THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A SMELLY ASSAULT ON SOME FLORIDA BEACHES.

WE GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONDITIONS THAT COULD MAKE FOR A RECORD-BREAKING SARGASSO SEASON.

THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON EMERGES IN THE GOALS.

WELL, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REMAINS IN THE CLEAR.

COULD THIS BE THE BEGINNING OF A BUSY HURRICANE SEASON?

AND BRINGING OUT JOE GOES WILD SIDE.

WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE TRADING IN THE DOWNWARD DOG FOR A CALMING COUPLE BAR.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SOME FLORIDA BEACHES ARE BEING OVERWHELMED WITH MILLIONS OF TONS OF A SMELLY BROWN SEAWEED CALLED SARGASSUM.

WELL, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BEACHES ARE SPARED AT THE MOMENT.

A RECORD ABOUT OF THE SEAWEED HAS BEEN WASHING ASHORE IN THE MIAMI AREA, THE KEYS AND UP IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE SMELL HAS BEACHGOERS TURNING UP THEIR NOSES AND WORKERS TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

DESPITE FRUSTRATING MANY PEOPLE, SARGASSO IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

JOINING ME NOW IS LESLIE HUDSON FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK.

>> WHO WE ARE VERY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH HERE AT WGCU >> LESLIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> YES, AND OF COURSE, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> CAN YOU FIRST TELL OUR AUDIENCE WHAT EXACTLY SARGASSUM IS IT?

YES.

SO SARCASM IS IS DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU CAN FIND IT EITHER BENEFICIAL OR A NUISANCE.

AND MOST PEOPLE FIND IT A NUISANCE.

IT'S A LARGE A BELT OF OF MY COATS.

TOPIC MATTER THAT FLOATS IN THE ATLANTIC, THE CARIBBEAN, AND IT FLOATS GENERALLY TOWARDS THE UNITED STATES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

NOW IT CAN VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR SOME YEARS.

IT CAN BE NOT AS BAD AS OTHERS.

THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WE'VE KIND OF BEEN THIS UPTICK WHERE THIS SARGASSUM HAS BEEN VERY PREVALENT AND THIS YEAR, RESEARCHERS ARE SAYING THAT THE SARGASSUM BELT THAT WE USUALLY COUNTED STARTS DOWN BY MEXICO AND FLOATS NORTHWARD TOWARDS THE U.S.

IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE WORST, A BELT US OUR GUYS AND WE'VE SEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS.

SO THEY'RE CALLING IT POSSIBLY A POTENTIAL RECORD BREAKING YEAR IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN LARGE FLOTILLAS OF THE STAR COME TO THE SHORES OF THE UNITED STATES IN FLORIDA, IN PARTICULAR.

WE'VE HAD ALREADY SEVERAL BOUTS OF IT THIS SUMMER AND IT DISSIPATED THAT TO INCREASE AS WE GET INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS.

AND AS IT FLOATS NORTHWARD, YOU COULD KIND OF TRACK IT.

NOAA, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC ADMINISTRATION, THAT ATMOSPHERE COULD MINISTRATION HAS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST GOOGLE SARGASSUM TRACKER AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRACK THAT THOSE BELTS LIFE AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE.

YOU ALSO CAN CHECK IN WITH YOUR LIFE GUARDS AT YOUR BEACHES.

THEY ALSO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SWIM IN, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT.

THEY DON'T FIND IT FAVORABLE.

SO YOU CAN CHECK AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SWIM IN THE SARCASM, BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING THIS TO BE ONE OF THE WORST YEARS WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE IMPACTS HERE.

>> WHAT IS THE LATEST MOVEMENT OF THIS >> OF THIS?

IT JUST THIS ENTIRE SARGASSUM DRIFT THAT WE'RE CALLING IT.

>> SO THERE'S IT'S VERY PREVALENT RIGHT NOW IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

AND IRONICALLY, OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MOST OF THE COAST OF FLORIDA DID OKAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE BEACH IS TRYING TO COOL OFF AND TRYING TO GET INTO THE OCEAN.

BUT JUST 5 DAYS LATER AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, WE HAD IT INFLUX OF SARCASM ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

IN PARTICULAR, THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AND THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE STATE BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE A PENINSULA AND THESE ARE LARGE BELTS OF SARGASSUM THAT FLOW NORTHWARD CURRENTLY, WE'RE SEEING A BIG INFLUX OF THAT SARCASM IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

THEY USUALLY GET IT PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS.

IT VARIES ON HOW THICK IT IS.

HOW MUCH IT EXTENDS ACROSS THE GULF SIDE AND THE ATLANTIC SIDE ISN'T POSSIBLE TO SORT OF FORECAST WHERE THE MAJORITY IS HEADED.

SO AGAIN, IT'S IT'S IT'S VARIANT ON THOSE WIND ON THOSE WIND DIRECTION.

SO IF IT'S IT DRIFTS JUST ON THE CURRENTS, THERE IS NO AND, YOU KNOW, NO LIVE ANIMALS THAT ARE MOVING THESE BELTS.

SO IF THE WINDSOR PREDOMINANTLY MOVING SHIFTING WEST AND WE'RE GETTING A PREDOMINANT WEST WIND OR NORTHWEST COMPONENT, THAT'S GOING TO PUSH SOME OF THOSE BELTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAGUING AREAS LIKE MEXICO.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SOME OF THE VIDEOS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF PARTS OF SOUTH AMERICA AND INTO MEXICO WHERE THERE'S BEEN JUST A HUGE, HUGE, THE BELT OF THE THE SARGASSUM CARPETS.

THEY'RE CALLED.

AND THOSE EVENTUALLY MOVE NORTHWARD IN.

AND OF COURSE, ONCE YOU GET INTO THE GULF OF INTO THE GULF, THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE FOR IT TO GO OTHER THAN THE GULF COAST STATES.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE GET THESE INFLUX IS SO THE INFLUX STARTED IN MAY IN THOSE COUNTRIES AND HIS PUSH NORTHWARD.

SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE SO THERE ARE A LOT OF BELTS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

YOU KNOW, THAT KID IMPACT FOLKS THAT HAVE SUMMER PLANS THAT GO DOWN TO THE CARIBBEAN FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOME THAT'S IMPACTING PARTS OF JAMAICA AS WELL.

BUT THERE IS NOT ONE MASSIVE BELT THAT'S COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.

THERE'S JUST LITTLE CLUSTERS, BUT THESE ARE SEVERAL 100 YARDS LONG.

THE VERY LARGE THERE'S NOT ONE MASSIVE MILE WIDE BELT THAT'S COMING TO THE U.S.

THERE ARE CLUSTERS.

THE BREAKUP WITH THE OCEAN CURRENT.

SO IT'S A DEPENDENT ON THE WINDS AND THOSE OCEAN CURRENTS THAT WILL PUSH EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY TOWARDS THE U.S.

IS WE GET INTO THE SUMMER.

DOES IT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF HUMANS OR PETS THAT ARE ON THE BEACH?

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DANGEROUS IF YOU OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN.

YOU CAN INTERACT IN THE WATER AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HARM YOU AND IT.

IT DOES HAVE HARMFUL EFFECTS IF IT'S LEFT IN THE WATER, IT CAN AND THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN SO IT CAN.

IT ABSORBS SOME OF THE OXYGEN THAT'S AROUND IT.

SO OFTEN TIMES IF THERE'S A BIG CARPET OF SARCASM THAT KIND OF GET STALLED IN A PARTICULAR BETTY, A BODY OF WATER.

IT CAN CREATE A FISH KILL BECAUSE THE OXYGEN AROUND IT IS KIND OF ABSORBED INTO THAT BELT SO IT CAN HAVE A VERY DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON MARINE LIFE WHEN IT'S IN THE WATER, IT CAN ACTUALLY SERVE AS A BENEFIT FOR BABY SEA TURTLES.

THEY WILL ACTUALLY RIDE IN THE CURRENTS IN SARGASSUM BELT.

IT WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE SEA TURTLE POPULATION.

SO A LOT OF FOLKS GET THE UP IN ARMS ABOUT SARCASM.

WHEN YOU SAY IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE FLOOR, ANY PARTICULAR AREA.

HAS ITS BENEFITS OFFSHORE WHEN IT'S FLOATING THROUGH AND THE ATLANTIC OR THE CARIBBEAN.

AS LONG AS IT'S NOT IMPACTING OXYGEN LEVELS IN AREAS IT WHEN IT GETS CLOSER TO LAND IN ACTUALLY MAKES LANDFALL, THAT IT BECOMES MORE OF A CONCERN.

AND YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHY WE ARE SEEING THIS RECORD NUMBER OF SARGASSUM OF FIELDS AND BLANKETING THE CARIBBEAN.

THE GULF.

WHY IS IT SO BAD THIS YEAR?

WELL, THE RESEARCHERS THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO LIKE I SAID TO PINPOINT IT TO ONE SPECIFIC THING.

BUT THERE IT'S KIND OF LIKE HURRICANE SEASON.

WE GO THROUGH CYCLES.

THEY'RE VERY THE IN HURRICANE SEASON.

WE CAN GO INTO A DE CALLE CYCLE WERE HAD 10 YEARS OR SO ARE ITS VERY BUSY.

A LOT OF TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT SARGASSUM IS SIMILAR TO THAT.

SO THERE WILL BE A CYCLE WHERE THERE'S BEEN AN WE ARE CURRENTLY IN AN INCREASED CYCLE LAST YEAR WAS ALSO A VERY BAD YEAR IN TERMS OF SARCASM IMPACTING UNITED STATES AND FLORIDA.

SO WE'RE IN THAT PATTERN WHERE MORE OF IT IS COMING OFF OF THE CURRENTS DOWN BY SOUTH AMERICA DOWN BY MEXICO AND PULLING IN TO US BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU GET LANDLOCKED ONCE OF THE THOSE BELTS GET INTO THE GULF.

BUT A LOT OF IT IS COMING DOWN FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND WE'RE SEEING JUST A BIGGER FOR INFLUX THESE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERTISE TODAY.

MS HUDSON, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS AND ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> INCLUDING WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG FLORIDA'S BEACHES.

YOU CAN VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, PROVIDING HURRICANE PREP MEALS TO SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

THE VERY MOST WE LEARNED ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE HUNDREDS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SENIORS ARE READY FOR ANY WEATHER EVENT.

WITH HURRICANE SEASON UNDERWAY.

IF YOU HAVE NOT PREPARED NOW IS THE TIME.

BUT FOR SOME SENIORS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF EMERGENCY MEALS CAN BE QUITE A CHALLENGE.

WGCUS JORGE MURILLO SHARES HOW SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GETTING HELP TO WHETHER ANY UPCOMING STORM.

>> THOUSANDS OF SOUTH OF FLORIDIANS ARE ALREADY MAKING EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON.

AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT PREPARATIONS ARE A SUPPLY OF FOOD AND WATER.

BUT THAT RAISES THE QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT OLDER RESIDENTS THAT ARE UNABLE TO MAKE HURRICANE, YOU KNOW, KIDS ON THEIR OWN.

THAT'S WHERE ITEMS LIKE HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS MEAL KITS COME INTO PLAY.

BEFORE THE NEXT STORM HITS FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT AND COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE SET OUT TO DISTRIBUTE 500 MEAL KITS TO SENIORS ACROSS FORT MYERS ITS MEAL KIT CONTAINS A THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF SHELF-STABLE FOODS, SNACKS AND WATER FOR SENIORS TO USE IN THE EVENT OF A STORM.

YOU CAN'T RECIPIENT DONALD GREENE SPOKE TO FPL ABOUT HIS DELIVERY.

>> WITH A LOT TO ME MEANS SOMEBODY IS KERRY UNKNOWN.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> SENIORS ARE CONSIDERED VULNERABLE DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON BECAUSE MANY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES OR RECEIVE HOME-DELIVERED MEALS IMMEDIATELY AFTER A STORM CAMERON CRASH OFF FROM FPL SAYS HIS FAMILY WAS AMONG THE THOUSANDS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IAN IN 2022, HE SAYS THAT EXPERIENCE MADE HIM REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE THAT ARE HOMEBOUND.

IT'S WHY HE WAS ALONG THE MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS THAT ASSEMBLED AND DISTRIBUTED MEAL KITS TO SENIORS.

>> IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU YOU CAN'T DO IT FOR YOURSELF.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE INJURED OR HANDICAPPED OR WHATNOT, THIS IS PRICELESS TO HAVE SOME OF THE SHOW UP AND SHOW THEY CARE.

>> THIS IS THE 6TH YEAR OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FPL AND COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE.

ROBERT FERRARO WAS ALSO AMONG THOSE THAT DISTRIBUTED TO BE OKAY.

IT'S THE SENIORS ACROSS FORT MYERS.

HE SAYS THE MEAL KITS WILL HELP SENIORS IN THE EVENT.

THE COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE'S MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM IS UNABLE TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE STORM.

>> PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SO EXCITED FOR THESE KITS IN THESE KIDS ARE REALLY GREAT FOR PROVIDING JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SECURITY AND COMFORT.

SO HURRICANE SEASON COULD BE REALLY STRESSFUL AND SCARY.

IT CAN BE FOR ALL OF US.

BUT IT ADDS A LAYER WHEN YOU AREN'T ABLE TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAPPY FOR THESE KIDS.

>> WHY OF THE MEAL KITS ARE INTENDED TO SUSTAIN SENIORS OVER A THREE-DAY PERIOD AFTER A STORM.

THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSUME THE ITEMS ONCE THE HURRICANE SEASON.

AND THAT'S FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M JORGE MURILLO >> TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR HAS BECOME THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON AND ITS TARGETING TEXAS AND LOUISIANA.

FLASH FLOODING FROM THE STORM STRETCHES FROM PARTS OF TEXAS TO AREAS OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

ARTHUR IS EXPECTED TO BE SHORT-LIVED WITH NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BUT COULDN'T EARLY TROPICAL STORM SIGNAL MORE WET WEATHER APPROACHING.

FOR MORE ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, WE ARE JOINED BY CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST IRENE SANZ WITH THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK IRENE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, MR.

BE HERE.

CAN YOU TELL US THE VERY LATEST ABOUT ARTHUR, THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON >> SO ARTHUR STARTED AS A POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND FIRST LABEL BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON TUESDAY AND BY THE 11 O'CLOCK ADVISORY THIS WEDNESDAY, IT HAS TURNED INTO A TROPICAL STORM WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR.

STARTING AND WHAT IT WILL CONTINUE AS A TROPICAL STORM, AT LEAST THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY.

THIS WEDNESDAY.

S AND HUGS THE TEXAS COAST.

>> WHAT DOES THE LATEST FORECAST SHOW WITH REGARD TO WHAT STATES COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED BY THIS?

>> WELL, THE THING WITH ARTHUR IS THAT MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTER OF THE STORM.

SO MUCH OF IT IS GOING AHEAD OF THE CENTER OF THE SYSTEM.

A LOT OF PRECIPITATION HAS FALLEN OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND NOW IT'S IN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA.

THESE AREAS COULD EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 15 INCHES OF RAIN AND THERE COULD BE SOME SPOTS WHERE THEY COULD REGISTER OVER 20 INCHES OF RAIN.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CATASTROPHIC FLOODING FOR SOME AREAS.

AND OF COURSE, OF THESE FLOODING CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.

>> WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, CAN YOU TELL?

AS FAR AS FLORIDA GOES, ESPECIALLY UP IN THE PANHANDLE AREA?

>> WELL, THE GOOD THING IS THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL BE PULLED NORTHWARD.

SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A DIRECT FROM THE SYSTEM.

IN FACT, THE SYSTEM ONCE IT MAKES LANDFALL, WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN BY THIS EVENING ON A VERY EARLY ON THURSDAY.

WE'RE EXPECTING THE STORM TO DISSIPATE NOW.

THE PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE, EVEN THOUGH WILL WILL NOT HAVE AN ARTHUR OFFICIALLY.

THE PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT MUCH OF THE DEEP SOUTH, INCLUDING THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE PANHANDLE WHERE SOME AREAS ACROSS PENSACOLA ANYWHERE ACROSS THE SANTA ROSA COUNTY THAT COULD HAVE UP TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN.

SOME AREAS UP TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN NOW FOR THE FLORIDA PENINSULA.

WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A DIRECT IMPACT FROM ARTHUR OR ITS REMNANTS MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE PULLED NORTHWARD PARTS OF THE EAST OR THE NORTHEAST.

AND THEN FOR US, THIS IS REGULAR AFTERNOON.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH WESTERLY WINDS THAT HAVE BEEN DOMINATING ALL THIS WEEK.

>> AND WITH THE FORMATION OF ARTHUR IN MID-JUNE.

IS THAT EARLY OR IS THAT MORE COMMON?

>> WELL, ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE OUR FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE SEASON IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN BY JUNE.

20TH.

I MEAN, WE'RE ONLY AHEAD BY 3 DAYS.

IT'S NOT THAT MUCH.

WE COULD SAY THAT WE'RE RIGHT ON AVERAGE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A SEASON TO BE BELOW AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF 4 FOR 4 X COMPARED TO TO THE REST OF THE SEASONS.

RIGHT?

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BELOW AVERAGE ACTIVITY FOR THE 2026 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

THAT IS CERTAINLY A RELIEF FOR US TO HEAR.

>> CAN YOU TOUCH ON THE LATEST UPDATE TO THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON FORECAST THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT >> YEAH, WELL, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS ISSUED THE OFFICIAL FORECAST, BUT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SHOWS SEVERAL FORECAST BEFORE THIS SEASON AND OF COURSE, DURING THE SEASON WITH UPDATES.

THE LATEST UPDATE BY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY STILL SHOWS BELOW AVERAGE ACTIVITY FOR THIS 2026 SEASON.

WE'RE LOOKING AND UP TO 11 MAIN STORMS.

THE AVERAGE 30 YEAR AVERAGES 14.

OUT OF THESE 11 STORMS.

5 COULD BECOME HURRICANES AND OUT OF THESE 5 HURRICANES UP TO 2 MAJOR HURRICANES, OF COURSE, THESE FORECASTS DO NOT TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT LAND FULL.

YEAH.

SAID THEY ARE FORECAST OUT THERE THAT SHOW A FULL WHAT AREAS ARE MORE LIKELY OR NOT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT EVERY SEASON IS DIFFERENT IN WITH EL NINO BEING SO STRONG.

THE IMPORTANT THINGS AND WHERE YOU CAN AT IT SEE SOME THAT SHOULD STAY BELOW AVERAGE.

BUT OF COURSE, WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IT ONLY TAKES ONE STORM TO MAKE AN ABC SEASON AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANY STORMS THAT WILL BE MAKING LANDFALL ANYWHERE.

AND THE U.S.

AT THIS POINT.

>> GOOD POINT TO JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE STILL NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON GUARD AND AND PROPERLY PREPARED.

>> TO THAT RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE AHEAD OF THE SEASON WHERE WE CAN JUST GET THINGS AT THE STORE THAT WE NEED.

A LOT OF THIS ITEMS DO NOT HAVE TAX YEAR AROUND.

NOW SO WE CAN PREPARE.

WE DO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, TAX REESE WEEK THAT A FLORIDA USED TO HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PREPARE.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS OR TO JUST CHECK THAT.

EVERYTHING'S ON POINT THAT WE WANT TO STORM COMES.

YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT PEACE OF MIND IN.

YOU'RE NOT WEARING A BODY GOING OUT TO GET STUFF THAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THIS WEEK.

YOU KNOW, JUST BE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR, FOR, FOR SPECIALS, FOR THOSE BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE OR FOR THOSE MARKDOWNS THAT COULD HELP YOU OR TAKE YOU THROUGHOUT THE HURRICANE SEASON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.

IRENE SANZ.

THANK YOU.

>> ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

>> ACCORDING TO NOAA, WELL, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR STORMS TO DEVELOP IN JUNE, THE PEAK OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON IS ON SEPTEMBER.

10TH.

THAT'S WITH MOST ACTIVITY OCCURRING BETWEEN MID AUGUST AND MID OCTOBER.

TO THE BREAK, FINDING INNER PEACE ALONGSIDE AN OVERSIZED WROTE IT WILL SLIP INTO OUR WARRIOR POSITION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ANIMAL ATTRACTION OF COFFEE BAR, A YOGA.

IF YOU ARE STARTING AN EXERCISE ROUTINE IN THE SUMMER, IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO STAY HYDRATED AND NOT OVER EXERT YOURSELF AT HIS WGCUS HEAVY BURDEN REPORTS ADDING SOME STRETCHING TO YOUR WORKOUT.

MAYBE THE BEST WAY TO KICK START YOUR FITNESS GOALS.

>> IF YOU RECENTLY STARTED WORKING OUT OR BEEN EXERCISING FOR A WHILE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE STRETCHING TOO.

IT CAN HELP WITH FLEXIBILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION WITH YOUR JOINTS.

>> THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT STRETCHING IN TO CATEGORIZE STRETCHING.

SO STRETCHING CAN BE STATIC STRETCHING.

THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH FROM, LIKE GYM CLASS, WHERE YOU YOU STRETCH IN HOLDEN A STATIC POSITION AND THERE IS DYNAMIC STRETCHING, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU MOVE A JOINT THROUGH THE FULL RANGE OF MOTION.

BUT YOU KEEP MOVING.

YOU DON'T YOU DON'T HOLD IT.

SO AN EXAMPLE OF BE LIKE A LEG SWAYING OR MAYBE LIKE A WALKING LUNGE OR ARM CIRCLES.

>> DR.

EVAN PACK IS A SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST.

HE SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE MOST FLEXIBILITY BY DOING BOTH STYLES OF STRETCHING.

HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE LIMITED ON TIME, IT'S OK TO DO JUST ONE OF THEM.

THE SAME GOES FOR STRETCHING BEFORE AFTER YOU WORK OUT.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT PREFERENCE.

WHAT MATTERS MORE IS THAT YOU'RE DOING IT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

SO HOW MUCH STRETCHING IS NEEDED?

DR PACK RECOMMENDS PICKING 6 TO 10 STRETCHES THAT FOCUS ON THE MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS AND THEN DOING EACH ONE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> NOW, THE PARTICULARLY ATTENTIVE TO ANYTHING ON THE FRONT OF YOUR BODY BECAUSE WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME SITTING AT DESKS IN DRIVING AND HUNCHED OVER WITH OUR PHONE OR WHATEVER ELSE.

AND SO WE TEND TO GET VERY TIGHT IN FRONT.

SO THE PECTORAL MUSCLES NEED TO BE STRETCHED OF THE HIP FLEXOR SWITCHER, THE MUSCLES IN FRONT OF YOUR HIPS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE SITTING DOWN, YOU'RE MAKING THOSE TIGHTS.

SO THOSE NEED TO BE STRETCHED AND THEN THE QUADRICEPS MUSCLES IN THE FRONT, YOUR THIGHS.

A LOT OF TIMES THOSE GET TIGHT AS WELL.

>> DR PECK SAYS IT'S NORMAL TO FEEL SOME DISCOMFORT WHEN YOU'RE STRETCHING.

BUT IF IT STARTS TO BECOME PAINFUL, THAT'S A SIGN YOU MAY BE OVERDOING IT AND SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN WGCU NEWS ON TEDDY BYRNE >> ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AT BIG CAT HABITAT IN SARASOTA YOGA TAKES A WILD TWIST TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE NONPROFIT.

YOGI'S CAN STRIKE IT PEACEFUL POSE WITH EXOTIC ANIMALS CALLED KATHY BAR AS WGCU REPORTER DANA HARPSTER TOOK TO THE MAP TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST YOGA CLASS EVER WAY TO START OUT WITH THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE YOU COULD EVER HAVE WITH YOGA?

>> THERE'S GOAT YOGA AND HEALTHY YOGA AND I NOW KATHY BARILLEAUX THEM.

>> FOR THE UNINITIATED CAPTIVE BEARS ARE THE BIGGEST RODENTS ON EARTH LOOKING LIKE GIANT GUINEA PIGS.

THEIR COURSE FOR MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE GIANT COCONUTS.

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THIS YOURSELF AT BIG CAT HABITATS YOGA IN THE WILD PROGRAM.

IT'S A FUNDRAISER TO HELP CARE FOR THE MORE THAN 300 ANIMALS OF 60 SPECIES AT THE ATTRACTION.

WHICH INCLUDES LIONS, TIGERS, TORTOISES, MONKEYS, MA CARS AND MORE.

>> IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A BLESSING TO BE HERE ON PROPERTY.

>> GRATITUDE TO SPEND TIME WITH THESE SWEET ANIMALS, GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO HERE AT BIG CATS.

>> YOGI ERICA KANE SPOKE THE TRUTH.

IF YOU'RE KEEN TO BEING IN A CHILD'S POSE WITH A LARGE RODENTS FRONT OF CARS, PERCHED ON YOUR BACK, YOU'LL BE IN YOUR BLISS.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE HABITAT WALKED AMONG US, HANDING OUT LARGE LETTUCE LEAVES FOR US TO FEED THAT CAPYBARAS.

THEY ARE ARE BEFORE US WHO APPARENTLY EAT MORE THAN 10 POUNDS OF GREEN TODAY.

THEIR TEETH NEVER STOP GROWING.

SO THEY HAVE TO KEEP EATING SO THEIR TEETH DON'T GET TOO LONG.

WE DOZEN OR SO PARTICIPANTS WERE HAPPY FROM THE START TO BE DISTRACTED FROM OUR PRACTICE BY THE SLOW-MOVING GENTLE ANIMALS.

>> LENDING HERE IN YOUR BODY ON THIS INCREDIBLE PROPERTY SURROUNDED BY THESE SWEET COMPASSIONATE ANIMALS.

THE ANIMALS WON'T JUDGE YOUR YOGA PRACTICE.

SO I INVITE YOU AS WELL.

NOT TO JUDGE WHAT YOUR BODY CAN OR CAN'T DO.

>> STAFF MEMBER SASHA CANYON TOLD US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND THEIR SWIFT IAN NAMES.

>> KAREN TRAVIS CAME FROM OTHER FACILITIES.

>> THE SULLIVAN SO WE CAN MAKE THIS AS THEY BECAME PARENTS, THEIR BABIES NEED SIMILAR NAMES.

SO NOW THEIR YOUNGSTERS, SWIFT CHIEF AND CALCIUM, ONE.

>> A LITTLE ONE HAS GOT TO HAVE SOME THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, SARAH HART TALKED ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENTS WHICH THEY'VE BEEN HOLDING SINCE 2019.

>> IT REALLY BUILDS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CASEY ANTHONY AND WANT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT IS BUILDING NOT HUMAN ANIMAL CONNECTION TO SEE THESE ANIMALS.

THEY HAVE A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN REFER BACK TO YOU.

>> IF KOBE GONZALES OF LAKEWOOD RANCH BECAME A HUGE FAN, SHE WAS THERE WITH HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OWES INCREDIBLE.

LOVED IT OUT.

10 OUT OF 10 BECOMING BACK LIKE YEAH, YEAHS BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

WE'LL BE IN LIRA.

FINER OF NAPLES GAVE THE EXPERIENCE MANY, MANY STARS, IN FACT, IN THE U.S.

WHY WHY DID THEY LIKE HAPPY?

THERE IS SO MUCH SO AND YOU SEE IT ON THE BEST GAME.

>> VERY FEW YEARS.

HAVE IT ALL THE TIME.

AS I LIKE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS A SURPRISE FROM THEIR MOTHER.

ASHLEY FINE OR >> I DIDN'T TELL HIM TO LAST NIGHT AND I PULLED OUT THEM.

I SAID, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

GIRLS AND THEY SIDE.

>> ALL Y'ALL GOFF AND I SAID.

>> BUT WITH KATHY BARS AND THEY JUST SCREAMED AND SCREAMED AND SCREAMED.

VOLUNTEER SASHA CANYON ISN'T SURE WHY.

BUT HE KNOWS THAT CAP OF BEARS IN GENERAL ARE GETTING A LOT OF LOVE RIGHT NOW.

>> AS RIGHT NOW CAPS ARE THE HOTTEST SANDAL AROUND.

SO EVERYBODY LOVES THE CAP THERE FOR AS AS FOR STARTED COMING TO THE HABITAT, IT WAS THE ROUGH LEMURS.

EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO ENCOUNTER THE ROUGHLY EMERGE.

MEET THEM STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAT EVERYBODY ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

>> WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE HERE AT BIG CAT HABITAT.

THE LIGHT AND ME TRULY DOES HONOR AND CHERISH THE DIVINE LIGHT IN EACH AND EVERY ONE HUMANS AND ANIMALS ALIKE, NOT A STATE.

MY FRIENDS, UNITED STATES.

>> FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

THIS IS DANA HARPSTER WITH ANDREA MELENDEZ.

>> ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, A STAGE PRODUCTION HAS GONE TO THE DOGS LITERALLY.

WE LEARN ABOUT THE POOCHES THAT STOOD OUT FROM THE PACK TO LAND THE COVETED ROLE OF TOTO IN THE WIZARD OF OZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU VISIT W G C DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND MUCH MORE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.