Thursday, January 19, 2017

Severe Weather Exercise January 25

HENDRY COUNTY, FL. -- The 2017 Severe Weather Awareness Week will be held January 23 - 27, 2017. The goal of Severe Weather Awareness Week is to promote preparedness by all Floridians for all types of hazards. On Wednesday January 25th, 2017 around 10:10 am, Hendry County Emergency Management will participate in the largest community Tornado Drill in the State of Florida.

This mass tornado drill event was originally started and hosted by Seminole County Emergency Management. This is the second year for this event, and it has garnered participation from state and local community leaders throughout Florida.

Historically, January to April marks the time of the year in which the most deadly tornados have impacted the State of Florida. Florida is recorded as one of the top locations in the country for tornado frequency, often occurring due to the colliding of coastal sea breezes and approaching cold fronts.

This year, the plan is to involve the schools and healthcare facilities to ensure preparedness planning for tornados in order to protect our most vulnerable populations. Hendry County Emergency Management would like for you to be a part of this event.

On Wednesday, January 25th, 2017 around 10:10 am a NOAA weather radio will play a special alert advising participants to locate their tornado safe area and practice their tornado plan. Participants will also receive alerts via the Prepare Hendry mass notification system. At that time, participants should locate a safe area wherever they happen to be. A safe area is the lowest level floor in the most interior room possible without windows (a closet, a pantry, an interior hallway, etc.).

Once in the safe area, participants should snap a selfie and post it in Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hash tags: #tornadodrill as well as #preparehendry. Let’s take this opportunity to make preparedness a fun activity.

“Severe weather can strike anywhere and with little to no warning. Living in Southwest Florida, residents must be prepared to protect themselves and their loved ones at a moment’s notice. Hendry County Emergency Management works hard to provide useful information to our residents in a timely manner through multiple means, but ultimately, your safety depends on you taking the right protective action at the right time. Information is power,” said Emergency Management Director Brian Newhouse.

“A great way to stay in the know and to stay safe is to sign up for free alerts of all kinds through Hendry County’s mass notification system known as ‘Prepare Hendry’, and by following us on social media. An additional free resource that is excellent is the FEMA mobile app available from your favorite app store.” Added Newhouse.

To register your home telephone, cell phone, and email address with the Prepare Hendry emergency alert system use this link:

https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736724664#/login

or text HENDRYFLA to 88877 from your cell phone

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