Storm season kicks off

Hurricane season has just begun, and it’s important to make a plan, gather supplies and get informed.

The No. 1 tip Orange and Seminole County emergency managers gave was to stay informed. Know what’s going on with the weather. Tune in to the news by television, radio and online. You can sign up for alerts to be sent to your computer and home and cell phones for both Seminole and Orange County. The Orange County Office of Emergency Management also has a Facebook where it will be communicating emergency information — just search for it.

2011 season

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration does not make landfall predictions, because it can’t be predicted until the storm is nearing land, but does estimate the amount of storms that will develop in the Atlantic this year will be above normal. NOAA estimates that there will be 12-18 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes.

Technology and expertise have now made tracking a hurricane’s movement 67 percent accurate. Intensity, however, continues to be meteorologists’ Achilles’ heel because there can be changes in that right before a hurricane hits land, said Dennis Feltgen, public affairs officer at the National Hurricane Center and former television meteorologist.

But don’t get hung up on numbers — one bad storm is enough to create devastation; even tropical storms cause flooding that take lives and destroy property. Seminole County still has open cases from 2008’s Tropical Storm Fay, said Alan Harris, emergency manager for the county. Because hurricane tracking is rather precise, you have time to plan. And it isn’t complacency, but denial that keeps people from getting ready, Feltgen said.

“The unthinkable could happen to you,” he said, citing the recent tornadoes in Missouri and Alabama as real eye-openers.

Make a plan

“A failure to plan is truly an act of planning to fail,” said Preston Cook, executive director at Orange County Emergency Management.

Make a plan, write it down, discuss it with your family and share it with another important person. If you’re in an evacuation zone, know where the closest shelter is. Check out your insurance information — homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, which is common during a hurricane.

Planning includes creating a hurricane kit. It should have a seven-day food and water supply, first aid kit, medicine, identification and important documents and battery-operated electronics like a radio and flashlight. Save money by thinking ahead. Buy items when they’re on sale and stock up all year.

Shelters

If you aren’t able to arrange to stay at a hotel, motel, friend or family member’s home in a safe location during a storm, a shelter is your next option.

Seminole County has many shelters available for use during a hurricane, and that includes some of the area’s public schools. John Evans Elementary, Walker Elementary, Lawton Chiles Middle and Winter Springs High are just a few.

Orange County does not provide a list of shelters for the public before a storm situation occurs. Visit www.orangecountyfl.net for more information.

Shelters fill up quickly and traffic congestion is likely in an emergency so don’t delay on evacuating when told to do so. Always call to make sure a shelter is open. There also won’t be all the necessities or creature comforts that you find at home, so bring them along with you.

And remember, most shelters don’t accept pets. For a list of those that do, visit www.floridapets.net/petfriendlyshelters

Learn more

For emergency planning information from Orange County, visit www.ocoem.com or call 407-836-9140. For Seminole County, visit www.prepareseminole.com or call 407-665-5102.