By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Hurricane season began June 1 and local officials are concerned the public has become complacent in the nearly eight years since Osceola County was struck by a trifecta of hurricanes – Charley, Frances and Jeanne – in 2004.

St. Cloud Fire Rescue Chief Bill Johnston and city officials hosted a “packed” hurricane expo in 2005 but as the years have passed, attendance dropped off and now Johnston offers presentations to local neighborhood groups, homeowners associations and other organizations only by request.

“Apathy is definitely an issue the further we get from impact. That’s always a concern,” he said, adding the community should be prepared annually for a storm possibility. “Hurricanes are easy to prepare for because you usually have about five days before possible impact. It’s a lot easier to be prepared ahead of time.”

This includes stocking an emergency kit, knowing evacuations routes, securing any important documents and trimming trees well before a possible hurricane threat.

The Kissimmee Utility Authority is offering a free download of their Osceola Hurricane Handbook at www.kua.com/hurricane with safety tips, how to report a power outage and who to contact in the event of specific issues such as a fallen tree blocking the roadway.

“Our concern is the community not being prepared,” Osceola County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Danny McAvoy said. “They need to listen and follow directions to ensure their safety.”

Government entities are not immune to a lack of preparedness.

Local agencies partook in a county-wide response and restoration drill that involved a wide range of activities that were handled with the same intensity as real-life incidents and evaluated by Florida State University that developed the simulation.

The mock disasters, which included a simulated press event and other elements, are part of an annual training for local agencies, McAvoy said.

Loss of power, flooding, damage to homes, roads and public facilities were some of the difficulties encountered as emergency managers and the county’s multi-discipline team tested its storm plans and tactics.

“If a hurricane or other disaster strikes our county, residents can be assured that we are better prepared to work safely and efficiently as a result of last week’s drill,” Osceola County Fire Rescue Chief Richard Collins said. “Exercises like this are a key way to identify critical issues and address them prior to hurricane season. ”Other services linked to Osceola County also are preparing for possible hurricanes.

LYNX transportation services will be provided as scheduled until sustained winds reach 35 mph on the ground or there is flooding, according to spokesman Matthew Friedman.

At that point LYNX services including fixed route, LYMMO, NeighborLink and Road Rangers will be pulled off the road for safety reasons.

The period beginning 12 hours before sustained winds are expected to reach 35 mph, ACCESS LYNX will ONLY be providing life sustaining medical trips. For more information or to find out if routes have been suspended, visit www.golynx.com.

The Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30. Weather forecasters are predicting a near average season for 2012 with nine to 15 named storms, four to eight hurricanes and up to three major hurricanes.

There will be a free hurricane preparedness seminar and fair June 14 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Good Samaritan Village, 4197 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Kissimmee, in the community center.

The seminar will include information on how and what to be ready for including living supplies, home preparedness and a pet’s travel supply. The event is open to the public.