In the event of an emergency, you need to know where you can turn for information, advice, or even a helping hand. There are resources, both locally and nationally, to help you weather any storm.
The biggest part of making it through any emergency or disaster is to prepare early! Preparation tips and guides that could save your home, family, and neighbors can be found on many local, regional, and national resources. So take this month to familiarize yourself with these resources. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of an emergency, make time this September to prepare!
Local Resources
Sign Up for AVL Alert
AVL Alert is an emergency and non-emergency notification system. This system enables the City of Asheville to provide you with the information that you want to receive via the communication methods that you choose. By enrolling in the system you are automatically subscribed to emergency alerts. During the registration process you will have the opportunity to choose from a number of non-emergency subscriptions. At any time you can login to the system and change your contact information and opt-in/out of subscriptions.
Follow City of Asheville on social media
Want another way to stay across all the latest information? Follow the City of Asheville on our social media pages. You can find the primary channels at the bottom of the City of Asheville homepage. We post on Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor and Linked In. During an emergency, you can also find either live streams or recordings of important community addresses on our YouTube channel.
United Way/ NC 211
NC 211 is a free, confidential, and multilingual health and human services information and referral system, available 24 hours a day in all 100 North Carolina counties. Managed by United Way of North Carolina and supported by many local United Ways across the state, NC 211 has continuously gained recognition as a trusted resource in the State and serves as a key member of the State Emergency Response Team.
North Carolinians can find help by dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) or by visiting nc211.org.
National
National organizations that deal with emergencies, natural disasters, or extreme weather are a valuable resource in your planning process. Check out their advice and tips as you make your plan.
Ready.gov
Ready.Gov : Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement. Everything from preparation to recovery steps can be found on this national website. Ready.Gov is a website created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
American Red Cross
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross lists it mission statement as: “…..prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.” Check out its website for tips on how to prepare for almost any emergency.
National Weather Service
National Weather Service: NWS has played a key role in protecting American lives and properties for over a century through the timely provision of reliable weather, water, climate, and environmental information. NWS offices provide the information needed by Americans, including national, regional, state, tribal, and local authorities, to plan, prepare, mitigate, and respond to natural and human-caused events.
Lend a hand when you can
National Preparedness Month 2023 focuses on helping older Americans. We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
As you prepare, see if a neighbor or older member of our community could use a helping hand.
AARP offers resources, guides, and tips to help older adults prepare for emergencies and stay safe.
Ready.gov/Seniors: This section of Ready.gov provides tailored advice and checklists to help seniors be well-prepared for any situation.
Preparing a child
Emergencies and disasters can be scary, but there are ways to help you stay safe before, during, and even after a disaster. Disaster planning, response and recovery efforts must consider the unique needs and abilities of children, who make up roughly a quarter of the U.S. population. Youth preparedness and including youth in emergency management is an essential part of engaging the whole community. As you and your organization prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, use ready.gov/kids as a resources to explore how you can provide services that assist youth and families with children.
We are sharing preparedness information through the month of September: