ORLANDO, FL (August 27, 2006)—Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando’s Office of Emergency Management have taken proactive steps in monitoring Tropical Storm Ernesto, working with various local, volunteer, state and federal organizations, to ensure Orlando citizens and all of Central Florida are prepared for a hurricane.

City Emergency Managers are in dialogue with officials from the National Hurricane Center and State Emergency Management division to obtain the most up-to-date information for citizens.
Mayor Dyer encourages all residents and visitors to closely monitor the storm, stay informed and begin preparing family emergency kits.
Disaster kits should include: water (one gallon of water per person per day), food (a three-day supply), first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container.
Hurricane experts expect Hurricane Ernesto to spread tropical storm conditions into the peninsula beginning on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday, depending on the hurricane’s future path.

The City’s EOC is still at the monitoring level.

Orlando residents can stay informed 24-hours a day with the City of Orlando’s AM radio station, WQDC 1650 AM. For information on hurricane preparation, citizens can visit the City of Orlando website at: http://www.cityoforlando.net/fire/emergency_management/Hurricanes.htm.
The City of Orlando will continue to watch Hurricane Ernesto and provide additional information and updates as the storm progresses toward Florida.

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