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WEATHER ALERT

SAFETY

Statewide tornado drill to take place in Florida Feb. 3

At approximately 10 a.m. Feb. 3, all National Weather Service offices serving Florida will issue a practice tornado warning. AdThe practice tornado warning will be canceled at 10:30 a.m. If severe weather threatens Florida Wednesday, the test will be moved to Feb. 5. School districts, private schools, pre-schools and daycare centers are urged to participate in Wednesday’s drill by enacting their severe weather plan. As a family, come up with a safe meeting place to go to in the event a tornado warning is issued.

Orlando International Airport operating under ‘awareness, alertness, readiness’ ahead of possible threats

ORLANDO, Fla. – On Friday, Orlando International Airport leaders spoke on a conference call to discuss what to “look for” with regard to possible threats to the presidential inauguration this week. Law enforcement is also taking no chances in Florida’s capital. Lookout teams and snipers were seen on rooftops in downtown Tallahassee and Florida Highway Patrol cars swarmed the area around the state capitol building. “We are a resilient community and a resilient state, and we will not be intimidated,” Tallahassee’s Mayor tweeted. “We are encouraged that things have been quiet in Tallahassee, but we are not letting our guard down.”

Here are the security measures you could see in place ahead of possible nationwide protests

According to an internal FBI bulletin, nationwide protests at state capitols and courthouses are being planned from Jan. 16 until Jan. 20. Montiero said when law enforcement receives a warning like this one, it’s important for agencies to act quickly. So, the FBI has issued their information, you have the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) that gathers their own and then the sheriff’s offices,” he said. “Of course, they share information and then they begin to put action to prevent anything from happening.”A likely part of the security plans would be to put officers in places where they can be seen. “You’re going to get an obvious response (and) there’s going to be visual deterrents” Montiero said.

FDA: Make sure you arent drinking hand sanitizer even if its in a beer can

With a global pandemic underway, companies have gotten creative to meet the demand for hand sanitizer but the Food and Drug Administration warns some of that creativity may be dangerous to consumers. The FDA issued a warning this week about alcohol-based hand sanitizers being packaged in containers that may look like food or drink items. Recently, the FDA learned of a person who purchased a bottle they thought contained drinking water but it was hand sanitizer. Ingesting hand sanitizer can be toxic and the FDA is reporting an increasing number of cases where people suffer serious symptoms or even death from drinking the germ killer. I am increasingly concerned about hand sanitizer being packaged to appear to be consumable products, such as baby food or beverages.

New crossing signal in Daytona Beach aims to keep children safe during school year

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. A first of its kind traffic signal is going into service in an effort to improve pedestrian safety ahead of the school year. The Florida Department of Transportation recently installed a pedestrian hybrid beacon across International Speedway Boulevard near Highland Avenue. Officials said the beacon was needed because of the high volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic near the entrances of Mainland High School and Daytona State College. The beacon differs from a traditional traffic signal by staying dark until activated. When a pedestrian presses the push-to-walk button, a flashing yellow light will activate, which warns drivers to slow down.

Ask Trooper Steve: Should you ride a bike with or against traffic?

ORLANDO, Fla. News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated. With the flow of traffic or against the flow of traffic, that is the question. READ MORE: ASK TROOPER STEVE | WHAT THE HONKI personally always thought this was pretty obvious but its almost the number one question I get from people who do ride bikes recreationally. Well, anytime youre traveling in a travel lane you are required to do the same thing that cars are doing. If you have a question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.

Would you know what to do during a tornado? We have tips

As mid-May arrives, tornado season begins to reach its peak, proving to be a big threat, and nearly every state in the United States can experience a tornado. Having said that, do you know the safest things you can do for you and your family should a tornado strike near your home? Because of that, it’s smart to consider what room may be safest for you, in the event of a tornado. Mobile homes are simply not designed to withstand a tornado or strong winds in severe storms. [WATCH: When you see a tornado while driving, here’s what to do]The time to find shelter is when you are under a tornado warning, so while all of this is helpful information, the best thing you can do is know the signs before a tornado hits.

“Water safety cannot be understated”: Authorities urge pool safety during stay-at-home order

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Officials in Central Florida are urging families to stay vigilant and safe while staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. According to officials, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under five in Florida. “With people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, pool season has started earlier than the traditional end-of-school-year,” officials said. Ron DeSantis imposed the stay-at-home order, Orange County Fire Rescue has responded to several pediatric drowning calls. “We want people to enjoy pool time, but we also want them to be safe,” OCFR said in a news release.