Governor Crist Visits Toussaint Louverture Elementary School to Promote Hurricane Preparedness

On September 16th, 2009 Governor Charlie Crist visited Toussaint Louverture Elementary School in Miami to encourage students to be prepared while we are in the historic peak of hurricane season. Governor Crist was joined by Florida Emergency Management Interim Director Ruben Almaguer and Education Commissioner Dr. Eric Smith.

“When we educate young Floridians on how to be prepared during a disaster, they can help safety efforts,” said Governor Crist. “As tropical activity is likely to increase during this peak month of hurricane season, there is no better time to review and update disaster plans. We must remind Floridians that storms do no have to be hurricanes to be deadly or destructive.”

Last month, Governor Crist invited students to visit http://www.kidsgetaplan.com/ to learn how to be prepared like their parents and teachers. The Web site includes free downloads of stories, coloring books and important disaster preparedness tips for kids. During today’s visit, the Governor, Interim Director Almaguer and Commissioner Smith joined students as they participated in an online activity that allowed them to assemble virtual supply kits. The Web site’s kid friendly format educates children on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm, how to prepare their home for severe weather and how to protect themselves from hazards like tornados. Governor Crist noted that fostering a culture of preparedness, through initiatives like interactive online activities, will keep Florida safe for generations to come.

High Risk of Rip Currents Today for the Western Panhandle Beaches

Go to www.FloridaDisaster.org for more information.

HURRICANE IVAN: FIVE YEARS LATER

Hurricane Ivan was the strongest southern hurricane on record while traversing the Atlantic and Caribbean, reaching Category 5 strength with sustained winds near 160 mph. The storm weakened to a Category 3 before moving onshore, but still devastated Florida’s Panhandle as it felt the brunt of the hurricane. The storm, with its 60-mile-wide eye and 10-15 foot surge, caused $14.2 billion in damage nationwide. The figure makes Ivan the sixth costliest hurricane on record in the U.S.

Looking Back: Hurricane Ivan (video) http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/1023 - Link to embed from

http://floridadisaster.org/hurricanes/2004/ - Link to our 2004 page

DID YOU KNOW?

Hurricane Easy, which stalled and looped just north of Tampa Bay before moving ashore in Citrus County in early September 1950, set the state’s 24 hour rainfall record with 38.55” falling at Yankeetown (3-day storm total at Yankeetown was 45.2”)

LET US NEVER FORGET 9-11-01

Statement by
GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST
Regarding September 11th Remembrance Day

“Today, on the eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, we remember those who lost their lives in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., on that fateful day. Let us honor and remember the first responders, firefighters and other rescue workers who risked themselves to save others during the tragedy. I ask all Floridians to join the rest of the nation today in remembrance of our fellow Americans, who were taken from us too soon.

“September 11th has had a lasting impact on all of our lives. In just moments, our world changed forever. As the tens of thousands of our brave servicemen and women fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world, we are constantly reminded of the lasting impact of that tragic morning. The service and sacrifice of our armed forces represents the courage and valor that defines American freedoms, principles, ideals and spirit.

“Today, we unite to honor those who are defending our freedoms in battlefields around the world, including the more than 700 Florida National Guard troops, and the servicemen and women who ultimately sacrificed their lives for our American way of life. We pray for the strength and safe return of our brave men and women in uniform to their families and loved ones.”

DID YOU KNOW?

September is the month often described as the height of "Cape Verde Season," and the 10th is considered the peak of the entire hurricane season. Valid data exists to support this claim: Statistically, over the past 100 years, a very clear pattern analyzing number of storms at any given day of the season, and plotting them on a graph, shows September 10 as the "busiest" day of the year. The graph below is provided by the National Hurricane Center:

DID YOU KNOW?

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane (middle Florida Keys) is the most intense hurricane to strike the United States with maximum sustained winds estimated at 185 mph and a minimum central pressure of 892 millibars: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html

FRED BECOMES THE SECOND MAJOR HURRICANE OF THE YEAR...NO THREAT TO LAND...

At 11am AST, Hurricane Fred was located about 540 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and moving towards the northwest at 13 mph. A gradual turn to the north-northwest and north with a decrease in forward speed is forecast during the next couple of days. The maximum sustained winds are 120 mph and the estimated minimum pressure is 958 mb. Fred is a Category 3 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

HURRICANES FRANCES AND JEANNE

From the Front Lines: Hurricanes Frances & Jeanne: http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp

DID YOU KNOW?

The Florida Keys have been struck by hurricanes more than any area in Florida with 19 direct impacts since 1851. Miami-Dade is second with 15 hurricane landfalls.

WELCOME

Welcome to the Florida State Emergency Response Team Information page maintained by the External Affairs Office of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. This page will offer day to day information regarding emergency management activities, statewide hazards and other preparedness events throughout the State of Florida and nation. During disasters this blog will be updated with the most current information on the disaster, related hazards, evacuations and other protective actions being recommended by state and local emergency management agencies. Our goal is to provide clear and concise information to the media and general public daily.

In the right hand column of this blog are twitter feeds from our State Watch Office which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year monitoring hazards throughout the State of Florida. Twitter feeds are also available from our State Meteorological Unit and our Office of External Affairs. Please feel free to follow us if you "tweet" regularly as well.

We also welcome any input or suggestions that you may have to improve this blog and the products included in it. Please email suggestions regarding the blog to FLSERTInfo@gmail.com. Thank you for taking the time to follow our blog and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future. As we approach the height of the 2009 Hurricane Season, which is September 10th, please take a minute to watch the following video message from Interim Director Ruben D. Almaguer: