Hurricane Guides Available, Expo Planned May 21 at MOSI

If there is one thing the tornado storms last month taught people, it's the need to have an emergency plan and be prepared to act in the event of a disaster. 

Less than a month away is hurricane season in Florida. And while no one can predict if the Tampa Bay area will get hit, everyone can take steps to be prepared for this threat.

To help residents prepare, Hillsborough County has released the "2011 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area," both in English and Spanish, to local post offices and libraries, with local fire stations receiving them in the coming weeks. The guides are also available online at www.tbrpc.org/tampabaydisaster/hurricane_guide2011/HG_2011.html

This "2011 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area" covers all aspects of hurricane preparedness. The main points local emergency managers want residents to know is which evacuation zone they live in, and what they are going to do when an evacuation is recommended.

"There are a lot of advantages to living in the Tampa Bay area," said Jeff Copeland, interim director of Emergency Management for Hillsborough County. "But one of the challenges we face every year is preparing for hurricane season. Ultimately, it boils down to personal accountability and having a plan. If you are physically and financially able to take care of yourself and your family, then you need to sit down and come up with a plan to do so. That way we can focus on helping those folks who can't."

Hurricane Season runs June 1 through Nov. 30.

Another opportunity to get the "2011 Hurricane Guide, The Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area" and hurricane preparedness questions answered is on Saturday, May 21, at theTampa Bay Hurricane Expo at the Museum of Science & Industry. This free event is co-sponsored by Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and MOSI.

For information, visit www.TampaBayHurricaneExpo.com.