Tropical Storm Don not to impact Florida

Tropical Storm Don is not expected to impact Florida, but watches have been issued for central and southern Texas coastline.

This morning the National Hurricane Center reported it should move west across the Gulf of Mexico for the next 24-36 hours, then inland near Corpus Christi, Texas, late Friday night or early Saturday morning.   

The official forecast and all computer models keep it within tropical storm intensity until landfall. 

There is only a 14% chance for TS Don to reach hurricane strength in the next 36 hours.  

Additional information can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Possible Formation of Tropical Cyclone Could Bring Heavy Rains This Weekend

Thunderstorm and shower activity associated with a broad low pressure disturbance over the eastern Gulf of Mexico has slowly organized today. As a result, the National Hurricane Center has indicated a 40% chance of tropical cyclone formation within the next 48 hours.

Currents in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico will likely steer the system northward. Computer models are forecasting that the low will move slowly north over the day or two before moving inland over northern Florida.  While most models show this disturbance stays weak due to some dry air and moderate wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a chance that wind shear will weaken in the region over the next 24-48 hours which may provide a small window of opportunity for the disturbance to further organize before moving inland.

Regardless, tropical moisture from this system will help generate some much needed rainfall across the state through the weekend.

Always remember additional information on flooding can be found at:

• Florida Health's website (when wells are affected), and
• National Flood Insurance Program's website.

KIDS GET A PLAN! TEENS, HELP YOUR FAMILY STAY SAFE!

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a website for KIDS. It is full of information to help kids learn about, and prepare for, Florida's summer weather. It's called "Kids Get A Plan!"

Choose material by grade reading level [K-5] or [6th Grade+].

Parents and teachers will find storybooks with guides to help teach young children safety, while at the same time helping them become better readers. Check the K-5 Grownups category.

Kids up to grade 5 learn by playing, reading, and downloading activities and books:

• Stories - click to read, hear, and play stories. You can even click some words that may be new to you, like "weather radio" or "energy", or listen about clouds, thunder, and lightening.
• News - Kid Science In The News
• Downloads - download & listen to audio books; print coloring pages, books, & characters; even get screen savers and wallpapers for your computer right at home.
• Activities - play the 30/30 Rule, take the Whiz-Bang Weather Watching Wonder Quiz, build your own disaster Kit from cabinets in your home, and use a Firewise Simulator to protect your family & home from wildfires.
• Contest - Videos & Posters
  
  • Radio Disney's 2011 Winners
  • 2011 HS Winner video "When the Storm Hits"
  • 2011 MS Winner video "Generate Some Smarts"
  • Floods Happen
  • Rappin-Build-A-Kit for American Red Cross
  • Your Pet Needs a Plan
  • Tornado Tube & Lighting and Thunder demos
  • Submit your own video or poster for 2012

FOR GRADES 6 AND ABOVE, click here and then [6th Grade +], or visit website "Hazardous Weather: A Florida Guide". Here teens learn about topics Floods, Tornadoes, Lightning, Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, Temperatures, Rip-Currents, Wildfires, and Boat Safety.

So go ahead! Check out the stuff available to help ALL KIDS get ready for our Florida summer weather! Click here to go the the "Kids Get A Plan" website, pick an age, and . . . .

BE SMART !     BE SAFE !     BE A SURVIVOR !

Stay Connected with Smartphones

The National Weather Service posted as of 10:00pm CDT June 30th, the remnants of tropical storm Arlene are dissipating over the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico.

STAY CONNECTED with FEMA mobile sites:
* Twitter: http://mobile.twitter.com/fema
* Facebook: http://m.facebook.com/fema
* YouTube: http://m.youtube.com/fema

FEMA has a mobile app available during times of disasters for smartphone users.
To apply for individual assistance, smartphone users should take the following steps:
1. Go to m.fema.gov and click “Apply Online for FEMA Assistance” which redirects to FEMA partner site DisasterAssistance.gov.
2. Under "Apply for Assistance Immediately", click on “Start Registration.” A page will prompt you to answer a simple question to prevent against software viruses.
3. You then will fill out the registration form to apply for assistance, which states it takes approximately 18-20 minutes.