RESIDENT HURRICANE PROCEDURE

This year's hurricane season is rapidly approaching us, so now is the time to STOP and organize your individual hurricane plans BEFORE POTENTIAL DISASTER occurs.  Elliott Merrill Community Management hopes the following information will get you started in your preparation.

HURRICANE WATCH

HURRICANE WATCH is issued for a coastal area where there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours.  Get information only from local stations.  A hurricane watch is just what it says - watch - and this is time for you and your hurricane committee to organize, as land-fall could be within 24 to 36 hours.

HURRICANE WARNING

HURRICANE WARNING is issued by the National Weather Service, which states that a hurricane is EXPECTED to strike the area within 24 hours.  Winds will be 74 miles per hour or greater and the tides will be 7-9 feet PLUS a water surge of several feet.  During this time, final action MUST be taken to prepare for evacuation.  You will receive orders from the St. Lucie County Office of Emergency Management or the Indian River County Office of Emergency Management on when to evacuate.

ITEMS RESIDENTS SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN A "WATCH" IS ISSUED

Here are some things to plan for:

- Keep your auto gasoline tank  full at all times.
- Check flashlights, radios, candles, etc.
- Check your medical supplies, prescriptions and diet needs.
- Keep sufficient cash on hand for evacuation expenses.
- Decide what you will take with you - clothes, all financial .
  documents, address books, etc.
- Put valuables in safe deposit box.
- Call relatives and friends about your plan of where you might  be.
- Buy bottled water if staying in condo.

- Move all outdoor furniture and loose objects inside unit for this is the owner's responsibility.

ITEMS RESIDENT SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED

- Close hurricane shutters.
- Move valuable furniture and objects away from windows.
- Empty and dispose of perishable items from your refrigerator-freezer.
- Pack everything you have decided to take with you.
-Turn off all main water valves in apartment.

EVACUATION

When the order is given through the Office of Emergency Management, the State law says you must evacuate.  We plan to run the elevators to the top floor and then turn the electricity off, sometime between two and three hours after the evacuation order is issued.  NO other electricity will be turned off.

WHERE DO YOU GO?

All shelters will not be opened at the same time - you must listen to local radio and TV stations for instructions!  All shelters will have first aid personnel on hand.  A special-need shelter supervised by the Health Department will be located at the St. Lucie County Civic Center - 25th Street and Virginia Avenue.   A special-need shelter will also be located at the Sebastian River High School, County Road 510. Other shelters will be available.

Shelters are a safe place to go and you will be helped by the American Red Cross, but you will need a pillow, a sleeping bag or a couple of blankets, towels and soap, a collapsible chair, reading material, playing cards, flashlights, etc.  Take some of your own food:  fruit, sandwiches, canned juices, drinking cups, and tea bags or coffee.

In the event you do not wish to stay in an emergency shelter in this area, there are plenty of motels and hotels in other areas of the state away from the track of the storm.  Call ahead for reservations and secure your room via a credit card.  By doing this, you will have a destination in mind and a room secured when you arrive.  REMEMBER THAT THOUSANDS OF CARS WILL BE HEADING IN YOUR DIRECTION, SO GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME.  This trip could take five times as long to make.

RE-ENTRY

Upon cancellation of the hurricane evacuation order, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will authorize return, possibly on a limited basis depending upon damage assessment. 

When you arrive home again, check the bulletin board for specific instructions regarding electricity, water, elevator and damage.  If you are handicapped in any way and require certain facilities, be sure they are operating before you return. 

Just because re-entry is allowed does not mean that services are restored or the community is 100% safe. It would be wise to wait for some communication either from your board of directors, neighbors, police or the OEM on the conditions at your community.