FACT IS, JUST ONE INCH OF FLOOD WATER CAN COST YOU MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND MOST HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS INSURANCE POLICIES TYPICALLY DO NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE. AND, THERE IS A THIRTY DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A NEW POLICY TAKES EFFECT. NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY AND PROTECT THE LIFE YOU’VE BUILT.
SOUNDBITE #2:
IN ADDITION TO FLOOD INSURANCE, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR HURRICANE SEASON. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD DEVELOP A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT THAT INCLUDES ITEMS LIKE A FLASHLIGHT, BATTERIES, CASH, FIRST AID SUPPLIES, MEDICATIONS, PET SUPPLIES, AND COPIES OF CRITICAL DOCUMENTS. A FINANCIAL PLAN IS ALSO NECESSARY. FORTY-FOUR PERCENT OF ADULTS SAY THEY EITHER COULD NOT COVER AN EMERGENCY EXPENSE COSTING FOUR-HUNDRED DOLLARS OR WOULD PAY FOR IT BY SELLING SOMETHING ELSE OR BORROWING MONEY. START SAVING TODAY SO YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO RECOVER. LASTLY, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AND PRACTICE USING A FAMILY COMMUNICATION PLAN AND EVACUATION ROUTE.
For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov or call 1-800-427-4661 to learn more about flood insurance and to find an agent in your area.