Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 9-8-17

Hurricane Info
Know The Difference
Information On Social Media
Individuals who would prefer to visit social media sites can watch videos and obtain impor- tant safety messages from the Na- tional Weather Service.
To access the information so- cial media visit Twitter or Face- book.
Shelters
Be aware of where you live and whether it is likely you will need to evacuate. If you must evacuate, make plans in advance to visit the home of a friend or rel- ative, a hotel farther inland or, as a last resort, to a shelter.
Use the Hillsborough County Hurricane Evacuation As- sessment Tool to determine what evacuation zone you are located in. The Hillsborough County Hurricane Guide can also help you determine if you live in an evacuation zone and can help you identify Red Cross shelters closest to you.
2017 Hurricane Season
Are you prepared if Hur- ricane Irma comes to Tampa Bay?
It’s important to know the difference between a Watch and a Warning.
A ‘Hurricane Watch’ means conditions are a threat
within 48 hours and you should be ready to act.
A ‘Hurricane Warning’ means threatening conditions are expected within 36 hours and you should be ready to evacuate if encouraged by local officials.
Hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and ends No- vember 30th. U. S. weather fore- casters predict a near normal or normal season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration (NOAA) said there is a 70% likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms, of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes, in- cluding 3 to 6 major hurricanes.
This year, the theme is:
“Survive, Thrive, and Stay Alive.”
As you prepare for the hurri- cane season, several items should be included in your sur- vival kit. Some of those items are:
Emergency Kit
In a major disaster, emer- gency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away. In some cases, it may take 3 or more days for help to arrive. Pre- pare kits to last up to 7 days. Having a plan for your family and their needs will help ensure their safety and comfort during these difficult times.
There are some basic items you should stock —- water, food, first aid sup- plies, clothing, bedding, tools, emergency supplies, and special items.
Water - at least 1 gallon per day, per person
Food – It could take as long as 72 hours (3 days) before First Responders can reach you, de- pending on where you live. Every home should have enough food to last 3 to 7 days. The food should be:
non-perishable, packaged or canned food, juices, soups, and snacks
foods for infants or the elderly Non-electric can opener cooking tools and fuel
paper plates and plastic utensils
NOTE:
Water can be purified by adding 16 drops of bleach (plain) to one gallon of water
Blankets, Sleeping Bags, Pil- lows, etc.
Clothing
seasonal clothing
rain gear and sturdy shoes
Special Items Weather Radio, Flashlight
and extra batteries
Cash - Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for ex- tended periods.
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Cell Phone —- fully charged cell phone with extra battery and charger
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
First Aid Kit, Medicines, and Prescription Drugs
Antibiotic ointment to prevent in- fection
Burn ointment to prevent infection Eyewash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant Sterile adhesive bandages in as- sorted sizes
Assorted sized sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, sterile bandages, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic Non-prescription drugs, gloves,
Tools and Other Supplies Emergency preparedness man-
ual
Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type, matches, foil, plastic storage containers, plastic sheet- ing, and a whistle
Sanitation
Toilet paper, towelettes
Soap, liquid detergent, Feminine supplies, Personal hygiene items, Plastic garbage bags, ties
(for personal sanitation) Plastic bucket with tight lid Disinfectant
Household chlorine bleach
Important Family Documents
Keep these records in a wa- terproof, portable con-
tainer.
Will, insurance policies, con- tracts, deeds, stocks and bonds, Passports, social security cards, Immunization records
Bank account numbers
Credit card account numbers and companies
Inventory of valuable household goods
Important phone numbers Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Pet Care Items
Note: If you must evacu-
ate, pets are not allowed in shelters; make plans early proper identification and immu- nization records
ample supply of food and water a carrier or cage, medications, muzzle and leash
Pet Disaster Planning
If you have pets and will need to evacuate to a shelter during an emergency, plan ahead as spaces at designated pet-friendly emergency shel- ters are very limited.
Hillsborough County pet friendly shelters are:
Burnett Middle School 1010 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner, FL 33584
Sgt. Smith Middle School 14303 Citrus Pointe Drive, Tampa, FL 33625
Bartels Middle School 9020 Imperial Oak Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647
Shields Middle School 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573
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 flood- ing, destructive winds and tor- nadoes from these storms.
The National Hurricane Center issues watches, warn- ings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.
Get A Plan
Everyone should get a plan. The most important step is to identify 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 dan- gers of storm surge.
Find a friend or relative that lives outside the storm surge evacuation 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 man- agers for evacuation zone infor- mation. This information is typically available on-line.
The following websites are important resources to visit be- fore a storm is about to strike your area. Visit them to help with preparations. They are: www.hurricane.gov; www.weather.gov; www.ready.gov. and www.na- tionalhurricanecenter- outreachresources.gov
Special
Needs
Shelters
Gov. Scott Declares State
Residents with special needs, seniors, and those without trans- portation require extra attention to stay safe during a tropical storm or hurricane. Hillsborough County has programs in place to help these residents prepare and find safe shelter and transporta- tion.
Things To Consider
A special needs shelter is a temporary emergency facility ca- pable of providing care to resi- dents whose medical condition may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen, dialysis, or individuals with physical, cogni- tive, or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals.
Although special needs shel- ters provide more care than a general shelter, they do not pro- vide the level of care found in a medical facility.
If you need a ride to a shelter, arrangements will be made with Sunshine Line to pick you up and take you to your assigned shelter. The service is free.
To register for a special needs shelter or transportation, select one of the following options:
Call the Hillsborough County Health Department at (813) 307- 8063; or call your home health- care provider.
Complete an evaluation form and mail or fax to: Hillsborough County Health De- partment P.O. Box 5135, Tampa, FL 33675-5135.
Of Emergency To Prepare Florida For Hurricane Irma
On Monday, Today, Gover- nor Rick Scott issued Execu- tive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida in response to Hurri- cane Irma – a major Category 5 storm approaching Florida.
By declaring a state of emer- gency in all 67 Florida counties, Governor Scott is ensuring that local governments have ample time, resources and flex- ibility to get prepared for this dangerous storm and are not hindered, delayed or prevented from taking all necessary ac- tions to keep communities safe.
Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emer- gency Management on Hurri- cane Irma and current forecast models have Florida in Irma’s path – potentially im- pacting millions of Floridians. Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I
have declared a state of emer- gency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local govern- ments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm.
“In Florida, we always pre- pare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared. This state of emergency allows our emer- gency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape.
“In Florida, we know that the best way to protect our fam- ilies in severe weather is to have a plan. I urge all Floridians to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news and visit www.FLGetAPlan.com as we all prepare for Hurricane Irma. We will keep monitoring and is- suing updates on Hurricane Irma as it approaches Florida.”
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017