America's PrepareAthon! Spring Social Media Toolkit

How to Use this Toolkit

This digital engagement toolkit provides sample tweets and Facebook posts to help build momentum for America’s PrepareAthon! in general and, more specifically, activities leading up to and on the April 30^th National PrepareAthon! Day. We encourage you to customize this content for your organization and use it at a time that is most relevant to you.

Themes

Raise Awareness about America’s PrepareAthon!
Share a Preparedness Story
Take Action: Participate in a Preparedness Activity
Provide Preparedness Tips for the Following Hazards:
- Flood
- Tornado
- Wildfire
- Hurricane
- Extreme Heat
Note: Partners in areas that do not face a particular threat listed are welcome to promote and amplify alternative messaging most relevant to their local hazards and audiences.

Hashtags

#PrepareAthon – use when sharing stories, activities, and “preparedness-in-action” moments.
#SevereWeatherPrep – use when sharing severe weather preparedness tips.
#FloodSafety – use when sharing Flood safety messages and flood preparedness tips.
#HurricanePrep – use when sharing hurricane safety messages and hurricane preparedness tips.
#TornadoSafety – use when sharing tornado safety messages and tornado preparedness tips.
#WildfireSafety – use when sharing wildfire safety, prevention, and preparedness tips.
#HeatSafety – use when sharing extreme heat safety messages and extreme heat preparedness tips.

Graphics

For more engaging content attach graphics to social media posts. Below is a collection of America’s PrepareAthon! graphics and hazard graphics that you can share online.

Provide Preparedness Tips

Each week in April and May, America’s PrepareAthon! will be focusing on a specific hazard theme to drive participation in activities in the lead up to the April 30^th National PrepareAthon! Day and the month thereafter. The themes help call attention to emergencies and disasters that could happen around the country this time of year. They are intended to serve as a springboard to a variety of topics that energize emergency preparedness partners to advance individual, family, and community preparedness activities. Partners in areas that do not face a particular threat listed are encouraged to promote and amplify alternative messaging most relevant and tailored to their local hazards.

The following list reflects the weekly dates and themes in April:

Week 1 – April 10-16 – Flood Preparedness
Week 2 – April 17-23 – Tornado Preparedness
Week 3 – April 24-30 – Lead-up to National PrepareAthon! Day on April 30
Week 4 – May 1-7 – Wildfire Preparedness (National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is May 7)
Week 5 – May 15-21 – Hurricane Preparedness
Week 6 – May 22-28 – Extreme Heat Preparedness

Below you will find Tweets and Facebook posts which support each of these weeks.

Flood

Use social media content found in the Flood Safety Social Media Toolkit

Tornado

Use social media content found in the Severe Weather Safety Social Media Toolkit

Wildfire

Use social media content found in the Wildfire Safety Social Media Toolkit

Hurricane

Use social media content found in the Hurricane Preparedness Week Social Media Toolkit

Extreme Heat

Use social media content found in the Extreme Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit

Share a Preparedness Story and Tell Us How Preparing Made a Difference

Tweets – Learn from Others and Read their Stories

Learn from others’ experiences! Check out first-hand videos of disaster survivors at http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon #SevereWxPrep
Prior disaster experience motivates most people to #prepare. What’s your motivation? Take action now! http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
Learn from others! Check out first-hand videos of disaster survivors at http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
For these survivors, “It Started Like Any Other Day.” Hear their story. http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu
Learn about Chantel’s experience as a #hurricane survivor http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
“It Can Happen to You.” Hear why these survivors want you to prepare today! http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
“We Lost Everything.” Listen to Abby’s story about surviving a #tornado. http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon #TornadoSafety
“Natural disasters occur, that’s just the way of life.” Hear why you should prepare today. http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
Adam survived a #wildfire, hear his experience. http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu. #PrepareAthon
“We Lost Everything” Learn about Abby’s experience as a severe weather survivor http://bit.ly/1nwuDXu #PrepareAthon
Read how an Air Force Base in Little Rock, AR took “flight” with America’s #PrepareAthon! http://1.usa.gov/1TReyj5
Prep Rallys + more @SavetheChildren help prepare youth for emergencies. Read their story today. http://1.usa.gov/1Rp9cFI #PrepareAthon
Learn from others! Spartanburg, SC gets thousands involved in emergency preparedness. http://1.usa.gov/1TSQkU5 #PrepareAthon
Get your workplace prepared! 2K+ @Visa employees strengthened their emergency plans. http://1.usa.gov/21HbCdF #PrepareAthon
Severe Weather can cause a power outage. Learn what a company did to prepare for the next blackout. http://1.usa.gov/1QsfR21 #PrepareAthon
Get inspired. Read how these communities got involved in America’s PrepareAthon! http://1.usa.gov/1VvBbG3 #PrepareAthon

Tweets – Share Your Story and How Preparing Made a Difference

Use #PrepareAthon to share how you’re getting your community involved in preparedness.
How has preparing made a difference in your life and/or community? Tell us your #PrepareAthon story!
A community in action to tends to stay in action. Share your story about taking action for emergencies using #PrepareAthon.
Did preparing in advance help you during a disaster? Share your experience with #PrepareAthon!
Did you build an emergency kit? Conduct a preparedness drill? Tell others what you did using #PrepareAthon.
Have you taken action? Tell others what you did to prepare for emergencies and how it made a difference using #PrepareAthon.

Sample Facebook Posts

Learning how others prepared in advance of a disaster is key to get people to take action themselves. Share your own story of how you, your family, and/or your community or organization prepared for a disaster and how it made a difference when an emergency occurred. Use #PrepareAthon and spread the word!
"The most frightening moment was the concern that you have for your children.” Learn about Chantel’s experience as a hurricane survivor and share your own using #PrepareAthon. http://1.usa.gov/1QiCtVW
For these survivors, “It Started Like Any Other Day.” What will you do when confronted with an unexpected emergency? http://1.usa.gov/21nBVFD #PrepareAthon
"To me, a wildfire is just this monster.” Learn about Adam’s experience as a wildfire survivor http://1.usa.gov/1QlIGNv and share your own using #PrepareAthon.
“We lost everything.” Learn about Abby’s experience as a tornado survivor and share your own using #PrepareAthon. http://1.usa.gov/1XQ3zp2
Are you a severe weather survivor and have a story to tell? Share it using #PrepareAthon and help raise awareness for America’s PrepareAthon!
Communities come in all shapes and sizes. Learn how an Air Force Base in Little Rock, AR addressed its unique obstacles to emergency preparedness, and get inspired to protect your community at http://1.usa.gov/1TReyj5 #PrepareAthon
Save the Children has joined up with America’s PrepareAthon! to educate children about the basics of emergency preparedness. “Simple things, like learning emergency contacts can make a big difference in a disaster”. Read more at http://1.usa.gov/1Rp9cFI #PrepareAthon
As a part of the America’s PrepareAthon! initiative, Spartanburg, SC was able to involve nearly 100,000 members of its community in tornado safety drills. Read more about this awesome effort at http://1.usa.gov/1TSQkU5 #PrepareAthon
Over 23 million registered preparedness actions were recorded last year. Read about how Visa put employee safety first and made its staff disaster resilient as a part of America’s PrepareAthon! http://1.usa.gov/21HbCdF #PrepareAthon
Practice makes perfect! Learn about this company’s effort to prepare its business for a power blackout event in the Nation’s capital. http://1.usa.gov/1QsfR21 #PrepareAthon

Raise Awareness about America’s PrepareAthon!

Tweets

America’s PrepareAthon! is a grassroots campaign for action to get people better prepared for emergencies. ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
From #floods to #wildfires, #PrepareAthon has resources for hazards that can impact your community. ready.gov/prepare
America’s #PrepareAthon has 10 ways to participate. Choose your activity today! ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
America’s #PrepareAthon is a nationwide initiative focused on increasing emergency preparedness. Learn more: ready.gov/prepare
Learn actions to take before, during and after a disaster w/ America’s #PrepareAthon. www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
We’re part of the millions taking action and getting prepared for emergencies. Join us today! www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Follow @PrepareAthon today to learn what to do when an emergency comes your way. www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Join a nationwide emergency preparedness movement and prepare for disasters in your community. www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
As part of America’s #PrepareAthon, we are committed to getting prepared for emergencies. Are you? www.ready.gov/prepare
Are you getting your community prepared for a #tornado #hurricane or #wildfire? Add your activity to www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Be Counted: Add your emergency preparedness activities to the America’s PrepareAthon! website: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon

Facebook Posts

America's PrepareAthon! is an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills, and exercises. Learn more: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Will you be ready when severe weather strikes? America’s PrepareAthon! wants you to be prepared for the next emergency. Learn more: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Be Smart. Take part. Prepare. Be among the millions of Americans participating in emergency preparedness activities across the Nation. Learn more: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
As part of America’s #PrepareAthon, we are committed to doing preparedness actions for emergencies. Are you? Learn more: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
We’re part of the millions of people taking action for America’s PrepareAthon! Join us and others across the nation getting prepared for emergencies: www.ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Save the Date! April 30 is National PrepareAthon! Day. Join with communities across the Nation for preparedness events like tornado drills and tabletop exercises. Learn what to do before, during, and after disasters. For more information about America’s PrepareAthon! visit: www.ready.gov/prepare
America’s PrepareAthon! has resources to get individuals and communities prepared for multiple emergencies including flood, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Visit www.ready.gov/prepare to download them. #PrepareAthon

Take Action: Participate in a Preparedness Activity

Tweets

Today, we [insert action] ________ to be prepared for the next [insert hazard] #PrepareAthon
Today, I am [insert action] ________ to make sure I’m prepared for an emergency in my state. #PrepareAthon [insert photo]
Before severe weather, be sure to have at least 2 evacuation routes in case one becomes blocked. http://1.usa.gov/1XU9NUZ #PrepareAthon
Where will your family be when severe weather strikes? Create a family communications plan. http://1.usa.gov/1JPWKf0 #PrepareAthon
Learn about alerts and warnings! Advance notice can make a difference. http://1.usa.gov/1Y6mkon #PrepareAthon
Do you have the FEMA app? It’s preparedness at your fingertips. Download it today! http://1.usa.gov/1CRVzMB#PrepareAthon
Know what to do before, during and after a #flood #wildfire #hurricane or #tornado with #PrepareAthon resources. ready.gov/prepare
Flashlight? Check! Water? Check! What’s in your emergency kit? Get the missing pieces at 1.usa.gov/1nCL2wj #PrepareAthon
Build an emergency kit on a budget. Learn how: http://1.usa.gov/1MDJL3k #PrepareAthon
Take a picture doing 1 of the 10 actions to get prepared for emergencies. Find all 10 here: http://1.usa.gov/1WgMKnH #PrepareAthon
There are 10 ways to participate in #PrepareAthon. Choose an activity and register: ready.gov/prepare
Assembling emergency supplies is one way to participate in America’s #PrepareAthon! Here are 9 more: http://1.usa.gov/1WgMKnH
Protect your critical documents before an emergency hits. Learn more: http://1.usa.gov/1po5h5q #PrepareAthon
Your neighbor may need you when an emergency hits. Plan with your neighbor today. http://1.usa.gov/1WVsAy7 #PrepareAthon
Preparing can be fun! Earn badges and points on the #PrepareAthon! website when you take action! www.Ready.gov/prepare

Facebook Posts

There were 5,000 reported cases of missing children following Hurricane Katrina, and it took 7 months to reunite the last child with her parents. A family that plans together, stays together. Create a family communications plan. http://1.usa.gov/1JPWKf0 #PrepareAthon
Do you know the difference between a severe weather alert and a warning? Learn more at http://1.usa.gov/1Y6mkon #PrepareAthon
Downloading the FEMA app puts you ahead of the curve when it comes to emergency preparedness. Hold preparedness in the palm of your hand. Download it today at http://1.usa.gov/1CRVzMB #PrepareAthon
It could take hours for responders to reach you during an emergency. Do you have the necessary supplies prepared? Find out what you’re missing at 1.usa.gov/1nCL2wj #PrepareAthon
Practice makes perfect! The more drills you run, the more prepared you will be when an emergency strikes. Practice emergency drills like getting to your shelter location with your family regularly. Learn more at ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
There are 10 ways to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! How will you make your community severe weather resilient? Choose an activity and register at ready.gov/prepare #PrepareAthon
Safeguard your critical documents before an emergency strikes. Make sure your records are severe weather-proof today! Learn more at http://1.usa.gov/1po5h5q #PrepareAthon
Severe weather can be unpredictable and cause even the best laid plans to go awry. Make sure to always select two evacuation routes when building an emergency plan in case one becomes blocked. http://1.usa.gov/1XU9NUZ #PrepareAthon