Hurricane Preparedness Workshop Planned Saturday at St. Stephen

It's hurricane season. Are you prepared?

To help residents get ready for hurricane season, St. Stephen Catholic Church, 5049 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico, is hosting a hurricane preparedness workshop Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The presenter will be Scott Dunlap, chief of administration for Hillsborough County Emergency Management.

Dunlap will cover topics ranging from evaculation plans and local shelter to what supplies you need to prepare for a hurricane and what resources are available after a hurricane strikes.

Florida's six-month hurricane season started June 1, and the National Hurricane Center is predicting an active season for the state.

Among the center's predictions are:

• 12-18 named storms,
• 6-10 hurricanes, and
• 3-6 major hurricanes with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or higher (Categories 3, 4 or 5).

Here's some Websites that will help residents prepare:

EVACUATION
Know your evacuation level. Find yours at - http://gisweb.hillsboroughcounty.org/heat/
Find out what fire station and hospital is closest to your house. Best to know before you need it – http://gisweb.hillsboroughcounty.org/heat/
Check out the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool to find your property –
http://arcims-prod.hillsboroughcounty.org/website/htmlviewer/heat/cf.htm?Title=Hurricane%20Evacuation%20Assessment%20Tool
There are many things you should be aware of when returning home - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/info/flooding.cfm?oid=05
 
GUIDES
Pick up your 2011 Hurricane Guide, the Official Guide For The Tampa Bay Area, at local post offices and libraries, or view it online at - www.tbrpc.org/tampabaydisaster/hurricane_guide2011/HG_2011.html·         You can start shopping for your hurricane supplies now. Don’t know what to buy? Here is a weekly list to help spread out the costs - http://bit.ly/140cWK

SPECIAL NEEDS
Have a family member who need special assistance to evacuate? Find out many of the requirements at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/hurricaneinfo/disabledprep.cfm 

BUSINESSES
Do you have your business? Find out what you need at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/hurricaneinfo/businessprep.cfm 

PETS
Have a pet? Plan for them, too. Find out more at - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/information/disaster.cfm
Need to shelter your pet. Great pet sheltering preparation tips are found at  - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/programsservices/shelteringpets.cfm
Hurricane Season runs June 1 through Nov. 30.