It's not a secret that our region has entered a cycle of major hurricanes likely to last another 20 to 40 years. Those charged with helping us manage the impact of these and other potentially disastrous events unanimously agree that our first line of defense is to be adequately educated and prepared.

The Consumer Services Department provides the following links to sources of information that will help to educate you and prepare your families in the event of a natural disaster.

Getting Ready for the 2009 Season The Miami-Dade County hurricane preparedness website provides comprehensive information for residents and visitors, as well as a link to the 2009 Hurricane Guide.

CSD Prepared to Combat Price Gouging The Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department is geared to combat price gouging should a state of emergency be declared at any time during the Atlantic Hurricane Season. For a current list of price ranges for goods, click here.

More CSD Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Advice Preparing for Hurricane Season Guard Against Consumer Fraud Sanitation and Food Safety after a Hurricane Tips for Cable TV Subscribers The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services receives and processes consumer complaints concerning cable television service interruptions, billing disputes and other issues.  Check out their website for a listing of phone numbers and instructions on how to receive assistance. Important Information for Condominium Owners Preparing Your Trees Assessing Damage and Restoring Trees After a Hurricane Evaluación del Daño y Restauración de los Arboles Después de un Huracán

Consumer Reports The online Consumer Reports website has published a Storm & Emergency Guide to address a host of consumer-related issues that emerge in times of disasters.  Some of the helpful tips include advice on security and safety, protecting your home and personal finances and rebuilding.

FDIC Consumer News The Winter 2005 / 2006 issue of this newsletter contains several articles covering the financial misfortunes which can befall consumers following a natural disaster.

Florida Department of Financial Services One of the critical issues which we encounter in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters is the matter of insurance. The insurance industry in Florida is regulated by the Department of Financial Services. The Department's website contains a wealth of disaster-related insurance information as well as other information related to hurricane and disaster management.

FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security is charged with leading the federal government’s response to natural and other disasters across the country. FEMA’s website provides information on preparedness, updates about ongoing recovery efforts in areas such as the Gulf Coast and links to other agencies involved in disaster management.

National Hurricane Center The National Hurricane Center provides up-to-date weather advisories and tracks the development of storms.  It also provides historical accounts of hurricanes and scientific information in reference to how storms are formed.

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida Initially published in 1998 and updated regularly, the Disaster Handbook contains vital information for homeowners, commercial growers and marine interests about preparing for and recovering from a natural disaster.