As the summer months wind down, we find ourselves facing a familiar time in Florida--hurricane season. While we all hope that this will be another quiet season, it is vital to have hurricane preparedness plans in place, just in case.
Palm Beach County has 17 emergency shelters operated by the Red Cross, and Broward County operates 13 shelters. Identify the closest shelter to you, and the best route to get there. Make sure that you have other evacuation options in case you cannot reach the shelter. In the event of an evacuation, you should designate one family member or friend to be your contact. This person should live out of the affected area, and should be able to be in touch with anyone who may need to know your whereabouts, such as an employer.
If you depend on prescription medications, have an extra supply of any medication and medical supplies with your hurricane supplies. That way, in the event of an emergency, you will have easy access to them. You should also keep important documents together in an easily retrievable place.
A recommended one-week supply of non-perishable foods and 5 gallons of water per person should be kept with your emergency supplies. Other essential supplies include flashlights, batteries, a batter-operated radio, a first aid kid, tools, cleaning and pet supplies.
If you have any questions regarding hurricane preparation or evacuation, please contact my office or call the appropriate number below:
Imporant numbers Palm Beach County:
Public Safety 561.712.6400…Elder Helpline 211…Animal Care and Control 561.233.1200…American Red Cross 561.833.7711…Consumer Affairs 561.712.6600…FEMA 800.621.3362…Fire Rescue 561.712.6550…FPL Power Outages 561.697.8000…Health Department 561.840.4500…Palm Tran 561.841.4200…Price Gouging Hotline 866.966.7227…Solid Waste Authority 561.640.4000…Traffic Signal Repair 561.683.6885