The City of Sanibel opened its offices and police department Sunday to help itself and island residents and business owners prepare for the storm.
WGCU’s Amy Tardif has more.

Some of Florida's top hurricane researchers testified last week at a congressional hearing in favor of more money for storm research. They told members of Congress just how much they don't know - and would like to discover - about hurricanes. Joshua Johnson has more.

The weather over most of Florida was warm and pleasant on Monday. But, inside the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, a big storm was brewing. Tom Flanigan has more….

Hurricane season begins on Sunday and there’s already a system off the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Experts have many tools at their disposal for predicting and tracking storms. Yet one key component in their work comes from a piece of technology that’s not so new. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports on the small but important fleet of Hurricane Hunter planes.

Are you ready for hurricane season? Chances are…according to a new poll…most people are either not ready or not sure how to get ready. Emergency officials met Thursday at the National Hurricane Center, urging everyone to take their preparations seriously. Joshua Johnson was there and has this report.

At least one signal is missing that hurricane season is nearly here: the lack of a marketing blitz for hurricane supplies. Doug Phillips reports…

According to an independent review, many employees at the National Hurricane Center suffered from low morale, jealousies and other unresolved conflicts after a leadership crisis and staff mutiny last year. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more.

The National Hurricane Center's new director - Bill Read - says he and his staff are ready for the upcoming season. Read was in Fort Myers Friday as part of the 2008 National Weather Service Hurricane Preparedness Tour. WGCU's Luis Hernandez reports.

The volatile hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 fostered a renewed interest in improving the viability of homes in Florida. One real estate broker & Bonita Springs homeowner has gone so far as to add an addition onto his hom which he calls a hurricane bunker. WGCU's John Davis took a tour...

Hurricane season starts Friday. Officials are getting ready - and asking residents to do the same.

If and when another storm comes through southwest Florida, thousands of residents may need temporary shelter. That’s where the American Red Cross comes in. Executive Director for the Red Cross in Lee County Heidi Ruster says one of the challenges is providing shelter for people with special needs.

"It’s very important that you work with your doctor and determine is there a need for you to be in a special needs shelter. Is there care requirements of having a medical personnel available that would have to sign for you to be in that special needs shelter."

Another challenge people face is what to do with their pets. Lee County Animal Service’s Ria Brown says pet owners need to have a plan.

"We want to encourage people, first of all not to rely on somebody else and to make sure that you know you have a plan for your pet and to take those steps for yourself"

For information on Red Cross shelters visit the Red Cross website. For information about pet shelters go to the Lee County Animal Services website.