COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 30, 2008) -From blankets to lanterns to generators to stoves, crate upon crate of emergency hurricane relief supplies are stacked to the rafters at the Food For The Poor warehouse in Coconut Creek, Florida. 

With hurricane season already underway and experts predicting a busier than normal season, Food For The Poor, an international aid and relief agency, has been laying in provisions and keeping a close eye on the forecast – ready to respond with emergency assistance on a moment’s notice.

“Last year, we rushed more than 300 truckloads of emergency relief supplies to victims of natural disasters in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Food For The Poor’s Executive Director, Angel Aloma.

In 2007, Florida was spared from damaging storms but the Caribbean and Latin America were not. When hurricanes Dean and Felix and Tropical Storm Noel killed at least 322 people and left thousands more homeless and in desperate need of help – Food For The Poor responded.

The latest outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the Atlantic Hurricane Season indicates a higher than average likelihood of 12 to 16 named storms, including as many as 9 developing into hurricanes.  Of those, as many as 5 could become Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricanes. 

Still, Aloma says the employees of Food For The Poor are trying to remain optimistic.  “Again this year we continue to pray for the best, but we remain prepared for the worst.”