FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2004

Emergency managers are carefully monitoring Tropical Storm Charley and its projected path. Here is what is happening in the next several hours:

- A conference call with the National Hurricane Center and state Emergency Operations Center will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Lee County Emergency Operations Center (Ortiz Avenue). The conference call is not open to the media, however a summary will be distributed afterwards and emergency managers will be available for interviews.

- The EOC likely will go to a level 2 (partial activation) at that time.

- Storm PIOs, Booch DeMarchi (EOC) and Paul Filla (EMS/Public Safety) will be at the EOC today.

- After the conference call, another update will be issued.

- As is the case when storms approach, residents and visitors should review their emergency plans, including for property, people and pets.