Word of the Week - Ian

Tampa Bay is now under a Hurricane Warning. A hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Bend area of Florida. The expected landfall of Hurricane Ian is later this week. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for much of Southwest FL, and Tropical Storm Watches are in effect from Orlando to the central/northern East Coast (Fort Pierce to Jacksonville). Hurricane Ian is a dangerous storm that could cause significant damage to families and communities in the coming days. Extremely high winds are expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning, along with rain or storm surge flooding when it approaches Florida's Gulf Coast later this week. The American Red Cross has already started preparation for response missions on assets such as sheltering people against danger during these storms; giving them food if needed because many will be left stranded without electricity too - which means they'll lack not only water but also basic amenities like blankets warmth clothes first aid kits etc.; relieving their suffering until emergency services arrive at your location. Evacuate as soon as possible Suppose you are in the area of impact. Take precautions; if evacuation is necessary now before roads are congested. Based on the current projected path, northern evacuation routes appear riskier if leaving is delayed. If you remain in an evacuation zone and need assistance. You cannot call for help. No one will come if you live in areas A or B for mandatory evacuation. If you live in a mobile home or evacuation Zone A and B, seek shelter. Contact your county office of emergency management for shelter locations and requirements. Text a Shelter Individuals can text "shelter" and their zip code to 43362 to receive a list of nearby shelters within 200 miles. Users will be able to view directions on the shelter address once clicked. However, this may not work if cell towers are not transmitting or internet access is unavailable. Load this number into your phone for future reference. Tampa International Airport will stop all operations at 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 27th, to secure its airfield and terminals ahead of Hurricane Ian's expected landfall later this week. Families should be prepared to take care of themselves and their loved ones and find shelter if it's needed or wanted during this storm season! My love, good wishes, and prayers go out to my family, friends, and loved ones in Florida. Additional Information: https://www.emergencyactionplanning.com/2022/01/24/20220124-word-of-the-week-evacuation/ https://anchor.fm/daniel-kilburn/episodes/Evacuation-Routes-eg55oi Till next time "Be safe" P.S. Are you curious? Take the free Disaster and Emergency Assessment. Learn your strengths and areas for improvement in your family disaster plans. https://www.eapworkshop.com/f/dep-assessment