Aubuchon Strong

If you think sitting back and letting the hurricane season roll by this year is a good idea, you might want to rethink that plan.
And plan is exactly what Lee County Emergency Management Chief of Planning Gerald Campbell suggests for the 2008 hurricane season, which begins on June 1 each year and runs through November 30.

“Hurricane season is a reality,” Campbell said. “Everybody needs to have a personal safety plan. We worry about complacency; people may have misconceptions about hurricanes.”

And with many new residents entering Lee County’s growing Gulf-front communities each year, those misconceptions grow as well, Campbell said. What is key is learning how to prepare for a storm ahead of time and to take steps such as having food that doesn’t need preparation, at least a gallon of water per person for drinking and extra for bathing and cleaning, and having three to seven days worth of supplies in the event of a hurricane.

The 2006 and 2007 hurricane seasons were all but quiet but after Wilma hit Florida in 2005, killing at least 35 in the state, it can be easy to forget the devastation a hurricane can create.

Wilma, a category-5 storm, was recorded as the most intense hurricane ever born of the Atlantic Basin with winds at 185 miles per hour. Wilma was the fourth category-5 hurricane in the 2005 season, causing an estimated $29.1 billion in damages throughout Mexico, Florida, Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula.

“Unfortunately, there are people who do become complacent,” said Cape Fire Chief Bill Van Helden. “Remem-ber, hurricane Andrew happened during a slow season.”

Dr. Philip J. Klotzbach of Colorado State University has predicted 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four intense hurricanes for a busy 2008 season. A normal hurricane season is defined as having an average of nine to 12 named storms, with five to seven of those reaching hurricane strength and one to three major hurricanes.

Aside from gathering supplies, homeowners should know that older and manufactured homes may not be up to-date with the more stringent building codes to withstand strong winds during a hurricane. And, even if they are, storm surge is as much a threat as wind, Campbell said.

“A home probably won’t survive a surge,” he said.

A hurricane storm surge is salt water that is pushed ahead of an impending storm, causing a rapidly rising tide up to 28 feet above sea level in a worst-case scenario for Lee County, said Campbell. With much of the county not that high above sea level, the possibility for inundation is a real threat and could leave the area flooded well past Interstate 75, he said.

“Have a place to go, know when to go, know how to get there,” said Campbell. Early evacuation to a friend or family member’s home or a motel outside the affected area of the storm is the most effective solution in the event of a hurricane, he said.

“We want a shelter to be a last resort,” Campbell said. “They’re safer places, but they’re not really pleasant places to be.”

With the amount of people and tense environment in hurricane shelters, Campbell said it’s better for residents and emergency workers if those who have the ability to evacuate do so — pets included.

“If it’s too dangerous for you to be there, it’s too dangerous for your pet to be there,” said Campbell.

For those who live in mandatory evacuation zones and are unable to take pets with them, South Fort Myers High School will provide free shelter for those animals. The school is at 14020 Plantation Road in Fort Myers.

But if evacuation just isn’t in the cards, shelters will be available with basic needs provided by the American Red Cross.

“It’s very likely that if a disaster rolls through, Red Cross will be there,” said ARC spokesperson Colin Downey. “We have people trained and prepared well in advance.”

The local chapter of American Red Cross, at 6310 Techster Blvd., Suite 6 in Fort Myers, has 400 volunteers and 10 payed workers ready to assist in disaster relief.

The ARC recommends citizens bring certain critical items to shelters during a storm, including prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows and blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents and items for children such as diapers and toys.

“Have these things prepared in ad-vance, so when something like this happens you’re one step ahead,” he said.

Though it isn’t likely you’ll need to seek out the Red Cross organization in the event of a disaster — they’re often first responders so far as relief efforts are concerned, Downey said — you can call 278-3401 for its local chapter or visit: www.arclcc.org.

The Red Cross not only provides disaster relief but provides services to emergency workers, as well as emotional and psychological support, first-aid and clean-up kits and even simple comfort items.

“A deck of playing cards can go a long way when you’re in a shelter for several days,” said Downey.

Those interested in volunteering with the American Red Cross in Lee County can call the local chapter or visit the Web site where an online application is available.

To keep up-to-date on storm developments during this hurricane season, residents can use various media outlets, or purchase a NOAA battery powered radio or battery powered broadcast radio at virtually any store that sells electronics.

“The threat is always very real,” said Fire Chief Van Helden. “People need to know how to protect their family at the appropriate time.”

The Cape Coral Fire Department offers a free hurricane DVD tailored specifically to the city that is available at the fire headquarters at 815 Nicholas Parkway, E., or City Hall at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

Also available is a Lee County All-Hazard Guide, which discusses potential hazards during a disaster and various preparation tips.

That guide is available at the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce at 2051 Cape Coral Parkway E.; county libraries and post offices; and the Cape Coral Emergency Operations Center.

The Cape Coral EOC offers a community disaster training program known as CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team. To sign up for the CERT program or for any information regarding disaster planning, call Mindy Blasetti at 574-0501.

Additionally, Lee County will offer various hurricane seminars through the end of June, including:

• May 28, 6:30 p.m., Hope Lutheran Church, 25999 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs.

• June 3, 7 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 1430 Homestead Road North, Lehigh Acres.

n June 6, 1 p.m., Lake Kennedy Senior Center, 400 Santa Barbara Boulevard, Cape Coral.

• June 10, 2 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 2911 Del Prado Boulevard, Cape Coral.

• June 12, 12:30 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 15840 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers; 2 p.m., Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave. Bonita Springs.

• June 18, 2 p.m., East County Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres.

• June 24, 11 a.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral.

• June 25, 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 9752 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs; 3 p.m., Captiva Memorial Library, 11560 Chapine Lane, Captiva.

• June 26, 7 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers.

For more information call the EOC at 533-3622 or visit: www.leeeoc.com.