In times of an emergency—like a hurricane, flood, or blizzard—knowing where to get help quickly can make all the difference. Many people turn to the internet for answers, but the results can feel overwhelming. This page will show you how to write a simple “prompt” or search phrase that brings you directly to the resources you need.

Our goal is to make this easy, especially for older adults who may not use technology every day.

When searching online, shorter and clearer is better.

• Use plain words like “near me” or “in [your city name].”
• Avoid long sentences.
• Always include the type of help you need.

Be specific about the situation. For example:

• “Hurricane shelter near me”
• “Power outage help in Greensboro”
• “Blizzard warming center near me”

This makes the search engine focus on your most urgent need.

If you can, include your city, town, or zip code. This ensures the results are local.
Examples:

• “Flood relief center Greensboro NC”
• “Emergency food bank 27405”

Think of what you need most urgently. Examples:

• Shelter → “Hurricane shelter near me”
• Medical Help → “Emergency clinic open now in [city]”
• Supplies → “Food bank open near me today”
• Power/Heat → “Warming center [city name]”

Here are some ready-to-use examples you can type or say into Google:

• “Hurricane shelter near me open now”
• “Red Cross emergency help in [city]”
• “Senior support hotline for disaster in [state]”
• “Blizzard warming centers open today near me”