Yesterday, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Kevin K. McAleenan, was briefed by Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Administrator, Pete Gaynor, from the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) at FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC, on the current path and strength of Hurricane Dorian. DHS and its component agencies are working to aggressively prepare for any potential impacts Americans may face as a result of this potentially life threatening and extremely dangerous storm.
“DHS is employing all its resources to prepare for Hurricane Dorian – an approach that will be locally executed, state managed, and federally supported,” said Acting Secretary McAleenan. “If you are in the path, now is the time to prepare. Please know your evacuation and shelter plan, discuss your plan with family and friends, gather needed supplies - including medications, and include a plan for your pets.”
The NRCC is currently activated at its highest level in support of those in the path of Hurricane Dorian. DHS and FEMA are currently working in close coordination with Florida Governor Rick DeSantis and state officials ahead of Dorian’s predicted landfall, and federal agencies are quickly moving response resources into position. Hurricane Dorian continues to strengthen and may be upgraded to category four, posing a dangerous risk of storm surge and hurricane-force winds along the East Coast of Florida over the Labor Day weekend. Residents along the U.S. East Coast, and particularly in Florida, should continue to monitor the forecasts and begin implementing their hurricane preparedness plan now. DHS also encourages people to download the FEMA App for real-time weather alerts from the National Weather Service and for additional preparedness tips.