Hurricane Season

June 1 through November 30

 

CLOSEST POINT OF APPROACH, COASTAL FLOOD WARNING OR WATCH, EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM, EVACUATION TIME, EXTEND OF EVACUATION, FLOOD WARNING, FORWARD SPEED, GALE WARNING, HURRICANE EYE LANDFALL, HURRICANE PATH OR TRACK, HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM PROBABILITIES, NOAA WEATHER RADIO, PRE-EYE LANDFALL TIME, SHELTER PERIOD, SMALL-CRAFT ADVISORY, SPECIAL MARINE WARNING, STORM TIDE, SUSTAINED WIND, TIMING OF EVACUATION, TORNADO WATCH OR WARNING, TROPICAL CYCLONE, WEATHER ADVISORY.

 

The above is a little overwhelming, but all terms you should be familiar with. The below EXPERTS in the the information links is the best source of information for you. Please enter these sites now and prepare NOW, review The Forest Emergency Preparedness Plan for information pertaining to increase awareness of local hurricane evacuation, shelter information, time frame for implementation, and desired outcome to be achieved through the planning process. Do not wait until the last minuet to get ready. Start NOW!

 

Evacuate or Stay: The storm is a killer! If you or your family feel insecure in any way with an approaching major storm, my best advice to you is secure your property and get out of town or go to a shelter. For your own health and safety you will be better off making your family and yourself secure in another location. The experts tell us if you evacuate 10 times, seven of those times you're going to be wrong., but I'd rather be wrong than dead wrong. Lives cannot be replaced!

 

The Forest is located in a Storm Surge Risk Area of a Category 1 Hurricane. This means the area may be subject to salt water flooding should a Category 1 Hurricane or greater approaches The Forest. The Storm Surge is the real killer during a hurricane.

 

Category

Wind Speed

Storm Surge

Damage

 

1

74 - 95 MPH

4 - 5 FT

Minimal

 

2

96 - 110 MPH

6 - 8 FT

Moderate

3

111 - 130 MPH

9 - 12 FT

Extensive

 

4

131 - 155 MPH

13 - 18 FT

Extreme

 

5

+ 155 MPH

+ 18 FT

Catastrophic



Every resident is responsible for the preparation of their home and the removal of flying debris from their yard prior to the storm to protect other residents property. Out of state residents MUST make arrangements to have someone secure their property when out of state.

Video Recording of common property will be done by security personnel by vehicle. We suggest you video record or take pictures of your own personal property and home before and after the storm for insurance purposes.

 

Gates will be opened & unmanned (security personnel to be home with family) when winds approach 39 mph sustained. Video recording will continue at all gates as long as power is on, gates may be manned by volunteer residents if weather permits. Police, EMS, & other Emergency. vehicles, will not respond when winds reach 39 mph sustained. Also note ALL bridges in Lee Country will CLOSE when winds reach this speed.

 

Lee County Emergency Management states: Regarding the providing of emergency services during life-threatening weather conditions, public safety emergency services vehicles such as patrol cars, fire trucks and ambulances normally get off the road at the arrival of sustained wind speeds that reach or exceed tropical storm force (39 miles per hour). When this occurs ALL emergency response personnel will be deployed to stations or shelters. We limit or discontinue emergency response services until such time that conditions are deemed non life-threatening. ALL emergency 911 calls will be prioritized. Therefore, we can not GUARANTEE emergency services under tropical storm or hurricane conditions to ANYONE within Lee County.

 

Florida Division of Emergency Management: To better inform people of their risk during a hurricane, the department has enhanced its Web site and will be provided the following information for your area:

  • The status of tropical storms and hurricanes
  • Whether you live in an area in danger of hurricane, particularly flooding
  • Whether local officials say you must evacuate
  • How to develop an evacuation plan
  • When to head to the nearest public shelter
  • Traffic conditions on evacuation routes
  • Nearby hotels, including links to those that accept pets

After the storm normal operation will continue within 6 to 12 hours, with or with out power. The Island Park Gate may be locked at this time if security personnel are not available. The main gate will operate with a back up generator if no power is available.

 

In cooperation with the Forest Country Club maintenance personnel, FPOA maintenance personnel, and Forest resident volunteers, roads will be cleared as soon as possible. As a united community we will all work together for the safety of ALL!

 

During any hurricane or disaster in the state of Florida the rules for overnight parking of campers, trucks, or boats is void, and we will allow parking for all such vehicles for residents family or friends in need!

 

Other Information Links (Please enter & LEARN for your Safety)