Morgan Freeman Encourages Residents to Ready, Set, PLAN!T

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Academy Award winning actor and long-time supporter of disaster relief for coastal communities in the U.S. and Caribbean, Morgan Freeman, encourages residents at risk for hurricanes to start preparing now for hurricane season. Today, The Great Hurricane Blowout (Blowout) launched Ready, Set, PLAN!T, the first of several steps that, when completed, will leave residents ready for the risks hurricane season can bring.

A longtime supporter of coastal communities and Co-Founder of the hurricane preparedness non-profit PLAN!T NOW, Morgan Freeman is one of the Blowout campaign's celebrity spokespeople, and his preparedness plea appears on the Blowout site.  

The website (www.greathurricaneblowout.org) is one piece of a layered social media campaign that combines tools like Facebook and Twitter with other forms of community outreach events like "Dine in the Dark."  The website launch includes the unveiling of Ready, Set PLAN!T, a tool to help families create their own hurricane plan.  

"The first step in being prepared for hurricanes is to make sure your family is taken care of," said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, FLASH President/CEO.  "Your evacuation routes, a list of important phone numbers, information about your insurance coverage; all of these things and more should be included in your plan. The Blowout will help you pull this all together to customize a plan that meets your family's needs."

Through the family planning tool, powered by ReadyTown, residents will be able to answer a few questions about their family to create a fully customized plan in just minutes.  Additional tools, also available at www.greathurricaneblowout.org, will allow a family to create a storm kit as well as find many articles on hurricane preparedness.

"Weather experts predict the 2010 season to be especially active, and we have already seen early, formidable rains in Haiti.  Now more than ever it is crucial to share preparedness information and tools with coastal communities.  This campaign allows us to do that by harnessing the powers of science, social media and star appeal through our celebrity spokespeople," said PLAN!T NOW President Donna Lee.

The Blowout is an endeavor of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. - FLASH® and PLAN!T NOW, the hurricane preparedness non-profit Freeman co-founded. Sponsored by Kohler and State Farm, the Blowout is an innovative approach to raising public awareness about hurricane preparation, and planners hope it will inspire public action.

Residents at risk for hurricanes or severe weather are encouraged to "Join the Blowout" and visit www.greathurricaneblowout.org for helpful updates, tools, resources and surprises that will walk them through the preparedness process.

About FLASH

The non-profit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. – FLASH® is a 501(c)3 collaboration of organizations dedicated to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. Based in Tallahassee, Florida FLASH is the nation's fastest-growing disaster safety education organization with more than 100 partners including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, International Code Council, National Weather Service, Renaissance Reinsurance, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, USAA and WeatherPredict Consulting, Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience; StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes®.  To learn more about FLASH and access their free consumer resources, visit www.flash.org or call (877) 221-SAFE (7233).

About PLAN!T NOW

PLAN!T NOW (P!N) is a non-profit organization that reduces the loss of life and property caused by hurricanes and severe storms by delivering cutting-edge preparedness research, education and communications programs.  P!N provides individuals, organizations and communities in coastal regions information and resources to protect their families, homes, and businesses from the effects of these storms. P!N's relief programs include scholarships to college students, rebuilding projects and micro-loans for storm-struck areas. For more information, visit www.planitnow.org.

About Kohler

Kohler Power Systems is a division of Kohler Co., and provides complete power systems, including generators (residential, industrial, mobile and marine), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications. Kohler Power Systems has delivered energy solutions for markets worldwide since 1920. For more information, visit www.kohlerpower.com.

About State Farm®

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and more than 67,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – almost 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®. 

About ReadyTown

ReadyTown is a product of OneStorm, the first interactive hurricane preparedness tool on the web, free to families nationwide and the engine powering Texas' statewide readiness program. OneStorm was the recipient of the Florida Governor's 2009 Public Information Award for doing the best job preparing Floridians during the 2008 storm season. To get ReadyTown widgets on your website, visit www.readytown.com.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc.