Florida is known for many things, The Sunshine State, the entertainment capital, the lightning capital, but we’re also known for our hurricanes!
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting, “a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). Forecasters have a 70% confidence in these ranges.” 1
To prepare for this hurricane season, the Commandery of The Holy Trinity is hosting a Hurricane Preparedness Seminar this Saturday, June 29th, at 6:00 pm. You may attend this seminar from the comfort of your home, as it is a virtual event, delivered by Zoom.
Hurricane Preparedness Questionnaire: https://forms.gle/N9PCSsbGHXzJRZQc9
Chev. Bob Sherman2, recognized as a subject matter expert by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), has been working with the SBA for almost twenty years responding to disasters throughout the United States, will be presenting in this seminar.
Topics will include:
- Creating a “go bag” to include necessary items (such as, social security cards, power of attorney forms, medication, insurance information, cash, etc.).
- Supplies to have in-place prior to a disaster (such as, water purification tablets, non-battery operated radio, canned goods or survival food packs, bottled water, propane tanks, fuel for generators, etc.).
- Understanding the process and necessary information required when dealing with FEMA and the SBA after an incident has occurred.
- Time for questions
The Hurricane Preparedness Questionnaire will enable our Commandery to complete an inventory of specialty skills, equipment, and supplies our Knights and Dames have to help support each other in the event of a disaster. Whether you are attending the seminar or not, please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire, so we may have a complete inventory to help each other after a disaster.
Useful Information
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
https://www.ready.gov/older-adults
GO BAG
DOCUMENTS
Social Security Cards
Power Of Attorney, if you have one for another person
Passport
Medication
Insurance policy Information/ company and policy number if possible.
A most recent Family photo
Emergency contact name and numbers (ICE-In Case of Emergency) on phone
Police & Fire Department numbers on a 3X5 card
Approximately $200.00 cash in small bills
SUPPLIES
Water Tablets
A radio that does not need batteries/Crank radio
Nail clippers
Small Pocket knife
A Multi pocket tool
Large Survival knife
A Hard copy Bible
Can goods or survival food packs that do not spoil
Batteries
Water/ Bottled 1 case for each family member for a 5 day period
Propane Tanks and fuel for Generators if you have them
A small solar panel for lighting and other uses to recharge
Sandbags or equivalent/contractor bags
PETS
Portable water bowl
Medication (if any)
Food and snacks
1 https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season
2 Chev. Bob Sherman, KTJ, has been with the SBA for approximately 18 years, both full-time and part-time. He is currently on his fifth 4-year appointment. He originally started in Sacramento, Ca. as a loan officer for the SBA, but now travels working on location where disasters strike. Some of his history includes working the tsunami in American Samoa, the Santa Barbara fires in California, a tornado in the Midwest, and most recently hurricanes and heavy rain events in Florida, North and South Carolina, and last year at the border in Texas. Bob’s expertise in his field is highly regarded, and historically he has only been deployed when a Presidential declaration is issued. He is FEMA certified in flood management, and holds Insurance adjuster licenses in eleven states as an independent contractor, also working with State Farm Insurance, as a contractor, under his own company, American Diversified Resources, LLC, and maintains a Property & Casualty license for all lines in most of his eleven state licenses. Bob is a former member of the United States Marine Corps.