Hurricane Season has started; Are you prepared?
June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season, and until the end of November, one should be prepared with home protection and emergency kits. According to floridadisasters.org, Florida residents should have an emergency kit that will last at least 7 days, with supplies such as food, water, batteries, medicine, and anything else you feel is necessary.
Follow this checklist to ensure the safety of you and your family during hurricane season:
Some more ways you can prepare:
Create a plan
Draw up an evacuation route
Research shelters close by
Stay connected with friends, family, and neighbors
Review your insurance coverage
Secure your home
Tie down loose furniture and décor
Reinforce doors, windows, and garages
Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed to prevent damage
Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
Runs June 1st-14th and August 24th-September 6th
Any purchases made for hurricane preparation during these times can qualify for tax exemption
Visit https://floridarevenue.com/disasterprep/Pages/default.aspx?cid=insu_fld_e_se_hurricane-prep for more information
Other things to note:
Peak hurricane season starts mid August until mid October
Check the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to plan for the intensity of the hurricane
Hurricane Winds have a high impact on destruction of homes
Since Florida has a flat terrain, storm winds do not weaken the same as other areas as the storm makes landfall (Florida Climate University)
Storm surges happen when water is pushed towards the shore as the hurricane moves
Check https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/ for your evacuation zone
Information gathered from floridadisaster.org and climatecenter.fsu.edu