RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Tiffany Elliott Erbach 757-925-1660 Lauren.Hansen@VDOT.virginia.gov Lauren Hansen 757-925-2583

HRO-0563 Sept. 26, 2005

VDOT ENCOURAGES HAMPTON ROADS RESIDENTS STAY PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON Online Forum Scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2005

VIRGINIA BEACH — Hurricane season isn’t over yet. Do you know your quickest evacuation route, or have a hurricane supply kit ready if a storm should hit your area? The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds Hampton Roads that it is important for every family to have a Hurricane plan should a severe storm approach the region. VDOT invites Hampton Roads residents to log-on this Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. where they will receive expert advice and useful help putting their family plan together.

This live online forum provides citizens an opportunity to ask experts in the transportation and emergency management fields questions about preparing for a hurricane. Experts from VDOT, as well as the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the National Weather Service, and the Virginia State Police (VSP) will answer questions during this two-hour live Internet broadcast.

Citizens should log-on to http://www.virginiadot.org/hurricanes and click on the “ONLINE FORUM” link to access the forum, submit questions, and review information about hurricane evacuation routes and preparation. They can also request a copy of the comprehensive Hampton Roads’ Hurricane Guide, providing useful information for staying in your home during a hurricane, as well as evacuation tips and a list of grocery items your family will need to weather the storm, whatever choice you make.

For more information about VDOT’s hurricane preparedness efforts before a storm hits, visit www.VirginiaDOT.org/hurricanes.
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