Are You Prepared for Hurricane Season?

Hurricane Season is June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects to have a "near-normal" season this year, predicting 9-15 named storms (winds 39 mph or higher), of which: 4-8 could be potential hurricanes (winds 74 mph or higher), including 1-3 Major hurricanes (Cat 3, 4, or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).

The NOAA, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Florida Division of Emergency Management, Hillsborough County Emergency Management, and the Sheriff’s Office would like to urge everyone to be prepared in the event that a huricane strikes Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay Area.

• Be Informed – Learning what to do before, during, and after an emergency is critical. Familiarize yourself with local advanced alerts and warnings, and how to receive them.Learn what to do in a variety of situations and how to customize a plan specific to your family's needs. Stay informed of any disaster updates or instructions from your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Make a Plan – Your family may not all be together when disaster strikes. It is important to plan ahead so everyone knows in advance where to go for safety in an evacuation, how you will get in contact with one another again, and where you will regroup. Plan for a variety of situations and be sure to make specific arrangements for small children, elderly, pets, or anyone with special needs.
• Build a Kit – You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. You should have food, water, and supplies to last you in excess of 72 hours. Prepare a survival kit that includes: food, water, medicines, flashlights, radio, batteries, etc. Basic services such as gas, water, electricity, sewer, and telephone may also be out of service for days or weeks, so be sure to include provisions as part of your kit to help mitigate the loss of these services.
• Get Involved – There are many ways to get involved before a disaster strikes. You can volunteer to support disaster efforts in your community by getting CPR trained or certified for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Be a part of the community planning process by contacting your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or start a preparedness project with your neighbors to identify resources in the community.

For more hurricane/disaster preparedness information online, visit the following websites:

• www.noaa.gov
• www.ready.gov
• www.floridadisaster.org
• www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency