Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Tampa Bay Area, FL
Issued by NWS Tampa Bay Area, FL
578 NOUS42 KTBW 061202 PNSTBW FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165- 239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-070015- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 802 AM EDT Mon May 6 2024 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK 2024... ...PREPARE BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON IS THE THEME FOR TODAY... All this week, your National Weather Service will be issuing informative messages to help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Here is a list of the remaining topics for this week. Monday: Prepare Before Hurricane Season Tuesday: Understand Forecast Information Wednesday: Get Moving When a Storm Threatens Thursday: Stay Protected During Storms Friday: Use Caution After Storms Saturday: Take Action Today There are 5 main things to do to get prepared before hurricane season. These are to develop an evacuation plan, assemble disaster supplies, get an insurance checkup and document your possessions, create a communication plan with a hand-written list of contacts, and strengthen your home. In developing your evacuation plan, the first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if youre in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane. If you are, figure out where youd go and how youd get there if ordered to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesnt live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and work it out with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about. Find out if your home is in an evacuation zone by going to the Know Your Zone website listed below, selecting the county in which you live, and looking up your address on the map. The evacuation zones are a tiered evacuation system that highlight areas most vulnerable to impacts from tropical cyclones. There are 5 zones possible, with the first level being A along the coast and then going up to E further inland. If necessary, county officials will issue any evacuation orders of one or more zones in advance of a storm, so be sure to check regularly if a storm is approaching your area. You will need disaster supplies whether you are evacuating or sheltering-in-place. These will be needed not only to get through the storm, but also for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath where the electricity and water could be out for weeks. Be sure to have enough non-perishable food, water, and medicine to last each person in your family, including pets, for at least 7 days. Additional supplies that are good to include are extra cash, a battery powered radio, flashlights, and a solar-powered USB charger. Ensure that you have enough insurance to repair or replace your home and/or your belongings. Remember that home and renters insurance doesn`t cover flooding, so you`ll need a separate policy for it. Also take the time before hurricane season begins to document your possessions, and be sure to include photos, serial numbers, or anything else that may be required when filing a claim. When making a communication plan, write down on paper or have a print out of emergency contacts, and a list of utilities and other critical services contacts. Share your hurricane plan with your family, including family meeting places, and if applicable your evacuation location information. Now is the time to improve your home`s ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees, install storm shutters and/or impact windows, seal outside wall openings, and if possible, ensure your garage door is up to code. For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit the following websites: https://weather.gov/safety/hurricane https://hurricanes.gov/prepare https://ready.gov/make-a-plan https://ready.gov/evacuation https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone $$