The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are teaming up to promote National Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 3-9. Sponsored by FEMA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Severe Weather Preparedness Week encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to know about severe weather risks, take action to prepare for them, and Be a Force of Nature by encouraging others to get prepared.

Each year, many people are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries nationwide. Severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual in every region.

Alfa Insurance® is mobilizing resources to handle claims in response to the Christmas Day storms that affected Alabama Tuesday evening.

Claims adjusters are already helping customers in the areas most affected by the tornadoes and high winds. If your home or property sustained damages during these storms, contact your local Alfa service center or call 1-800-964-2532. Claims may also be filed on-line at www.AlfaInsurance.com<http://www.alfainsurance.com.> or through the Alfa2Go app for iPhone and Android smartphones.

Policyholders are encouraged to make temporary repairs to their property to prevent additional damage. Retain receipts from purchases related to the temporary repairs to include with any claims.

Even though Hurricane Sandy is not forecasted to effect Alabama, the American Red Cross encourages Alabama residents to download its Hurricane App, create or update their family disaster plan, and restock their emergency preparedness kits. Also, our staff and volunteers are monitoring the progress of this and other storm systems and if need be, we are on standby to deploy trained Red Cross volunteers to help in other areas of the country.

The American Red Cross Hurricane App puts lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit hurricane prone areas. This free app—available in English or Spanish—is for use on both iPhone and Android platforms. It gives users instant access to local and real time information on what to do before, during and after hurricanes.