Hopefully everyone is continuing their hurricane preparations as Dorian appears to be planning on a landfall somewhere on the east coast of Florida. Just because it may not come in directly east of where we are, that doesn't mean that we won't be impacted. One of the more recent updates predicts that once it makes landfall, it will work its way up through the state of Florida and could pass over Lake County. Even if it doesn't pass directly over us, we're likely to be hit with substantial rain and high wind.
Whether you are a renter or an owner, you need to make sure you prepare well in advance of a storm. If you've been out today, you probably realize that getting gas is a challenge - stations are running out as everyone tanks up, fills cans for generators, and gets what they need. Grocery stores are packed and some of the things on your list of storm essentials (water, bread, eggs, milk, coffee) may not be available. I tried to go to Publix here in Leesburg and had difficulty finding a parking spot.
As I come across helpful sites for those that rent or own, I'll be passing them along. If you read yesterday's post entitled "Hurricane Dorian Approaches Florida... What Are Your Responsibilities as a Renter?", you'll find helpful links to FEMA, the Divisions of Emergency Management for both Florida and Lake County, Leesburg Emergency Preparedness Information, and Lake County's Hurricane Preparedness Guide.
Here's one I'm following in preparation for the storm: Lake County FL's Home Page. They have it set up to provide Hurricane Dorian Updates as they occur. Students will be happy to see that all Lake County Schools are planning on being closed on Tuesday, September 3 and Wednesday, September 4! One of the main reasons is because several of our schools are used as emergency shelters should they be needed. You'll find a picture showing locations of shelters in Lake County on this page. Note that as of today, August 30, 2019, the shelters are not open.
Another good site to keep handy is the National Hurricane Center. You'll be able to see the current location of the storm plus they post the latest public advisories, the wind speed probabilities, the expected arrival time of winds, rainfall potential, and more. Up at the top right hand corner of the screen, you can type in your zip code and see your local forecast.
Stay safe!
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