Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet approved the 2012 Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan (SESP) this morning at Stanley Switlik Elementary School in Marathon, Florida.
The 2012 SESP takes into account a combination of hurricane shelter surveys, retrofitted public facilities, existing schools and the use of enhanced hurricane-resistant construction for new schools and public facilities to create an estimated 939,395 spaces throughout the state.
The 2012 Statewide Emergency Shelter Plan provides, among other things, a guide for local and regional planning of new public school, community college and university facilities that must meet Public Shelter Design Criteria.
“Florida has made significant strides in reducing its deficit of safe public hurricane shelter space over the past 12 years and the 2012 SESP is evidence of the state’s progress,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan W. Koon.
The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins Friday, June 1.
