Library Online Resources
Connect with consumer resources and Florida regulatory agencies to protect yourself from after-hurricane fraud.
The Orlando Sentinel's own consumer advocate Greg Dawson shares stories about his work and tips on how to avoid getting scammed after a hurricane in this 17 minute video.
Search for hurricane news and articles from 1985-present in the Orlando Sentinel and other Southeastern Newspapers. Remember, you must connect your search terms with the word "and". The database gives you the most recent articles first, but you can also sort by relevance to get older "how to" or historical articles.
Use the search term "hurricane" to find encyclopedia articles, maps, pictures, videos, and relevant websites, among other results.
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After the Storm
Be aware that the Red Cross provides hurricane information and helps prepare communities for emergencies. You can apply for assistance or volunteer to help.
Look into topics such as Hurricane Cleanup. This website lists hazards that you might need to prepare for like carbon monoxide safety, electrical hazards, and food and water safety. This website can be read in several languages.
Take a look at the Disaster Preparedness page, provided by the Department of Financial Services - Division of Consumer Services, that covers the aftermath of a hurricane. There is important information that every property owner should know.
FEMA is tasked with disaster mitigation, preparedness, response,and recovery planning.
Stay up to code when you rebuild. A commonly requested part of the code at the Library after a storm is chapter 15, roofing. You can get this information online. There are older versions of the code at this website also.
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Mobile
Hurricane by American Red Cross
This free application provides step-by-step instructions on what to do before, during, and after the story, even if you do not have Internet access. Monitor and receive alerts for hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods in your area. Additional tools include "I'm safe" alerts to loved ones, shelter information, and a hurricane tool kit.
iTunes | Google Play | Website
OCFL Alert
Receive disaster information straight from Orange County Florida Government, including severe weather updates, road closures, and AMBER Alerts. During hurricane season, this application includes information on shelters, water distribution points, and emergency numbers.
iTunes | Google Play | Website
Get all kinds of weather applications for all sorts of mobile devices including regular cell phones.
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Library Materials
Download a OneClickdigital or OverDrive audiobook that features hurricanes as a topic or plot-device.
Hurricanes are better when they are fictional. See if these authors know as much about them as you do.
Learn about the events that transpired during the impact of Hurricane Katrina from these first-hand accounts and discussions.
These books and videos cover hurricane history, science, and preparedness.
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Kids & Teens
Library Online Resources
Find out about hurricane season and learn something new about Florida's hurricane history.
Check out this database for beginning reasearchers covering a variety of topics. Try searching "Hurricane Forecasting" or "Hurricane Katrina" to help kids prepare for hurricane season.
Library Materials
Get swept away with these exciting fiction and non-fiction titles. Check out Jan Day's Kissimmee Pete and the Hurricane for a tall tale about a hurricane right here in Florida or learn about the effects hurricanes can have in Hurricanes by Seymour Simon.
Rainy Day
Beat the rainy day boredom with these books, DVDs, and activities including:
Websites
Be ready for anything! The Federal Emergency Management Agency website has tons of information for kids about hurricanes. Take a look at the Fun and Games section to try your hand at an interactive word search or to print your very own activity book.
Check out this severe weather resource brought to you by Scholastic. Learn about hurricane basics and find out what you can do to be prepared. Don't forget to test your knowledge by taking the quiz challenge!
Take a look at at the Weather Encyclopedia for information about hurricanes and tropical systems. See the what conditions can lead to a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Then brush up on your hurricane knowledge by reading about historical hurricanes.
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During the Storm
News Coverage
Different television stations have different coverage. Find the ones that fit your needs.
Get local information from the Orlando Sentinel. Get updates during the storm and look over preparedness tips you might not have thought about.
More news coverage
The National Hurricane Center is your source for the watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather. The NHC is part of the National Weather Service and provides valuable information about all oceanic and weather disasters.
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Social
Dr. Masters is the Director of Meteorology of the website Weather Underground, one of the most popular weather websites.
Go deeper into weather analysis with this authoritative but easy to understand discussion of important weather events.
Learn what's going on with your local Central Florida weather. WFTV's Channel 9's weather team provides this blog to keep you informed.
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