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Tropical Storm Alberto Gains Strength Off Florida Coast
Written by
Katie Lawson
, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Monday, June 12, 2006 — The National Hurricane Center today issued a hurricane warning for the gulf coast of Florida as Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, continues to gain strength.
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season, in the Gulf west of Florida, June 12, 2006, at 11:41 a.m. With winds nearing 70 mph mid-day Monday and the front moving north at between seven and 10 mph, the National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for parts of Florida. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
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Alberto’s winds are nearing 70 mph and could produce hurricane conditions within the next 24 hours. A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Longboat Key, near Sarasota, to the Ochlockonee River, south of Tallahassee.
Alberto was approximately 190 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Fla., around 11 a.m. Monday morning with the storm front moving north at seven to 10 miles per hour. Expected to make landfall sometime Tuesday, Tropical Storm Alberto’s winds stretch 230 miles from its center and already affects are being felt on the coast, including wind and rain.
According to the National Weather Service, up to 30 inches of rain could fall over parts of Cuba with five to 10 inches of rain accumulation possible for the Florida peninsula through Tuesday. More rain is also predicted for the Florida Keys. Although the State of Florida has been experiencing a drought and can benefit from the precipitation, too much rain too fast could cause flash flooding and mudslides.
Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced its predictions for the 2006 season, which according to its scientists could produce as many as 16 named storms, with six of them becoming major hurricanes.
The American Red Cross encourages people to take steps to prepare for emergencies and offers these hurricane preparedness tips to keep you and your loved ones safe:
- Stay Informed – Get to know the types of disasters that can happen in your community. Local government officials, not the Red Cross, issue orders such as evacuations or sheltering in-place when certain disasters threaten. Listen to local radio and television reports when disaster threatens and follow the guidance of your local officials.
- Make A Plan - Include a family communication plan and evacuation plan. Coordinate your plan with your child’s school, your workplace and community plans. Practice this plan with your entire family.
- Pick two places to meet. One right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire and the other outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
- Ask an out-of-state friend to be your family contact. After a disaster, it’s often
easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell
them where they are. Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.
- Write down all of these contact numbers and information on the family
emergency contact card.
- Discuss what to do in an evacuation.
- Plan how to take care of your pets.
- A downloadable contact card and other guidance for an emergency plan are
available at RedCross.org.
- Build A Kit - Build a disaster supplies kit that includes enough supplies for each family member for three days. Remember to check and update your kit every six months.
- There are basic items you should stock in an easy to grab container or bag that
you would need during an evacuation or emergency situation include bottled water, nonperishable food, first aid supplies including medications or prescriptions, a flashlight, a battery-operated or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a small amount of cash and copies of important documents.
- Or, you can purchase and customize a basic disaster supplies kit through the RedCross.org online store.
- A checklist of additional items you might add to customize your kit are available on RedCross.org.
For more information on what you can do to prepare, visit the Get Prepared section of Redcross.org.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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