Editor’s Note: As of Tuesday morning, Sept. 24, Tropical System Nine is forecast to become Hurricane Helene. The system may become a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Although Southwest Florida is not directly in the forecast cone, significant impacts, such as storm surges, may occur in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties. Check with your local weather forecasts and news agencies for the latest updates.
The blog below serves as a reminder of what you and your family can do to prepare and provides helpful links and information for this week and the rest of hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 1.
Know the locations of special care shelters
Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA and President & CEO of Lee Health, says a key component of hurricane season is determining if you or your loved ones need access to a special care shelter.
“Lee Health hospitals and facilities are not hurricane shelters,” Dr. Antonucci says. “If you or a loved one requires assistance that exceeds services provided at a general population shelter, you must preregister with Lee County Emergency Management.”
To do so, visit the Lee County Special Needs Program. The Special Needs Program is free to Lee County residents. The program provides shelter for people who live in a home and/or area that’s not safe from storm surges or wind and those who have no other safe place to go. It also provides transportation to a shelter for anyone who lacks the means to get there.
Medical supplies, prescriptions, and other essentials
“If a storm is approaching, be sure you have refills of your prescription medications and other essential medical supplies, like oxygen,” Dr. Antonucci says. “Florida law allows pharmacies to fill prescriptions in advance during hurricane warnings.”
When services and supplies are limited, the CDC recommends thinking about your personal needs, prescriptions, paperwork, power sources, and practical skills. Click here to read a comprehensive guide.
WATCH HEALTH MATTERS: Medical supplies for a hurricane kit
“Think ahead, too, about preserving refrigerated drugs, like insulin, in case the power goes out – be sure you have enough ice to keep them cool for several days. If you have questions about your drug’s safety following a storm and power outage, contact poison control for assistance.”
If you choose to stay home and use a generator, be sure you know how to use it properly – generators are one of the leading causes of injury and death following a storm, Dr. Antonucci adds.
WATCH HEALTH MATTERS: Careful! Dangers of carbon monoxide from generators
Lee Health Emergency Management Hub can help you prepare
Lee Health’s Emergency Management Hub enables you to stay informed so you can prepare in the event of any disaster, including hurricanes.
Here, you can find information and checklists on what to do before, during, and after a natural disaster or public health emergency.
- Hurricane Preparedness Resources and Helpful Links
- Food and Water Supplies
- Emergency Action Plan
- Emergency Updates
2024 Hurricane Season: Lee Health Is ‘StormReady’ for You
Whatever this hurricane season brings, Lee Health’s StormReady program is ready to help.
The program helps arm our communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property before, during and after an event, according to Tashawna Gaines, Emergency Preparedness Manager for Lee Health.
“The StormReady program is about preparing for our area’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events,” Tashawna says. “All Lee Health hospitals are certified as ‘StormReady’ by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That means Lee Health has met a rigorous set of federal standards that help educate and prepare our communities on how to stay safe in a severe weather event.”
Lee Health social media updates
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