United Way of Southwest Alabama, in partnership with Verizon, invites you to join us for the United We Prepare Disaster Preparedness Forum featuring nationally recognized meteorologist James Spann on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast in Mobile.

James Spann will share valuable information on hurricane preparedness, severe weather awareness, and how individuals and families can better prepare before a storm impacts our community.

We are also grateful for the participation of our community partners who will be joining us to share resources, provide information, and help attendees prepare for emergencies, including Alabama Power, American Red Cross, Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, United Way 211 / Lifelines, AARP, Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services, Better Business Bureau, Finch’s Tree Service, Spire, Alabama Dept. of Insurance.

Tickets are $10 per person, and children ages 3 and under attend free. Doors open at 9:00 a.m., and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. Attendees will receive a disaster preparedness kit while supplies last, enjoy refreshments, and have the chance to win door prizes.

Reserve your seat today by visiting https://link.edgepilot.com/x/oiD86s3XXFlvEKJlcS6mXhA?u=https://uw-verizonresilienceforum.eventbrite.com/ We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation and take the next step toward being prepared.

Top 5 Ways to Prepare for a Disaster

Preparing before an emergency happens can help protect you, your family, and your community. Here are five important steps everyone should take:

1. Have an evacuation plan for your family and pets.

Know where you will go, how you will get there, and what steps are needed to safely evacuate.

2. Have a sheltering plan.

Identify safe places where you and your family can go during severe weather or emergency situations.

3. Review your homeowner’s insurance annually.

Make sure your coverage is up to date and that you understand what is included before disaster strikes.

4. Build hurricane kits for your household.

Prepare individual and family emergency kits with supplies needed for sheltering in place or evacuation for at least 3–5 days.

5. Communicate your plans with others.

Stay connected with neighbors, faith communities, and trusted social groups, and share emergency contact information and preparedness plans.