- January 24, 2025
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by: Volusia County Community Information
All year-round, but especially during hurricane season, having a plan and staying informed are your best tools for staying safe. Fortunately, important safety information about any tropical storms or other threats to our area is just a few clicks away.
If a storm is threatening our coast, two of the best sources of real-time information are Volusia County’s CodeRed alert notification system and the Volusia County Emergency Management app. The emergency management app can be downloaded at volusia.org/emergency-app. The app features social media posts, push notifications and news blogs. Its other features contain information like weather radar, emergency shelter information, evacuation zones and evacuation routes for Volusia County.
And for CodeRed, signing up to receive emergency telephone or email notifications is as easy as visiting Volusia.org/emergency and clicking on the “get connected” button in the right menu.
What else do you need in order to be storm ready? Everyone needs to have a family or individual plan. And the time to do it is before a storm is coming this way.
“The time to start thinking about these things is now," said Volusia County Emergency Management Director Helene Wetherington. "Be prepared and have a plan."
Families should discuss their plan as a group so everyone understands what to do and where to go if a disaster occurs. Also, you should decide ahead of time where you would go and how you would get there if an evacuation order were given. It’s best to seek shelter with a friend or family or at a hotel outside the evacuation area. Shelters should be used as a last resort. Advance planning should also include checking your home for vulnerable areas. Walk around your home and evaluate the roof, windows, garage doors, patio doors, screen enclosed rooms, landscaping and other areas to see what protective measures you would need to take if a storm was approaching.
Also, consider installing window shutters, purchasing a generator, trimming trees and double checking tie-down straps and anchors if you live in a mobile or manufactured home. And be sure to make arrangements well in advance of a storm to take care of infants, the elderly, those with special needs and pets.
Ahead of storms, collect lawn furniture and other loose outdoor items, cover windows, secure doors and move vehicles to a safe location. Also, make sure gas tanks are full and you have extra cash on hand.
Residents also are encouraged to follow Volusia County Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter. During emergencies, residents can get information by calling the Citizens Information Hotline at 866-345-0345.
Emergency preparedness should be practiced all year-round. Remember to be prepared, stay informed and heed any warnings or emergency orders or alerts. The safety of you and your loved ones just might depend on it!
