Sponsors Sought for 2018 National Hurricane Resilience Initiative as 2017 Season Ends

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As communities work to recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is announcing plans to continue and expand the National Hurricane Resilience Initiative - #HurricaneStrong education campaign. FLASH created the two-year-old #HurricaneStrong effort through public-private partnerships with FEMA, NOAA, The Weather Channel, and sponsors to empower the public with life safety and home protection before disasters strike.

#HurricaneStrong uses a multiplatform strategy to reach a widespread audience by aligning hurricane awareness projects, leadership voices, and social media messaging. Signature events include a White House Proclamation, National Hurricane Preparedness Week, and the NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT). This year, the HAT featured NOAA and USAF hurricane hunter aircraft, meteorologists, pilots, and disaster safety experts to draw more than 13,000 attendees in six cities along the Atlantic coastline. Attendees enjoyed educational exhibits, science briefings, and inspirational presentations by local leaders and VIP's. The social media hashtag #HurricaneStrong reached more than 37 million Twitter users and carried the events to residents and students through hurricane-exposed states.

"Recent hurricanes demonstrate the urgent need to continue and strengthen our pre-disaster education efforts, so we are seeking sponsors to help grow this proven program," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "Our 2018 #HurricaneStrong effort will provide essential information to all in hurricane-exposed communities and provide sponsors a disaster safety partnership that is highly visible to consumers, leaders, and the scientific community."

This short video provides a program overview and successes of the 2016 campaign and calls attention to the critical role of individual and family preparedness ahead of deadly wind, rain, and flooding from tropical systems.

Campaign key messages include:

• Personal Safety - Know your evacuation zone
• Family Preparedness - Build a disaster supply kit
• Financial Security - Have an insurance check-up
• Damage Prevention - Strengthen your home
• Community Service - Help your neighbor

The 2017 #HurricaneStrong sponsors included BASF, Huber Engineered Woods, ISO, Kohler Generators, PCA, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, Verisk, USAA, and countless state and local governments.

For more information on how to sponsor the 2018 campaign visit HurricaneStrong.org, email [email protected], or call (877) 221-SAFE (7233). For information on building disaster-resistant structures download FEMA's Building Science Hurricane Activities & Resources.

About FLASH

The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, Kohler Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Related Links

http://www.flash.org