TAVARES — The Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will see its first action of 2005 as staff will participate in the annual statewide hurricane training exercise May 17 and 18.

After experiencing its most active hurricane season ever last year, the Lake County EOC will begin instituting some of the lessons learned from the trio of hurricanes during the training exercise.

Classes and workshops will be held for employees and responders at the EOC, covering different aspects of response to a hurricane including more efficient reaction to surveying community damage and quicker mobilization of needed resources to impacted areas. The various training activities that will be conducted throughout the two-day exercise will also test overall EOC operational procedures and readiness.

“The hurricane exercise will include a facilitated discussion of putting together an incident-action plan,” said Jerry Smith, Interim Director of the Lake County Emergency Management Division.

As the Lake County EOC makes preparations for the upcoming hurricane season that begins June 1, residents are encouraged to begin arranging necessary family disaster plans. History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your family’s vulnerabilities and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.

Join Lake County in preparing for the 2005 hurricane season by recognizing National Hurricane Preparedness Week during May 15-21. Families can log on to www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/ and www.floridadisaster.org to learn valuable safety information they can use to develop a sound family disaster plan.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Interested media that would like to attend Lake County’s hurricane exercises are encouraged to call Chris Patton at (352) 343-9609 or e-mail cpatton@co.lake.fl.us.

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Contact information:
Christopher Patton
Communications Coordinator
Office: (352) 343-9609; Cell: (352) 455-0445
cpatton@co.lake.fl.us