From the Director of Levy County Emergency Management
5/16/08

I am writing this letter to the residents and business owners of Levy County FL, to get you to start thinking about and preparing for the upcoming 2006 Hurricane Season.

NOW IS THE TIME TO START MAKING PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT YOUR HOMES, BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES.

NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS YOU “WISH YOU HAD” AND THE THINGS YOU “WISH YOU HAD DONE” DURING THE 2005 STORMS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE PERSONAL EVACUATION PLANS TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES AND TO BE READY TO ENACT THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Here is some “Food for thought” to help you make your preparations should a major storm target Levy County and the surrounding area.

This information is based on lessons we learned here at Levy County Emergency Management during the historical hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005:

1. When a mandatory evacuation order is issued, "obey it". We do not arrive at these decisions "lightly" here in Levy County. The Chairman of the Levy Board of County Commissioners, Emergency Management and Law Enforcement makes evacuation Decisions and they are based on the best information and advice from:
   
   The National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
   The National Weather Service
   The Florida State Division of Emergency Management
   The Florida Governors Office
   The Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement
   
   DO NOT "WAIT AND SEE WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS ARE GOING TO DO" BE SMART AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT SAFETY
   
   
2. If levy County is being threatened by a major storm, evacuate as early as possible and do not wait until the last minute.
   
   This early decision to evacuate allows you and your family to get ahead of the on rush of evacuees that will clog the roadways. Your family’s “early evacuation plan” could include visiting family and/or friends in other parts of the state or out of state.
   
   When residents of South Florida evacuated the southern counties of Florida, their vehicles were out of fuel by the time they reached Levy County, Marion County and Volusia County. Levy County Fuel Stations were out of fuel within 24 hours from when the first wave of evacuees came up US19 and US 41. Our roads and the major interstates of I-75, I-95 and I-10 turned into stopped or slow moving “parking lots”.
   
   
3. Know where your Levy County, Red Cross, “approved” Primary and Secondary shelters are located and should you choose to use the County shelters, have a “FULLY STOCKED HURRICANE DISASTER KIT” PREPARED AND READY TO TAKE WITH YOU. (See Levydisaster.com link on Hurricane Preparedness for further information on Shelter Locations and Disaster kits)
   
   
4. Now is the time to purchase the materials to “board your homes up” and to have agreements in place with contractors who will do the window and door shuttering for you should a storm threaten our county/area.
   
   Homes that “survived” the direct hits in storm-affected counties throughout Florida had their windows and doors “boarded up”. This protective measure helped limit major damage to homes and businesses as opposed to homes and business that did not take these protective measures.
   
   
5. HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS INSURANCE POLICIES. Now is the time to review and modify all homeowners and business insurance policies to ensure you do not have and “surprises” should you need to use them after a storm.
   
   So many residents of Levy County were caught off guard after the storms when they went to contact their insurance companies only to find out that their policies were not up to date or that the coverage was inadequate to bring their homes and businesses back to pre storm conditions.
   
   Talk to your insurance agents about flood insurance especially for residents in the Levy County Storm Surge Areas. (See the Levy County Storm Surge Map Link)
   
   

This information is designed to help you be better prepared for the 2008 Hurricane Season. For further information on Hurricane Preparedness, Please visit www.levydisaster.com or phone Levy County Emergency Management at (352) 486-5213.

Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,

Mark Johnson/ Director
Levy County Emergency Management