Hurricane Season is Here -

Are You Ready?

20 June 2011

The Great Hurricane Blowout offers a number of preparation resources including tools for building a family emergency plan and hurricane emergency kit at www.greathurricaneblowout.org.

Have a Family Emergency Plan

What will your family do if a hurricane is coming? You should have a family emergency plan.

• Collect copies of important papers like the deed to your home, insurance paperwork, financial information, etc.

• Review your property insurance coverage and keep updated photos and/or a video inventory of your personal belongings.

• Collect important phone numbers like the number of your insurance company, doctor, veterinarian and family contacts and store them in a safe place.

• Identify your evacuation routes. Have an alternate route planned in case the first option is not navigable.

• Identify the safest place in your home to ride out a storm and make sure everyone knows where to go.

• In case your family is not together when a hurricane hits, make sure you have a pre-identified meeting place in addition to your home, and make sure everyone knows the address and phone number of your meeting spot.

• If you have a medical issue or may need help evacuating, contact your local emergency management agency now to find out how to get the help you may need.

Build a Hurricane Emergency Kit

The following supplies should be included in all hurricane emergency kits. Special circumstances such as medical needs or pets should be taken into consideration when planning your kit.

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each person in the household (one gallon of water per person, per day).

• Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio.

• Flashlight.

• Dust masks (at least 4).

• Batteries (8 AA and 4 D).

• Trash bags (4 per kit).

• First aid kit that includes: two pairs of latex or other sterile gloves; sterile dressing to stop bleeding; cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect; antibiotic ointment to prevent infection; burn ointment to prevent infection; adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes; eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general decontaminant.

• Can opener.

• Hand sanitizer.

• Five-gallon bucket or other container for kit supplies.

Helpful Websites

Federal Emergency Management Agency

www.ready.gov

Weather information, tips on making an emergency plan and disaster kit

Florida’s 511 Traveler Information System

www.fl511.com

Evacuation and emergency travel information

Great Hurricane Blowout

www.greathurricaneblowout.org

Tips on making an emergency plan and disaster kit

NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheets

www.ncddc.noaa.gov

State and local emergency contact information, weather radio stations

Spaghetti Models

www.spaghettimodels.com

Links to hurricane maps, tracks and spaghetti models for current storms

Downloadable Resources

Disaster Preparedness Bulletin Insert or Handout (PDF File)

NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheets – Find Your Region and County Below (PDF Files)

• Central Florida (Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Union)

• East Central Florida (Counties: Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia)

• North Central Florida (Counties: Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla)

• Northwest Florida (Counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington)

• South Florida (Counties: Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach)

• Southwest Florida (Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Sarasota)

• West Central Florida (Counties: Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter)

Lutheran Disaster Response

Lutheran Disaster Response is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Lutheran Services Florida is the coordinating partner for Lutheran Disaster Response in Florida, partnering with Lutheran congregations to provide survivors of natural disasters with immediate aid and ongoing assistance to help them rebuild their homes and their lives. For more information on disaster preparedness, please contact David Yarborough at Lutheran Services Florida at 813-676-9505 or dyarborough@lsfnet.org.

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide, nonprofit human services agency dedicated to helping all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age or national origin. Headquartered in Tampa, the agency has more than 60 programs located throughout Florida. Since it was established in 1982, LSF has helped more than 850,000 children and families. LSF’s mission is to bring God’s healing, hope and help to people in need.

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