Hurricane Milton guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Milton

In response to Hurricane Milton, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing guidance for the coordination of federal web and social media communications related to this incident.

The authority for this action comes from Emergency Support Function 15 (ESF-15 - Public Affairs – Annex R) of the National Response Framework where, during incidents of national significance, DHS has the authority to coordinate all U.S. government communications.

On October 7, 2024, in conjunction with the Digital Experience Council, DHS issued ESF-15 guidance for federal web and social communications to support the national response to Hurricane Milton. This effort is in addition to the existing guidance established for Hurricane Helene.

Note

All federal agencies are required to follow this guidance.

In brief

Federal agencies with a role in the response effort should stand up an agency.gov/hurricane-milton or agency.gov/milton page. That page should link to the two primary Lanes of Communication, which are:

  1. What DHS and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are doing
  2. What the U.S. government is doing

Note

When distributing materials related to Hurricane Milton, please include links to these two Lanes of Communication on all materials.

Note

When posting information to your agency website, please only post information related to your individual agency. Then, link to the authoritative information from other government agencies that is related to your agency mission or “lane.” Do NOT copy and paste content from other agencies or websites onto your site.

Coordinate emergency response-related web and digital communications with your Digital Experience Council representative.

Requests from FEMA

Amplify messaging on listening to local officials, evacuating if told to do so, and finishing preparations as Milton intensifies.

Hurricane Milton may affect areas already impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please share updates on Helene recovery while amplifying Milton response using your social media accounts and tag FEMA social media accounts.

Lanes of communication

What DHS and FEMA are doing

English: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-milton
Spanish: https://www.fema.gov/es/milton

FEMA has established a landing page on FEMA.gov with the latest information from FEMA and DHS on the disaster. The page is currently promoting response and recovery information and serves as a clearinghouse for related information from DHS. The page is located at https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-milton and is available in multiple languages.

What the U.S. government is doing

English: https://www.usa.gov/hurricane-milton
Spanish: https://www.usa.gov/es/huracan-milton

GSA has created a landing page on USA.gov for government-wide information related to Hurricane Milton activities. The page is being populated now — if you have materials from your agency that need to be added to the page, please email usagovemergency@gsa.gov and they will coordinate posting. USA.gov can support both English and Spanish content. The page is located at https://www.usa.gov/hurricane-milton, and the Spanish page is at https://www.usa.gov/es/huracan-milton.

Note

Send the title and URL for any Hurricane Milton related materials posted on your agency website to usagovemergency@gsa.gov.

Social media guidance

Follow the following handles and retweet and share information relevant to your agency.

Federal resources

Local resources

Florida

Georgia

Note

Follow and retweet the above accounts from your agency social media accounts as appropriate.

Note

If you have content that you would like FEMA to amplify, please forward the link to FEMA-ESF15-Coordination@fema.dhs.gov. Please include “Hurricane Milton” in the subject line of your email (and include “Hurricane Helene” with any materials related to Hurricane Helene).