FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 1, 2004

State Emergency Managers Urge Floridians to Prepare For Hurricane Frances

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s emergency managers today urge residents and visitors in South Florida and along the East Florida coast to begin preparing now for Hurricane Frances.

“We want Floridians and their families to be prepared well in advance of a storm watch, and that means having a disaster plan in place now,” said State Meteorologist Ben Nelson.

“That plan should include more than having the necessary supplies,” said Craig Fugate, Director of Emergency Management. “Family members all need to know where they are going to meet should disaster strike and they need to evacuate. They should have an out-of-state contact, and they should know the best evacuation routes to follow to leave their community.”

With Hurricane Frances threatening the state, emergency managers are urging Floridians to do the following things as soon as possible:

Prepare for an Evacuation -- If you are in an area that is likely to be evacuated, know where the shelters are in your county or region. Anyone who lives in a coastal storm surge area, in low-lying flood-prone areas or in a mobile home, should prepare to evacuate. In addition, anyone who has special medical conditions should contact someone immediately to help them prepare for a possible evacuation. People at risk should register now with their county emergency management office. Residents who are in areas where evacuation is likely should consider evacuating to the home of a friend or family member in a safe area. Many public shelters do not take pets. If there is a pet in your family, it is wise to consider alternatives to public shelters.

Prepare for a Power Outage – Residents should make sure they have batteries for flashlights, batteries and battery-powered radios. Should power go out in your area, a battery-powered radio may be your only way to get outside information. In the event of a power failure, flashlights may be your only source of light. If you lose power, do not use candles. Fill your gas tanks and have cash on hand. Gas pumps, credit card machines and ATMs will not work without electricity.

Buy a NOAA Weather Radio – Make sure the radio you buy is both electric and battery-powered in case you lose electricity.

Stock Up on Food, Water and Medicines -- Make sure you have enough non-perishable food and water on hand for two weeks. In the event of a catastrophic storm, you could be without power for at least that long. Check your prescription medications and get refills now if needed.

Obtain Supplies to Protect Your Home – Buy and store material like plywood and plastic to secure your home in the event of a storm.

Inspect the Exterior of Your Home -- Check the area around your home for potential problems. Make sure rain gutters and spouts are cleaned out. Secure all loose items outside.

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