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NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR ALL OF FLORIDA'S WEATHER!
By Bob Howard, Operations Officer at the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Updated: Floridians live each day in a delicate balance. Population growth and ever changing weather patterns constantly impact our fragile ecosystem. We can be thankful that our state has been spared from hurricanes the past two years; however, we also have been spared the abundant rainfall Florida receives from tropical systems. As a result, drier conditions now exist throughout the state. Last spring, wildfires spread through the pine forests and wetlands of Florida, causing one of the worst outbreaks of wildfires in Florida since 1998. One of the largest fires ever recorded in the continental United States moved into Florida from Georgia (you can read more about that on Page 18). Because of the lessons we have learned over the years, our Florida Division of Forestry, state and local firefighters and other disaster responders saved more homes and lives in the face of these dangerous fires. History has taught us that the La Niña weather pattern currently in place produces little rain during the winter and spring months, so there is even more need to be prepared for the possibility of fires. Making sure that your home is FIREWISE is important for protecting your family. FIREWISE is a national program that promotes responsibility for planning a safe community that can protect itself against a wildfire threat. Your family can be FIREWISE by keeping trees, vines and grasses from becoming overgrown, making sure trees and landscaping are free of dead branches and leaves, and making sure that signs and house numbers are easily visible for firefighters to see. These are just a few examples of being FIREWISE. You can learn more by going to w.firewise.org. Make sure you get your parents’ permission first! In addition to wildfires, many other hazards,
including hurricanes and severe weather, can
impact Florida. Making sure your home has a
working NOAA Alert Radio is a good idea, so
your family can be alerted to dangerous weather approaching your community. The radio can
be an important part of your family’s disaster
plan. The past hurricane seasons have taught us
how important it is to be prepared before severe
weather arrives. While hurricanes usually give us
the luxury of advance notice, other events such
as tornadoes can occur with little to no warning.
NOAA Alert Radios have been proven to help
save lives in the event of a sudden onset of severe
weather or other local emergencies. The 2008 Weather Report newspaper is a fun, interactive guide that you can use at home or at school with your local newspaper as a resource. As Floridians, it is important that we all do our
part by learning about the hazards we may face. Everyone should get a plan that can be used 365 days a year. To get a plan, go to FloridaDisaster.org
• Discuss the different severe weather events that can occur. • Find “safe areas” in you home and at school. • Choose evacuation routes and a pre-determined place to meet. • Stock up on emergency supplies you may need ( floridadisaster.org/supplykit.htm) . • Take Red Cross first aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes. • Make sure your NOAA weather alert radio is always on •Check your newspaper’s online news site, radio and TV reports during severe weather events. • Be ready to act when called upon by local officials.
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Stay Aware:
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