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September is National Preparedness Month, and the ³Ô¹ÏÍø community is encouraged to prepare now for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which ends on Nov. 30.

Six steps to prepare for the peak of hurricane season

September 7, 2021

As hurricane season nears its peak on Sept. 10 and the National Hurricane Center continues monitoring potential storm systems in the Atlantic, it’s important for everyone at ³Ô¹ÏÍø to make sure they are prepared. September is National Preparedness Month, and the annual campaign encourages all Americans to prepare for disasters and other emergencies through the end of hurricane season on Nov. 30 and beyond.

This checklist can help you make sure you are ready for anything.

Sign up or update your ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly Alerts contact information to receive important messages if a hurricane or other serious event may affect ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly. ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly Alerts is the University’s the primary channel for emergency communication. ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly email is used as a follow-up to the emergency alerts.
Make an emergency plan. Having a disaster plan in place can minimize confusion and worry during a disaster. Forbes has created an extensive checklist that can help you be prepared. Steps include knowing how you will shelter, evacuate, and communicate in the event of an emergency.
Create an emergency kit. The ³Ô¹ÏÍø Division of Emergency Management developed a guide to assist you in creating an emergency supplies kit to last you and your family for at least seven days.
Stay informed. In addition to listening to the battery-operated radio in your emergency kit, it’s important to monitor resources such as the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and local weather resources. You also can call 211 during a disaster to get information about emergency shelters, food distribution, grief counseling, clean up, and more.
For more local information, visit Polk County’s disaster preparedness website.
Monitor ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly’s website and social media for important information that may affect you as storms approach throughout the season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Visit the National Preparedness Month website for more information about preparing for a disaster long before one strikes.

 

Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.

Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.