Emergency Plan for Jacksonville, Florida During Hurricane Season First and foremost, when preparing for a hurricane, it is essential that a community have an effective communications plan for before, after, and during the storm. The government should have a plan regarding how to disseminate information to the public, including if there is a loss of power. The public should likewise be prepared beforehand to communicate with family members and work colleagues as well as emergency personnel. This may include being prepared for emergency texts and emails sent by the local government, being aware of the best websites and news channels to seek out for information, and having battery-powered radios in case of a total outage of both power and cellular service.

Given that the conditions of a hurricane are always changing, families should be encouraged to have adequate amounts of food and water on hand, batteries for flashlights, and any medications or other supplies they may be in need of regularly. Government and emergency personnel should also have plans about what to do if they may need to stay overnight while providing assistance. FEMA recommends at "least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days" along...

8). Blankets and warm clothing should also be at hand in case of a power outage if the temperature is likely to become cold at night.
In the event of an extreme weather situation, evacuation routes should be established and all families should be encouraged to have a plan to take the necessary steps to leave as soon as possible. Before the hurricane hits, the community should be informed of the county's official evacuation route and any additional precautions which may need to be shouldered to evacuate the elderly, pets, or individuals with severe health conditions. Hospitals should have plans in place for dealing with any injuries likely to occur or the evacuation of patients during the event. If necessary, severely ill patients may need to be prophylactically evacuated although hospitals should have the capability to run on generator power.

Some areas prone to flooding or damage by high winds may need to be evacuated before the hurricane hits. Areas near open water should be obstructed to discourage thrill-seekers coming to watch the storm. All homes and businesses should be…