FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(941) 335-2777
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 13, 2000) – For the benefit of news editors and reporters who may want to do follow-up, in-depth or update stories, Lee TV is featuring the following items in its June “Newswrap” broadcasts:
Hurricane Preparedness Information – Members of Lee County’s Emergency Operations team took part in two statewide hurricane-training exercises in late April and early May. Fictitious Hurricane Zoey, a category 2 storm, headed straight for Lee County and required quick preparation decisions by emergency officials. Hurricane Zoro came ashore in Jacksonville and Lee County played a support role. Both scenarios helped the county improve and enhance its overall hurricane response plan. In addition, we give residents tips on how to prepare a hurricane kit. For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit Emergency Management’s web page at www.lee-county.com/PublicSafety/EOC/Default.htm or visit the National Hurricane Center’s web page at www.nhc.noaa.gov.
Tourism’s “Decade of Success” – The local tourism industry experienced its busiest March ever this year with 286,000 visitors coming to Lee County, pumping $149 million into area businesses. The spectacular numbers topped off what Lee Island Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau officials called “A Decade of Success” at a recent gathering of local tourism industry officials. In the last decade, annual visitors have increased by 360,000, annual visitor spending has jumped $306 million, and tourism-related employment is now at 33,400.
CPR Day 2000
– What would you do if someone you love suffered a heart attack? Hopefully you would know how to perform CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation). To
increase those odds, Lee County Emergency Medical Services, The American Heart
Association and the Florida College of Emergency Physicians held a CPR Day 2000
in April where 250 residents learned how to help someone survive a heart
attack. Sudden cardiac death occurs about 700 times per day in the United
States. Early CPR and rapid
defibrillation combined with early advanced care can result in long-term
survival rates as high as 40 percent.
Land Conservation – Lee County’s Conservation 2020 program continues to fulfill the mandate given it by county taxpayers to purchase environmentally sensitive lands. Nearly 1,300 acres has been acquired since voters approved a referendum to tax themselves for the conservation program. The county has received more than 125 applications from potential sellers of 16,500 acres.
Note: Newswrap can be seen on your cable access station immediately following Tuesday morning commission meetings and at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays; and following Lee County School Board meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month. To learn more about these stories, call Keith Smith (335-2665) or Pete Winton (335-2777).