What if a hurricane hits where you live?

MIAMI (FBW)—Even as the 2007 hurricane season gets underway, a recent survey revealed that Floridians, along with most residents in the nation's hurricane-prone regions, remain unprepared for a storm.

Recent reminders from the National Hurricane Center, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Department call to mind past active seasons that tested the mettle of residents and relief providers.

Fritz Wilson, director of the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Recovery Department, told Florida Baptist Witness Christians in Florida have added reasons to be prepared for storms.

"Being prepared for a disaster is part of being a good steward of the resources God has given you," Wilson said.

The lack of preparation increases as time between storms mounts, Wilson said. Few Floridians saw the need to get ready for hurricanes before 2004, since the last major hurricane was 12 years before, when Hurricane Andrew blew across the tip of the state.

Although the quiet 2006 season may have lulled citizens into relying on Florida's Sunshine State moniker, state officials are attempting to shake residents' unfounded sense of security through radio and television announcements and programs and a web site, www.hurricanesafety.org.

The results of a survey of Floridians were released May 31 by the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, a coalition of the National Hurricane Center, state and private relief organizations and corporate sponsors. The survey was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C.

The survey found that although 48 percent of Florida residents believe the 2007 hurricane season will be more active than 2006, and 65 percent feel somewhat or extremely vulnerable to a storm, less than half make any preparations before a storm watch is issued. Eleven percent of residents said they will make no preparations at all, and two-thirds have not assembled a hurricane kit.

Evacuating ahead of a storm remains a touchy issue for Floridians, the survey showed. Sixteen percent of residents would not, or would hesitate to, evacuate—even if ordered to leave by emergency officials. More than 70 percent of all Floridians surveyed said their homes are within 30 miles of a coastline.

Interestingly, while revealing their lack of preparation through the survey, the overwhelming number of Floridians—86 percent—said they believe it is the individual's responsibility to provide their own food, water, medicine and shelter in the first few days after a storm.

To help residents purchase what they need to be ready for a storm, Gov. Crist signed into law a bill establishing a sales tax holiday June 1-12 for items needed after a storm."We are praying for a quiet

summer and fall, but...it is essential for every Floridian to be prepared for the very real possibility of a storm or other natural disaster."

Crist also encouraged all residents to become aware of neighbors who may have special needs.

Florida Baptists' more than 4,500 trained Disaster Relief volunteers are "as ready for the 2007 hurricane season as they can possibly be," Fritz Wilson said.

Florida Baptists' six regional training events have averaged about 250 volunteers, and two more events are scheduled in June.

Wilson said 2007 disasters, including tornadoes and wildfires, have reminded him of 1998 when a tornado struck Osceola County, fires swept the Palm Coast area, and Hurricane George hit the Keys and the Panhandle.

The string of disasters "encouraged many of the churches across the state...to be prepared to minister to their communities year round, and not just during hurricane season," Wilson recalled.

Citing Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, only some of whom were "prepared and ready to go," Wilson urged churches to prepare now to minister to their neighborhoods after a disaster.

"Getting ready now is always better than waiting until two days after a storm and then asking, 'How can we minister?'" he observed.

Wilson especially praised the work of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association in preparing to minister in a disaster. Jeff Holley, church ministry director, has worked with the Disaster Relief and recovery Department to develop a comprehensive plan of response should the Tampa area be hit. Wilson said Holley's work with area churches has resulted in the presence of five cleanup recovery trailers, two shower trailers and several hundred trained volunteers.