Preparedness and Communications

Educating citizens about ensuring that they have their prescription medications during a disaster was one lesson in a recent session conducted by the Medical Reserve Corps, which is also helping assemble response teams.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton helped Saugus obtain the FEMA grant and vowed to keep working to ensure communities have enough firefighters, and that firefighters have the equipment and training they need to do their jobs.

The FCC, which regulates telephone companies and Internet service providers, has sent letters to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon asking for each company’s emergency response plan.

If the federal and state governments don’t pay for the Hurricane Dorian-related expenses, Chatham County, Ga., taxpayers could end up holding the bag for significant costs brought about by hurricane preparations.

Humberto could be a major hurricane by Tuesday night, which would mean it would be a hurricane packing winds of at least 111 mph, strong enough to rip roofs off houses and leave widespread devastation.

Microgrid systems would allow key institutions such as hospitals, municipal utilities and certain government agencies to continue to operate in the event of a natural disaster that interrupts electrical transmission.

Victorville Fire Department's grant of $310,633 will provide resources to the department to assist with its operations and safety. Planned purchases include thermal imaging units and additional fire hoses.

“It’s not a question of whether New York will be hit by another superstorm like Hurricane Sandy, but when. It’s past time for the city to reassure New Yorkers that we are better prepared than we were six years ago.”

As Dorian parked above the Bahamas like an idling steamroller — crushing the islands with high winds and 18-foot storm surge — gloomy skies blanketed Orlando on a subdued Labor Day, while prep continued for the storm.

Evacuations have already been ordered in some parts of North Carolina. In Dare County, where a state of emergency has been issued, a mandatory evacuation for all visitors begins Tuesday at noon and at 6 a.m. Wednesday for all residents.

The recent spate of deadly disasters has communities increasingly interested in emergency preparedness and the Red Cross offers help, stressing community, access to information and putting it all in perspective.

Regardless of Hurricane Dorian's exact track and strength, it will be moving slowly and could also cause an inland flooding disaster somewhere over Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States into next week.

Speaking at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee on Friday morning, Florida Gov. DeSantis said the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flooding to much of the peninsula, though the storm’s exact track still remains uncertain.

The San Francisco-based company sells an ‘earthquake bag’ for individuals, families and organizations. The bags can be customized with a few clicks online to meet basic preparedness needs.

Wednesday saw the storm clear Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. On Thursday, Dorian is in the warm Atlantic waters for the next few days and is steadily moving northwest at 13 mph, said the National Hurricane Center.