Prepare for Hurricane Season Before the Storm
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season is here and living in Florida means extra precautions are needed during this time of year. Preparing in advance of a storm means you’ll be ready for whatever comes our way. Pasco Sheriff’s Office has resources to assist during and after these storms, but preparing ahead can go a long way in helping to ensure your safety, as well as a quick recovery after a catastrophic event.
Start hurricane season off right by preparing your emergency kit before a storm threatens our area. Ensure it has enough supplies to last each person in your family for a few days. Important items to include are a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit and medications. Don’t forget your pets in your emergency kit! Find a comprehensive list of items to include at Ready.gov/kit. During hurricane season, remember to have cash on hand in the event there’s no power. Make copies of important documents, including insurance information, and store them in a waterproof container.
When considering storm plans, determine if you’re in an evacuation zone. For Pasco County, you can find this information on the Pasco County Government’s website at PascoCountyFL.net. If you plan to evacuate ahead of a storm, know where you’ll go and tell friends and family your plans. Adhere to orders issued by local authorities; this helps ensure your safety as rescue crews may not be able to get to you during a storm, or potentially for some time after.
Once a storm passes, it may take time for crews to assess areas for safety. Though it may be tempting to go out quickly after a storm to determine damage for yourself, there may be hidden dangers, such as downed trees on top of power lines or wildlife lurking in floodwaters. Use extra caution when reviewing your property for damage and call for help. To prevent injuries while clearing storm damage, use safety gear such as protective eyewear and gloves.
Pasco Sheriff’s Office has a specialized team which assists in a variety of situations, including natural disasters. PSO’s Deployable Emergency Response Team includes high water rescue vehicles, vehicles that can travel to areas which aren’t accessible by other means, boats, mobile commands and more. This ensures that PSO is ready to answer the call to serve our citizens when they need us most. The team also has their own generators, and even a kitchen, to ensure our impact on our community’s potentially limited resources is minimal.
Following a disaster, Pasco County comes together to assist when others need it most. PSO’s Citizen Response Unit consists of volunteers that share their time, talents and resources with our community to provide support and relief quickly after a catastrophic event. PSO also has a volunteer Jeep Search and Rescue Unit that comes to the county’s aid before and after a storm. Those who want to help out fellow citizens and PSO alike can apply to PSO’s volunteer units by filling out a volunteer application at JoinPSO.com!
Sadly, criminals will try to capitalize on disasters, usually through fraud or scams. Before any repair work is done on your home, determine if the person or company doing the work is a licensed contractor. Unlicensed contractors can place citizens at risk of poor quality work or noncompliance with building codes. Property owners can also become liable for injuries, have limited resources in the event of a broken contract and may become the victim of scams. Be wary of scams attempting to get you to donate to disaster relief funds as well.
Taking time to prepare before a storm affects our area can have a big impact on your safety. PSO is ready to serve in the wake of a storm, but hurricane season means everyone must stay prepared. Together, we can stay safe during Hurricane Season!
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