Be hurricane prepared
By Alyce Hanson, Administrative Services Director

Hurricane season starts June 1. Be prepared. Be aware of how to get important information, and know what it means.

Who issues hurricane watches and warnings?

What is a hurricane watch? What is a hurricane warning?

Who?
Watches and warnings come from the National Hurricane Center which is under the auspices of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This organization issues watches or warnings to broad locations defined as follows:

“When a HURRICANE WATCH is issued for your part of the coast this indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and proactive measures should be initiated especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.”

“When a HURRICANE WARNING is issued for your part of the coast this indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing proactive actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.”

For more weather information on the internet, visit www.noaa.gov.

Listen to local news media.
During hurricane season from June 1 to November 30, to stay updated on the weather systems in the tropics that may affect South Florida, listen to the local news media.

Evacuating.
Miami-Dade County gives orders to evacuate. If you have prepared and stay alert you will have an easier time weathering the storm.

Weekly shopping lists.
To help you know what to gather for hurricane supplies, we have put together twelve (12) weekly shopping lists. If you purchase the items on these lists, one week at a time, by June 1 st you’ll have gathered most of your supplies. There may be individual supplies you need to purchase.

You can find the weekly shopping lists in this newspaper, and on cable access SIB Television, Channel 77. The cumulative list is on the City’s official Website www.sibfl.net: on the home page in QUICKFIND, click on Hurricane Guidelines, then click on Hurricane List – 12 Week Shopping List.

BE PREPARED!

TOP