Photo Caption: Commissioner Katy Sorenson (right) and Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV Hurricane Specialist and former Director of the National Hurricane Center, inform South Dade residents on ways to prepare for the 2008 hurricane season at the Hurricane Preparedness Workshop sponsored by Commissioner Sorenson in partnership with the Village of Palmetto Bay and Town of Cutler Bay at the Deering Estate Visitors Center on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

"It was wonderful to have so many County departments there on their own time to educate the community about hurricane preparedness,” said Commissioner Sorenson. “Unfortunately, too many people leave preparation until the last minute.  We need to get smarter as a community, so that able-bodied people can help themselves, and the governments can help people who aren't self-sufficient."

Special guest speaker Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV’s Hurricane Specialist and Senior Executive Vice President of America's Emergency Network, was the former Director of the National Hurricane Center from 2000 to 2007.  Both he and Commissioner Sorenson stressed the importance of preparing for the worst and stocking up on supplies, particularly water and ice.

“A wise man once said, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’  If we are lucky enough to live in beautiful South Florida, we need to understand that we are vulnerable to hurricanes,” said Mr. Mayfield.  “And it only makes good sense to be prepared.  As Ben Franklin once said, ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’”

In addition to hurricane safety information, attendees also exchanged their old showerheads for newer, high efficiency models free of charge, and enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Sunstate Bank.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hurricane Center has predicted that 2008 may yield 12 to 16 named storms in the Atlantic, including 6 to 9 hurricanes and 2 to 5 major hurricanes Category 3 or above. For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit www.miamidade.gov/hurricane.