Gov. Charlie Crist has proclaimed May 24 30 as Florida Hurricane Preparedness Week, by urging all Floridians to prepare for the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season that begins June 1. This year local, state and federal officials will engage in outreach and training activities throughout the week and beyond.

Lee County begins the training with participation in a statewide hurricane exercise which replays the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 that made landfall in South Florida, exited near Fort Myers and then hit the western Panhandle. The testing of catastrophic plans and operations in this exercise continues through June 3, with additional training events later in the month of June.

Thursday morning local emergency managers will meet with the leaders of all agencies involved in hurricane preparedness and disaster recovery to bring all agencies up to date on the county’s 2009 preparedness and emergency response plan.

The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30, 2009. To develop your personalized family or business disaster plan or find out about attending preparedness seminars, go to: www.leeeoc.com.