TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Local first responders spent Saturday walking through the Apalachee Ridge neighborhood as part of an annual effort to identify potential hurricane hazards and help residents prepare for storm season.<\/p>\n
The Hurricane Prep Safety Walk is a City of Tallahassee initiative that focuses on a different neighborhood each year. Now in its fourth year, the program brings together the Tallahassee Fire Department, Tallahassee Police Department and the American Red Cross to identify storm-related safety concerns before severe weather strikes.<\/p>\n
Deputy Fire Chief Richard Jones joined the residents on their walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just walking down the streets to make sure that the culverts are clear, making sure if we see trees hanging on power lines, we can notify utilities so if high winds come,\u201d Jones said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking for anything that could be a safety issue.\u201d <\/p>\n
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During the neighborhood walk, crews also visited with residents to discuss hurricane preparedness and home safety.<\/p>\n
Sgt. Stephen Stabley with the Tallahassee Police Department\u2019s Community Relations Unit said it was important for first responders to be there in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil they actually have a firefighter or police officer or somebody from the Red Cross standing right there in front of them, reminding them what the seriousness of it is, then I think they take it more serious,\u201d Stabley said.<\/p>\n
In addition to identifying storm hazards, Red Cross crews checked to make sure residents had working smoke detectors and distributed hurricane preparedness buckets filled with emergency supplies and preparedness information.<\/p>\n
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