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~State officials urge Floridians to be prepared year-round~
TALLAHASSEE - The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season may have ended quietly
today but Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp and state emergency officials are
urging Floridians to remain on alert as drought conditions and wildfire
threats grow statewide. State officials were voicing their relief and
concern during the seasonal “sine-die” ceremony at the State Emergency
Operations Center in Tallahassee.
“We were blessed with another quiet hurricane season that gave Floridians a
well-deserved break from seasons past,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. “While this
allowed our State Team time to continue recovery and mitigation activities
from the 2004-2005 storms, as well as to develop new resources and
partnerships, we are very concerned that the ongoing drought in the region
will lead to a repeat of last year’s wildfire threat, with even less water
and available resources in the region to fight it.”
To underscore his concerns on shrinking water-supplies and the potential for
wildfires, Lt. Governor Kottkamp announced that Florida will convene a
Drought / Wildfire Summit in January to bring together local, state and
federal officials to plan ahead for future events that may impact the state
before the next hurricane season. State Meteorologist Ben Nelson provided
some historical perspective on the pending threats.
“The current conditions remind me of the late 1990s, which is the last time
that a significant La Nina episode occurred in the equatorial Pacific”
warned Nelson. “La Nina is forecast to continue through at least early 2008
and drought conditions are likely to worsen as we head into wildfire season.
The same high pressure center that intensified the drought in the
southeastern states this summer and fall steered this year’s hurricanes to
our south and west.”
2007 Season: More fire, less rain and wind
Florida was spared any land-falling major storms this year even though the
Atlantic Basin was active with 14 named storms and 6 hurricanes. Tropical
cyclones Barry and Noel provided mostly beneficial rains to the Sunshine
State but water levels in Lake Okeechobee remain five feet below average
heading into Florida’s dry season.
Emergency managers want residents to remain prepared as a La Nina weather
pattern may also signal a replay of 2007, where deadly tornadoes formed on
the leading edge of several cold fronts during the winter months last year.
Ongoing drought conditions may increase local water restrictions and all
residents are being asked to do their part and conserve this vital resource.
“Floridians should remember that disasters happen, 365-days-a-year,” said
DEM Deputy Director Ruben D. Almaguer. “Preparedness does not end with
hurricane season. Because of our current threats, now is an excellent time
to review, update your plans, take inventory of disaster supply-lists, and
recycle goods and batteries.”
With the holidays fast approaching, Lt. Governor Kottkamp offered a few tips
for residents who are recycling their disaster-supplies.
“Consider making a holiday gift basket of preparedness items for the less
fortunate and donate non-expired goods to your local food bank, charitable
community or faith-based groups,” added Lt. Gov. Kottkamp. “A NOAA alert
radio can become a lifesaving stocking stuffer.”
Florida officials handed out over 5400 NOAA all-hazards alert radios to
local emergency management agencies and the Florida National Guard this
season. 100 radios went to survivors in the Pensacola area following the
September tornado event. As officials gathered around the podium and dropped
twin flags to officially “sine-die” the 2007 hurricane season, the Lt.
Governor offered one last thought for the day.
“Hurricanes will always remain a fact of life in this paradise we call
home,” said Lt. Governor Kottkamp. “Florida has the finest Emergency Response Team in the nation. But
it is equally important that each person do their part to be prepared for
next natural disaster. By working together, we can all recover more quickly.”
The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, 2008. For more
information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the State
Emergency Response Team please visit: FloridaDisaster.org.
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