Thursday, April 28, 2011

FLORIDA RECEIVES FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR COLLIER COUNTY

The State of Florida has received a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), allowing the use of federal funds to reimburse response costs to fight the Slope Wildfire in Collier County.

“We are very grateful for the rapid response from FEMA to our request for assistance,” said Bryan W. Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “This Fire Management Assistance Grant will ensure that local and state responders have the resources they need to fight this wildfire and to help save homes and property.”

State emergency and Division of Forestry officials requested the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for Collier County late Wednesday afternoon and the request was granted early Thursday morning. The Slope Wildfire in Collier County has grown to more than 1,500 acres and is presently threatening Golden Gate Estates.

Federal fire management assistance covers seventy-five percent of eligible fire response costs such as field camps; equipment use; tools, materials and supplies; additional personnel; aircraft utilization, as well mobilization and demobilization activities.

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/flsert and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

Friday, April 15, 2011

STRONG COLD FRONT TO BRING POTENTIALLY SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT TO FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND BIG BEND AREAS

State and local emergency management officials are encouraging residents and visitors in the Florida Panhandle and Florida Big Bend areas to stay alert and exercise caution as a potentially severe storm system moves into the area.

“The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed all of the Florida Panhandle and Western Big Bend in an area for an enhanced risk of severe storms on Friday night into Saturday,” said Amy Godsey, State Meteorologist. “This severe weather threat may spread east through Saturday, and we encourage residents and visitors across the region to monitor this weather system and to be prepared to act if warnings are issued.”

This storm system will have the potential to produce large hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes. Residents and visitors to the state should monitor local media outlets and ensure that their NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio alert settings are turned on.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been reported as sighted, or been picked up on radar in the area.

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/flsert.