Before A Hurricane Threatens

The hurricane season begins June 1 and ends on November 30. Florida coasts can be threatened by a storm anytime during that period. Take these steps now, before a hurricane watch or warning is announced.

• Check to be certain your emergency equipment is in good working order, and that you enough supplies to last for atleast two weeks.
• Obtain and store materials necessary to properly secure your home.
• keep trees and shrubs trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall bump against the house. Do not trim trees and shrubs after a hurricane watch or warning has been announced. Trash pickup will be suspended and your trash can become dangerous projectiles propelled by the hurricane's high winds.
• If you expect to evacuate your home, plan in advance where you will stay, how you will get there, including a back-up route and the supplies you will take.
• If you will need assistance evacuating to a Special Needs Evacuation Center, you will need to register in advance. Please contact your County Emergency Management Office.
• If you have elderly friends or relatives who will stay with you during a storm, keep a list of their prescribed medicines and photocopies of their prescriptions and include them in your emergency plans. Plan now when you will take care of their property and when you will pick them up.
• Review your insurance policy to insure it provides adequate coverage.
  

Plan to evacuate if you...

• Are advised to evacuate by emergency management officials.
• Live in a mobile home. Do not stay there under any circumstances. They are unsafe in hurricane conditions, no matter how well fastened to the ground.
• Live in a high-rise. Hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations. High-rises are susceptible to conditions that can cause uncontrollable fires during high winds, when it will be impossible to get emergency help. Glass doors and windows may be blown out of their casing, and weaken the structure.

Plan your evacuation alternatives now...

• Make arrangements to stay with friends or relatives or at a low-rise inland hotel or motel.
• Relocate outside the evacuation area. Leave early to avoid heavy traffic and roads that could be blocked by early floodwater. "Gridlock" is a serious problem. Don't get caught on the road by the storm. Follow evacuation advice closely.
• As a last resort, go to a Red Cross Evacuation Center. Hurricane shelters will be available for people who have no other place to go. If you must seek public shelter, watch WSVN Channel 7 News and listen to 97.3 - The COAST AND WPYM 93.1 for announcements of which shelters will be open.
• REMEMBER: Do not go to the shelter until you hear an announcement that it is open.