Under the direction of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, FEMA is working with states across a wide area of the country to help state-led and locally managed responses to severe winter weather. Residents and visitors are urged to follow instructions from local officials and monitor weather updates.
President Trump has approved 12 federal emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. These declarations allow affected states to access federal resources through FEMA to supplement their response efforts if needed. The support will be provided at 75% federal funding.
Federal emergency declarations enable states to receive lifesaving and life-sustaining resources from FEMA. This includes assistance in restoring power, clearing roads for emergency services and keeping communities safe.
FEMA reports that its distribution centers are stocked with more than 300 generators, over 7 million meals, more than 3 million liters of water and over 650,000 blankets. The agency is delivering additional resources such as 485,000 meals, 770,000 liters of water, 2,200 cots and medical equipment, 90 generators and 71 semitrucks with drivers across staging sites in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
Approximately 900 FEMA staff members along with personnel from other federal agencies have been deployed to support affected states. Many are embedded within state emergency operations centers for close coordination on response activities.
FEMA has also sent three specialized teams to Texas, Louisiana and Virginia with an additional twelve teams ready for deployment if necessary. Furthermore, twenty-seven Urban Search and Rescue task forces are prepared to assist upon request by governors.
These coordinated efforts include monitoring power outages, shelter occupancy levels and road closures in impacted areas so that support can be provided quickly when required.
Residents are reminded: "Stay off the roads if local officials ask you to do so. This will help keep you safe and allow emergency response personnel to do their job." Additionally: "Never use generators indoors. Keep generators at least 20 feet from windows doors and garages... Using generators indoors can cause carbon monoxide poisoning." The public is also advised not to use gas stoves or ovens for heating purposes; only specific kerosene heaters should be used according to safety guidelines.
People seeking warming shelters should call 211 or visit their local emergency management agency’s website or use the American Red Cross shelter locator by calling 800-RED CROSS. Downloading the FEMA App provides real-time weather alerts as well as preparedness strategies.
Further winter safety tips can be found at Ready.gov.
