Forecasters predict a very busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. Florida Polytechnic University urges its students and employees to take early actions to prepare for possible storm impacts.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a high probability of 13 to 20 named storms this season. Of those, six to 10 are expected to become hurricanes with top winds of at least 74 miles per hour, and three to five are predicted to be major categories at Category 3 or above.
Acting now can prevent stress and help avoid a potentially dangerous situation if a hurricane impacts the region. The following links are useful to prepare and stay informed.
Sign up or update your Florida Poly Alerts contact information to receive important messages if a hurricane or other serious event could affect Florida Poly. This is the primary method of official University communication in the event of an emergency. Email will serve as a secondary means of communication.
The annual Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is now through June 6. Visit this link to learn about what items are included in the event.
Create an emergency kit. The Florida Division of Emergency Management developed a guide to assist you in creating an emergency supplies kit to last you and your family for at least seven days.
Make a plan. Those who have a disaster plan in place can minimize confusion and worry during a hurricane. Forbes has created an extensive checklist that can help you be prepared.
Stay informed. In addition to listening to the battery-operated radio in your emergency kit, it’s important to monitor resources such as the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and local weather resources. You also can call 211 during a disaster to get information about emergency shelters, food distribution, grief counseling, clean up, and more.
For more local information, visit Polk County’s disaster preparedness website.
Monitor Florida Poly’s website and social media for important information that may affect you as storms approach throughout the season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
