06/01/2026
Today, June 1, marks the start of Atlantic Hurricane Season.
For disabled people, preparedness is about much more than just stocking up supplies. For many it means making sure our CMIST needs can still be met when disasters hit! This looks like staying connected, maintaining health, preserving independence, accessing support services, and getting where you need to go safely.
The image we are sharing today shows Hurricane Helene, a reminder that hurricanes do not have to make landfall where you live to affect your life. Power outages, flooding, supply disruptions, and displacement can extend far beyond a storm's center.
Take time this week to:
Check backup power options for essential devices
Review your emergency contacts and support network
Refill prescriptions on time
Update important documents and medical information
Make a plan with family, friends, attendants, and neighbors
The strongest preparedness tool is community. Build connections now, before they are needed.
If you need disability-related disaster assistance before, during, or after a disaster, contact the U.S. Disability & Disaster Hotline:
📞 800-626-4959
ID: NOAA GOES-East satellite image showing Hurricane Helene making landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region at night on September 26, 2024. The large Category 4 hurricane fills much of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with a defined eye approaching the Florida coast and dense spiral bands covering Florida and parts of the southeastern United States. City lights are visible beneath the storm clouds. NOAA logo appears in the lower left corner.