News

As the 2016 hurricane season approaches, my Senate office stands ready to serve you and your family in the event of a storm. Some estimate the upcoming hurricane season could be the most active since 2012. This Hurricane Preparedness Week is the perfect time for you and your family to prepare for a potential tropical storm or hurricane.

Here are a few tips to help prepare for the 2016 hurricane season, which officially begins June 1 and ends November 30:

• Know your area and the evacuation routes. They are 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 points you to a good list of items to have ready.
• Know how to shut off utilities. Know where gas pilots are located and how the heating and air-conditioning system works. 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 – 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 our 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
• Red Cross: What should I do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a hurricane?
• Red Cross: What supplies do I need?
• FEMA: What should I do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a hurricane?
• Pet and Animal Emergency Planning