OKEECHOBEE — Emergency Operations Center Director Karen Kozac spoke to seniors at the Young at Heart Senior Center recently about hurricane preparedness.

The room was packed with men and women eager to hear her presentation. Kozac has held her position for several months now, and has years of experience in the field.

Kozac passed out a checklist to be used when creating a disaster supply kit and another with suggestions on how to get ready prior to a storm.

Ask yourself these questions she said:

1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings? Do I plan to use my phone or television or radio? Will these work during and after a storm?

2. What is my shelter plan? Will I stay home and shelter in place or go to a shelter? Do I have special needs that require electricity? Do I have a pet that will also need a place to go?

3.  What is my evacuation route? Where will I go if I leave my home? How will I get there? When should I leave?

4.  What is my family/household communication plan? How will my friends and family know I am safe and where to find me? Do I know where they will be?

“Be ready to live without power, water, gas, phone and internet for a long time,” she said. Gather enough food and water to last you two weeks. Make sure you have enough of your prescription medications to last at least a month. She went on to explain that in the state of Florida, pharmacies will fill prescriptions early in the event of a hurricane.  

If you decide to stay home and shelter in place, choose a safe room, preferably a small room with no windows on the bottom floor of your home. You can also prepare ahead of time by learning or refreshing your first aid skills. You never know if/when you will need them for yourself or someone else. Purchase an extra battery for your cell phone. Keep your important papers in a waterproof, fireproof container.

One of the seniors mentioned preparing your yard with your neighbors’ safety in mind. Just because your yard gnome won’t be able to hit your shutter-covered window does not mean it can’t break your neighbor’s window. Please remove anything that could be picked up by the wind and hurled at a house or vehicle.

Okeechobee County has page after page of information relating to disaster preparedness on its website  www.okeechobeecountyfl.gov.

You can also find information at www.floridadisaster.org