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Make Sure You're Ready This Hurricane Season:

Summary: 
Today, President Obama headed over to FEMA for an update on this year's preparations for hurricane season -- here's what you need to know.
The view from aerial tour of Hurricane Sandy damage  of New Jersey's barrier beaches

The view from aerial tour of Hurricane Sandy damage of New Jersey's barrier beaches, Nov. 18, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

The 2014 hurricane season begins this Sunday, and communities across the country are making sure they're ready.

Today, the President headed over to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Response Coordination Center, where he received an update on efforts to prepare communities for extreme weather events and other climate change impacts.

In brief remarks ahead of his hurricane preparedness briefing, the President noted that, while states still have the primary role in preparing for responding to disasters, the federal government would continue to ensure they have the resources they need. But, as he also said:

...it’s also every citizen’s responsibility to make sure that we are prepared for emergencies when they come -- and not just hurricanes but every emergency.

Looking for ways to make sure you're prepared? Ready.gov has a whole suite of instructions and resources for before, during, and after a storm. We've pulled a couple out here.

Get the facts on how to prepare.

Download "How to Prepare for a Hurricane," a hazard-specific guide where you can learn the basics of each hazard associated with hurricanes, how you can protect yourself and your property, and steps you can take right now to make sure you're ready.

Build an emergency disaster supplies kit.

Learn more about the basic but vital items your household might need in the event of an emergency -- from food to communication devices and other supplies -- and how to store and maintain them.

Get the facts on evacuation.

Evacuations are more common than most people realize -- they happen frequently across the United States almost every year. Read these guidelines so you're ready in case you need to evacuate your area.

Make sure your friends and family are ready, too.

The digital engagement toolkit from FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is stocked with sample tweets and resources that you can promote on your social accounts.

President Obama Aerial Tour of Hurricane Sandy Storm Damage

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg points out areas on a map of the region during an aerial tour of Hurricane Sandy storm damage, aboard Marine One in New York, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2012. Joining the President, from left, are: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Still looking for more information?

Visit Ready.gov for more tips and information about hurricanes specifically. See something you didn't know about? Pay it forward and share it with a friend.


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