When a disaster hits, it can be stressful to think about worst case scenarios. There’s an overwhelming amount of information that you may need to know before, during or after a hurricane, tornado, or flood—and it’s scattered all over the internet, held by different state or federal government agencies with an alphabet soup of abbreviations and acronyms.
From alerts and warnings, to what you should put in an emergency kit, to where you can access free legal aid, this glossary covers key things to know during three distinct phases of a disaster: What you need to know to prepare, how government agencies respond to crisis, and resources to help you recover.
Amal Ahmed and Carly Berlin contributed to and fact-checked this glossary.
Have a term or topic you need more clarity on? Want to add a resource?
Prepare
Know Your Risks
What types of disasters are there? What’s the difference between a watch and a warning? What are signs of heatstroke?
Make a Plan
How do I put together an emergency kit? When should I evacuate?
Hurricanes
How do I find my evacuation route? What do hurricane categories mean? When is hurricane season?
Tornadoes
How do I shelter in place? How do I know when a storm is coming?
Heat Waves
What do I do when there’s an excessive heat warning? How do I check for power outages?
Respond
Government Agencies
Which agencies set up shelters? Who is responsible for clean up and aid?
Recover
FEMA Guide
How do I apply for aid? What programs am I eligible for?
Legal Aid
What rights do I have as a renter? Can I do anything if my aid application is rejected?