Matt Lyttle

Disaster Resilience advocate. Peace Corps, FEMA, & US Senate alum. @Guidehouse Director. @TrumanProject Security Fellow. Prolific folder of household laundry.

[Matt Lyttle @mattlyttle]

@BarnettMPH According to the Administrative Officer, the 18-inch thick concrete will block gamma rays from a nuclear blast. The S-shape makes sure there's no line of sight to the blinding light of a nuclear explosion, further protecting staff in the building!

[Matt Lyttle @mattlyttle]

POP QUIZ: The Hawaii County Civil Defense office has a unique S-shaped entrance. Visitors weave their way around 18-inch thick walls on the way into the building. Anybody know why?

#EMGtwitter #smem

[Clint Osborn, EM Nerd @wc_osborn]

Taking politics out of this, it is REALLY critical to understand that this is how our disaster funding system is designed to work - it’s a balance between local, state, and federal authorities (Oh hey! Federalism, right?) AND a balance between speed and accountability. Buckle up.

[CBS News @CBSNews]

Rescuers saved Millie the pig from floodwaters at a gas station in Lithia, Florida, after Hurricane Milton drenched the area. Other animals, including several goats and a donkey tied to the pump, were also rescued.

[Matt Lyttle @mattlyttle]

Community-based organizations - too often overlooked - are the lifeblood of EVERY local recovery effort. So great to see @fema and @UnitedWay working together to keep our social safety net functioning for those who need it most!

[FEMA @fema]

The support of our state, local, federal, & nonprofits partners is the key to effective disaster response. Thank you @UnitedWay for helping survivors get the resources they need.

If affected, dial 211 for connection w/ disaster relief resources or mental health support.

[Matt Lyttle @mattlyttle]

@SamLMontano Umm, is your mother Carrie Ann Moss with a boa constrictor? Came for the skeleton, staying for the profile pic...

[wesinjapan @wesinjapan]

This is one reason the coverage can seem so aimless: "Look, it's the wind!" "Hey, the parking lot is flooded!"
No coverage of race. No coverage of class. No coverage of disabilities. No coverage of development, building in flood zones, jobs that demand people show up.

[ARCHIVED: Deanne Criswell @FEMA_Deanne]

Residents & visitors under evacuation warnings for #Milton need to leave NOW. This is a matter of life or death for people in Florida.

To find evacuation orders, open shelters, & more resources for #Milton, visit: https://t.co/KQ0RdaDtEz

[Matt Lyttle @mattlyttle]

Time's up folks. Time to GO if you are anywhere in the path.

[Matt Devitt @MattDevittWX]

NEW ADVISORY: Here's the latest on #Milton from the NHC. Stick with Southwest Florida's WINK Weather Team for updates 24/7 both on TV and online. https://t.co/wcxLQv8wGB

[Craig @WCraigFugate]

3 key messages in preparation for #HurricaneMilton

1. Live in an evacuation zone? move to higher ground when local officials tell you to, and take your pets

2. If not in an evacuation zone, prepared for extensive power outages and communications disruptions. Charge your electronics and keep a radio with your disaster supplies

3. Stay tuned to your local TV and Radio Stations for updates from the @NWS @NHC_Atlantic and your local officials

#FLwx

[American Red Cross @RedCross]

Misinformation can spread quickly after a disaster, causing confusion and distrust within communities struggling to recover. Unfortunately, we’re seeing this during our response to Hurricane Helene.

Sharing rumors online without first vetting the source and verifying facts ultimately hurts people — people who have just lost their homes, neighborhoods, and, in some cases, loved ones. They are already unsure where to turn for help, and spreading misinformation only adds to that uncertainty. It also disrupts our ability to deliver critical aid and affects the disaster workers who have put their own lives on hold to assist those in need.

Here are a few common rumors we have recently seen on social media that we'd like to address:

- "The Red Cross isn’t here."
This is simply not true. Before Helene made landfall, we prepositioned hundreds of Red Cross disaster responders and thousands of relief supplies across the Southeast to support people affected in the aftermath. Today, more than 1,300 disaster responders are helping people in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia, ensuring they have safe shelter, food, hygiene items, medication and emotional support.

- "The Red Cross is confiscating or throwing out donated items."
We are not confiscating, removing or discarding donated items. We focus on providing shelter, food, and relief after disasters. While we don't accept physical donations, as managing them takes time and resources away from our mission, we work with community partners who are better equipped with these resources to handle and distribute these items. For information on where donated goods are available, please call 211.

- "The Red Cross is taking over shelters."
We do not forcefully take over shelters. However, we do provide management support at the request of partners. This is a collaborative effort that no one organization can do alone. Local partnerships are established before disasters to ensure shelter needs are met, and we collaborate with partners to transition evacuation centers into post-storm shelters. We do not take over facilities where partners are still providing services.

- "The Red Cross is taking over volunteer groups."
This is untrue. While we are working alongside other volunteer groups helping during this disaster, the Red Cross is not taking over their efforts or services.

For safety, all Red Cross volunteers must go through a background check and Red Cross training before deploying to support a disaster response. We do not manage or deploy volunteers who haven’t completed this process, including local residents who sign up after a disaster. They must undergo the same screening and training as current volunteers.

[Larken Egleston @Larken]

A plea from a Republican State Senator in Western NC to stop the spread of misinformation related to #HurricaneHelene.

[FEMA @fema]

We do NOT take donations, money, or property for any reason. We do NOT ask for or accept cash donations or volunteers for disaster response. If you encounter someone claiming to represent FEMA asking for money, be careful as that is likely a scam.

👉 https://t.co/Z5vxuBTths

[Zach Stanford @zachstanford]

🗣️ In addition to supporting an absolutely massive response to #Helene, @FEMA is having to use precious resources to combat useless misinformation and rumors.

✅ Find the facts at https://t.co/s6RZBU8sfm.

💵 Apply for disaster aid online at https://t.co/iWAomQGoSM.

#EMGTwitter

[FEMA @fema]

JUST THE FACTS: Rumors only hurt the people who need help. We don't take donations, money or property from anyone for any reason.

We may send an initial payment to cover basic needs while we determine if you are eligible for more money.

Get the facts: https://t.co/ixziw1gKCz

[wesinjapan @wesinjapan]

Elon Musk doesn't know shit about disasters, working on them researching them, coordinating response. Whatever. He's just a creepy rich guy scared of the fact that he is useless. Like a lot of useless rich people, he has turned to Fascism. Useless.

[wesinjapan @wesinjapan]

I'm very happy being off Twitter and away from all these lunatics. However @SamLMontano informed me there are a lot of disaster hijinks happening on this site. Don't make me come back and fuck y'all up. Don't be lying on people.