Merlin Central - Hurricane Information Center

Welcome to our expanded Hurricane Center. It's Hurricane Season again and we have gathered information and web sites for you. Most have been updated, I marked the ones with major changes as "updated". Click on the links above for helpful lists and information. Then check the sites below before any storm warning to help in being prepared and to learn more about hurricanes. All of the links below have been checked and updated. We will also be adding more during this hurricane season. And remember to back up all of your data and be ready to take it with you if you have to evacuate.

Dr. Gray's 2011 Forecast:
(as of June 1, 2011)

Forecast

Normal

Named Storms

Hurricanes

Intense

County Emergency Management Centers

Lee County Emergency Operations Center
www.leeeoc.com

Collier County Emergency Management
www.collierem.org

Charlotte County Emergency Management
www.charlottecountyfl.com/emergency

DeSoto County Emergency Management www.co.desoto.fl.us/index.php/emergencymanagement /emergencymanagement

Hendry County http://www.hendryfla.net/EM/Em.html

The above sites track all emergencies for their counties. I suggest going to them and looking over their layouts. Click here for explanation of activation levels

State of Florida

Florida Division of Emergency Management (SERT)
State Emergency Response Team, manages the overall response and recovery efforts to natural and technological disaster response in Florida by integrating resources statewide. This site now has an online utility for making a customized preparedness plan for families and businesses.
www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp

Here is a link directly to the preparedness tool
(This year they have a section on strengthening your home)
www.floridadisaster.org

American Red Cross

American Red Cross National Site
www.redcross.org

Lee County Chapter Red Cross
www.arclcc.org

Collier County Red Cross
www.colliercountyredcross.org

Charlotte County Red Cross (now Floridian's west coast region)
http://www.flwestcoastredcross.org

Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Site
Hurricane Checklist

Weather Radio Online Audio

Here is a list of links to weather radio sites in Florida. LIVE broadcasts of special weather statements
www.floridadisaster.org/DirectorOffice/Meteorology/WeatherRadioStations.htm

Smart Phones
Here are some useful hurricane things for smart phones. you should check these links from your smart phone instead of your computer.
Remember: Any of the tracking or storm alert apps are dependent on the mobile network.
If the power goes off to the cell tower, you have no data feed.

Hurricane Hub for iPhone and Android.
This is a a free comprehensive app from the news-press. currently it is only
available for the iPhone and the Android platforms.
www.news-press.net/hurricaneHub

Mobil Sites
(Bookmark them in your phones browser!)

National Hurricane Center
Mobile site gives latest advisories from the National Hurricane Center.
www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/index.html

Weather Underground Tropical Storm Center
This mobile site gives weather for the tropics and includes advisories with tracking.

m.wund.com/tropical

Weather Channel
Here is the Weather Channel's mobile site.
mw.weather.com

Red Cross Safe and Well Information

If you have been affected by a disaster, this website provides a way for you to register yourself as “safe and well.” From a list of standard messages, to communicate to your family members, letting them know of your well-being. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well.” The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s First Name, Last Name, an “As of Date”, and the messages selected. Be sure to give this link to friends and family and tell them you will register.
safeandwell.communityos.org

Alzheimer's Care Givers Tips

These emergency preparedness tips are for the care givers of people with Alzheimer's.
They are courtesy of the Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer's Resource Center in Ft. Myers.

Click Here for Alzheimer's Care Givers Tips (PDF)

Tracking Map
Here are tracking maps for you to download and print.
Color Map (jpg format)
B& W Map (PDF format)

National Sites

The National Hurricane Center.
www.nhc.noaa.gov

FEMA Tropical Storm Watch
Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watch Information and Preparedness Material
www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm

FEMA for Kids: Hurricanes
A great way of helping kids understand and reduce any fears. Very friendly, an excellent site.
www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm

Hurricane & Storm Tracking
This site receives weather data from the US National Weather Service via satellite. Then creates an entry for each tropical depression, storm, or hurricane when the National Weather Service begins issuing advisories.
hurricane.terrapin.com

Hurricane City
Gives live coverage when a hurricane threatens any city or island. Instantly updated when conditions warrant.
www.hurricanecity.com

The Hurricane Hunters
These are the guys who fly into the eye of the hurricanes.
They flew over 80 flights last year. You can even take a virtual flight.
www.hurricanehunters.com

Also if there is a storm you can see their reports at:
www.nhc.noaa.gov/reconlist.shtml

Local Information Sites

Sanibel Island Hurricane/Emergency Management
www.mysanibel.com/Departments/Police-including-Emergency-Management/Hurricane-Emergency-Management

Returning to Islands Information

Sanibel Island
Hurricane Hang Tag Information

Ft. Myers Beach
Re-entry Pass Application and Instructions

School Districts

Check here for school closings and postponements.

Lee County School District
www.leeschools.net/home.aspx

Collier County School District
www.collier.k12.fl.us/

Charlotte County School District
www.ccps.k12.fl.us/

Desoto County School District
www.desotoschools.com

Hendry County School District
www.hendry-schools.org

Evacuating with pets?

Taking your pets with you when you leave the area? Check these web sites for pet friendly places
to stay. Pick a location outside of the area where the hurricane is projected to hit.

www.petswelcome.com/welcome.html

www.hotdealsonhotels.com/pets/sitemap.html
(select a state and a city).

Hurricane Guides

Wink TV 2011 Hurricane Central TV Special
www.winknews.com/2011-Hurricane-Central-TV-Special

Wink TV Hurricane Guide (PDF format)
www.winknews.com/hurricane_media/HurricaneGuide2011.pdf

Wink TV Hurricane Central
www.winknews.com/Hurricane-Central

FOX 4 Hurricane Survival Guide
www.fox4now.com/news/local/125659383.html

NBC2 Hurricane Survival Guide Site
www.nbc-2.com/Global/category.asp?C=170763&nav=menu567_3_3

NBC2 Hurricane Survival Guide PDF
ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wbbh/documents/2011_Hurricaneguide.pdf

News Press Hurricane Center
http://www.news-press.com/section/WEATHER01

Naples Daily News Hurricane Center
www.naplesnews.com/hurricane

Florida Severe Weather Awareness Guide (PDF format)
From SERT (State Emergency Response Team)
www.floridadisaster.org/SWAW/2011/documents/SWGuide'11FinalWeb.pdf

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Here is a chart I made showing the storm categories and the kind of damage you can expect.

Saffir-Simpson Chart.

Local Ft. Myers and Naples News

Television News

Wink
www.winknews.com

Fox 4
www.fox4now.com

NBC-2
www.nbc-2.com

ABC-7
www.abc-7.com

News Papers

Naples Daily News
www.naplesdailynews.com

Ft. Myers News Press
www.news-press.com

Names and Some Terms

Click Here For This Years Storm Names and Some Terms

Medication Log
Lee County EOC uses this form for it's special needs shelter. It is a very good idea for everyone that is on medication to have one whether they may be going to a shelter or not and no matter thier age.
Medication Log (PDF)

	*Memoli Computer Consulting & Merlin Central's*
	Hurricane Center 2011