It All Starts June 1
By Gail A. Tierney, Public Information Officer
After last year’s unusually quiet hurricane season here in Florida,
it’s easy to see why citizens may be lulled into a state of
complacency when it comes to emergency preparedness. However,
forecasters are predicting that the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season,
which runs from June 1 to November 30, will be well above average,
with the possibility of seeing 15 named storms and 8
hurricanes. Four of them may be intense.
That’s why Sheriff’s Office emergency management personnel work
closely with the community year-round to stress the importance of
not only having a well-stocked disaster kit on hand, but a
well-rehearsed disaster plan, too. When faced with a major
disaster, people need to realize that it could be as long as 72
hours before any kind of public assistance is available.
This year, the Sheriff’s Office has enhanced its service to the
community with the debut of an all-new emergency management section
on its official Web site. Just go to www.sheriffcitrus.org, and
click on “Emergency Management” at the top of the home
page. You’ll find helpful information about shelter and
distribution site locations; siren warnings; where to pick up a
re-entry tag; plus what actions to take before, during and after a
disaster strikes.
Citizens with special needs, such as specific medical conditions or
limited mobility, also may register online to receive critical
assistance should an emergency threaten. In addition, people can
sign up for CodeRED, emergency management’s Internet-based,
high-speed telephone calling system. It’s a good idea for
everyone in the community to register their home, business and cell
phone numbers to receive emergency notifications about everything from
evacuations to boil-water notices via phone, voice mail or answering
machine. People who don’t have computer access may sign up for
these free services simply by calling 352-746-6555.
The Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Section expects to introduce
a new layer of protection before the start of this year’s hurricane
season when it adds CodeRED Weather Warning, or ThunderCall, to the
existing emergency notification service. This completely
automated early warning system is designed to deliver severe weather
warnings to telephones within seconds of being issued by the National
Weather Service. When moments count, subscribers to this free
service will receive recorded message alerts any time severe weather
threatens their area. The CodeRED Weather Warning system has
the potential to save lives, and everyone should take advantage of its
benefits. Once the service is operational, more information will
be released about how to subscribe.
As the result of a special partnership between the Sheriff’s Office
and the Citrus County Chronicle, look for the newest all-hazards
preparedness guide as an insert in the paper on Friday,
May 2. It’ll help you plan for, survive and recover from the
kinds of emergencies Citrus County may face at any time, including a
major hurricane.
Gail Tierney is public information officer
for the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. She has been with the
agency for 18 years. Comments or suggestions may be directed to
Gail at 726-4488, Ext. 311, or
gtierney@sheriffcitrus.org.