The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1, and while we’re all hoping for a repeat of the very quiet past two seasons, 2008 could also be as bad or worse as what we experienced in '04 and '05, when hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma pounded South Florida.
There are many things we should all be doing right now to prepare for the upcoming season. Please don’t wait until a storm is brewing to take care of the following:
- write up or revise your emergency plan for you and your family;
- go over your insurance policies and get important papers together; secure them in plastic bags and watertight containers;
- inspect and repair your storm shutters; check windows, doors and the roof for cracks and leaks;
- trim trees and shrubs, and remove excess landscape vegetation around the yard;
- check the Surge Area Mapping System (SAMS) on our County’s Web site, pbcgov.com, to determine if you live in an evacuation zone;
- evaluate whether to stay or leave the area when a storm threatens;
- if leaving, familiarize yourself with evacuation routes and firm up your out-of-town arrangements;
- if staying, start gathering your nonperishable emergency supplies and inspect your safe room;
- pre-register for the County’s pet-friendly shelter at West Boynton Park, 233-1200;
- pre-register for the Red Cross special needs shelter at the fairgrounds, 712-6400.
The following Web sites are excellent resources for additional emergency preparedness information or for tracking storm systems:
http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement/
http://www.floridadisaster.org/
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
http://crownweather.com/
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/
Finally, I’d like to mention that Palm Beach County Public Affairs and the Division of Emergency Management are once again printing our Official Palm Beach County 2008 Hurricane Survival Guide. It’s loaded with important information, updated phone numbers, checklists and tips to help keep you and your family safe before, during and after the storm. The new guide will soon be available at all County buildings and branch libraries.
Getting safely through the hurricane season is everyone’s responsibility. Please use the time we have wisely. As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to call me or my staff at 355-2202.
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