vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
FEMA Library
Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Mitigation Planning
Mitigation Strategies and Techniques
Model Codes and Ordinances
NIMS Alert
NIMS Guides
Post-Disaster Recovery
Public Outreach and Education
Regulations, Laws, and Executive Orders
Risk Assessment
Security
Sustainable Development and Environmental Considerations
Technological and Research Methodology

Audience Category Need help determining Audience Category?

Businesses / Professionals
Children / Kids
Contractors and Vendors
Design and Construction Industry
Educational Institutes and Professionals
Emergency Personnel and Managers
FEMA Regions
Federal Agencies
Floodplain Managers
General Public / Households
Hazard Mitigation Officers
Historic Preservation / Environmental
Insurance Industry
Lenders and Brokers
Mapping Professionals
News Media
Pet / Livestock Owners
Planners
Private Not-for-Profits
Realtors
Scientific and Research Organizations / Institutions
State, Local and Tribal Representatives
Trade Associations
Volunteers

Hazard Type Need help determining Hazard Type?

Not Hazard Related
Chemical/Biological
Coastal Storm
Dam/Levee Break
Drought
Earthquake
Extreme Temperatures
Fire
Flooding
Hurricane/Tropical Storm
Industry Hardship
Mudslide/Landslide
Nuclear
Severe Storm
Technological
Terrorism
Tornado
Tsunami
Typhoon
Virus Threat
Volcano
Wildfire
Winter Storm

Language 

Arabic
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Chinese (Traditional)
English
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Resource Type 

Audio
Brochure
Document / Report
Flyer
Form
Multimedia
Poster
Software / Data
Training / Course Material
Video

Program 

CRS - Community Rating System
FMA - Flood Mitigation Assistance
HMGP - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Map Mod - Flood Map Modernization
NDSP - National Dam Safety Program
NEHRP - National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
Floods | Ready.gov
National Preparedness Month

FEMA Mobile App 

Social Media Toolkits

Preparedness Messaging Calendar

Order Publications

Social Media Accounts

PSAs and Videos

About Ready

Contact Us

Local Emergency Management Information

 About Ready
 

 Contact Us
 

 

Disasters and Emergencies

All Hazards

Emergency Alerts

Attacks in Public Places

Avalanche

Biohazard Exposure

Cybersecurity

Drought

Earthquakes

Explosions

Extreme Heat

Floods

Chemicals and Hazardous Materials Incidents

Home Fires

Home Safety 

Household Chemical Emergencies

Hurricanes

Landslides & Debris Flow

Radiation Emergencies

Pandemic

Power Outages

Severe Weather

Space Weather

Thunderstorms & Lightning

Tornadoes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Wildfires

Winter Weather

Recovering from Disaster

Make a Plan

Get Involved

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Resources

Floods

العربية

English

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Français

Kreyòl

日本語

한국어

Русский

Tagalog

Tiếng Việt

简体中文

Prepare for a flood
During a flood
After a flood
Associated content

If you are a disaster survivor, please visit FEMA.gov for up-to-date information on current disaster declarations. If you have questions about your disaster assistance application, you can call (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA mobile app. 

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common disaster in the United States. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death.
Floods may:
Result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges and overflows of dams and other water systems.Develop slowly or quickly. Flash floods can come with no warning.Cause outages, disrupt transportation, damage buildings and create landslides.
 If you are under a flood warning:

Image
FEMA: About FEMA
FEMA: About FEMA

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FEMA Mission
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms -- a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
DHS Mission
Statutory Authority
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, PL 100-707, signed into law November 23, 1988; amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, PL 93-288. This Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs.
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Who We Are
FEMA History
FEMA has more than 2,600 full time employees. They work at FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C., at regional and area offices across the country, the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, and the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. FEMA also has nearly 4,000 standby disaster assistance employees who are available for deployment after disasters.
Tornadoes | Ready.gov
National Preparedness Month

FEMA Mobile App 

Social Media Toolkits

Preparedness Messaging Calendar

Order Publications

Social Media Accounts

PSAs and Videos

About Ready

Contact Us

Local Emergency Management Information

 About Ready
 

 Contact Us
 

 

Disasters and Emergencies

All Hazards

Emergency Alerts

Attacks in Public Places

Avalanche

Biohazard Exposure

Cybersecurity

Drought

Earthquakes

Explosions

Extreme Heat

Floods

Chemicals and Hazardous Materials Incidents

Home Fires

Home Safety 

Household Chemical Emergencies

Hurricanes

Landslides & Debris Flow

Radiation Emergencies

Pandemic

Power Outages

Severe Weather

Space Weather

Thunderstorms & Lightning

Tornadoes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Wildfires

Winter Weather

Recovering from Disaster

Make a Plan

Get Involved

Ready Business

Ready Kids

Resources

Tornadoes

العربية

English

Español

Français

Kreyòl

日本語

한국어

Русский

Tagalog

Tiếng Việt

简体中文

Prepare for Tornadoes 
Stay Safe During
Stay Safe After
Associated Content

If you are a disaster survivor, please visit FEMA.gov for up-to-date information on current disaster declarations. If you have questions about your disaster assistance application, you can call (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA mobile app. 

Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. 
A tornado can:
Happen anytime and anywhere.Bring intense winds, over 200 miles per hour.Look like funnels.

If you are under a tornado or severe weather warning:

Go to NOAA Weather Radio and your local news or official social media accounts for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials.
FEMA: Alphabetical Index of FEMA Web Site
Notices (Federal Register)
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
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O
Opportunities, Jobs

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P
Partners
Partnerships in Preparedness, Exemplary Practices In Emergency Management
Performance Plan, Annual
Photo Library
Plan Ahead
Preparing for a Disaster
Process for Individuals To Request Disaster Aid
Public Alert and Warning System
Public Assistance
Public Assistance Coordinator
Public Service Announcements
Publications
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Q
Q3 (Digital) Flood Data

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R
Reading Room
Recovery
Recovery Times
Regional and Area Offices

Region I (Boston)
Region II (New York City)
Region III (Philadelphia)
Region IV (Atlanta)
Region V (Chicago)
Region VI (Denton, TX)
Region VII (Kansas City, MO)
Region VIII (Denver)
Region IX (San Francisco)
Region X (Bothell, WA)

Remote Sensing in Federal Disaster Operations
Risk Reduction
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S
Safe Room Design
Search Dogs: Canine Readiness Evaluation Process
Software
Stafford Act
Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form 81-93
State and Local Guide for Emergency Operations Planning
State Offices and Agencies of Emergency Management
Strategic Plan
Surviving the Storm: Recovery Times Special Edition

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T
Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House
Telephone Numbers, Toll Free
Terrorism Information
Thunderstorm Information (Factsheet)
Top Ten FEMA Disasters
Tornado Information
Training
Tsunami Information

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U
United States Fire Administration (USFA)
Universities Offering Emergency Management Courses
Urban Search and Rescue

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V
Vacancy Announcements
Volcano Information

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W
Warning System
Web Site User Help
What We Do
Who We Are
Wildfire Information
Winter Driving
Winter Storm Information

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FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster
FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster

Contact Us
Site Map
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Home
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How You Can Help

Helping Children Cope with Disaster

Who is at Risk?
What Creates Vulnerabilities in Children?
A Child’s Reaction to Disaster by Age
Meeting the Child’s Emotional Needs
Reassuring Children After a Disaster
Monitor and Limit Your Family’s Exposure to the Media
Use Support Networks

Download the PDF (PDF 488 KB)
Download the PDF in Spanish (PDF 529 KB, TXT 15 KB)
Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma, has merely seen the event on television, or has heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and teachers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur.
Children may respond to disaster by demonstrating fears, sadness, or behavioral problems. Younger children may return to earlier behavior patterns, such as bedwetting, sleep problems, and separation anxiety. Older children may also display anger, aggression, school problems, or withdrawal. Some children who have only indirect contact with the disaster but witness it on television may develop distress.

Who is at Risk?
For many children, reactions to disasters are brief and represent normal reactions to "abnormal events." A smaller number of children can be at risk for more enduring psychological distress as a function of three major risk factors:

Direct exposure to the disaster, such as being evacuated, observing injuries or death of others, or experiencing injury along with fearing one’s life is in danger.
Loss/grief: This relates to the death or serious injury of family or friends.
FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster
This preoccupation can interfere with the child’s concentration at school and academic performance may decline. At school, children may hear inaccurate information from peers. They may display a wide range of reactions—sadness, generalized fear, or specific fears of the disaster happening again, guilt over action or inaction during the disaster, anger that the event was not prevented, or fantasies of playing rescuer.
Pre-adolescence to adolescence - 11 through 18 years. As children grow older, they develop a more sophisticated understanding of the disaster event. Their responses are more similar to adults. Teenagers may become involved in dangerous, risk-taking behaviors, such as reckless driving, or alcohol or drug use. Others can become fearful of leaving home and avoid previous levels of activities. Much of adolescence is focused on moving out into the world. After a trauma, the view of the world can seem more dangerous and unsafe. A teenager may feel overwhelmed by intense emotions and yet feel unable to discuss them with others.
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Meeting the Child’s Emotional Needs
Children’s reactions are influenced by the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of adults. Adults should encourage children and adolescents to share their thoughts and feelings about the incident. Clarify misunderstandings about risk and danger by listening to children’s concerns and answering questions. Maintain a sense of calm by validating children’s concerns and perceptions and with discussion of concrete plans for safety.
Listen to what the child is saying. If a young child is asking questions about the event, answer them simply without the elaboration needed for an older child or adult. Some children are comforted by knowing more or less information than others; decide what level of information your particular child needs. If a child has difficulty expressing feelings, allow the child to draw a picture or tell a story of what happened.
Try to understand what is causing anxieties and fears. Be aware that following a disaster, children are most afraid that:

The event will happen again.
Someone close to them will be killed or injured.
They will be left alone or separated from the family.

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Reassuring Children After a Disaster
Suggestions to help reassure children include the following:

Personal contact is reassuring.
Home Page - Cal MyHazards
Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks,
 producing effects similar to flash floods.
 

 Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from
 a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds, or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather
 can flood. Every state is at risk from this hazard.
 

 FEMA's flood web page
 

NOTE: FEMA is currently updating the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) inventory through
 its Map Modernization Program. The updated maps will be added to this site
 as they are available, however, the digital information for many California counties has not been completed.
 

 Map Modernization Program
 


 Please be sure to check on-line at the FEMA Map Service Center website to view the most current FIRMs
 and use the search function for a "Public Flood Map."
 

 FEMA Map Service Center
 

Flood Preparedness

 Before a flood there are several steps you will want to take, including:
 

 Get an emergency supply kit
 

 Make a plan if your family is separated during a flood
 

 Be informed on flood watches and warnings by listening to the radio or watching television
 

Ready America provides a large assortment of preparedness and disaster supplies and programs. Supplies include but are not limited to:

Disaster Kits
Outdoor Survival Kits
Pet Survival Kits
CERT Kits
School Emergency Kits

For more information on flood preparedness:

 Ready America
 


 Before a flood there are several steps you will want to take, including:
 

 Get flood insurance--you can benifit from it even if you do not live in a high flood risk area.
 

 Flood Insurance
 


 Avoid building in a floodprone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
 

 Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
 

 Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
 

 Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.
FEMA: Flood: Know Your Terms


FEMA: Flood: Know Your Terms

FEMA.gov

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Flood: Know Your Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard:
Flood Watch:
Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Flash Flood Watch:
Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Flood Warning:
Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
Flash Flood Warning:
A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Mar-2006 08:39:11 EST

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DHS

FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA, TTY (800) 462-7585
FEMA: Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio
In-depth, analytical information about innovative projects throughout the United States that deal with all types of hazards. 
Mitigation Best Practices (Hurricane Katrina)
These Best Practices highlight Gulf Coast mitigation projects that successfully protected properties and reduced financial losses during Hurricane Katrina (2005).

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Share your Success
If you have taken measures to prevent losses from disasters at home, at work, or in your community, help us tell YOUR story.
If your community was creative or took exceptional steps in implementing planning and prevention measures, executing sound floodplain management practices, providing mitigation training, or conducting outreach and public awareness activities, let other communities read about it.
There are two ways to submit your story:

Online: Complete the Online Submission Form
By Mail: Download the Submission Worksheet

Once you submit your Best Practice or Case Study, we will review your information and possibly include your story in our nationwide collection of Best Practices.
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Additional Resources
Telling the Tale of Disaster Resistance: A Guide to Capturing and Communicating the Story provides some of the “best practices” of those who have promoted disaster-resistance efforts throughout the country. In this guide, you'll find the key considerations for successfully telling the tale of disaster resistance—developing story leads, researching and documenting projects, creating a finished product, and promoting those projects.
 
 Developing and Promoting Mitigation Best Practices and Case Studies - Community Strategy Toolkit, is designed to help guide efforts to capture and promote effective mitigation techniques being employed throughout the country to reduce adverse impacts of disasters.
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Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Oct-2007 16:01:43 EDT

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FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA, TTY (800) 462-7585
FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster
One way to establish a sense of control and to build confidence in children before a disaster is to engage and involve them in preparing a family disaster plan. After a disaster, children can contribute to a family recovery plan.
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A Child’s Reaction to Disaster by Age
Below are common reactions in children after a disaster or traumatic event.
Birth through 2 years. When children are pre-verbal and experience a trauma, they do not have the words to describe the event or their feelings. However, they can retain memories of particular sights, sounds, or smells. Infants may react to trauma by being irritable, crying more than usual, or wanting to be held and cuddled. The biggest influence on children of this age is how their parents cope. As children get older, their play may involve acting out elements of the traumatic event that occurred several years in the past and was seemingly forgotten.
Preschool - 3 through 6 years. Preschool children often feel helpless and powerless in the face of an overwhelming event. Because of their age and small size, they lack the ability to protect themselves or others. As a result, they feel intense fear and insecurity about being separated from caregivers. Preschoolers cannot grasp the concept of permanent loss. They can see consequences as being reversible or permanent. In the weeks following a traumatic event, preschoolers’ play activities may reenact the incident or the disaster over and over again.
School age - 7 through 10 years. The school-age child has the ability to understand the permanence of loss. Some children become intensely preoccupied with the details of a traumatic event and want to talk about it continually. This preoccupation can interfere with the child’s concentration at school and academic performance may decline. At school, children may hear inaccurate information from peers. They may display a wide range of reactions—sadness, generalized fear, or specific fears of the disaster happening again, guilt over action or inaction during the disaster, anger that the event was not prevented, or fantasies of playing rescuer.
Pre-adolescence to adolescence - 11 through 18 years. As children grow older, they develop a more sophisticated understanding of the disaster event.
FEMA: Alphabetical Index of FEMA Web Site
Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
Disaster, Top Ten FEMA
Dogs: Canine's Role in Urban Search and Rescue
Doing Business with FEMA

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E
Earthquake Information
Electronic Reading Room
Elevation Certificate, Form 81-31
Emergency Food and Shelter Program
Emergency Management, Best Practices
Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
Emergency Management Guide For Business and Industry
Emergency Operations Planning
Employment Opportunities
Emergency Support Functions (ESF) (Source: Department of Homeland Security)
Environmental and Historical Program
Exemplary Practices In Emergency Management
Extreme Heat Information

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F
Federal Register Notices
Federal Response Plan
Federal Response Plan Partners
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FEMA History
FEMA Environmental Preservation Programs
FEMA for Kids
FEMA, Top Ten Disasters
FEMA, Top Ten Hurricanes
Fire (U.S. Fire Administration)
Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP)
Firefighters, Assistance to, Grant Program
Flash Flood Warnings and Watches
Flood Information
Flood Hazard Determination Form and Instructions
Flood Insurance
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
Flood Insurance Study Reports (FIS Reports)
Flood Insurance Study Reports (FIS Reports)
Flood Maps
Flood Zones
Forms
Fraud, Waste and Abuse (Reporting)
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Information
Frequently Asked Questions (General)

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G
Geographic Information Systems maps selected by FEMA
Grant Program, Assistance to Firefighters

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H
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
HAZUS
Help After a Disaster
Higher Education Project (EMI)
History of FEMA
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (U.S. DOT and FEMA)
Hurricane Information
Hurricanes, Top Ten

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I
Incident Command System (ICS) Training
Independent Study Program, EMI
Individual Assistance
Inspector General, DHS Office of
Insurance, Flood
Integrated Emergency Management Course