Hillsborough County is steeling itself for the forces of nature, bracing for everything from lightning strikes to hurricanes, and it's asking residents to take note. The call to action comes as the county partners with state emergency officials to promote the impending Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week, offering residents a chance to brush up on their disaster preparedness next week from Monday to Friday. Each day of the themed week focuses on a different natural hazard, starting with lightning safety on Monday and wrapping up with advice on coping with temperature extremes and wildfires by Friday, Hillsborough County officials announced.
Getting to the nitty-gritty, Tuesday's spotlight is on marine hazards and rip currents; where it’s suggested that, ideally, one should swim at beaches with lifeguards and heed the warning flags, Wednesday will delve into thunderstorms and tornadoes, emphasizing the importance of structural safety and being alert to severe weather notifications; whereas Thursday takes a solid stance on hurricanes and flood prep – think proactively making disaster plans, stockpiling supplies, and knowing your insurance coverage, and when Friday arrives, it's time to talk about keeping pets warm, considering plant sensitivity, and understanding wildfire evacuation protocols when they're needed, according to the detailed schedule set forth by county officials.
But the county's push for safety doesn't stop at daily advisories. A key component of being disaster-ready as promulgated by Hillsborough County emergency managers is for residents, businesses, and even just visitors to sign up for HCFL Alert – the county's official emergency notification system. This isn't your average alert system; it does more than just ping your phone in a crisis, offering a bevy of useful, opt-in notifications ranging from road closures to grant opportunities. Residents are encouraged to use Hillsborough County's Annual Disaster Guide to familiarize themselves with potential natural hazards, as aptly communicated in their recent release.
Residents interested in further information or in signing up for HCFL Alert can do so by visiting the County's Office of Emergency Management website.
