Tuesday morning, July 1, at the Office of Emergency Management Building, West Palm Beach, Commissioner Burt Aaronson (left in photo) presented executives of the Emergency Management team to an audience of 41 homeowner and condo association community leaders to hear how the county has prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. The community leaders were urged to spread the word to their communities on the importance of all citizens to be prepared for hurricanes.
Vince Bonvento, Assistant County Administrator/Public Safety Department Director (r. in photo) stated that south county communities were by far the most interested and ready participants in hurricane preparation. Using a power point presentation, he showed the organization chart detailing all the county personnel and departments that have been assigned responsibilities in case of a hurricane or other catastrophic disaster. There are citizen call centers and a residential information center. They have a system capable of making 10,000 emergency phone calls at a time.
“We have divided the 2,500 square miles of Palm Beach County,” continued Bonvento, “in to 6 Emergency Operating Centers which contain emergency supply distribution centers for the public. Special attention will be paid to large communities heavily populated with seniors. FEMA will no longer provide ice. The county has plans to provide ice if needed. Publix has 10 stores in South County equipped with generators. If we have a category 1 or 2 hurricane, people will probably be able to get to stores. In stronger hurricanes people should not go out, but prepare in advance for 5 to 7 days worth of medicines and supplies indoors, either in their homes or in shelters. There are over 300 gas stations in the County that have generators. The County Engineering department has purchased over 100 generators to be used at street intersections for traffic light use in case of power outages.
Over 50 Community Emergency Response Teams (C.E.R.T.) throughout the county are ready to provide help to citizens during emergencies. Those who are invalids, in need of special care must pre-register to be transported to shelters.
Charles Tear, Director of Emergency Management (Photo at right) described the Emergency Management Staff Branch Coordinator System he has put in place, and had each coordinator briefly describe their duties. There are five branches set up: Infrastructure, Human Services, Emergency Services, Recovery and Logistics.
Commissioner Aaronson explained the difference in the geographic areas concerning boiled water orders. Throughout his District which is comprised of unincorporated areas it is normally not necessary to boil water since these people get water from the county. It is usually the folks that live in the cities that have to boil water in emergency situations. The Commissioner reiterated that during past recent hurricanes, his staff were at their desks at work, responding to phone calls from residents and trying to help those in need. Mary Lou Berger, Commissioner Aaronson’s aide assured him his staff would do the same this season.
Sheriff’s Department attendees were Captain’s Matt Eisenberg, Marty Bechtel and Jeff Calise. They emphasized the importance of staying indoors, not going out in automobiles, and if you did to be aware of the difference between a blinking yellow traffic light, where you proceed through with caution; and a blinking red light where you stop then go. Also avoid flooded streets if you must drive during a storm.
Larry Johnson, Assistant Director of Palm Beach County Utilities spoke about Hurricane Wilma experience and what was learned from that. There are 750 lift stations in county serving a population of 480,000. In 2008 the County will have 199 portable generators and 73 skid mounted generators—a total of 272--to pump lift stations.
Fire Rescue Captain Don Delucia stressed the importance of having proper ventilation when using a generator in your home during power outages. He also warned against having candles in the home unattended—a frequent cause of home fires. If you must go out when the eye of the storm passes overhead, be aware when the backside of the storm comes through it is still strong and dangerous. Seek shelter quickly. The Captain urges preparation for 7 days of medications, water, etc.
County TV Channel 20 will provide briefings during hurricane alerts. Local radio and TV stations will also keep the public up to date on storm progress. Access the county website for updated information: www.pbcgov.com
The County has produced a very thorough “Official Hurricane Preparedness 2008 Survival Guide” available at South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach as well as within communities. It is chock full of important, life saving information that should be read and utilized by every citizen. Get your copy today and prepare as instructed!
Questions from the audience were responded to by the speakers followed by a tour of this state of art Emergency Center building.
Among those attending this meeting were Presidents and board members of the South County Partnership: West Boca Community Council President Sheri Scarborough; Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations President Barbara Katz and Alliance of Delray Vice President Barbara Zee.
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