Hurricane season begins next week

Sheriff Rick Ramsay wants to remind residents that now is the time to prepare for hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

“That means getting your evacuation plan in place, gathering important documents, stocking your shelves and cleaning up the yard among all the other steps we take each year to stay safe,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Let’s make this storm season as safe as we can.”

Part of being prepared is having an emergency supply kit ready. A basic emergency supply kit should include:

  • Water (one gallon per person per day)
  • Non-perishable food in cans or sealed containers
  • Manual can opener and cooking supplies
  • First-Aid kit
  • Prescription medicines (have a 2-week supply on hand)
  • Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer, and soap
  • A copy of important documents and phone numbers
  • Emergency cash in small denominations
  • Battery-operated radio, NOAA weather radio
  • Cell phone with a portable charger
  • Sunscreen and bug/mosquito spray
  • Matches and lighters
  • A camping stove and/or grill with fuel, canned heat and/or charcoal bricks and starter fluid
  • Fire extinguisher and a box of baking soda
  • Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
  • Water and supplies for your pets

Reentry vehicle windshield stickers: Monroe County residents may now obtain one sticker for each registered vehicle by providing proof of residency at a Monroe County Tax Collector’s office. Note: The Sheriff’s Office is no longer providing stickers. Proof of residency includes a Florida Driver’s License and vehicle registration, or a property bill with an out-of-county vehicle registration for out-of-county residents who own a home in Monroe County. These stickers make reentry easier if checkpoints are required to assure safe reentry into the Keys following a destructive storm that causes a public safety issue.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, go to www.monroecountyem.com

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