By John Fry
Special to the Gazette
Hurricane season starts June 1 in Southwest Florida. Colin Downey of the American Red Cross of the Southern Gulf Region said, “The most important thing is getting prepared in advance.” All Southwest Florida residents and visitors should know three basic points.
Point 1: Prepare a hurricane kit. A hurricane kit should have at least the following:
- A gallon a day of water for each person, with water for at least 3 days.
- An NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) radio to hear oncoming news and emergency information.
- A first aid kit for administering basic emergency first aid.
- Non perishable food and a manual can opener.
- Additional items that may go into a hurricane kit can be found at http://www.leeeoc.com/shelterevacuation/Pages/EmergencySupplies.aspx.
Point 2: Make a plan. Whether you have a family or a business in Southwest Florida, it is best to have a plan concerning what to do in a time of emergency such as a hurricane. The family members/business employees should all be aware of their roles in the plan. The plan should be specific and easy to understand. The plan should have a walk thru in advance so that each person fully understands their role.
Point 3. Be Informed. The NOAA weather radio that should be in the hurricane kit will activate in time of emergency. The information provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should alert you to extreme weather conditions in your area and also inform you if an evacuation of your area has been declared.
Also, remember to trim trees away from your home or business at the start of hurricane season to protect buildings from flying debris caused by high winds.
For additional information about hurricane safety in Lehigh Acres, visit http://www.leeeoc.com/pages/default.aspx as well as the American Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=fc56d7aada352210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default.