Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® Receives Outstanding Achievement Award from National Hurricane Conference

ORLANDO, Fla., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Hurricane Conference award committee today presented the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) with the Outstanding Achievement Award in the public awareness category for its Peak Hurricane Season campaign. Specifically, FLASH was recognized for its national Satellite Media Tour (SMT).  On location from the National Hurricane Center, the SMT was co-hosted by Dr. Rick Knabb, internationally-renowned weather expert and Director of the National Hurricane Center, and FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson.

Dr. Knabb and Henderson did live and taped interviews with more than a dozen national and local television stations to raise public awareness about flood risks, evacuation zones, mitigation options and the need for flood insurance.

"This is a well-deserved award for FLASH, a trusted voice for strengthening homes and safeguarding families," said Dr. Knabb.  "FLASH delivers consistently reliable and compelling information and resources to consumers."

"Thanks to a dynamic partnership with Dr. Rick Knabb and the National Hurricane Center, we empowered millions of Americans to take charge of their personal safety and resilience," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson.  "We are proud and honored to be presented with an award that embodies our mission – to help individuals and families learn how to stay safe, save money and avoid heartache when the next storm strikes."

Inspiration for the SMT was driven by raising awareness of flooding as the nation's costliest and deadliest natural disaster, causing an average of $2.4 billion in insured damages each year and affecting every state in the U.S.  Despite the risk, many Americans across the U.S. are not taking adequate steps to protect their families or property.  FLASH worked with FloodSmart to organize the SMT which focused on "Five Steps to Peak Hurricane Season Preparedness."

The SMT resulted in 20 television broadcast airings, including The Weather Channel,  with a total audience reach of nearly 37 million, approximately 250 print news stories, including a Miami Herald story that garnered 1.2 million views; and more than 870 radio broadcast airings reaching nearly 25 million people according to a third party media monitoring service.  Additionally, more than 135,000 consumers were reached through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and online forums.

About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 100 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster‐resistant nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, RenaissanceRe, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, USAA® and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)