Hurricane season 2006

June 1st marked the beginning of this year's official hurricane season. If you are elderly and living in Pinellas County, or you are a concerned loved one of an elderly resident of Pinellas County, you need to be prepared. All weather related data indicates we are in for another overactive, potentially damaging, hurricane season.

If you are a newcomer to Pinellas County, Florida and have never had to think about hurricane preparedness before, you need to "get with it". Hurricanes are a fact of life here. Just as northerners prepare for blizzards, southerners prepare for hurricanes.

Planning for hurricanes means you need to make sure you have enough water to last your household for a few days. Your water supply will be used for drinking, and may be needed for sponge baths, and possibly to help prepare some quick preparation type foods. Consider the daily needs of your pets too when you're deciding how much water you'll need to have on hand. If those reasons don't motivate you, how about figuring out how you'll flush the toilet if you don't have water around!

Bad storms and hurricanes can both cause power outages. If you live in an all electric home or apartment building, you need to prepare for this.

No electricity means no lights, no stove, no microwave, no air conditioner, no fan, no tv, no radio. You'll need flashlights and a good supply of batteries. Candles are ok but have their own risks. If you have a fire while the hurricane is overhead and even emergency personnel aren't allowed to respond to calls, you've got even bigger problems.

If you have special needs, there is a program called The Pinellas County Special Needs/Evacuation Assistance Program. It's for people who have no other evacuation plan, (driving out of town, flying out of town, driving to higher ground, staying with relatives, going to a friend's house which is safer), who will be best off going to a public emergency shelter. You can get transportation to regular shelters, or shelters that are set up for people who need oxygen or more help than the average person.

You'll need to fill out a form. Then, the County Health Department will let you know if you need a regular shelter or one that has health care professionals on hand. If you need oxygen, you'll need a special needs shelter. You'll have to bring your own medicines, pillow and blanket, and personal items.

If you haven't registered yet it's not too late. You need to call the closest fire department and tell them you want to sign up.

If you have computer access you can request these forms at www.pinellascounty.org/forms/specialneeds.htm.

If you have questions about this program, please call either Emergency Management at (727) 464-3800 or the Pinellas County Health Department at (727) 824-6973.

All Floridians need to be prepared for the hurricane season. It's already started.

Jane Ogilvie