Each year, natural disasters destroy our communities and affect the lives of our families, neighbors, business and communities. Disasters can strike at any time, and some disasters such as fires occur everyday in the United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) believes it is important that individuals, business and entire communities take the necessary steps to prevent damage to life and property and to prepare before these natural disasters strike. In response to natural disasters, FEMA has created a nation-wide initiative called Project Impact:
Building a Disaster Resistant Community. At the heart of Project Impact is the formation of active partnerships among businesses, civic leaders and individual citizens.

Listed below are prevention and preparation tips that individuals and businesses can undertake to prevent losses from natural disasters. We hope that you will embrace and promote this collaborative effort to help make your entire community disaster resistent.

Prevention Tips:

• Have hurricane straps installed in your home or business to better secure the roof to the walls and foundation. This will reduce the risk of losing your roof to high winds.
• Install and maintain storm shutters over all exposed windows and glass surfaces, and use them when severe weather threatens. In addition to protecting against wind, shutters also prevent damage from flying debris.
• Elevate the main breaker or fuse box and the utility meters above the anticipated flood level in your home or business, so that floodwater won't damage your utilities.
• Clean and maintain storm drains and gutters and remove debris from your property to allow free flow of potential flood water
• Identify what potential risks could affect your business during severe weather. Are you near a flood plain? Is your business located where there have been wildfires in the past?
• Develop business interruption plans and implement mitigation to minimize loss of jobs and business activity: Know those employees that will be unavailable to work in times of crisis because of other obligations - children, parents, etc. Have a back-up business location. Keepup-to-date emergency phone numbers for employees.
• Purchase applicable insurance and know your assets. Standard insurance does NOT include flood insurance.
• Encourage local community prevention efforts that reduce the risk to critical local infrastructure like electricity, water, and roads that are necessary for the continued operation of your business

Preparedness Tips:

• Have a family disaster plan, including evacuation plans. Know where you would go in case of a disaster. Plan evacuation routes that are away from low-lying areas likely to be flooded. Everyone in your family should know the telephone number of the same out-of-state contact to help separated family members get back together.
• Have an emergency kit in your car that includes water, first aid, a way to signal need for help, flashlight and batteries, warm blankets, a shovel, and a battery-operated radio.
• Have plenty of spare cash - ATM's will not work if the power is out.
• Have an adequate supply of prescriptions and special medical supplies
• Review and update your "Employee Emergency Call Out List." Be sure that the emergency responders know what they have to do and where they need to go.
• Educate your employees. Provide "Red Cross Home Safety and Survival" guides to your employees.
• Know your assets. Keep an updated inventory of your assets.
• Take prevention actions now that will reduce the potential effect of flooding and winter weather
• Work with your community leaders. Know what your community response plan is and what it is not.

For additional information on prevention and preparedness contact FEMA Publications at

1-800-480-2520 and request brochures and videos.

Project Impact is a designation that provides an avenue to unify private-sector disaster prevention programs with public initiatives in preparing for, and recovering from, disasters within respective areas of vulnerability. The County is the leading entity within the region working with the private sector to reduce the vulnerability of residents and business owners to various hazards. Tasks include organizing and coordinating program opportunities through the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to educate small business owners and residents on recovery plans, and working with regional home builders associations in training the building and the development community in techniques to better assist the community in becoming disaster resistant.