This story originally appeared in Grinding and is part of the Climate Table collaboration.
No matter where you live, extreme weather can impact your area and cause home damage, power outages, and dangerous or deadly conditions. If you’re on the coast, It could be a hurricane; in the Midwest or South, a tornado; in the West, forest fires; and as we have seen in recent years, you can experience it anywhere heat waves or flash flood.
Living through a disaster and its aftermath can be traumatic and chaotic, from the immediate loss of life and belongings to conflicting information about where to access help. The weeks and months afterward can be even more difficult, as community care has disappeared but civic services and events have either stalled or changed dramatically.
Grist has put together this resource guide to help you stay prepared and informed. It discusses everything from how to find the most accurate forecasts to how to sign up for emergency alerts to the roles different agencies play in disaster relief.
Where to find information about disasters
These days, many people learn about disasters happening in their area through social media. But it’s important to make sure the information you’re getting is accurate. Here you’ll find information about severe weather and the most reliable places to check for emergency alerts and updates.
Your local emergency manager: Your city or county will have an emergency management department, which is part of the local government. In larger cities, it’s usually a stand-alone agency; in smaller communities, fire chiefs or sheriff’s offices may manage emergency response and alerts. Emergency managers are responsible for communicating with the public about disasters, managing rescue and response efforts, and coordinating between different agencies. They typically have an SMS-based emergency alert system, so sign up for them through your local website. (Note: Some cities have multiple languages available, but most emergency alerts are in English only.) Many emergency management agencies are active on Facebook, so check there for updates, too.
Local news: Local television news and social media accounts from verified news sources will offer live updates during and after a storm. Follow your local newspaper and television station on Facebook or other social media, or check their websites regularly.