BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Florida will observe Severe Weather Awareness Week, January 27-31, 2020 and the Broward County Emergency Management Division (BEMD) reminds all residents that severe weather can happen at any time. In 2019, South Florida experienced a wide variety of severe weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding.
On September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian reached Category 5 intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph while making landfall in Elbow Cay, Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian made another landfall on Grand Bahama several hours later. A ridge of high-pressure steering Dorian westward collapsed on September 2, causing Dorian to stall just north of Grand Bahama for about 24 hours. The hurricane had devastating effects, especially on the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, as they had prolonged exposure to extreme hurricane force winds, storm surges, flooding and intense rainfall.
Everyone needs to be prepared year-round. Residents are encouraged to use this week to increase their knowledge of potential weather hazards, review their severe weather safety plans, and help make Broward County ready and resilient. Each day of the week, educational messages will focus on a different type of severe weather hazard, including lightning, rip currents and marine hazards, tornadoes and thunderstorms, hurricanes and flooding, and wildfires and temperature extremes.
Tracy Jackson, Director of Broward County Regional Emergency Services and Communications, said, "Severe Weather Awareness Week is an excellent opportunity to remind people of the need to be prepared for any weather-related threat that may impact a community. Preparedness for all hazards is a community-wide effort." Residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertBroward, the County's Official Emergency Notification System. By signing up you'll be alerted to critical events posing imminent threat to life and property. Notifications will be sent via email, phone call or text. You decide what information you want delivered, and how you'd like to receive it.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office - City of Weston is hosting a Winter Safety Expo 2020 event on Friday January 24, 2020 from 6PM - 8:30PM at 1800 Indian Trace, Weston 33326. Enter the event via Tequesta Trace Middle School. Numerous public safety agencies and vendors will be there to provide valuable information to the community. The Broward County Emergency Management Division (BEMD) will be on hand to highlight the importance of community preparedness.
For more information on Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week topics, visit FloridaDisaster.org and the National Weather Service in Miami. And stay in the know all year long by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
DATE: January 22, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Miguel Hidalgo
PHONE: 954-831-3903
EMAIL: mhidalgo@broward.org