Disaster Preparedness

Are You Prepared?

As Floridians, we are not strangers to the terrible power and ravages of hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Do you have a disaster preparedness plan in place? If not, information and tips for building a plan are available at the below websites.

  1. Know your home! Click here for steps homeowners can take to minimize hurricane damage. 

  2. Know your evacuation zone!
  3. Make a plan. Click on the below images for tips and instructons on building a plan for your family or business. 

Visit https://floridadisaster.org/planprepare        Visit https://www.ready.gov/

Follow the National Weather Service's (NWS) watches and warnings. You can find more information about these risks on ready.gov/hurricanes

Websites such as FL511.com provide live traffic updates and safe evacuation routes during storms. It’s also important to keep a list of contact information for reference, including loved ones, local utilities, local hospitals, TV and radio stations, and insurance agents.

If you or a loved one have special medical needs, make sure you’re on Florida’s Special Needs Registry. This provides local emergency response officials and first responders with vital information when planning shelter locations and how to contact you with important information or to provide assistance. 

Make sure you have an Emergency Supplies Kit as well.

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Click here for a checklist of basic supplies your emergency kit should include.

Please assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency! You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. In these instances, you will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency.  Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.

Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages. State officials and experts recommend having food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for up to 7 days.

Stay Informed of Local Weather and Disaster Advisories

I will also keep constituents informed of disaster assistance efforts in Central Florida through social media and my weekly e-newsletter the Webster Wire.  Be sure to also follow up-to-date advisories on storms through local emergency management centers listed below. Download this information sheet of contact numbers, addresses, and links to key federal, state and local offices.

Other Social Channels to follow:

Important Phone Numbers

EMERGENCY (Fire, Police, Medical): 911

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): 1-800-621-3362
Florida Emergency Information Hotline: 1-800-342-3557 (24 HRS)
Florida Housing Search: 1-877-428-8844
Florida Attorney General's Price Gouging Hotline: 1-866-966-7226
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Center: 1-800-659-2955

Local Emergency Management Resources

Lake County Emergency Management Center

425 W. Alfred St.

Tavares, FL 32778

352-343-9420

Orange County Emergency Management Center

6590 Amory Ct

Winter Park, FL 32792

407-836-9140

Polk County Emergency Management Center

1890 Jim Keene Blvd

Winter Haven, FL 33880

863-298-7000

Toll Free: 800-780-5346

Sumter County Emergency Management Center

7375 Powell Road

Wildwood, FL 34785 

352-689-4400

What To Do After the Hurricane

  • Listen to local officials for updates and instructions.

  • Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.

  • Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

  • Watch out for debris and downed power lines.

  • Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

  • Avoid flood water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.

  • Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property, (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), as insurance may not cover additional damage that occurs after the storm.