Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s (MDFR) Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is encouraging residents of Miami-Dade County to get ready for hurricane season, which starts on Friday, June 1.  MDFR wants the public to take four simple steps to get ready for the 2012 hurricane season.

1. Be Informed- Before a disaster, get information about local emergency plans for shelter and evacuation. If you feel you will need emergency evacuation assistance during a storm, call 3-1-1 for an application to be mailed to your residence. Have a list of local emergency contacts handy. Sign up for Miami-Dade Alerts, at www.miamidade.gov/fire. This free service will send you text messages about any significant emergency event.
2. Make a Plan- Create a family emergency plan and make sure to go over it with every member of your family. Make sure this plan covers evacuation routes, contact information, and important phone numbers. Download a family emergency plan at www.ready.gov.
3. Get a Kit- This kit should have enough items to survive for the first 72 hours after a storm. This includes non-perishable foods, one gallon of water per person per day, battery operated radio, and flashlights. Other items that should be included are medication, diapers and formula if you have a small child, and food for your pets.
4. Get Involved- Miami-Dade County in partnership with the American Red Cross, offers free training in basic disaster response skills for members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Volunteers will learn fire safety, light search and rescue skills, team organization, and disaster medical operations. To learn more about becoming a CERT member, e-mail [email protected].