Florida Governor Crist Encourages Families To Prepare For Hurricane Season

June 7, 2007 -- MIAMI – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today joined the Crespo family of Miami as they purchased hurricane supplies and took advantage of the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday that runs through June 12. Earlier, the Governor toured the National Hurricane Center located at Florida International University in Miami.

“Making sure that our families, friends and neighbors are ready for the possibility of a hurricane is the most important step we can take as we head into hurricane season,” said Governor Crist. “The National Hurricane Center is ready, and so are Florida’s emergency management teams. In addition, every Floridian must also be ready.”

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Governor Crist joined an elderly couple, Evelia and Lorenzo Crespo, as they purchased items at Home Depot for their family’s disaster supply kit. The couple purchased a flashlight and batteries, gas can, carbon monoxide detector, first aid kit, cooler, a portable grill and water.

Each family’s disaster supply kit should also include drinking water, non-perishable food and prescription drugs for at least three days. In addition to organizing a family disaster kit, families should also develop a disaster plan. Details should include how to protect your home, where to go if ordered to evacuate and what items to take with you, such as insurance policies and other important documents. Families caring for someone with special needs or medical issues should contact the Special Needs Registry in their county and, if eligible, complete the necessary forms to register.

To encourage and assist Floridians to adequately prepare for the 2007 hurricane season, the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs from June 1 through June 12, 2007. Examples of hurricane preparedness items that are exempt during the sales tax holiday are as follows:

Flashlights and other portable, self-powered light sources – $20 or less
Portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios – $75 or less
Tarps – $50 or less
Gas or diesel fuel containers – $25 or less
Batteries – $30 or less (AAA, AA, C and D cell, and 6 and 9 volt batteries)
Non-electrical food storage coolers – $30 or less
Portable generators – $1,000 or less
Carbon monoxide detectors – $75 or less
Storm shutter devices – $200 or less In Tallahassee at the State Emergency Operations Center, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp joined Florida’s Cabinet officers, state agency heads, and officials in emergency management for a briefing from the State Emergency Response Team. State leaders learned about forecasts and planning efforts for the 2007 hurricane season as well as current details about wildfires and drought conditions.

To learn more about the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and how to prepare for a hurricane or other disaster, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org and click on “Get a Family Plan” or “Get a Business Plan.”

Source: Florida Governor