For the second consecutive year, United Way of Miami-Dade is launching Operation Prepare and Share, an awareness campaign urging residents to prepare their homes and businesses for severe weather, and spread the word so their families and friends do the same. From June 1 – Nov 30, the organization will share hurricane preparedness tips, helpful links and recovery information via many media channels, including mass emails, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more.

For 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA has forecasted that the USA will have an "above normal" hurricane season, with anywhere from 12-18 named storms to form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Of those named storms, six to 10 should become hurricanes, including three to six "major" hurricanes, with wind speeds above 111 mph.

 

Yet, national polls have found that one in three Florida residents don’t have a hurricane survival kit or a family disaster plan – the most important tools in a weather-related emergency situation. South Floridians are becoming complacent, since the area hasn’t been hit by a major hurricane for several years.

"In South Florida, history teaches us that we’re going to experience hurricanes, and if you’ve seen the devastation after a hurricane, as I have, I guarantee you will be motivated to create a hurricane plan," Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. "That is all we’re asking the community to do – take steps to be ready and ask your loved ones to do the same."

A wealth of vital hurricane preparation information can be found at our Hurricane Resource Center or on Facebook.