- November 14, 2024
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It has been almost 11 years since a hurricane landed in Florida — the last was Hurricane Wilma, in 2005 — and emergency management officials worry that Floridians are becoming forgetful.
"It’s called 'hurricane amnesia,' and I think a lot of people get it," Flagler County Public Safety Emergency Manager Stephen Garten told the Palm Coast City Council at a May 31 workshop. Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
Garten urged residents to make sure they have a disaster supply kit — including at least five days worth of food, water and medication; and pet supplies, if needed — and prepare properties for storms by trimming back trees, clearing deck drains and reviewing or buying flood insurance or boat insurance, if applicable.
Families should also have a way to communicate in an emergency, and be ready to quickly gather important personal documents in case of evacuation. The county has shelters that can accommodate residents with special needs, but people who will need to use a special needs shelter should notify the county ahead of time by calling 386-313-4200.
Residents who may need to shelter with their domestic pets should bring a cage or crate for the pets, Garten said. Pets at county shelters do not sleep alongside their owners; they are placed together in a separate room with a separate air conditioning system — in the cages their owners bring for them — to protect people who have pet allergies.
Businesses, Garten said, should also prepare to quickly gather records in case of evacuation, have a way to maintain important business contacts, and be prepared to move to a temporary alternate location.
For more information on how to prepare, view a county emergency preparedness PowerPoint here, or the county's full disaster preparedness guide here. To sign up for CodeRED weather warnings, click here.