CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — To mark Hurricane Preparedness Week, the Citrus County Emergency Management Division hosted an All-Hazards Expo. The expo is designed to help better prepare for hazards like severe weather.
Last year, the county saw effects from Hurricane Idalia, then weeks later, a tornado swept through Crystal River.
“Everybody has to be prepared year-round for all types of incidents, not just hurricanes,” said Emergency Management Director Christopher Evan at the expo.
Dozens of vendors had popped up tables— ready to inform visitors on ways they can be prepared in the event of a disaster.
It was also a chance to see what new equipment is on-deck for first responders. New ways, as Evan says, that are always being sought to help the public.
“We find a lot of people do not check in and know what’s happening around them,” he said. “One of our campaigns this year is ‘Check-in Citrus.’ Don’t turn off the news, don’t turn off social media altogether- listen to see what’s happening every two or three days. Make sure there’s nothing serious in the world happening, especially the county, so that you can take steps to protect yourself and your family.”
Citrus County even has ‘Alert Citrus’ that residents can sign-up for. So should a severe weather event happen, a notification can be sent to one’s phone.
“If there is a true emergency anytime, year-round you can go ahead and sign-up for that,” said Evan. “We’ll send you notifications either through email, phone call, or through text message so you can stay informed on what’s happening.”
Residents can also always check Spectrum Bay News 9’s 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Guide as well as which flood zone you are in.
Calvin Lewis
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