SITREP - August 31st, 2016

Quick note about the impending storm.  I know that sometimes the weatherman has a tendency to get us all riled up about a storm only for it to be much less significant than promised. But, let’s not let a few missed marks in the past impede our preparation for what Tropical Storm Hermine could bring over the coming days. 

Set to hit landfall around noon tomorrow, Hermine is projected to bring up to a foot of rain to some parts of our community. A Tropical Storm of this magnitude brings with it the possibility of flooding, power outages, waterspouts and tornadoes – all scenarios that can do damage to our property, or worse, harm one of our loved ones. 

The reason I am taking this so seriously is threefold. For starters, I know how susceptible parts of our District are to flooding. With many homes located near the coast and other bodies of water, we know it doesn’t take much for flooding to become a huge problem very quickly. Second, Governor Rick Scott has declared a State of Emergency for each one of the counties I represent – Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Lake and Marion – in what is the first official hurricane watch in four years. And if that doesn’t seem serious enough, the NFL moved a Buccaneers preseason game scheduled for Thursday up a day to tonight. That is no small feat, but it's a wise decision. Folks are not taking any chances out there and neither should you. 

This may not be groundbreaking advice – I recognize that many of you are experienced Floridians and have seen a storm or two in your time. But, I urge everyone to have some sort of plan in place, even if it may feel redundant or unnecessary. Chat with your neighbors, check in with family, maybe grab a few necessary supplies prior to rainfall and most importantly, make sure there is a cohesive strategy in place should things turn for the absolute worst. 

To that end, The State of Florida actually has a really useful website specifically dedicated to helping you make sure that you and anyone in your household are as organized and as prepared as possible. It only takes a few minutes to fill out and could prove incredibly useful should Hermine bring what is expected. Click the following to get your personalized emergency management plan: http://flgetaplan.com/.

And if there is any help my office can offer, please feel free to reach out. 

Sincerely,
Rich Nugent
Member of Congress