Wildfire Safety

Social Media Content Shareables
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The Ready Campaign and America’s PrepareAthon! recommend using social media 

tools as a way to promote Wildfire safety.

• Download the Wildfire Safety Social Media Content Shareables Toolkit: 

www.ready.gov/Ready2015

• For tips and information about wildfires check out these websites: 

o www.ready.gov/wildfires

o Ready Kids Wildfires

o United States Fire Administration

o How to Prepare for a Wildfire: America’s PrepareAthon

o Smokey Bear

o US Forest Service

o National Weather Service: Wildland Fire Safety

o www.firewise.org

• Update your Facebook cover photo with a wildfire graphic

• Download the FEMA smartphone app and enter your location for NWS weather 

alerts: www.fema.gov/mobile-app

• Use the hashtags:

o #Wildfire

o #WildfireSafety

o #SummerSafety & attach a graphic from the toolkit

• Follow and RT Twitter accounts that tweet about #WildfireSafety info:

@Readygov

@FEMA

@USFA

@Firewise

@PrepareAthon

@Smokey_bear

@NWS

@CDCemergency
Wildfire

Social Content Shareables

Wildfire Resources & Tips

• Learn what to do before, during, and after a #wildfire by visiting 

www.ready.gov/wildfires #WildfireSafety

• Keep track of fires near your community with: www.smokeybear.com/wildfiremap @smokey_bear

• Let America’s #PrepareAthon help you prepare for #wildfires before the smoke hits. 

http://1.usa.gov/1njff4S

• America’s #PrepareAthon has tools you can use to prepare for #wildfires and other 

hazards. 

• Wildfires give very little warning! Be ahead of the game when it comes to #fire 

safety w/ #PrepareAthon http://1.usa.gov/1njff4S

• Practice your #wildfire evacuation plan! Turn to #PrepareAthon for other wildfire 

preparedness tips. Read more at http://1.usa.gov/1njff4S

• Before a #wildfire-place critical documents in a fire safe. Use the Protect your 

Critical Documents & Valuables: http://1.usa.gov/1fphWiG

Alerts & Warnings

• Sign up to receive text or e-mail alerts about emergencies like wildfire from your 

local Office of Emergency Management. #PrepareAthon

• Timely information about #wildfires can save your life and property. Sign up for local 

alerts & warnings. #PrepareAthon

• .@NWS issues a Fire Weather Watch when potentially dangerous fire weather 

conditions are possible over the next 12 to 72 hours. 

• .@NWS issues a Fire Weather/Red Flag Warning when #wildfire conditions occur or 

are expected to occur within 24 hours. #PrepareAthon
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Protect Your Property

• Prepare for a #wildfire by maintaining your lawn and removing combustible debris 

from around your home. #PrepareAthon

• Protect yourself & your property! @NFPA says create 3 zones of defensible space up 

to 200 feet around your home or business. #PrepareAthon

• #WildfireSafety Tip: Don’t use anything (i.e. lawn mowers) that will create sparks 

outside on dry, windy days. #PrepareAthon

• Clear area near your home of leaves, dead vegetation & other combustible 

materials to reduce sources of fuel. #WildfirePrep #PrepareAthon

Evacuation

• Be prepared to evacuate in the event of a #wildfire by knowing your family’s 

evacuation plan. #PrepareAthon

• When an evacuation noticed is issued for a #wildfire, take prompt action to 

maximize survival chances. #PrepareAthon

• Late decisions to evacuate can lead to #wildfire fatalities. Pack emergency supplies 

so you’re ready to GO! 1.usa.gov/1nCL2wj 

• Know your community’s #evacuation plan and ID several routes to take in case 

roads are blocked. #PrepareAthon

Communication

• Make & share your family #Wildfire emergency plan! Tips: www.ready.gov/wildfires

• Talk to your neighbors about #WildfireSafety. Plan how the neighborhood could 

work together after a wildfire.

• Learn what the family can do before, during and after a #wildfire 

www.ready.gov/wildfires

• Learn how to protect your family, home, & property from #wildfires: 

www.ready.gov/wildfires 

• Talk with your kids about making an emergency plan: http://go.usa.gov/8b4H 

• Never too early to start preparing your home & family for a #wildfire 

www.ready.gov/wildfires

• Your family may not be together when a #wildfire occurs, make plans today for how 

to stay in touch. http://1.usa.gov/1nw9I9F

• Cellular networks may be congested following a wildfire, but texts messages may 

get through. Teach loved ones how to TEXT. #PrepareAthon
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After a Wildfire

• If your home was damaged by a #wildfire, don’t re-enter until it is inspected by 

qualified professionals. #WildfireSafety

• If you evacuated the area, due to a #wildfire, wait for public officials to say it is safe 

before returning. #WildfireSafety

• After a #wildfire, the ground may contain heat pockets that can injure you or spark 

another fire so avoid walking on smoldering surfaces.

Emergency Preparedness 

Social Media Writing Tips

Social media content writing tips:

 Keep it simple. Good design and good content more often than not leads to 

accessible content. 

 Write in plain language. Limit Tweets to 120 characters or LESS. Make sure posts 

are actionable. What would you like people to do as a result of the content? (i.e. 

make a family emergency plan

 Limit your use of hashtags, abbreviations and acronyms. 

 Use camel case when appropriate (i.e., capitalize the first letters of compound 

words as in #WinterStorms

 Attach a graphic with text. @Readygov data shows that followers are more 

engaged by graphics and photographs

Organize a Twitter Chat:

Twitter chats are planned virtual gatherings hosted in real time on Twitter. They’re 

normally moderated, or guided, by one user to start a conversation on a certain topic. 

The chat is given a hashtag, such as #NatlPrep, to make it easy for anyone to identify 

the chat and participate. Think about hosting a Twitter chat to share your emergency

preparedness expertise and build excitement around your National Preparedness 

Month activities. Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose a Topic

Start by thinking about which hazard is most relevant to your area and would have the 

greatest impact on you and your community. Next, determine who you want to 

participate in the conversation. For example, you may want to invite your employees 

and customers to join the chat. Think about specific topic areas to focus on, like signing 
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up for local alerts and warning or collecting important documents to keep in a safe 

place. 

Tips:

 The Role of the Moderator

The moderator guides the conversation. As the moderator, you should have specific 

tweets and topics available to post during any lulls in the chat. 

 Pick a Tool for Moderation 

Use HootSuite, TweetDeck, or another Twitter dashboard that allows you to publish 

tweets and follow the discussion by monitoring the #NatlPrep feed.

2. Know Your Audience

Is your intended audience active enough on Twitter to carry on a lively discussion? If so, 

think about preparedness questions they’d find interesting to best engage them. If your 

audience isn’t active on Twitter, it may be best to participate in other Twitter chats 

rather than host your own.

3. Pick a Date and Time

What date and time is your target audience most likely to participate? If your audience 

works a 9-to-5 job, then lunchtime or early to mid-evening may be the best time. 

4. Register Your Chat with FEMA

Visit www.ready.gov/prepare for a list of upcoming national and regional Twitter chats 

that you can promote and participate in. If you’re hosting your own chat, register your 

chat so we can list it on our website and help you promote it! 

5. Promote Your Twitter Chat

Publicize your chat to increase participation. Publish the details on your website and 

social media channels. Be sure to include the date, time, topics, and #NatlPrep 

hashtag.

Activities to Promote the Twitter Chat

 Send invitations via Twitter direct message or email.

 Include the hashtag in your email signature block.

 Ask Twitter followers to retweet the invite. 

 Advertise on other channels (e.g., Facebook, blog, website). 

 Promote in traditional places (e.g., office lobby).

 Always include the time, date, and hashtag!

6. Set the Format and Moderate 

Think of your Twitter chat as a guided conversation, with you as the guide. As the 

moderator, you can help structure the discussion by asking specific questions about a 
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topic. Number the questions as Q1, Q2, etc. Ask participants to reply with answers using 

A1, A2, etc. For example:

Q1: To prepare for a flood, what important documents should you have ready? 

#NatlPrep.

A1: I have a copy of my driver’s license, Social Security card, birth certificate, and kids’ 

medical records and IDs in a waterproof box! #NatlPrep.

Each question gets 15 minutes on average, and chats usually last approximately one 

hour. Decide on your Twitter chat topic and questions in advance so that you can 

promote them beforehand. 

7. Use a consistent hashtag like: #NatlPrep or #PrepareAthon

If you host a Twitter chat, use #PrepareAthon as part of your branding. 

8. Announce Chat Guidelines 

Every Twitter chat has its own rules. The start of a chat is a good time to establish 

guidelines and the chat format discussed above. For instance, you might say:

We have four questions: Q1–Q4. Answers questions using A1–A4. Don’t forget to add 

#PrepareAthon to your tweets to be part of the chat.

9. Follow Up After the Chat

Thank everyone for their participation Follow up with a summary of the conversation for 

those who were unable to join. And please share it with us @PrepareAthon @Readygov

Evaluate the success of your chat by the number of participants and tweets (include 

retweets, mentions, and favorites). Also, look at the total reach and impressions of your 

chat. At the end of your chat, ask: What would you like to see next time? Now, use that 

feedback in the next chat you host or participate in.

For more preparedness related content visit:

• www.ready.gov

• www.ready.gov/prepare

Your local emergency manager’s website: www.ready.gov/today