Hurricanes

Lake County Emergency Management Citizen information line: 352-253-9999

Hurricane season in Florida runs June 1 through November 30, with the peak activity period beginning in mid-August and continuing through mid-October.

Living in Central Florida we expect the unexpected when it comes to our weather forecast. The most unpredictable season for us is Hurricane Season. Experience has taught us that the best thing to do before a hurricane is prepare, so you can be confident during a storm that you've done everything you can to keep your family safe.

First and most importantly, heed the warnings of government officials and be aware of approaching storms:

It's important to know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.

A Hurricane Watch indicates that hurricane conditions are possible, generally within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Warning indicates that hurricane conditions are anticipated, usually within 24 hours. Evacuate if needed.

If you are going to stay and shelter in place, be prepared to be on your own during the storm. First responders will not be available if the storm is too bad. That bears repeating . . . . you will be on your own in the event a storm is too severe, first responders will not be able to help you.

When a hurricane watch is issued, re-check your emergency supplies to make sure you have what you need; restock if necessary.

Prescriptions (for several weeks)
Medications (for several weeks)
Special needs for infants, senior citizens or those with disabilities
Pets

Preparation Tasks

Gather your important papers, including insurance policies, and place them in plastic bags or other waterproof material and keep them with you during the storm.
Wedge sliding glass doors to prevent them from being blown off tracks.
Check for loose rain gutters and down spouts.
Turn up refrigerators and freezers to maximum cold.
Disinfect a bathtub in your home and fill it with water to use for washing dishes and flushing toilets.
Since storms tend to disrupt services we generally rely on:
- Fuel up your vehicles.
- If you have a propane grill, fill those tanks so you can cook.
- Get cash from an ATM or bank in advance of the storm.

Do not consume alcoholic beverages. If a hurricane is churning close by, you'll need your wits about you.

Home Preparation

Home Preparation:

Store 1 gallon of water per day for each family member, add additional water for pets. Plan for at least three to seven days before normal services are restored.

Stock up on non-perishable food and beverages.Select foods that require no refrigeration, cooking or preparation.
Shop at stores that specialize in outdoor gear for freeze-dried foods such as dehydrated eggs (add water, seasonings)
Buy tough-skinned fruits and vegetables. Citrus, carrots and apples are good examples. The harder the fruit, the better it keeps.
Stock high-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, unsalted nuts, health-food bars and trail mix.
Choose smoked or dried meats.
Buy instant drinks such as powdered, canned milk or shelf-stable milk, instant coffee and tea. Grab a couple of packs of soft drinks and juice boxes as treats for the kids too.
Buy stress-relief foods such as sugar cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals and Jiffy Pop popcorn.
Write out a basic meal plan and store in a sealable plastic bag. Consider in this plan that you may not have a prolonged time without power.
Gather the essentials. A manual can opener, a heavy-bottomed pan that can be placed on your grill, sheet pans that can be used on your grill, oven mitts, matches stashed in sealable plastic bags, cooking tools, grill fuel, moist towelettes, paper towels, gel fuel such as Sterno, a grill light or flashlight designated for cooking, pet food, paper plates and plastic utensils.

First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit:

Stock a first-aid kit and store in a waterproof container. Make sure at a minimum it contains the following items:

First-aid manual
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
Sterile gauze pads and roller bandages in a variety of sizes.
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape.
Scissors and tweezers.
Needle, for sewing and removing splinters.
Bars of soap in plastic bags or waterproof containers.
Moist towelettes.
Antiseptic spray.
Hydrogen peroxide.
Rubbing alcohol.
Iodine.
Thermometer
Petroleum jelly to relieve itching.
Ointments for burns and cuts.
Latex gloves.
Aspirin, acetaminophen and antacid tablets.

Pets

Pets:

Please make arrangements for your pets. It is recommended that you keep them with you, if possible. Make sure you attach some form of ID on them and have a current picture in the event they get separated from you. Remember, they will be just as uncomfortable as you.

During the Storm

During the storm:

Stay away from windows and doors. Identify a “safe room” in your home where you can stay during the hurricane. Choose a room with no doors or windows, like a closet.
Bring a mattress into the room and use it for additional protection against falling debris.
Expect to lose power. Make sure you have flashlights within reach in your safe room.
Never venture outside during the storm. Flying debris may cause serious injury or death.
Be aware of the hurricane's “eye” passing overhead. A brief period of calm will be followed by winds blowing in the opposite direction and damage may be greater.
Stay away from rising water. Water may also contain raw sewage.
Fallen power lines may still be "hot" and electrocution can occur.

Generator Safety Tips

Generator Safety Tips:

When using a portable electric generator, remember these important safety precautions.

Never connect a portable electric generator directly to your home wiring. This could cause the generator to backfeed onto the powerlines connected to your home. A nearby utility transformer could increase this backfeed and cause damage directly to the transformer or to repair crews working on lines several blocks away from your home.
Never plug a portable electric generator into a regular household outlet. Generators are not powerful enough to provide energy to an entire home. Connect only essential electrical equipment directly into the generator.
Do not overload the generator. Choose electrical equipment essential to remaining comfortable while the power company works to restore your power.
When purchasing a portable generator, choose one that produces more power than will be drawn by the combination of lighting, appliances and equipment you plan to connect to it.
Use proper power cords to attach appliances to the generator. Use outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for appliance overload.
To prevent electric shock, make sure the generator is properly grounded.
Never use a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage. Generators use an internal combustion engine that emits deadly carbon monoxide. Run the generator in a well-ventilated, dry area away from intakes into the home and protected from rain; an ideal spot would be under a canopy or in an open shed.
Install carbon monoxide alarms inside your home as a protection against the gas emitted from generators.
Store generator fuel outside of living areas in a properly labeled, non-glass safety container. Vapor from gasoline can travel undetected and be ignited by pilot lighters or sparks.
Never refuel a generator while it is running; wait until it has cooled down. Guard against burns; generator engines are hot.
Before shutting a generator down, turn off all appliances that are connected to it.

Price Gouging

Price Gouging:

Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of commodities (price gouging) such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber, and equipment necessary for use as a direct result of an officially declared emergency such as a hurricane.

Under Florida statutes, a commodity price is unconscionable if it represents a gross disparity from the average price of that commodity during the 30 days immediately prior to the emergency.

This standard applies unless the increase is attributable to additional costs incurred by the seller or to national or international market trends.

If you suspect price gouging, call the Florida Attorney General's Price Gouging Hotline at 1-800-646-0444 or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Hotline at 1-800-435-7352. You can also file information online at www.myfloridalegal.com or https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services.

State investigators follow up on complaints and take any additional action necessary. Local law enforcement officers do not have the legal authority to make arrests in these cases.

Price gouging is subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24 hour period.