2010s6-nbrevardhurr

2 North BREVARDHOMETOWN NEWS Friday, May 28, 2010HURRICANE GUIDE - 2010

Letter from the American Red Cross Mid-Florida As we have seen around the world,

and in our own backyards, thepotential for a devastating disaster

lingers at every turn. What if such anemergency affected your home or busi-ness? How would you handle a crisis?

Preparedness and prevention is thekey to answering these questions and itshould be at the forefront of all of ourminds as we enter another hurricaneseason. And this year, the American RedCross wants you to be calm before thestorm.

Being prepared is what this specialedition of Hometown News is all about.With the information you find here, youcan learn what steps to take before astorm approaches to ensure you, yourfamily, and your business are ready forhurricane season and any other disaster.

As you flip through these pages, payattention to the valuable insights of ourRed Cross volunteers, our disaster andshelter plans, and the detailed descrip-tion of the supplies you’ll need.

It is the goal of the American Red CrossMid-Florida Region, as a leader inresponse and preparedness with morethan 90 years in Central Florida, to

provide services inthe wake of adisaster. But theRed Cross offersso much more. Weare also here toprovide healthand safety trainingand communica-tions for ourservicemen andwomen everysingle day of theyear. The work of

the Red Cross is carried out by the morethan 1,500 volunteers within the Mid-Florida Region who work together toserve not just Brevard County but Citrus,Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Lake,Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Semi-nole, Sumter, and Volusia. It’s a networkof neighbors helping neighbors whetherit’s down the street, across the country oraround the world.

The American Red Cross works tochange lives in our communities – andthis wouldn’t be possible without you.Disaster victims are able to sleep in a safeenvironment and feed themselves, and

their children, because of your valuabledonations. Members of our armed forcesand their families are able to reach eachother while experiencing a loss orcelebrating a birth because of you. And agood Samaritan is able to give life-savingCPR to someone who suddenly experi-ences cardiac arrest or other emergencybecause of the community’s support. Itstill comes as a surprise to many peoplebut the American Red Cross receives nofederal, state or local tax dollars.

That’s why it’s critically important foreach of you reading this publication toask yourself, “How can I help the RedCross, my neighbors and my communi-ty?”

The answer is simple. You can becomea volunteer. How you help is your choice.You can donate your time or your money.No gift is too small. Even one dollar fromeach member of your family helps.Imagine if everyone in this communitygave that?

You can also help yourself by betterpreparing for hurricane season or anyemergency. Just follow some simplesteps:

Get a Kit. The American Red Cross

recommends everyone stock up with anemergency-preparedness kit thatcontains at least three days worth ofessential items. It should include water(one gallon per person, per day), nonper-ishable food, a flashlight, a battery orcrank powered radio, extra batteries, amanual can opener, cash and importantmedications. Store items in a sturdy,sealable, easy-to-carry container.

Make a plan. The American Red Crossrecommends creating and practicing anevacuation and communications plan.Each person in your household shouldknow how to reach other members andwhere to meet if you can’t go home.

As part of your communications plan,choose an out-of-area relative or friendas an emergency contact and make sureall your household members know howto contact this person.

Choose two meeting places: one rightoutside your home in case you need toescape in a hurry, and one outside yourneighborhood in case you can’t returnhome.

Be informed. Being informed means

Joel Hass

See LETTER, 3

3North BREVARDHOMETOWN NEWS

Friday, May 28, 2010 HURRICANE GUIDE - 2010

finding out what types of disasters arelikely to occur where you live, work andplay, and how you would receive infor-mation from local officials in the event ofa disaster.

Part of being informed is learning firstaid, CPR and how to use an AED, so youhave the skills to respond to an emer-

gency when help is delayed.To learn more about CPR/AED and

first-aid, contact your local Red CrossChapter. You can also register for a classat www.midfloridaredcross.org

Sincerely,

Joel W. HassChief Executive OfficerAmerican Red Cross Mid-Florida Region

LetterFrom page 2

HometownNewsOL.com

Published weekly by Hometown News, L.C., 380 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32935Copyright © 2010, Hometown News , L.C.

Phone (321) 242-1013 • Fax (321) 242-1281Classified (800) 823-0466 • Rants & Raves (866) 242-1276

Circulation Inquiries: 1-866-913-6397 or [email protected] E. Erlanger Vernon D. Smith Tammy RaitsPublisher and C.O.O. Managing Partner Managing Editor

Voted Number 1 Community Newspaper in Americaby the Association of Free Community Papers.


EVACUATION ROUTES

IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVEIf you live near the coast or in a manufactured home or recreational vehicle,

you will almost certainly be ordered to evacuate when a storm threatens. Listen tolocal news reports and have your emergency supplies and important paperspacked and ready to go. When the time comes, make sure your home is lockedand shuttered, and leave!

Here are supplies and tips to helpyou endure hurricanes and othertropical storms:

• Plywood boards and fasteners or hurricane shutters• Water: A gallon per personper day, with a three-day minimum supply; freeze ahead

of time• A two-week supply of nonperishable food; a manualcan opener

• Beverages• Paper plates and cups, plasticutensils

• Emergency cooking equipment• Ice chest filled with ice• Two-week supply of prescription medications

• Toiletries• Emergency cash• AM/FM weather radio• Battery-operated radio ortelevision

• Pillows, bedding, blankets• Batteries• Matches• Cell phone• Flashlights and battery-operated lanterns• Fire extinguisher• First-aid kit• Hammer (in case you need tobreak through debris)

• Paper towels, toilet tissue,facial tissue, baby wipes,

sanitary napkins• Bug spray• Resealable plastic bags• Plastic sheeting• Rope, tarpaulins, tape• Bleach or water purification

tablets• Raincoats, rain hats, umbrellas• Games, cards, puzzles, books,magazines

• Baby supplies, including formula, bottles and diapers•Pet food and supplies, such as litter and pads• Written instructions on how toturn off electricity, gas and

water if authorities advise you to do so• Place important papers in a watertight container• Fill bathtub and containers with water for sanitary use• Fill your vehicle’s gas tankFor more information on hurricane

preparation, contact the SpaceCoast Red Cross at (321) 890-1002, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.mid-floridaredcross.org



Checklist of supplies you’ll needFor Hometown [email protected]

• Space Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross: (321) 890-1002• Brevard County Emergency Management: (321) 637-6670• National Weather Service Melbourne: (321) 255-0212• Brevard County Animal Servicesand Enforcement: (321) 633-2024. For emergencies after hours, (321)633-9880

Non-emergency numbers• For all emergencies dial 911

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency numbers:

• South: (321) 952-6371• South: (772) 663-6269• North: (321) 264-5100• Central: (321) 633-7162• North Precinct,Titusville:(321) 264-5208•West Precinct,Viera: (321) 633-2123• East Precinct, Merritt Island: (321)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

See NUMBERS, 9



AlexBonnieColin

DanielleEarl

FionaGaston

HermineIgorJuliaKarlLisa

MatthewNicole

OttoPaula

RichardSharyTomas

VirginieWalter

Hurricane names for 2010

— National Hurricane Center



454-6652• Canaveral Precinct: (321) 868-1113• South Precinct, Melbourne: (321)253-6658

Non- emergency numbers:

• Palm Bay Police Department: (321) 952-3456• Melbourne Police Department:(321) 409-2200 • West Melbourne Police Department: (321) 723-9673• Melbourne Beach Police Department: (321) 723-4343• Indialantic Police Department:(321) 723-7788• Indian Harbour Beach Police Department: (321) 773-3030

• Satellite Beach Police Department:(321) 773-4400• Cocoa Beach Police/Fire Department: (321) 868-3251• Titusville Police Department: (321)264-7800• Brevard County Fire Rescue: (321)

637-5550• Cape Canaveral Fire Department: (321) 783-4777• Palm Bay Fire Rescue: (321) 409-6300• Malabar Fire Department:(321) 725-1030• Melbourne Fire Department:• Indialantic Fire Department: (321) 723-0366• Indian Harbour Beach Fire/Police Department: (321) 773-3030• Satellite Beach Fire Department:(321) 773-4405• Cocoa Beach Fire/Police Department: (321) 868-3251

NumbersFrom page 5

10North BREVARDHOMETOWN NEWS Friday, May 28, 2010HURRICANE GUIDE - 2010

Primary evacuation shelters

What do you have to do if you need to evacuate from animpending storm?

Locate the evacuation route for your area and plan yourevacuation destination. You are urged to shelter with familyor friends, or at a hotel out of the evacuation area.

Check your disaster supplies kit. Have a full tank of gas inyour car. If you are ordered to evacuate, move valuables tohigher points in your home; turn off gas, electricity andwater. Bring in loose objects and furniture. Tie down storagesheds, boats and trailers and secure your doors and windows.

Leave early, in daylight if possible, and proceed to yourplanned destination. Take valuables such as insurance poli-cies, official records and your personal property inventory. Besure to take cash with you, as ATMs, banks and stores maynot cash checks or honor credit cards.

Remember, you will not be asked to leave your homeunless you are seriously threatened. When you are ordered toevacuate, go immediately. Monitor television and radio newsbroadcasts for information updates. Purchase an NOAAweather alert radio to listen for immediate severe weatherinformation year-round.

Please note: Not all shelters may be open during a storm.Please call the Brevard County Office of Emergency Manage-ment at (321) 637-6670 or (321) 637-6674 to see if the shelternearest you is open before arriving.

Below is a list of primary evacuation shelters in BrevardCounty:

• Mims Elementary School: 2582 U.S. 1, Mims• Apollo Elementary School: 3085 Knox McRae Drive,Titusville• Imperial Estates Elementary: 5525 Kathy Drive, Titusville• Walter Butler Community Center: 4201 U.S. 1, Cocoa• Brevard Community College: Cocoa campus, Building 3, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa• Manatee Elementary School: 3425 Viera Blvd., Viera• Sherwood Elementary School: 2541 Post Road, Melbourne• Eau Gallie High School: 1400 Commodore Blvd., Melbourne• Melbourne High School: 74 Bulldog Blvd., Melbourne• Meadowlane Intermediate Elementary School: 2700Wingate Blvd., West Melbourne• Heritage High School: 2351 Malabar Road, Palm Bay• Bayside High School: 1901 DeGroodt Road S.W., Palm

Bay• Barefoot Bay Community Center: Building A, Barefoot Boulevard (Not a shelter; meet at community center fortransportation to a shelter)• South Mainland Community Center: 3700 Allen Ave.,MiccoSource: Brevard County Office of Emergency Management

For Hometown [email protected]

What to bring

Brevard County strongly urges thata public shelter be used only as a lastresort. You will be more comfortablesheltering with family, friends or incommercial lodging. If you requirepublic sheltering, please be familiarwith your designated primary evacu-ation shelter location and yourplanned route to that shelter. Shelterroute signs have been posted toassist you.

Below is a list of necessities tobring with you if you must stay at anemergency public shelter:

• Be sure to take enough food andsupplies to last several days,

including special diet foods, as food may not be readily available at the shelter.• Bring bottled water (2 quarts per person per day) and other beverages, such as juices and soft drinks.

For Hometown [email protected]

See ITEMS, 11



• Bring a manual can opener,eating utensils, paper plates,

cups and napkins or paper towels.• Infant formula, food anddiapers.

• Have a two-week supply of medications and a first-aid kit.• Cash or traveler’s checks.• Sleeping bags, blankets,pillows, folding chairs.Bedding is not provided in public shelters.• Personal hygiene items and changes of clothing.• Flashlight, battery-powered radio or television and spare batteries, cards, games, books and toys.• DO NOT take pets (except guide dogs), alcoholic beverages or weapons of any kind to public shelters.

Source: Brevard County Officeof Emergency Management

ItemsFrom page 10

Ships in Port may be danger in a hurricaneJust as homeowners must prepare for a

hurricane to protect themselves and theirneighbors, tenants of Port Canaveralmust do the same to protect the port.

When the severe weather of a hurri-cane threatens, the safest place for largeships is out at sea. Those left in Port couldpotentially cause damage to themselvesand port infrastructure.

Currently, four un-manned Sun CruzCasino ships occupy dock space in PortCanaveral, after their parent companyfiled bankruptcy in December 2009.

While the ships are in auction, there isno one to move them.

The United States Coast Guard sets theguidelines for when ships need to bemoved out of port.

Seventy-two hours before the onset ofgale force winds, all ships are required toprepare to get underway within 24 hours.“Dead” ship or vessels unable to put tosea must make written application to theCaptain of the Port to remain in Port.

According to the United States CoastGuard’s 2009 Severe Weather Season

guide, “there are nosafe havens in thePort of Canaveralarea, including theBarge Canal, and thePort is safest whenthe inventory of ves-sels is at a minimum.For planning purpos-es, all vessels andbarges less than 500gross tons arerequired to put to seaif Hurricane Condi-tion Yankee (a hurri-cane is forecasted tohit within 72 hours) isset.”

Rosalind Postell-Harvey, director ofcommunications forPort Canaveral, saidthough the decisionfor when ships mustleave port is up to the Coast Guard, thePort has similar jurisdiction over theleaseholders providing berths for theships.

“The consequence for noncompliance,putting the rest of the Port at risk, couldbe severe,” she said.

Ships in noncompliance could alsocould also face fines from the CoastGuard, she added.

Andy Stefanek/staff photographerThe SunCruz Casino boat waits at the dock in PortCanaveral behind a locked fence. Dec. 13 was the lastdate that the ship sailed with customers.

By Jenet [email protected]


Friday, May 28, 2010HURRICANE GUIDE - 2010

2010s6-nbrevardhurr

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