Disasters are more than newspaper headlines. They disrupt neighborhoods, force families from their homes and leave communities struggling to recover long after national attention fades. Floods wash away roads and businesses. More.

It has been nearly two years since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, a region renowned as a hub for artists and craftspeople. For creative entrepreneurs, a natural disaster can destroy artwork, studio space, equipment, inventory, and, ultimately, livelihoods—as it did for many across the region in the fall of 2024. More.

FEMA’s Ready Campaign is celebrating National Preparedness Month, an annual time for everyone to take preparedness seriously. The theme for 2026 is “Americans Stand Ready”, which captures how Americans take pride in their ability to protect themselves and their families and work together to recover from disasters. More.

How would you prepare for an emergency? How would you cope? And what about your relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues? These are the questions the government wants people to ask themselves, as emergency planners warn of growing threats from heatwaves and flooding, as well as potential cyber attacks by hostile states that could cripple vital energy infrastructure. More.

In 2026, artist Wolly McNair was selected to create a comic book to educate teens and the general public about emergency preparedness topics. Using the Ready Raleigh guide for disaster preparedness as a starting point, he will write and illustrate a comic book for the City to print and distribute. More.

To help mark National Preparedness Month in September, the Postal Service is encouraging employees to prepare or refresh their home disaster kit. A household disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your family may need in the event of an emergency. More.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season that officially began June 1 has been mild — so far. There have been very few named storms in the Atlantic and the National Weather Service expects “below normal” hurricane activity. More.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross is sharing tips on how people can prepare before a disaster or emergency occurs. The organization urges families to take action now, saying disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. More.