Hurricane Season 2008 starts June 1. 

The 2008 Hurricane Season begins June 1. Now is a great time to start preparing!  Here's what you need to know:

• Get a PLAN at floridadisaster.org!  The Florida Department of Emergency Management has made it easier than ever to have a plan in place.  It only takes minutes, and could save your life.
• Have a Hurricane Kit Ready!  Your hurricane kit should contain enough non-perishable food, water, and medicine for a minimum of three days, and preferably for seven days or more.  Other items:  flashlights, transistor radio, batteries, cash, can opener, insect repellent, first-aid kit, more.  For additional information, visit floridadisaster.org
• Get trained now to be a first responder!  Trained volunteers are critical after a disaster strikes.  If you want to volunteer in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane or other disaster, contact an experienced disaster relief agency and get trained before volunteers are needed.
• Prepare your home!  Mitigation can help to protect your home from a hurricane's pounding winds.  Preventing wind from entering your house can make the difference between having a home and not having a home. Visit floridadisaster.org's mitigation page for more information.

Volunteers undoubtedly will be needed if Florida experiences hurricanes or other natural disasters in 2008.  Visit this Web site for up-to-the-minute information when disaster strikes.

Clothing Donations/In-kind donations

In-kind clothing donations are best when they come from companies that can provide new items in quantities to meet the mass-care needs of survivors. Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of clothing from individuals and community groups, although well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for initial relief efforts.  For this reason, sending or delivering used clothing to areas impacted by disaster is not recommended.