Southwest Alabama Prepares
Serving Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, and Washington counties
United Way of Southwest Alabama helps families and neighborhoods prepare for hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and extreme heat across Southwest Alabama. Through the United We Prepare initiative, we host disaster resilience workshops, distribute preparedness kits, coordinate volunteer management during disasters, and connect residents with trusted resources before storms strike. We partner with VOAD organizations, local Emergency Management Agencies, and nonprofit partners to support preparedness efforts, emergency response, and disaster recovery case management for vulnerable households across the region.
Events
Get better prepared for disasters by registering to attend any of these upcoming events.
James Spann, chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 and WeatherBrains podcast host, will share his insights on severe weather threats facing the Gulf Coast, disaster preparedness, and the steps families and communities can take.
Emergency management professionals, insurance experts, legal and consumer protection organizations, healthcare providers, nonprofit agencies, and community partners will offer guidance on emergency planning, disaster supply kits, insurance coverage, protecting important documents, avoiding disaster related fraud, and accessing local resources before, during, and after disasters.
Guests will receive a disaster kit and lunch is provided. There will also be a drawing for special prizes.
The United Way of Southwest Alabama is partnering with Verizon to strengthen disaster resilience, promote long-term recovery services, and enhance community preparedness across Mobile County. This initiative comes at a critical time, as Mobile—designated a Community Disaster Resilience Zone (CDRZ) in September 2023—is especially vulnerable to hurricanes, flooding, and severe storms due to its Gulf Coast location.
Registration is required. Admission is free and lunch is provided.
Communicating When Every Second Matters
Thanks to a United Way and Verizon grant, USA Children's & Women's Hospital purchased radios to provide faster and more reliable coverage so hospital staff can quickly communicate with first responders. “In healthcare, every second matters," says Allen Broome, assistant administrator of clinical operations.
What you can do right now
Choose how you want to take action.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE (FEMA)
FEMA Helpline
1-800-621-3362 | 7 A.M. to 11 P.M. ET, 7 days a week
For Individual Assistance benefits, email AskIA@fema.dhs.gov
Download the FEMA app from FEMA.gov
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Call or send a text to 2-1-1, or visit Southwest Alabama 211.org 24/7 for accurate, up-to-date information about evacuation routes, water, food shelter or other locally available resources.
Find Shelter
Locate shelters, food pantries, clothing, or health clinics with this tool from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Resources/Helpful Links
Find resources to help prepare for various disasters.
Our Impact
In 2025, United Way of Southwest Alabama strengthened disaster preparedness and community resilience through the United We Prepare initiative in partnership with Verizon. UWSWA hosted 4 disaster resilience workshops and a regional forum featuring Jim Cantore, reaching 461 individuals across Mobile County. The initiative distributed 225 preparedness kits and invested $100,000 through 4 nonprofit partner sub grants to expand shelter capacity, improve emergency communications, support accessible disaster response, and strengthen recovery services for vulnerable households.
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Participants in 4 workshops
225
Preparedness kits distributed
$100K
Invested through 4 partner agencies to expand shelter capacity, improve emergency communications, support accessible disaster response, and strengthen recovery services for vulnerable households
Our Partners
United Way of Southwest Alabama works with companies, governments, nonprofits and other organization to address complex challenges.
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