FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
Heather Allebaugh (407) 246-3423

CITY OF ORLANDO PREPARES FOR TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO

City Emergency Managers in Dialogue with Local, Volunteer, State and Federal Organizations in Preparation for Impacts of Storm

ORLANDO, FL (June 12, 2006)—Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando’s Office of Emergency Management have taken proactive steps in preparation for Tropical Storm Alberto, working with various local, volunteer, state and federal organizations, to ensure Orlando citizens and all of Central Florida are prepared for a hurricane.

City Emergency Managers are in dialogue with officials from the National Hurricane Center and State Emergency Management division to obtain the most up-to-date information for citizens. Hurricane experts expect Tropical Storm Alberto to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain with the possibility of tornados to the Central Florida area. Over the next two days, citizens are encouraged to constantly monitor the storm and observe warnings for flooding, high winds and tornados.

The City’s EOC is still at the monitoring level and Mayor Dyer has asked City departments to take precautionary measures for any potential impacts from the storm. For example, the Public Works Department is monitoring lake levels and will lower if needed.

The City's new Traffic Management Center, with access to more than 100 Department of Transportation traffic cameras in Central Florida area, is currently being utilized to monitor road and debris conditions, evacuation status, weather conditions, and evacuation traffic from South Florida.

Orlando residents can stay informed 24-hours a day with the City of Orlando’s AM radio station, WQDC 1650 AM. For information on hurricane preparation, citizens can visit the City of Orlando website at: http://cityoforlando.net/fire/emergency_management/Hurricanes.htm.
The City of Orlando will continue to watch Tropical Storm Alberto and provide additional information and updates as the storm progresses toward Florida.

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