Hurricane season officially starts June 1st in Florida and runs through November 30. Please take all necessary precautions to remain safe.
Here are some precautions that FEMA suggests:
- To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
- Know your surroundings.
- Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
- Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
- Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
- Make plans to secure your property:
- Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
- Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
- Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
- Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
- Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
- Determine how and where to secure your boat.
- Install a generator for emergencies.
- If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
For details on how to best prepare for a hurricane, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Association's www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
For Power Outages:
Duke Energy
TECO
Lakeland
Current outages in the Lakeland Electric service territory: http://www.lakelandelectric.com/Residential/CustomerService/PowerOutageTracker/tabid/484/Default.aspx
To report an outage or fallen power lines, call their 24-hour automated toll-free line at 1-866-834-4248.
Bartow
• During the day (7a.m. – 5p.m.) Call 863-534-0134 or 863-534-0142
• After 5p.m. Call 863-534-0134 and it will be routed to the police department to dispatch to the electric utility.
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