Hurricane Katrina Slams Florida - Emergency Conditions Exist

Hurricane Katrina Slams Florida
Emergency Conditions Exist

At least four people are reported dead, after Hurricane Katrina slammed into Florida's southeast coast. Weather conditions are also hampering the search for a family of five missing at sea since Thursday.

Katrina roared ashore, packing 80 mph winds, Thursday evening, between Hallandale Beach and North Miami Beach.

Katrina's wrath plunged more than 1.2 million power customers into darkness, as Florida Power and Light reports at least 777,000 customers in Miami-Dade County were without power, along with at least 533,000 in Broward County and another 64,000 in Palm Beach County.

The key to surviving an emergency is preparedness. Without electrical power, obtaining important information is a necessity. I suggest obtaining an emergency "crank-powered" radio receiver, that will pick up not only AM, FM, and television signals, but will receive reports from NOAA Weather Radio Stations, as well.

I would also suggest the purchase of a handheld scanning radio to receive local and state communications from emergency services, such as police and fire departments, as well as local SKYWARN and ham radio operators.

Emergency Communications Receivers

Forecasters expected Katrina to strengthen over the warm Gulf waters, head north and possibly threaten the Florida Panhandle by the end of the weekend.

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