Hurricane Preparedness Week: Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

5/26/2021 (Permalink)

Have an evacuation plan & sign up for severe weather alerts to get ready for hurricane season!

With hurricane season quickly approaching, now is the time to prepare your homes and businesses. Day 4 of Hurricane Prep Week is about being informed - get an evacuation plan in place and know where to receive timely, reliable emergency alerts for the Alachua County area so you are never caught by surprise.

Even if you don’t live near the coast, evacuation may be recommended depending on your type of residence or special medical needs. If you don’t have friends or family to stay with or can’t travel away from the storm’s path, know where your nearest emergency shelter is located and what you’ll need to bring. You can find information about Alachua County emergency shelters at https://www.alachuacounty.us/depts/em/preparedness/pages/emergency-shelters.aspx. If you have pets, be sure to locate a shelter that accepts them. Alachua County doesn’t have designated evacuation zones, but the County may still issue evacuation orders, so sign up for alerts.

The good thing about hurricanes is we usually have an idea well in advance if a storm is potentially heading our way. Staying informed about approaching storms (typically hurricanes and tornadoes in our region) can help you prepare ahead of time and avoid crowds and lengthy lines to stock up at the stores and gas pumps. You can download the FEMA app to receive real time alerts from the National Weather Service at https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app-text-messages. Alachua County Emergency Management also has a local emergency notification system you can sign up for at https://www.alachuacounty.us/depts/em/preparedness/pages/personal-preparedness.aspx

During a hurricane, extended power loss is common so you may be unable to rely on mobile alerts or internet access for updates. A simple weather radio can provide reliable information for your area during a bad storm. 

Having your hurricane preparation in place will give you peace of mind during hurricane season. If you’re a business owner, don’t forget to call us at 352-374-6589 to set up your free ERP (Emergency Ready Profile). If your home or commercial property suffers storm or water damage, we will be standing by ready to help with emergency restoration!