OPTION A

- Stay at home

Make sure that your house can withstand a hurricane and that it is on fairly high ground away from the coast. A mobile or manufactured home IS NOT a safe place in hurricane conditions. If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, plan now to use option B, C, or D when a hurricane threatens.

Most recently built homes in this area have been constructed to the Southern Building Code Conference criteria, which means that they should withstand wind speeds of 110 miles per hour. Rapidly rising water from the storm surge may become a major concern when combined with hurricane winds. Be prepared for the possibility that you might need to evacuate your home.

OPTION B

- Stay with a friend or relative who has a safe place

If you expect to stay at someone else's home during a hurricane or other disaster, make arrangement in advance. Make sure their home will be adequately prepared, supplied and that it is safe. Also, consider where you will go if they are out of town.

OPTION C

- Relocate out of the area (Evacuation routes)

You may wish to travel some distance to escape the threatened area. (The map below shows roads prone to stormwater flooding).  Keep a current road map and know where you are going, so you can plan the best route. Stay away from major bodies of water. If there is an ill or disabled person in your home, get a doctor's advice on needed accommodations. (Special needs for ill or disabled people will be covered later.) If you leave, go early to avoid traffic, possible flooding, and high winds. Hotel and shelter accommodations will be scarce to non-existent south of the Orlando/Kissimmee areas.  If you will be traveling with pets, be sure to select a hotel or motel which will accept pets in an emergency.

- Go to public shelters

If you are in need of a shelter, go to a designated public shelter. Stay tuned to local radio and television stations to find out what time each designated shelter will open. All of the public schools within this area can be used as Red Cross shelters after the storm. Designated shelters will be opened as needed in safe areas.

If you decide to go to a public shelter as your hurricane plan, it would be wise to drive there now and familiarize yourself and your family with the most direct route and the exact location. Consult the map listed in this guide indicating the location of shelters. Shelters are listed in the Emergency Information section of this pamphlet. Addresses are available online or may be found in the phone book.  Check the business pages under "Collier County Public Schools."

Select one of the above options and stick to it as much as possible. Don't wait until the last minute to activate your plan! If an evacuation order is given, move quickly but without panic. If you were wise, you are already prepared to ride out the storm safely.

For additional Collier County hurricane information, write or call:

COLLIER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 3301 East Tamiami Trail  Naples, Florida 34112 (239) 774-8444  Board of County Commissioners Emergency Services Division Collier County, Florida Last updated 7 March 2002 by Rick Zyvoloski © 2002, Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida