Disaster and emergency help, wherever you live

Disasters look different across the country — hurricanes on the coast, tornadoes in the plains, floods, earthquakes, extreme heat, winter and ice storms. Each can disrupt power, heating, cooling and water. Knowing where official information comes from, and what to do about your utilities, helps you take the next step calmly.

For immediate danger, call 911

For life-threatening emergencies, use 911 or your local emergency services. Follow evacuation orders and official alerts from local authorities. Wattie does not replace 911, emergency management or official alerts.

Utility considerations by disaster type

Hurricanes and severe weather — expect possible extended outages; secure outdoor items and prepare backup power safely.
Tornadoes — after the storm, watch for downed lines and gas leaks and report them to your utility.
Floods and flash floods — never touch electrical equipment while standing in water; have an electrician check flooded systems before power is restored.
Earthquakes — know how and when to shut off gas; if you smell gas, leave and call your gas utility or 911 from a safe place.
Extreme heat — outages can be dangerous; know where cooling centers are and check on neighbors.
Winter storms and ice storms — protect pipes, use heating sources safely and never heat a home with a stove or oven.
Wildfires — see our wildfire and disaster assistance page.

Official resources

FEMA — when a federal disaster is declared, individual assistance may be available; apply only through official FEMA channels such as DisasterAssistance.gov.
Ready.gov — national preparedness information for many types of disasters.
American Red Cross — may offer shelter, supplies and recovery support.
State emergency agencies and local emergency management — evacuation orders, shelters and recovery centers.
Your utility — outage information, restoration updates and possible billing support after disasters.

After a disaster

Document damage with dated photos and videos.
Keep receipts for lodging, food and repairs.
Write down claim numbers, application references and who you spoke with.
Ask your utility about bill relief or payment arrangements if your home was affected.

How Wattie can help

Wattie helps you locate and understand official resources from FEMA, Ready.gov, the Red Cross, state and local agencies and utilities.
Wattie helps you organize records, dates and next steps after a disaster.
Wattie is not an emergency service or government agency, and it doesn't file applications or guarantee assistance. Confirm emergency information with official sources.

Wattie provides general information and organization help. Always verify programs, rates and deadlines with official sources.

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