DATE: May 19, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Ric Barrick, Assistant Director
Broward County Office of Public Communications
PHONE: 954-831-3890
EMAIL: rbarrick@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - In preparation for the 2016 hurricane season, Broward County agencies and community response partners who play an important role during activations of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are participating today in an emergency simulation exercise titled "Hurricane Kimo" from today at the EOC, 201 N.W. 84 Ave in Plantation.
The local exercise is part of a statewide exercise during Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 15-21. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th.
The simulation will test the County's readiness to respond to and recover from an emergency, such as a hurricane, and provide emergency responders with an opportunity to gain "hands on" experience with disaster preparedness, response and recovery procedures.
As the County is testing its readiness, now is the perfect for time for residents and businesses to evaluate their hurricane and all hazard emergency plans. If you're new to the County and have not experienced a major storm, or if you have so-called "hurricane amnesia," you'll find plenty of important information on our hurricane website so you can be informed, be prepared, make a plan, and know what to do in an emergency. If you haven't already, be sure to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and sign up for Emergency Updates for all you'll need to know to protect your loved ones, your pets, and your property.
Now's also the time to assess your home for vulnerabilities - trim trees and other landscaping early, and dispose of debris properly, well in advance of the storm season. Also, be sure to participate in Broward County's Home Damage Assessment Program, and help officials quickly identify areas of devastation, even before damage assessment teams are able to canvass the County. Immediately after the storm, as soon as it is safe to go outside, call 3-1-1 to report the level of damage to your home. To participate, you must print off and retain in your hurricane kit in advance of the storm a page of photos that you can compare your home to after the storm, or download Broward's new mobile app that lets you file a report directly from your smart phone. For more information, visit www.broward.org/hurricane and click HOME DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.
Participants in the "Hurricane Kimo" exercise include representatives from Broward County Departments, Divisions and Offices, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Broward Sheriff's Office, the School Board of Broward County, Florida Department of Health in Broward County, American Red Cross, Florida National Guard, Florida Power and Light, Housing and Urban Development, US Coast Guard, and representatives from Broward County's 31 municipalities, the Seminole Indian Tribe, and other non-governmental organizations.