Yes, camping is a lot of fun. But, like nearly anything there can be a few downsides. Storms are one of them. A person camping in a tent or RV is vulnerable when severe weather hits, especially very severe weather like hurricanes.

The Florida Keys is a beautiful place to visit and in an effort to help people safe, the Florida Keys tourism council has put together a downloadable online brochure titled “Prepared in Paradise.” It’s a informational brochure for travelers who are traveling in the Florida Keys during the Atlantic Hurricane Season which officially runs from June 1 to November 30. But the peak hurricane season is quite a bit shorter, from August 15 to October 1.

As stated on the first page of the downloadable document, “Chances are you will never need to use the information in this pamphlet.” That’s a good thing. On the other hand, being prepared and knowing what to do if there is a hurricane heading for the area could help save your life.

One key piece of information in the pamphlet is: “If a hurricane is threatening the Florida Keys, a mandatory evacuation order will be issued asking alll visitors to leave. Usually the evacuation begins about 48 hours before the projected arrival of the storm’s fringes and is only ordered if there is a significant threat.” Faxes and e-mails are sent to all lodging facilities (including campgrounds and RV parks) informing them of the evacuation and giving the details on how to evacuate.

Information on when it’s safe to return can be found online at: www.fla-keys.com or by calling 1-800-FLA-KEYS. The website also has lots of helpful travel information.