NOAA Coastal Storms Program
NOAA Regional Team
Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant

Current Weather | Preparation | Short-Term Recovery
State-Specific Information: Texas | Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Florida

Weather, Tides, Surge, Buoys, and Maps
Weather | Tides | Surge | Buoys | Maps

Weather

• National Hurricane Center
• Text Only Link
• PDA Link
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center
• National Weather Service, Southern Region
• Accuweather Forecast
• Weather Underground Forecast
• NOAA nowCOAST: GIS mapping of real-time observations

 

Tides

• NOAA: Tide predictions and observations
• RodnReel.com Tide Prediction Server

 

Surge

• Storm surge
• Experimental storm surge probabilities
• Coastal change impact studies

 

Buoy Reports

• NOAA National Data Buoy Center
• Western Gulf
• Eastern Gulf
• Stormsurf

 

Hurricane Tracking Maps

• Official NOAA National Hurricane Center tracking maps
• Accuweather: Blank maps for printing
• BoatUS tracking site

Preparation
First Aid | Home Preparedness | Families | Boats | Evacuation | Emergency Phone Numbers | Gulfwide Information | Health | Business | Mitigation | Technical Information

First Aid and Survival Kit

• Hurricane survival kit
• Disaster supply kit (including First-Aid)
• First -Aid kit

 

Home Preparedness

• Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
  This page has some videos that might be useful in preparing homes for a storm. Look in the menu bar to the left below "Hurricanes."
• Some information is available in Spanish
• How to Use a NOAA Weather Radio
• Protecting your home
• National Flood Insurance Program
• National Hurricane Center Preparedness
• FEMA: Utility shut off page
• Protecting valuables
• Flood Fighting: How to use sandbags
• How to tarp a roof
• Window and door protection

 

Families

• General Planning
• FEMA
• National Hurricane Center family disaster plan
  How to prepare for home evacuation and disaster planning
• American Red Cross hurricane preparedness page
• Preparación para hurcán–Cruz Roja Americana (Spanish-language version)
• Kids
• FEMA for Kids
• Children's health after a flood
• Talking with children when the talking gets tough
• Gender & Disaster Network
  Helpful information for all states in regard to gender issues and issues of age/children both in preparation and in response. Supported by the United Nations Disaster Reduction Office and by the Natural Hazards Center of the University of Colorado.
• Elderly & Disabled
• National organization on disability interactive map of disability and emergency preparedness resources
• Disaster planning tips for caregivers of the elderly and people with disabilities
• Pets
• Preparing pets for emergencies
• Evacuating with pets

 

Boats

• Hurricane and severe weather checklist for boaters
• Boat U.S.: Hurricane Resource Center: Information on hurricane preparation, strapping down boats, canals, chafe protection, moorings, marina security, hurricane prep sheet
• Coast Guard: Storm warning flags and their meanings, advisories, how to prepare your boat, trailer, what to do if you get caught in a storm

 

Evacuation

• Evacuation Plans
• The National Hurricane Program (NHP): Developing evacuation plans

• Texas road conditions
• Louisiana road closures
• Mississippi Road Alerts (click on "list of all alerts" below picture in left column)
• Alabama Road Conditions
• Florida Traffic Conditions
• Hotels
• AAA (American Automobile Association) – Reservations, 1-866-222-7283
• Best Western – Reservations, 1-800-780-7234
• Choice Hotels International – Reservations, 1-877-424-6423
  Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Main Stay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn
• Hilton – Reservations 1-800-491-6864
  Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton and The Waldorf-Astoria Collection
• InterContinental Hotel Group – Reservations, 1-800-315-2621
  InterContinental; Crowne Plaza; Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites
• Marriott Hotels & Resorts – Reservations, 1-888-236-2427
  Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites
• Starwood Hotel Groups – Reservations, 1-888-625-5144
  Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Méridien, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, W Hotels
• Wyndham Hotel Group – Reservations, 1-800-347-7559
  Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada Worldwide, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn, AmeriHost Inn

 

Emergency Phone Numbers

• National Coastal Data Development Center: Emergency numbers for each Gulf state

 

Gulfwide Information Sites

• FEMA: Individuals
  This site allows you to search for various information based on individual needs (homeowner, parent, special needs, animals)
• Disaster Safety.org
  Information for homeowners and businesses. It allows you to enter your ZIP code and view potential disasters for your area.
• Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
• Mississippi State University Extension Service
• NOAA: Tides and Currents Homepage CO-OPS Storm QuickLook (more technical)
• NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies
• NOAAWatch: NOAA's all-hazard monitor

• Homeland Security’s ready web site
• Downloadable publications
  (Checklists and forms that can be used to make emergency plans).
• FloodSmart.gov: The official site of the National Flood Insurance Program
• Coastal Risk Atlas
• USA.gov: Hurricane section

• Hazard Vulnerability layers from the Coastal Risk Atlas
  • Real-time evacuation routes

 

Physical and Mental Health

• Department of Health Boil Water Notices
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Texas
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Preparedness and Response
• PSAs for Hurricanes
• PSAs for Floods
• Hurricane Preparedness by U.S. Health and Human Services

 

Business/Workplace Preparedness

• FEMA: Protect Your Property or Business from Disaster
• Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program
  Louisiana Coastal Hazard Mitigation Guidebook, May 2008 for recovery

 

Mitigation & Other Resources

• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status of all participating communities
• Texas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Florida
• FEMA grant programs, including disaster and non-disaster mitigation grant programs
• Hurricane Katrina Flood Recovery Maps for Louisiana and Mississippi

 

Technical Information

• USGS Coastal Change Hazards
  Access Damages to Your Home via Real Time Aerial Photography
• Satellite Images
• NOAA: storm surge predictions
• Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program
  Louisiana Coastal Hazard Mitigation Guidebook, May 2008 for recovery

Short-Term Recovery
Business/Workforce Recovery | Debris Removal | Government Organizations | Grant Programs | Health & Recovery | Home Recovery | Insurance | Law | Non-Profit Organizations | Volunteers

Business/Workforce Recovery

• Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance

 

Debris Removal

• NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Program

• FEMA Debris Removal site (useful for government officials)
• Chain Saw Safety: No Tricks
• Fact Sheet: Using a Chain Saw Safely

 

Government Organizations

• U.S. Coast Guard Storm Center
• Federal Emergency Management Agency

 

Grant Programs

• FEMA's mitigation grant programs (these are open to communities, not individuals)

 

Health & Recovery

• Kids: What is needed before kids return
• How to care for major and minor wounds
• E.coli infection
• Helping to prevent infection in community shelters
• Preventing infection – Tetanus
• When Should I Call 9-1-1?
• Managing a Traumatic Event

 

Home Recovery

• Choosing a Roofing Contractor
• Opportunities for Reducing Wind Damage Vulnerability When You Re-Roof
• Septic Systems: What to do after a flood