Knowing the tremendous impact that just one hurricane making its way through Osceola County can have on the community — just ask those who lived here in 2004 when three hurricanes rumbled through town when the area hadn’t seen one since 1960 — the county’s employees and partners are preparing to hone their disaster response skills in preparation another Atlantic hurricane season, which experts project to be another busy and above-average one for storm activity.
Just as important, the buzz phrase, familiar to those in Scouting BSA — Be Prepared.
“I’m grateful that our dedicated team prepares and plans in advance so that our community is safe when an emergency threatens,” Osceola Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said. “It is also important for residents to take responsibility for themselves and their families by having an emergency plan and supplies in case a storm comes our way.”
Osceola’s Emergency Management team held a Hurricane Expo at Osceola Heritage Park to provide help and tips with creating an all-important family plan and disaster supply kit, and learning where to go in the event of an evacuation — if you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area, mobile-home or other less well-built structure, it may be just a few miles to a friend’s house or hotel rather than a local shelter, or evacuating far from home.
“We encourage our residents to take this time now before hurricane season to review their homeowners or rental policies and be knowledgeable about coverage, including deductibles,” said Arrington. “If needed, you should clean up brush and trees around your home so that they are trimmed and do not become hazards in a tropical system and replenish your family disaster kit so you don’t have to rush to get supplies when a storm is sitting off the Florida coast.”
Preparedness includes having first aid supplies, fresh water, food supply for people and pets, prescription medications, batteries and cash on hand, and secure storage of important documents. The plan should also include what to do with items such as potted plants, garbage bins, and patio furniture that strong winds could affect.
Emergency Management’s website — www.readyosceola.org — has many more resources. Officials urge residents to stay informed by monitoring signing up for emergency phone alerts through Osceola’s free AlertOsceola service, by texting the word “alertosceola” to 888777.
The County’s information channels include Twitter: (@OsceolaEOC & OsceolaCountyFl), Facebook (www.facebook.com/OsceolaEOC and www.facebook.com/osceolacountyfl) and the county’s website (www.osceola.org)
And the time to prepare is now, rather than when our area falls under hurricane or storm watches and warnings.
“Now is the time to prepare your families for this hurricane season, to make plans if you live in a low lying/
flood prone area and where you will go if you must evacuate you home,” said Osceola County Emergency Management Director Bill Litton. “Please use the next couple of weeks to build your home disaster kit to include at least five. days of food/water, a first aid kit, prescription medications, a battery-operated radio and flashlight. Do not wait until a storm is off the coast of Florida to gather your supplies.”