Hillsborough County Hurricane Guides Now Available

From Hillsborough County:

This year is the 20^th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, whose catastrophic winds flattened the communities of Homestead and Florida City in South Florida. Though that hurricane may be a distant memory for most of us, it should serve as a reminder of the devastation that a hurricane can cause to our communities, our families and our businesses.

Hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. And while no one can predict if the Tampa Bay area will get hit, we all can take steps to be prepared for this threat.

To help residents prepare, Hillsborough County has released the 2012 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area, both in English and Spanish, to local post offices and libraries. The guides are also available online at http://www.tbrpc.org/tampabaydisaster/hurricane_guides2012.shtml.

This 2012 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area covers all aspects of hurricane preparedness. The main points local emergency managers want residents to know is which evacuation zone they live in, and what they are going to do when an evacuation is recommended.

“Being prepared for hurricane season is everyone’s responsibility and should be taken seriously by our citizens and residents,” said Preston Cook, Director of Emergency Management.  “A little preparation beforehand will significantly reduce the stress that is normally associated with hurricanes.  This is very important and being self sufficient will help ensure your family’s safety. The reality is government may not be able to get to everyone immediately, and residents should be prepared to provide for themselves for 72 hours following a storm.”