MESSAGE FROM MAYOR RICK BAKER

Our ability to withstand and recover from a major hurricane is very much a shared responsibility between local, county, state and federal governments - and most importantly, private citizens. With the 2008 hurricane season now upon us, it is important for all residents to review their family emergency plans.

Every family in our community has a responsibility to have its own preparedness plan in place and be ready to execute that plan when required to do so. Important questions to ask yourself include:

Do you have your plan in place?

Do you know your Evacuation Level?

Do you plan to shelter in your home (if it is in a non-evacuation level)? Or, might you evacuate to a family member or friends house in a non-evacuation level? A local hotel or motel?

Do you plan to evacuate out of the storm threat area entirely?

Finally, do you plan to evacuate to a public shelter? (This should be a last resort.)

Please don't forget to put together your Disaster Supplies Kit. It should include a good supply of all necessary medications and important documents.

When formulating your family plan, I encourage you to consider the evacuation needs of those around you - family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. If these individuals need help with evacuation, you may be able to transport them with you; or, you may help them register with the Fire Department’s evacuation assistance program. For those who qualify, the evacuation assistance program pre-registers residents and when an evacuation is ordered, members of the program will be transported to the appropriate safe shelter within city limits. For more information, call the city’s Fire Department at 551-3822.

Business owners and employers have a mutual responsibility to have an emergency plan that protects the business and the employees who make that business viable. After a hurricane, it is critical for our community’s businesses to reopen as soon as possible and play a vital role in the recovery of our community. Can your business facility serve as a safe shelter for your employees and your family?

St. Petersburg enjoys an exceptional quality of life in a beautiful subtropical, waterfront setting. With that benefit comes great vulnerability during hurricane season. Through careful planning and the collective cooperation between government, citizens and businesses, we can lessen the effects of a hurricane and maintain our community as one of the greatest cities in America.

Sincerely,

Rick Baker
Mayor