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First Coast Residents Encouraged To Be Prepared Even With Quieter Hurricane Season Predicted

Duval County Emergency Management

The 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season started June 1, and forecasters predict it will be a quieter-than-average year, with six to 11 named storms.

Still, Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Director Steven Woodward says it only takes one direct hit to destroy a house or a neighborhood.

And, he says, hurricanes aren’t the only natural disaster Jacksonville residents should prepare for.

“Even this past weekend we had some wildfire activity. We had a small tornado in April,” Woodward said.

He said, “Flooding is not unusual in the area with heavy rains, and certainly if we have a tropical storm or a hurricane, flooding is going to be an issue, along with storm surge.”

Woodward urges everyone to pick up or download a free copy of the city’s latest Emergency Preparedness Guidewhich includes flood zone maps, evacuation zones and routes, emergency contacts and preparedness checklists.

And he recommends downloading the new JaxReady mobile app.

The guide, the app and other important emergency information is available online at JaxReady.com.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.