Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 9-1-15 Edition

Storm Preparation
Emergency Operations Center Re-Opens: County Prepares For Heavy Rains
Tampa Emergency
Operations Center Identifies Flood Zones
As of 9 p. m. Sunday night, Tampa Police reported street flooding at the following locations:
30th Street between Sligh and Hanna
North 22nd Street and East Seward Street
East Waters at the railroad tracks near 18th
Street
North 26th Street and Ramona Circle
North 26th Street and Annie Street
North 26th Street and East 110th Avenue
North 26th Street and Liberty Street
East Osborne Avenue between Central Avenue
and Nebraska Avenue
Florida Avenue and Country Club Drive
East 26th Avenue and North 47th Street
North 43rd Street between Grove Street and
Hanna Avenue
North 50th Street between Adamo and Broad-
way
7th Avenue between 23rd Street and 27th Street
in Ybor City
I-275 Northbound exit ramp at Dale Mabry Cleveland Street between Armenia and Willow Emergency Management officials advise motorists to
only travel on city streets if necessary. Be mindful of flooded streets and do not drive into standing water.
The Hillsborough County Emergency Op- erations Center was ac- tivated again on Monday in preparation for the forecast for heavy rainfall, fueled by the remnants of Tropi- cal Storm Erika, starting this afternoon.
Residents are en- couraged to prepare for the potential of 2 to 3 inches of rain and possi- ble flooding through the middle of the week, with some localized areas possibly receiving higher amounts, accord- ing to the National Weather Service. Resi- dents should drive care- fully through areas of standing water, and stay tuned to local television and radio stations for traffic advisories, re- ports of flooding, and other critical informa- tion.
City of Tampa re- quests that residents with a storm drain on their property check to ensure that the drain is clear of all debris in- cluding leaves and trash.
Residents should report flooding is- sues by calling (813) 274-3101. You can view street closures and flooded areas in real time on our new Flood Map at www.tampagov.net/ Floodmap.
Hillsborough County residents can call (813) 272-5900 to report flooding and road problems or to request addi- tional information or they can visit the website at www.Hillsborough- County.org/AtY- ourService.
Sandbag Locations
The City of Tampa will continue to make sandbags available to city resi- dents at three loca- tions August 31, 2015, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Resi- dents may pick-up sandbags at the fol- lowing locations: Bobby Hicks Pool- 4201 W. Mango Av- enue; the NFL YET Center, 3310 E. Lake Avenue; and the City of Tampa Solid Waste, 4010 W. Spruce Street.
Tampa residents in- terested in receiving sandbags must show identification verifying residence within the city limits. A valid driver's li- cense, utility bill, or electric bill will serve as appropriate identifica- tion. There is a ten bag limit.
In Hillsborough County, the follow- ing Hillsborough County Public Works locations have sandbags mate- rials available until 4 p.m., Monday: West Service Unit, 9805 Sheldon Road; South Service Unit, 8718 Old Big Bend Road, and East Serv- ice Unit, 4702 Syd- ney Road.
Sandbag materials will be available for Hillsborough County residents to make their own sandbags. Each resident must sign their name and provide their home address acknowl- edging the receipt of 25 sandbags or less.
Roads and Drainage Systems
Public Works crews have been working con- tinuously on pumping operations and repairs to drainage systems during the past month in an effort to improve storm water control. Residents are advised to
not conduct their own pumping operations, as this may affect opera- tions in other areas of the County.
Residents experi- encing flooding who may want to explore the option of pump- ing water should call (813) 272-5900 and ask to speak with a representative from Public Works.
A list of streets closed in real time within the city limits can be found at the new Flood Map at www.tampagov.net/Flo odmap.
A list of streets, roads and areas which have been flooded at some time during the past month can be found at: www.Hillsborough- County.org/StaySafe.
Safety Tips During Heavy Rain
Motorists are urged to use care when driving through flooded areas, and to follow posted de- tour signs.
Never drive through moving water or stand- ing water. Standing water that is only two feet deep can disable most vehicles.
If you can't see the road, turn around. Floodwaters may con- ceal holes or dangerous objects.
Avoid walking in flooded areas or rapidly flowing water. Only six inches of fast-flowing water can sweep you off your feet.
If an area is barri- caded, there is a reason. Find an alternate route.
Treat non-function- ing traffic signals as a four-way stop.
Avoid downed or hanging power lines. Al- ways assume the power line is live.
Be especially cau- tious at night, when it is harder to see possible flood dangers.
Residents should also stay tuned to local tele- vision and radio stations for more information.
2015 Hurricane Names
This year, the prediction is that there will be 12 named storms. Of that 12, 6 will become hurricanes, and 3 of those will reach a Cat- egory 3 or higher.
The designated names for the 2015 hurricanes are: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, and Wanda.
It Only Takes One Storm To Change Your Life
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that it only take one storm to change your life and community. The organization warns the general population to get prepared in the event a storm is forecast to strike your area.
If you live in an area prone to tropical cyclones, you need to be prepared. Even areas well away from the coastline can be threatened by dangerous flooding, destructive winds and tornadoes from these storms.
The National Hurricane Center issues watches, warnings, fore- casts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.
Get A Plan
Everyone should get a plan. The most important step is to iden- tify your hurricane risk. If you live in an evacuation zone, you need to plan on where you and your family would ride out the storm if you are told to evacuate. Most people only need to evacuate a few miles from the coast to avoid the dangers of storm surge.
Find a friend or relative that lives outside the storm surge evac- uation zone and have a plan to ride out the storm with them. You should also establish a family communications plan in case you are not together when you need to evacuate.
Coastal residents should go to their local emergency managers for evacuation zone information. This information is typically avail- able on-line.
The following websites are important resources to visit before a storm is about to strike your area. Visit them to help with prepara- tions. They are: www.hurricane.gov; www.weather.gov; www.ready.gov. and www.nationalhurricanecenteroutreachre- sources.gov
Information On Social Media
Individuals who would prefer to visit social media sites can watch videos and obtain important safety messages from the Na- tional Weather Service.
To access the information social media visit Twitter of Facebook at #HurricanePrep #ItOnlyTakesOne.
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015