Sponsors Sought for 2017 Hurricane Safety Education Initiative as 2016 Hurricane Season Comes to a Close

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season ends today, the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)  is getting ready for 2017 and seeking support from businesses, organizations and individuals to continue and expand the #HurricaneStrong education campaign launched earlier this year. The 501(c)3 organization created the campaign through a public-private partnership with FEMA, NOAA, The Weather Channel, The Home Depot, State Farm, USAA, and many others with the goal to increase public safety, mitigate disaster costs, and overcome hurricane "amnesia" after a decade of low hurricane activity.

The multiplatform campaign aligned national and local projects and messaging opportunities beginning the week of May 15 to increase individual and family preparedness, and enjoyed tremendous success as a result. Signature events included The White House observance of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the NOAA/National Hurricane Center Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT), FEMA's National Preparedness Month, The Weather Channel WX Geeks program hosted by Dr. Marshall Shepherd, and 695 workshops in Home Depot stores.

This video provides a program overview 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 included:

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

"We're marking the last day of this deadly 2016 hurricane season by making it our first day of official planning for a 2017 #HurricaneStrong effort to bring lifesaving information to families throughout the U.S.," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "This year we reached more than 22 million through social media alone, and many more through events and news coverage, but the 2016 hurricane experience tells us that we still have a great deal of work to do. We plan to extend our impact, and we need new sponsors to help."

One campaign effort will continue through to next hurricane season as construction continues on the #HurricaneStrong Home demonstration project in Breezy Point, New York. A team of partners there are rebuilding a Hurricane Sandy-ravaged home to showcase resilient building using concrete and other superior construction technologies. The demonstration team includes FLASH, Portland Cement Association, BASF Corporation, Huber Engineered Woods, Kohler Generators, Malbro Construction Services, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and many other partners under the leadership of local architect, Illya Azaroff, AIA, Director of Design +LAB architects + experimentation. The home is being constructed to meet the requirements of FORTIFIED Home™ - Hurricane Gold, an Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety® home strengthening program.

For more information on how to join the 2017 #HurricaneStrong campaign email [email protected], or call (877) 221-SAFE (7233).

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 120 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster resilient nation including: BASF, 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