Tomorrow, the City of Tampa will throw the 2006 Neighborhood Fair and Hurricane Expo at Raymond James Stadium. Learn about City 
of Tampa services and how you and your family can prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.
The party starts at 10am, and the first 5,000 attendees will receive a FREE “Tampa is my Home” tote bag.
The Horror!
Today is June 1!
Welcome to HURRICANE SEASON 2006 (sponsored by Home Depot). As you may have heard from any news outlet, ARMAGEDDON (sponsored by Lowe’s) is upon us. Pack up the kids and dogs and participate in the BOARDING OF THE HOUSE (sponsored by Stanek Windows). Don’t forget to keep an eye on that BERMUDA HIGH (sponsored by The Weather Channel).
Whatever. Just make sure you have a plan.
Hurricane season starts next week. I’m not one of those that are gonna tell you to go buy $5,000 worth of hurricane supplies. You may not need it. The real questions to ask are these: Do you know what you need? Can you spend five days in your house? Do you know where to go? Do you even have to leave?
If a big one hits here, you better know what you are doing. We obviously cannot depend on government (see Katrina) to bail us out. Nor should we have to. Each of you should have a plan of what to do, where to go, and who to contact.
If you need some ideas of where to start your plan, TBO put together a quick overview of what you can expect from government. Don’t just read it - use the information to get your act together. The more of us that are ready = less of us gumming up the works.
I’m confident no hurricane will strike within 300 miles of Tampa Bay this year. But in case I’m wrong, I know exactly who / what / where / when and why I’m doing, anyway. You should too.
True to his word, Michael Hussey has been writing more about local issues. Last night, he gave us an important reminder to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season:
If you are disabled, you have to fill out the application for a special needs shelter before June 1… There will be no guaranteed shelter place for disabled who have not filled out the application.
Let me repeat that: Disabled residents will not be guaranteed any space at a special needs shelter unless they register with the county within TWO WEEKS from today.
Links:
If you are disabled, and need help with this, leave a comment - I’ll help if I can. Also, you can reach Hillsborough County Emergency Management at 813.272.6900 or the county Health Department at 813.307.8015 x6006
Thanks for the heads up, Mike.
Last Sunday during halftime of the Bucs/Saints game, the cheerleaders danced to the Scorpions - “Rock You Like A Hurricane.”
That would be the “forced to play 16 away games because of a hurricane New Orleans” Saints.
Found via Fresh, Hot Wastes of Time
It started with Arlene and it will end with Zeta…
With only a few hours left in 2005, tropical storm Zeta has formed in the eastern Atlantic. It poses no threat to land, but it puts an exclimation point on the year in tropical weather… It’s as if mother nature wants to remind us why we should be thankful 2005 is ending…
..and yet one has to wonder what she has in store for 2006?
Wilma left her impact on many folks who took a cruise out of Tampa. According to the Tampa Tribune, the vacation was a disaster, and Carnival Cruise Lines was less than sympathetic to their passengers plights. Trib Reporter Jos Patio Girona quoted two passengers, both upset at the way they were treated.
Dan Ruth chimed in too, concerned about the bad reviews reported.
A slew of letters to the editor tell a different story. Although the $25 credit was probably not enough to compensate those who lost a day of work from the late return, the letter writers claim that the ship’s staff kept them well-informed, in good weather, and are to be commended for their actions.
Feeling Cheated
Should Not Have Sailed
It Was A Vacation
Few Complaints Heard
Passengers Were Told
Satisfied Passenger
I have no doubt there were unhappy passengers. But to quote two unsatisfied customers and leave only a Carnival Cruise spokesperson to give the positive spin is a disservice to readers, not to mention unfair to the cruise line.
South of the Suwannee is reporting that northeast Broward County is still without power. SOS, if you come to Tampa, you have a comfy place to stay.
Wilma bypassed Tampa with hardly a brush. County & city employees did not work, and school was out too. Downtown Tampa was a ghost town, as if it were a typical Saturday. The morning began with rain, and it was very windy all day. The temperature dropped, too, just like Steve Jerve said it would. Tonight’s low is expected to be around 51 degrees. 49 tomorrow. Brrrr.
Our thoughts go out to our southwest and southern neighbors, who had to deal with much more than blustery wind and chilly temps.
Sticks of Fire proudly supports local businesses. When you choose to spend locally, more of your money stays right here in Tampa Bay. Check out these local sponsors:
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