Hurricane preparedness harbors new criteria
Besides getting the message out about being ready in case of a tropical event, the Hurricane Season Seminar, hosted by the Town of Fort Myers Beach at Town Hall Wednesday (June 22) evening, informed about new forecast criteria, simplifying evacuation plans and re-organizing storm classification in judging storm surge threats.
“We will no longer refer to a storm surge threat as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. We have developed maps to identify the areas that are at risk to a storm surge threat A and storm surge threat B, etc. That is how we will be presenting that information to you should we have a threat this summer,” said John Wilson, director of the Lee County Department of Emergency Management.
Due to Estero Island being a barrier island, Beach residents will still be asked or ordered to leave during a threat in the Gulf, while other Lee County inlanders may wait until there is a better idea of what the forecast will be. Fort Myers Beach is classified as an “A” level, meaning first to evacuate.
This re-thinking is due to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service’s decoupling the storm surge threats from the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. It also is a direct circumstance of less law enforcement and management resources since the turn in economy.
“With the way the risk is now displayed with how many people are at risk and how much time it will take to evacuate people at potential risk, we can no longer do that,” said Wilson. “Now, we can have better use of our scarce resources for sheltering and make better of our law enforcement officers in terms of trying to cover every evacuation route. We can focus on those areas that are “A” level first.
“Now when you here that there is a Category 3 hurricane, it’s actually a measure of the wind speed of the storm and has nothing to do with what the potential storm surge threat will be,” said Wilson. “There are new forecast products to be used to determine a storm surge threat. That, in concert with the update that was done with our hurricane risk which took into account the size of the storm and some more accurate readings of our elevations on land and on the sea, our risk in Southwest Florida to storm surge flooding has increased significantly.”
Wilson was among four speakers whose comments summed up what Wilson referred to as the three “p”s in anticipation of a tropical event: plan, prepare and pass it on. Each speaker reemphasized it through the knowledge they gained through their own particular field experience when it came to pre-planning, preparing for the worst case scenario and telling those in attendance and watching on cable television to make sure your neighbors and friends know about it.
FMB Town Manager Terry Stewart, who first experienced a hurricane in North Carolina in 1954, began with opening remarks and finished the seminar with closing comments. The Beach Fire Control District Explorers presented colors to start the evening.
“The things that you do to get yourself ready for what’s going to happen is as important as anything you are going to do during an emergency,” said Stewart. “Really, more important, is to have the right supplies, the right materials and the right preparation to protect yourself your family and neighbors.”
Wilson followed with his new information and own words about preparedness.
“Know what your risk is, have a plan to convey that risk, carry it out, and make sure you have the necessary supplies to do an evacuation,” he said.
Beach Fire Chief Mike Becker and Lee County Sheriff’s Office Captain Matt Powell combined forces to discuss their end of hurricane planning. Both officials recognized their all-important voluntary groups to help in such a cause: the fire department’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the sheriff’s Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Efforts (VOICE).
“Our resources are recalled when there are 40 mile-per-hour sustained winds, and we go from limited to virtually no services for the public. When asked to evacuate, I would do that,” said Powell.
“Our protocol’s begin at least seven days in advance of the storm. By the time the day of the storm occurs, we are fully prepared to conduct our final evacuation, and we move our vehicles and resources to a safe location,” said Becker. “It’s very important for people to understand that once we reach that threshold, we will not respond to those requests for services.”
Becker named three stages for his force in the event of a hurricane: 1) Pre-storm phase (have fresh gas in generator, collect 3-5 days of food, etc.); 2) Storm phase (shutters up, call EOC, evacuate if needed); and 3) Response phase (“windshield assessment” in damages, reviewing calls, checking the area).
Stewart then reviewed re-entry pass information, advised about knowing your evacuation route and the act of bringing supplies needed for yourself, loved ones and pets. Emergency kit supplies needed include food, water, batteries, flashlights, pocketknife, rope, tape and hand tools.
“The last thing you want to do is run out to a store to try to acquire these things. They may not have the supplies that you need. You don’t want to take that chance,” he said.
Important papers should be placed in an emergency file including phone numbers for insurance agents for car, property, etc. and insurance forms for house, automobile and health.
“Our desire is not to scare you, but to inform you,” Stewart concluded.
Hurricane re-entry passes still available at Town Hall
Town Manager Terry Stewart remarked on the “safety in some areas” after Hurricane Charley and “the decision to hold off reentry after the storm passed for some significant time.”
That anxiety level prompted Town officials to create a program that would enable “People who actually live or work on the island to get back on” with hurricane re-entry passes.
“If you come in (to Town Hall) there is a form that is available. It’s also available on our website (www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov). However, there are certain documents you must have that our employees can validate for accuracy,” said Stewart.
There are no fees associated with the re-entry pass application, but only residents, business owners and property owners who are within the jurisdiction of the Town of Fort Myers Beach are qualified to apply.
Applicants are asked to bring photo ID/ drivers license and vehicle registration for each vehicle in need of a re-entry pass. Property/ landowners must bring property appraisal or deed, which can be acquired at www.LeePA.ORG. Renters must bring lease or letter from landlord and a recent utility bill. Business owners must bring current tax bill or business license or occupational license and list of employees and their license plate numbers for those that need re-entry passes.
“Believe me, we will do everything we can not to restrict people’s ability to get back to their homes and businesses. However, there may be times that there may be a neighborhood or specific area on the island that, because of the particular dangers, we might have to make that particular area off-limits.”
Call 765-0202 for more information.