Florida Governor Charlie Crist Opens State Response Center

ORLANDO, July 27, 2007 – Florida Governor Charlie Crist proclaimed today “Get a Plan Day” by announcing the grand opening of Florida’s State Response Center in Orlando. The Governor stressed the importance of disaster preparedness by joining a family as they purchased disaster supplies at a local Lowe’s in Jacksonville.

“‘Get a Plan Day’ is a great opportunity for the people of Florida and for our State Emergency Response Team to evaluate their levels of preparedness,” said Governor Crist. “The people of Florida are preparing themselves and their families by creating and updating their family disaster plans while the State Emergency Response Team is even more ready to respond to future disasters with the opening of this state-of-the-art facility.”

State Response Center

The State Response Center is the first of its kind in the nation and includes a 200,000-square-foot, 12-acre facility that warehouses essential water and emergency supplies. It provides a home base and safe staging area for state and federal responders who are deployed in advance of pending storm events. Regional staff from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will also operate at the site.

“The opening of this center represents the hard work and dedication of many people, and I am grateful to Director Fugate and his team for their tireless commitment to the people of our state,” said Governor Crist. “The past several years have required Florida to reach new levels of preparation, and our state and local emergency responders have risen to the occasion.”

Florida partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pre-position supplies at the State Response Center.
“The opening of the State Response Center highlights FEMA’s focus on partnering with state and local governments,” said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. “FEMA will continue to work with the Division of Emergency Management to store supplies, which will cut down on response times from the federal government and increase the speed in assisting disaster victims.”

Family Disaster Plans

Governor Crist visited a Lowe’s home improvement store in Jacksonville where he helped the Toller family shop for supplies to stock their family disaster kit. Lowe’s annually publishes a “Severe Weather Guide” which contains detailed instructions on how to build a basic, upgraded or ultimate Storm Readiness Kit. Lowe’s provided the Toller family with a waterproof container and $500 gift card to purchase their disaster preparedness supplies.

“I am grateful to Lowe’s for their outstanding leadership helping Floridians prepare for potential disasters,” Governor Crist said. “I look forward to our continued partnership. Together, we can help families weather the storm safely.”

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.

“Every family’s disaster supply kit should include drinking water, non-perishable food and essential medications for at least three days,” said Craig Fugate, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Floridians have a personal responsibility to prepare in every way that they can, so the state’s resources can be focused on those most vulnerable.”

“We hope and pray that the season remains quiet,” said Governor Crist. “However, our state government, along with Florida families, must continue to prepare for the very real possibility of a storm or other natural disaster.”

To learn more about 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: State of Florida

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