Disaster Experts Launch Hurricane Education Campaign in Puerto Rico to Inform Rebuilding Efforts and Protect Against Future Hurricanes
On 6 Month Anniversary of Hurricane Maria, IEM and FLASH Announce “Hurricane Strong” Initiative to Help Puerto Ricans Build Back Safer and Stronger
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, March 15, 2018 – Today, national experts in emergency management, disaster preparedness, and resiliency joined local officials in Puerto Rico to announce a new island-wide education campaign designed to help residents of Puerto Rico take action to mitigate the impact of future hurricanes and prepare for natural disasters. The “Hurricane Strong” effort coincides with the 6-month anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s landfall and will deliver specific, actionable information for families to take now to increase safety and reduce economic losses. The campaign is led by the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and is sponsored by IEM International, Inc.
“Hurricane Strong” is an extension of a national hurricane resilience initiative built to save lives and homes through collaboration with communities and the disaster safety movement. Specifically, the effort offers information on the five steps families in Puerto Rico must take to be prepared: Be aware; build a safety kit; have an insurance checkup; strengthen your home; and help your neighbors. Information is delivered through business summits, digital channels, home improvement store workshops, kids programming, media outreach, school lesson plans, special events, and a social media campaign featuring a #HurricaneStrong “Pose.” In Puerto Rico, the campaign will be supported through digital channels along with a paid and earned media campaign supported by IEM and Spanish-language content.
“We created #HurricaneStrong to reach people directly and empower them to take action,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “The people of Puerto Rico are critical decision-makers ahead of a storm, and their actions will be the most important factor in their survival and recovery after a storm strikes.”
“Six months after Maria the people of Puerto Rico continue to suffer from the terrible consequences of this catastrophe,” said Bryan Koon, IEM Vice President for International Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “The truth is, when it comes to protecting ourselves from disasters like hurricanes, we are not powerless. Simple steps we take right now to strengthen our homes and prepare our families can literally mean the difference between life or death. We are proud to support this effort and look forward to supporting the residents of Puerto Rico for as long as it takes to help the island to recover.”
In Puerto Rico, FLASH and IEM will run paid advertising online and in newspapers across the island. Click here to view high-resolution images of the ads. For more information, including Spanish-language content visit www.hurricanestrong.org.
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH®) is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and human-caused disasters. Their mission is to promote life safety, property protection and resiliency by empowering the community with knowledge and resources for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and man-made disasters.
IEM is a global security consulting firm dedicated to building a safe, secure, and resilient world. A minority, woman-owned enterprise, IEM works with government agencies and private sector organizations around the world to improve protection and security for people and infrastructure and to help states, regions, and communities prepare for and recover more quickly from disasters. We integrate science, technology, and real-world experience to provide each of our customers with solutions that work and outcomes that matter. For more information, please visit www.iem.com.
