News

Now that we are in hurricane season, my Senate office stands ready to serve you and your family in the event of a storm. It is never too early for you and your family to prepare for a potential tropical storm or hurricane.

Here are a few tips to help prepare for the 2018 hurricane season, which officially begins June 1 and ends November 30:

• Know your area and the evacuation routes. Evacuation route information is available on the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s website.
• Have a plan to prepare your home and/or business with storm shutters or plywood. Bring items that could be picked up by the wind and break windows – like lawn furniture, toys, or trash cans – inside.
• Make sure you know where your home’s safe room is located. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website details what a safe room should look like.
• Keep your automobile fully fueled; if electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days.
• Be prepared to survive on your own for a few days. Assemble a disaster kit with a battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, clothing, food, water, and prescription medications and needed medical supplies. The Florida Division of Emergency Management provides a good list of items to have ready.
• Know how to shut off utilities. Know how your water heating and air-conditioning systems work and where pilot lights are located if you have natural gas appliances. If you have any questions, contact your local utility company.
• Gather your personal documents – insurance policy information, emergency contact information, and any other vital documents – and have them somewhere they can be easily located and ready to take with you should you have to evacuate your home.

Remember, if you need help or have questions, please contact any of my offices and we will do our best to help.

Some other useful resources:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hurricane Preparedness Tips
• The Weather Channel’s Hurricane Tracker
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: What should I do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a hurricane?
• FEMA: What should I do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a hurricane?
• Pet and Animal Emergency Planning