My fellow Floridians,
Hurricane Milton is now a Category 4 storm. As this hurricane approaches Florida, I want to share important resources for keeping you and your families safe.
Stay informed.
Download the free FEMA App, available in English and Spanish, to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in your area. You can find more information on hurricane preparedness at Ready.gov and Listo.gov in Spanish.
You can also sign up for emergency alerts and other public safety notifications in your community at https://apps.floridadisaster.org/alertflorida/.
Be aware of these important numbers:
Broward County Emergency Management – 954-831-3900
Palm Beach County Emergency Management – 561-712-6400
Federal Emergency Management Agency – 800-480-2520
Florida Division of Emergency Management – 800-354-3571
Keep gas tanks half-full.
Florida residents and visitors are advised to keep their gas tanks at least half-full to ensure they have enough to evacuate without encountering long lines or gas shortages. Electric vehicle owners should maintain their batteries between 50% and 80% capacity.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low-lying areas at bridges and highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle or fall if you are walking through it. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
Stay out of floodwater.
Walking, swimming, or driving through flood waters is extremely dangerous. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as wild or stray animals, human and livestock waste, and chemicals that can lead to illness.
Ensure any at-risk person you know is on the
Vulnerable Population Registry.
Our ability to prepare for storms like this helps to mitigate damage and danger. It’s critical for all Floridians to continue tracking updates on this storm and to follow evacuation orders from their local emergency managers.
Sincerely,
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