2021 Hurricane Preparation Guide

Page 11 Determine your risk and prepare Y ou would be hard pressed to find someone who wasn't ready to see 2020 come to an end. Hardship, sacrifice, endurance and hope are just a handful of words that populated headlines last year. If the uncertainty brought about by a worldwide pandemic wasn't enough, another headline that could be seen was: "Record Breaking Hurricane Season." The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record, with a total of 30 named storms, 13 of which were hurri- canes. Now, early predictions call for an above average season in 2021 and we still find ourselves in the midst of the slow burn that is the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all that has occurred since the start of 2020, Florida remains one of the top destinations to relocate to from other parts of the country. Whether you are a lifelong Floridian or new to the Sunshine State, now is the time to get back to basics and focus on what is important. For us here in Southwest Florida that means preparing for hurricane season. Fostering a culture of preparedness is more a necessity here in Charlotte County than a goal and begins with the individual resident. The tradeoff we all make by living in paradise is the possibility of being impacted by tropical storms or hurricanes. We are all vulnerable to the effects brought on by the wind and water of tropical weather. To ready yourself for the upcoming season, determine your risk, have a plan, prepare, and stay informed. Determine your risk: What storm surge evacuation zone do you live in? If you are near the water in a red zone, you are more likely to need to evacuate than if you live a green zone. You can find your evacuation zone online: CharlotteCountyFL. gov/KnowYourZone. Do you live in a site-built home or a manufactured home? Manufactured homes and some older site-built homes are less able to han- dle the strong winds associated with hurricanes. Are you or a loved one dependent on electricity for medical needs? Loss of power commonly occurs from storms of any size and can persist for days or even weeks, depending on the extent of damage. Is your homeowners or renters insurance policy enough? Annual insurance checkups with your agent are critical to protect what you own. Have a plan: Where will you go if asked to evacuate? Shelters should never be your first option, especially during a pandemic. Friends or family members' homes outside the evacuated area are good options. How will you communicate with loved ones? Ask someone out of the area to be a contact if you are separated in a disaster. How will you prepare your home? Know what needs to be cleared from your yard before a storm and how long it takes to install shutters and secure boats. Write your plan down and make sure everyone knows the plan. Prepare: Do you have all the supplies you will need if you are on your own for seven days? This should include non-perishable food, water (1 gallon per person per day), medications, first aid kits, flashlights and batteries, toiletries, clothes, cash, fuel, pet supplies and items specific to pandemics (face coverings, disinfectant and hand sanitizer). Stay Informed: Monitor weather conditions on a regular basis. Local media is a great source of weather information specific to our area. Subscribe to Alert Charlotte at alertchar- lotte.com; where you can choose what emergency notifications you want to receive from the Charlotte County Office of Emergency Management. As we collectively hope that this year is not our turn to confront a landfalling storm, it is important that each of us do our part to prepare as if it is. For more information, visit CharlotteCountyFL.gov/EM. Readers may reach Patrick Fuller, Charlotte County director of emergency management, at Patrick.Fuller@CharlotteCountyFL. gov. PATRICK FULLER Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief FILE FEMA PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDREA BOOHER Aerial image of destroyed homes in Punta Gorda following Hurricane Charley. SUN FILE PHOTO If possible, park your car in a closed garage during a hurricane.

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