Hurricane
Preparedness
Some useful web sites
NOAA Tropical Weather Center
IFAS Cooperative Extension Ser.
Tom Yeager's Hurricane Preparedness
Other Information...
This page is to help you be prepared for a hurricane when one threatens our area. It does not include all you should do. It is to help you think through what you need to do.
Many members have never experienced a hurricanea large number werent even born when our last, Hurricane Donna, slammed Hillsborough County in 1960.
The furiousness of this type storm is not to be underestimated. The duration and intensity is the most severe weather event likely to hit Hillsborough County. Hurricanes are survivable but you need to be prepared.
Before the storm
Secure all loose items. Make sure nursery containers, stakes, etc. are secured. Tie down anything possible. Loose items become missiles. If the storm can hurl a straw through a 2 x 4, think what it can do with nursery stakes. Make sure all equipment is secure in an area not likely to be damaged.
Make sure the nursery infrastructure is in good maintenance. Make sure ditches are free of weeds and debris so maximum drainage can occur. Make sure your interior roads are in good repair to allow access to all areas of the nursery.
Make sure all buildings are in good repair. Make sure all windows, doors, siding and roofing are secured according to building codes. Once wind gets under loose building materials, they will be ripped off. If you have portable sheds and trailers, make sure they are securely tied down. Evaluate removing covering of greenhouses and shade structures prior to the storm. Is it better to let the roofs and sides be torn off or allow for less resistance? Each grower must make his own decisions. Make sure you have materials necessary to minimally repair facilities prior to the storm.
Lay down all plant material. Winds in excess of 100 mph will strip all foliage from plant materials. Plants will be blown down anyway, they will survive better if you lay them parallel to the expected wind direction. Water plants fully prior to the storm.
Make sure all equipment is serviced and adequate supplies are on hand. For days to weeks after a hurricane, normal deliveries will not occur. Make sure you have all the fuel and other supplies you will need. Consider having minimal building materials on hand to repair structures. Evaluate all your potential needs. Make sure you have plenty of potting soil, fungicides, etc.
Make arrangements for power. Power lines also will be disabled for days or weeks. Make sure you have a plan for irrigation, running office functions, running propagation areas, etc. Everyone associates hurricanes with excessive rainfall but several days after a storm, the weather is unusually dry.
Have emergency numbers. Make sure you have the number of your insurance agent, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, police, fire and other emergency numbers. A list of some helpful numbers is at the bottom of this information sheet.
Make sure you have crop insurance. As ineffective as the current crop insurance program is, it is a requirement to participate in any federal disaster programs. The cost is nominal. You must sign up for the program well before a storm threatens.
Have an inventory of plants and equipment. This will allow you to file a claim or determine the damage you have. Also, it will allow recovery of some lost items. Make sure you get serial numbers of equipment
Establish a means to communicate with your employees. Your employees will need to know what you expect of them after the storm. Do you want them to come to work, to call you or stay with their families? Communications likely will be disrupted for days. Make your plan before the storm strikes. Dont forget to allow time for your employees to get their homes ready for the storm.
Allow plenty of time to get prepared. It is better to waste some work getting prepared for a hurricane than to run short of time and not get everything done you need.
After the storm
Secure your buildings. Make any necessary repairs to your structures to insure they are secure from the weather and intrusion.
Take care of your plant material. Stand up all plant material as quickly as possible to prevent burning from laying in the sun. Re-stake material as quickly as possible. Irrigate to flush any salt residue (the closer to the coast your are, the more important this is. Nothing in Florida is more than 50 miles from saltwater. The force of hurricanes carries salt spray for miles.) Replant any material needing it. Prune to correct any damage.
Consider a fungicide application. Consider applying an application of fungicide to prevent fungus. Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers advocates integrated pest management but this may be an effective production position. Copper fungicides have some anti-bacterial properties. Check for toxicity prior to application and do not use more than a couple of times.
Notify the proper authority for storm damage. Notify the local police or sheriffs department of any road obstructions or hazardous situations. Notify Tampa Electric Company of any power outages so they can get it in their repair sequences. Water, sewer or gas line breaches should be reported to the appropriate authority. If in doubt call the police or sheriffs department.
If necessary, notify disaster assistance agencies of your needs. If you have crop insurance, you may qualify for disaster assistance or low cost loans. Contact the appropriate agency as soon as possible for instruction.
Notify your customers of you situation. As quickly as possible, let your customers know how well you survived the storm and when your anticipate being able to service their accounts.
Some information about hurricanes
Hurricanes are tremendously large and powerful circular storm systems which rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Storm influences are most severe on the northeast side of storms. Hurricanes have feeder bands of rain storms which sweep through the area. In the center of all hurricanes is an area of still, sunny weather called an eye. Dont be misled by the calmness of the eye; there is more to come. Wind forces of 80+ miles an hour probably will be sustained for hours. Before and especially after hurricanes, you often have unseasonably dry weather. Hurricane track predictions are, at best, alchemy. Predictions more than a day off are subject to dramatic changes. Stay tuned to reliable weather sources for progress reports. Get prepared early.
Emergency Planning Operations . 272-6900
Farm Service Agency .. .. 752-1474
Hillsborough County Extension Service . . 744-5519
Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office . 247-8105
Emergency . 911
Hospitals
Brandon Columbia .. .. 681-5551
South Bay Columbia .. .. . 634-3301
South Florida Baptist Hospital .. .. 757-1200
Tampa General .. ... 251-7000
Insurance, FL Dept of (Storm Line) 800-227-8676
Natural Resource Conservation Service .... 759-6450
U.S. Weather Service (Ruskin) 645-2323
These are some tips you should consider in dealing with a hurricane. This list is only a beginning. Make your own choices of the appropriate actions to take. DO NOT take a hurricane lightly. They kill and destroy lives and businesses.
The best defense is to stay informed.
After the Storm
Inspect your property closely and pay particular attention to downed power lines, broken water lines, etc.
DO NOT approach downed power lines. Call TECO immediately at 1 (877) 588-1010 and report downed lines or loss of power.
Photograph and document damage before you start clean-up.
There are programs to assist with cleanup and to help after the storm.
Call or email Hugh or Tammy and let them know your status.
Emergency Conservation Program
Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance