I am wondering how many of you live in the hurricane prone areas, and are you prepared? Lots of you know I teach disaster prepardness, and I work for Fema so, I'm really curious how many plan ahead, and how many figure they will evacuate as a last resort, and get by on what they have.

I know living in the flood zone and earthquake area of Californa I am prepared with a 72 hour kit, and I am working on a 2 week kit which will be the new minimum prepardness suggestions, due to the avian flu potentially becoming a pandemic. There is always something new and disasterous heading somebodys way!

Pam:

With Valerie just moving from the Miami area, and with ME living just a stone's throw from Galveston, TX, Val and I have been sending each other "reminders" about preparing for the hurricanes! Great post here to remind others that another bad year is predicted for hurricanes. No matter what your area is prone to, "staying ready" is wise.

Thanks for this post! With you working with FEMA and voluntering in disasters --- YOU KNOW what needs to be done!!!

Well, most of you know I live in Montréal and my only threat is Freezing To Death...

Seriously tho, my parents live in Florida and I worry constantly about them they will be here in July, but still..They have to endure Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov...The only that makes me feel better they are in central florida. But yet I realize that there still can be a threat of tornado's etc...

Out of curiousity pam, exactly what are you putting in your Avian Flu kit? The only thing I have been keeping on hand just in case of a pandemic is, extra prescriptions, masks, gloves, over the counter meds, extra cangoods, I keep the freezer stocked etc... I try to keep enough in our home in case we can't leave for 2 weeks...At any given time.

OHHHH yeah I watched Oprah on that day, that gentlemen was there saying it could very well happen and people are not prepared. (I think he was from the US national disease control)..

I don't live out of fear or paranoia, I just live for "Just in Case Moments" and then I go about my business.

In addition to a 1st aid kit, latex gloves, face mask, here are more suggestions:
Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home and/or evacuation:

2 weeks worth of:
Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegitables, beans, and soups
Protein or fruit bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter or nuts
Dried fruit
Crackers
Canned juices
Fluids with electrolytes
Bottled water-minimum 1 gallon per person per day
Canned or jarred baby food and formula
Pet food

Other non-perishable items
Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95%) hand wash
Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
Thermometer
Anti-diarrheal medication
Cleansing agent/soap
Flashlight
Batteries
Portable radio
Manual can opener
Garbage bags
Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers
Vitamins
Cash
Family Emergency Health Information Sheet

CAR KIT:
Maps Copies of important documents in a watertight, secure-closing food storage bag Jumper cables and other tools Flares Disaster supply kit. Visit www.ready.gov for information on preparing a kit Nonperishable food and water to last at least 72 hours Bedding and extra clothing Plastic garbage bags, toilet paper and paper towels Seasonal supplies such as insect repellent and sunscreen Games and books for children Extra necessities for anyone with special needs Gather your family and go if you are instructed to evacuate immediately Close and lock doors and windows

DOCUMENTATION:
Vital family records and other important documents, such as birth and marriage certificates; Social Security cards; passports; military discharge papers; wills; deeds; and financial, insurance, and immunization records should be kept in a safe deposit box or other safe location. Make copies of these documents for your disaster supply kit, too.
It is a good idea to have photocopies of the front and back of your driver's license and medical and credit cards, and a copy of a recent utility bill if you need to show proof of residence. Have the name of your insurance company(ies) and policy number(s), and checking account and bank routing numbers. Secure all these documents in a watertight, sealable food storage bag.

I'm sure there are a lot more items you could add, but everthing needs to be kept in a container you can grab and go in case of evacuation. Just having these items in the house isn't good enough!

Charlene,

Where in Central FL do your parents live? I know when Charley hit back in Aug. 2004, Central FL (the Orlando/Kissimmee area) got wind and rain that was almost as bad as what they got along the SW coast. And since FL is a narrow state, even if you live inland (central part) you *still* need to be prepared. We went up there Spring Break 2005 for the weekend and there were no motel rooms anywhere from Ft. Pierce to Kissimmee! We ended up turning around and going home because there were no rooms! We did see the damage that was caused from Charley...motel signs were blown apart, tarps were on roofs, and one Days Inn was out of business (possibly hurricane damage, not sure).

Here in Central TX, we have tornado warnings, and two blew thru Waco (about 40 miles north of us) about a month ago. The second one was an F2 and took out a wall on the Bluebell Ice Cream plant, the roof of a Coca-Cola bottling plant and damaged several homes and businesses. The first one I think they said was an F1 and it damaged a couple homes.

Thank you very much Pam....By your list I am no wheres near prepared as well as I should be.

That is what scares me..the weather & tornado's

They live in Fruitland Park (leesburg area). Since that is slightly above Orlando,(around 45 minutes) do you still consider that central florida or more northern?

I consider Leesburg area Central FL. I would consider Gainesville as being north FL. The Church that we went to iwhen we lived in FL has a camp in Leesburg...I went when I was about 10 or 11 years old for a week in the summer...I got so homesick that I wanted to go home. The next time I went back was for a Youth Rally in 1986...I was in highschool and it was only for a weekend.

Valerie

Pam, what a great idea to remind people and to post that list. I know you had a long summer last year and were away from home forever it seemed. People like you deserve so much credit for putting yourselves "knee deep" in the mix when disaster hits. Wouldn't it be nice if NONE of these predicted storms hit anything significant this year? I think everyone had enough after last year to last a lifetime.

Cathy and Val, Texas is so famous for being "unsettled" when it comes to weather. You guys keep an eye out on each other.

Trish

Trish,

This is the first time in something like 80 years that a tornado has hit the Waco area...actually 2 within a week of each other! We're south of Waco so we didn't see any tornados, but they say we're in the heart of tornado season here, but I doubt they have anything like the F4 or F5s that you see on the news that hit Kansas and Oklahoma.

Just praying that we don't have the devastation like last year. Wouldn't that be wonderful ?

My oldest brother ( Ed ) runs a Lutherun volunteer camp in New Orlleans. They average 150 volunteers living in tents ( camper trailers for the longer term volunteers ). Spoke to him Sat. while he was back up for one of his girls birthday. At first word of a hurricane they plan to drop the tents and put everybody on the road. Of course they have not broken down any of the tents since they went up 7 months ago. Told Ed I'd be headed down there to kick his *** if he did not put the girls in a vehicle headed home at the first word of a storm.

Bruce

We live on Florida's southwest coast and have certainly seen our share of hurricanes in the last two years. I think if there had been one more after Wilma, I would have been heading back to Missouri and taking my chances with the tornados. My husband also works for FEMA, he's been in Gulf Port, MS since Feb. and we take no chances. Twice we've moved everything off the floors, covered windows and such, but have been really lucky. Besides him working for FEMA now, for many years we worked catastrophe insurance claims and know how horrible these storms are and how they devestate everyone. Everyone needs to be aware that hurricanes can change direction in a matter of hours and all of us anywhere near the coast are vulnerable.

Charlene,
Fruitland Park is Central Florida- my dad grew up right in hte Leesburg/Clermont area and now lives in Tavares- just a couple of towns over from your folks. They get the rain and some wind, but not the "real" hurricane. Think they lost power only once during the hurricane season last year.

I love going there and staying there with them, Besides their company its very close to everything I want to do in central Florida...Still, everytime there is a hurricaine I always panic, regardless. Even if they are inland I think its the tornado's that scare me more...


Not to veer off subject here, but I really love that town Mt.Dora...What a gorgeous little village that is...I love going there and shopping is nice...

It is a quaint little town, isn't it? I love that area because of the beautiful lakes- my dad and stepmom lived right on Lake Harris- but they sold it last year to move into a 55+ community just up the road. They're not right on the lake anymore, but have access to it through one of the many canals that connects to it.

I have family that lives in the Mt. Dora area. My late Aunt (actually my mom's Aunt) had an Antique Store there. I've never personally been to the area, but my Uncle (mom's brother) goes up there all the time to visit cousins that are still in the area. And my mom, stepfather, sister, bil, and neice went to a little tiny town near there over Thanksgiving for a Family Reunion. We didn't go because we had just moved here a few months earlier. I think if we ever do get back to FL, especially Central FL, I'd like to see Mt. Dora and see if I can find anything in the way of antique jewelry. When my Aunt (grandmother's sister) from CA was here, she brought me a lot of old jewelry that she had. Some of it isn't real good jewelry, but she had a couple bracelets that she gave me that she said were probably around 100 years old! The way the stones are set, they could be pretty good bracelets, but I can tell that one of them is missing at least one, if not two, stones.

Valerie

Valerie,

You won't be disappointed at all if you went there, Its beautiful rolling hills, gorgeous view of the lake, shopping is great, coffee shop's, eatery's with open concept..I've been in a couple of their antiques stores ..They are very nice. I really love it there, To me, It doesn't seem like Florida at all....lol...If that makes any sense...It's a gem thats for sure...

I do and we're always prepared when Hurricane Season rolls around. We lock the doors and leave. Hey, we're not stupid.