FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28 2014

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—Hurricane Season begins June 1 and lasts until November 30. The Florida Department of Health encourages Floridians and visitors to keep their health concerns in mind as they prepare to have a healthy and safe season.

“Now is the time to prepare your family for Hurricane Season,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Prior to a disaster, create an emergency plan for your family and pets, identify locations of special needs shelters and prepare an emergency supply kit with first aid, healthy meals, and water.”

Recently Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 5601 that creates a nine-day sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies, beginning May 31. Floridians will be able to purchase items such as flashlights, batteries, weather radios, and other essential items as they prepare for hurricane season.

Before a disaster happens, build an emergency supply kit that includes healthy, nonperishable foods and supplies that meet your family’s and pet’s health and medical needs. Talk with your health care provider and pharmacist about receiving emergency medication supplies. Under a federally-declared emergency, you can get an extra 30-day supply with no price increase, even for recently filled prescriptions. Other items to include in your emergency supply kit are:

• Water- at least one gallon per person, per day for a minimum of three days.
• Healthy foods like canned vegetables, fruits and nuts. Store at least a three day supply of foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, and little or no water.
• Prescription medications and required equipment/supplies like syringes, coolants, alcohol wipes, etc.
• First aid kit.
• Glasses, hearing aids and medical devices with extra batteries.

If you or someone in your family requires daily medical assistance like routine nursing care, help with medication, oxygen therapy, or electricity for life-supporting medical equipment, be sure to pre-register for a special needs shelter. Contact your local emergency management office to learn more about special needs shelters and to pre-register: http://www.floridadisaster.org/disability/snshelterlist.html.

For more suggestions on medical-related items to include in your emergency supply kit, and for tips on how to prepare for an emergency, get a copy of the Florida Department of Health Emergency Preparedness Guide at https://www.floridahealth.gov/preparedness-and-response/_documents/prepareguide-eng.pdf.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.