OFFICIALS URGE FLORIDIANS TO BE PREPARED AND TO GET A PLAN! FOR THE 2010 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

Though the Deepwater Horizon incident is ongoing, Florida Division of Emergency Management officials are urging residents and visitors to the Sunshine State to prepare and GET A PLAN! for the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season. While much focus is being placed on the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico emergency management officials want residents to understand that should have no impact in their preparation or readiness to take action if a tropical system threatens Florida.

“Forecasters this year have predicted an above-average Atlantic Hurricane Season,” said David Halstead, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “While we respect those that forecast these numbers, it is important that we remind our residents and visitors that it only takes one storm to cause loss of lives and devastating property damage. As the 2010 Hurricane Season begins, we want everyone to have a plan for where they will go, what they will bring and what route they will travel, should evacuation orders be issued.”

This year, the Division of Emergency Management has partnered with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) in their Great Hurricane Blowout family preparedness campaign. The Blowout promotes a culture of hurricane-based preparedness in our state through fresh outreach methods. The final result of the program will help Floridians accomplish several objectives, including:

Making a family plan
Making a disaster supply kit
Understanding safe cooking and sanitary practices without county and municipal utility services
Passing time without electricity or the family’s ability to safely leave its home
Mitigating the effects of storm damage on residences
Training with various disaster-related non-profit organizations

Today, the State Emergency Response Team will “Dine in the Dark,” in an effort to practice for an emergency power outage. Emergency management officials will make sandwiches and share their favorite “power-free recipes” in the State Emergency Operations Center. For information on how you can be a part of the Great Hurricane Blowout, please visit:

www.GreatHurricaneBlowout.org

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. For more information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and to GET A PLAN!, please visit: www.FloridaDisaster.org. Follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsertinfo or join our blog at: http://flsertinfo.blogspot.com/.