Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 9-2-16 Online Edition

Storm Preparedness
Sandbags Available For Residents
Preparations Underway For Heavy Rains
Officials are making sand- bags available for Hillsborough County residents. The loca- tions were the sandbag materi- als are available are at different locations throughout the county.
Residents should stay tuned to local television and radio stations for more infor- mation as severe weather ap- proaches.
City Sandbag Distribution
Sandbags will be available to city residents at three loca- tions: Bobby Hicks Pool, 4201 W. Mango Avenue; Barksdale Active Adult Center, 1801 N. Lincoln; and Jackson Heights Play- ground, 3310 E. Lake av- enue. The hours of operation area daily from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. until further notice.
Tampa residents interested in receiving sandbags must show identification verifying residence within the city limits. A valid driver’s license, utility bill, or electric bill will serve as appropriate identification. There is a ten bag limit.
In addition, the City of Tampa requests that residents with a storm drain on their property check to ensure that
the drain is clear of all debris including leaves and trash.
Residents should report flooding issues by calling (813) 274-3101.
City Sandbag Distribution
In Hillsborough County, sandbags will be available at these units from noon to 4 p.m. today, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday. The locations are:
West Service Unit, 9805 Sheldon Road in Tampa; South Service Unit, 8718 Old Big Bend Road in Gibson- ton; and East Service Unit, 4702 Sydney Road in Plant City
Materials will be available for Hillsborough County resi- dents to make their own sand- bags. Each resident must sign their name and provide their home address acknowledging the receipt of 25 sandbags or less. An instructional video is available on YouTube.
Tips For Remaining Safe In Storm Conditions Use Caution in Heavy
Rains. The potential for heavy rainfall will increase across the region during the week as a tropical depression moves northward through the Gulf of
Mexico. Motorists are urged to exercise caution on roadways as weather conditions warrant.
Residents should keep in mind these floodwater safety tips:
Don’t drive through mov- ing or standing water. Water that is 2 feet deep can disable most vehicles;
Treat non-functioning traf- fic signals as a four-way stop;
Observe all barricades and detours. They are there for your protection;
Avoid standing water. Floodwaters may contain fecal matter, bacteria, and viruses;
Clear yard of debris or items that can block water flow and storm drains;
Avoid downed power lines. Always assume power lines are live; and
Watch for workers repair- ing surfaces, and follow all di- rectional instructions and detour signs.
Residents can go online to HCFLGov.net/AtYourService, or call (813) 635-5400 to re- port flooding and road prob- lems or to request additional information.
Additional storm safety and preparation tips can be found at HCFLGov.net/StaySafe.
The Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center has been activated in preparation for a tropical storm.
Tropical Storm Hermine
is expected to strike in the Big Bend area on Thursday. Resi- dents are encouraged to prepare for the potential of 3 to 7 inches of rain and possible flooding.
Four Potential Threats
There are four potential threats that residents should be mindful of during inclement weather. They are:
Rainfall Flooding
Heavy rain may cause flood- ing across the Florida peninsula Tuesday and Wednesday, well before the center of the storm ar- rives. More heavy rain will move across northern and central Florida as it makes landfall Thursday. Some bands of rain could linger into Friday.
Coastal Flooding
Some coastal flooding from
storm surge is possible along the northwest Florida Gulf Coast. The threat of flooding depends on the intensity of the storm as it near landfall.
Areas along the Florida Gulf Coast from the Tampa/St. Pe- tersburg metro to Apalachee Bay are typically very prone to storm surge flooding, even in weaker storms.
High surf and dangerous rip currents are also likely along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Gusty Winds
The most likely area for strong winds capable of causing some tree damage and power outages, if any, will be where the center moves ashore in north- west Florida. This is also possible with gusty winds in any squalls well away from the center.
Tornadoes
Some isolated tornadoes are also possible in northern/central Florida and south Georgia on Thursday as the center moves in- land.
Tips In Preparation For Inclement Weather
The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) projects that landfall will be Thursday, with the center most likely moving ashore some- where north of Tampa in the Big Bend region.
Emergency Kit
In a disaster, emergency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away. In some cases, it may take 3 or more days for help to arrive. Prepare 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 The food should be:
• non-perishable, packaged or canned food and juices
• ready to eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
• canned juices, milk, soup
• sugar, salt, pepper, etc.
• foods for infants or the elderly
and snack foods
• high energy foods —- peanut
butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, etc
• vitamins
• comfort foods —- cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, instant coffee, tea bags, etc
• 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
Special Items Weather Radio
Flashlight and extra batter-
ies
Cash - Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods.
Cell Phone —- fully charged
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
First Aid Kit, Medicines, and Prescription Drugs
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
• Burn ointment to prevent in- fection
• Eyewash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant
• Dust mask
• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Assorted sized sterile gauze pads
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape • Sterile roller bandages
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Non-Prescription Drugs • Aspirin
• Anti-diarrhea medication • Antacid
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 house-
hold goods
• Important phone numbers
• Family records (birth, mar-
riage, death certificates)
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016