Governor Ron DeSantis Recognizes September as Florida Preparedness Month, Promotes Cost-Effective Preparedness Tips
Governor Ron DeSantis Recognizes September as Florida Preparedness Month, Promotes Cost-Effective Preparedness Tips
Florida Division of Emergency Management sent this bulletin at 09/01/2022 03:42 PM EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2022
Contact: Florida Division of Emergency Management, (850) 815-4940 | media@em.myflorida.com
Governor Ron DeSantis Recognizes September as Florida Preparedness Month, Promotes Cost-Effective Preparedness Tips
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation to declare September as Florida Preparedness Month in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month. Florida Preparedness Month focuses on the importance of being aware of, and preparing for, natural and man-made hazards.
“As we enter the peak of hurricane season, now is the time for residents and visitors to solidify their disaster plans and hurricane supply kits,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Kevin Guthrie. “There are three months left in the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and our state meteorologists are still predicting an above normal season, so it’s important for Floridians to be prepared for the potential uptick in tropical activity.”
The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs until November 30, with September marking the historical peak of hurricane season. While no named storms have impacted the State of Florida this season, the Division encourages every household and business to take the necessary steps to ensure they are prepared for potential storms.
Preparedness does not have to be expensive – there are no-cost and low-cost ways to be ready for potential hazards:
Make a plan that includes the entire family. Every household should have a disaster plan specific to the needs of their household. Including children in family disaster planning can also help kids respond better during an emergency and experience less anxiety.
Know Your Zone, Know Your Home. Residents should take the time to know if they live in an evacuation zone or a low-lying, flood-prone area. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know to find evacuation zones for specific addresses.
Create a list of needed evacuation items. Make a list of all important items and documents in the household that may be necessary to take when local evacuation orders are issued to ensure you can evacuate quickly without forgetting anything.
Securely back up important documents. Store important documents in a waterproof container or on a secure, password-protected jump drive or cloud service to ease recovery after a disaster.
Stock up on nonperishable food items over time. Grab at least one nonperishable food item for your disaster supply kit, such as canned fruits and vegetables, each time you make a trip to the grocery store to avoid last-minute crowds and shortages prior to a disaster. Find a full disaster kit checklist at FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.
Keep vehicle gas tanks at least half-full. Residents are encouraged to keep their gas tanks at least half-full during hurricane season. This ensures they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages prior to a storm.
Floridians and visitors can find additional preparation resources at: FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.
National Preparedness Month and Florida Preparedness Month are observed every September. The national public service campaign is designed to educate families and communities on the importance of disaster mitigation, preparedness and response. More information on National Preparedness Month can be found here.
Governor DeSantis’ proclamation for Florida Preparedness Month is available here.
Updated: Thursday, September 1, 2022
