Emergency Action Planning: How many Seasons are there in Florida?

Traditionally there are just four seasons to be had anywhere in the world. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. But in Florida we have five.

Five you say, yes Five. I can hear you now, asking what on earth am I talking about.

Hurricane Season. Officially the Atlantic Hurricane Season starts on June 1^stand ends on November 30^th. Historically this is the time of year the year the most tropical cyclones appear in the Atlantic Basin. I do not mean to be flippant and imply the Florida is the only place at risk for Hurricanes. Historical Hurricane events over the last ten+ years would be kind enough to prove me wrong.

The below map shows all known tropical cyclones between the year of 1851 and 2012.

By Nilfanion - Created using User:jdorje/Tracks by Nilfanion on 2006-08-05. Background image from File:Whole world - land and oceans.jpg (NASA). Tracking data for storms is from the National Hurricane Center.[1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1023164

If a hurricane strikes, we can blame the president for not being there; we can blame Congress and FEMA; we can blame the state governments; but in the end, it's the mayors and the local city governments that have to be prepared for emergencies and be prepared to act. - Michael Bloomberg

I picked this quotation because I feel that it portrays the thought process of most Americans today. Blame someone else. Really, you know I'm right.

In the end though it is our individual responsibility to be prepared for emergencies and be prepared to act.

When I asked several professionals in the emergency response industry, "Why are so few Americans (less than 40%) are prepared for the disasters, or emergencies that will happen sometime in their life?" The reply was, "We'll need a psychologist to answer that." Scary thought eh.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average American spends more money on entertainment each year than on practically anything else. The implication is that Americans in general would rather not have to think about, well much of anything. Especially those things that might harm them, maybe it will go away. Those very same people who fail to attend to their own needs are the very same ones who will bitch, whine, moan and groan about how unfortunate they are, and why isn’t everyone coming to give them the help they so desperately need.

Statistically 60%+ of the adult population have done nothing to prepare themselves or their loved ones for the Disasters and Emergencies that will someday come. Are they are either scared, lazy or just don't care to do the right thing. There are some people that will fit into this category. But I don't think the majority of people are like that at all.

I believe that many people just do not know what to do or where to get started.

What if you could get a plan in place within the next two months? Would you do it?

Hurricane season is just over 60 days away. 60 days is more than enough time to prepare yourself, your family, and loved ones for something that we hope doesn't happen.

So which one are you? Less than 40% or more than 60%. You have 60 days till Hurricane season starts. Go here and download the FEMA Are You Ready Guide to Citizen Preparedness: