- College of Medicine
As you breeze through the corridors at the College of Medicine, the furthest thing from your mind may be a hurricane. Events and operations coordinator Kailyn Potter wants to change that before the next storm threatens Central Florida, as Tropical Storm Debby did in late June. Slow down on your rush to your cubicle or classroom and you’ll notice the hurricane survival table Kailyn has set up in the atrium.
“We want to create awareness for students, faculty and staff – especially those who are new to the state,” said Kailyn, who experienced her share of hurricanes as a native of Naples, FL.
The table features materials gathered from National Hurricane Center, the emergency management office on the main UCF campus and The Orlando Sentinel. You’ll find a Hurricane Survival Guide 2012, safety brochures, pocket guides, and a pamphlet titled “A Quick Guide to Personal Security and Safety When an Emergency Occurs” at UCF.
There also are handouts advising what items to have on hand in case of a storm (ranging from a nonelectric can opener to a full gas tank for your car), how to stock a first-aid kit, and what food items to purchase.
A second table is planned for the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Kailyn said. The displays will remain until the last day of hurricane season, which is November 30.
Even though Debby never became more than a tropical storm, the system dumped about 18 inches of rain in an area around the St. Mary’s River and Jacksonville, according to news reports. Total rainfall in the Orlando area during a three-day period in late June was 3.5 inches in downtown Orlando and 4.9 inches in Leesburg. The storm was blamed for at least two deaths and flooding in Wakulla County south of Tallahassee.