Page 8 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - July '20

Page 8, Jupiter Ocean Mile
Commissioner’s Update

Emergency Management – its emergency response systems, improving outreach for the The Board of County Commissioners plays an important
role to reinforce the EOC actions and priorities. We
special needs shelter application process, expanding emergency
Keeping Our Community Safe information outlets in multiple languages, increasing shelter assist with federal declarations and work with lawmakers
And Resilient staffing and expanding on our recovery plans. to activate FEMA programs, and advocate for federal
assistance and reimbursement. We also disseminate public
Nearly 5,300 county personnel are enlisted upon activation
to man the emergency operations center, provide public information to keep our residents advised and prepared to
By Commissioner Hal information, work shelters, and inspect and respond to take protective actions.
Valeche damages in recovery efforts, and our employees have truly As we do each year, we cannot stress enough the importance
Most of us likely equate stepped up to the plate, while handling responsibilities to of planning for disasters and we encourage all businesses
emergency management protect their own families. and residents to make this a priority. It may surprise you to
with our annual hurricane This year, the challenge has doubled with addressing know that 60 percent of households lack disaster readiness.
season, and that has definitely hurricane season accompanied by a pandemic, and shelter Everyone has a duty to be prepared. You need to know if you
been a major focus of this staffing and facilities may need to increase further due to live in an evacuation area, and if so, where you will evacuate
county division within the COVID-19. Emergency Management has analyzed this to within the county. If you are not in an evacuation area, you
Department of Public Safety. scenario to develop complementary strategies. This includes are encouraged to shutter and shelter in place. Make a kit, and
This year, we have gained evaluating the decision process for evacuation; developing keep it stocked. Consider what arrangements you need to make
a painful lesson in another contingency plans for congregate and non-congregate shelter for your pets or loved ones with special needs. You can find
natural hazard, the pandemic. options; providing additional screening and sanitizing efforts a wealth of helpful information at www.ReadyPBC.org.
While the event of a hurricane from advisories, warnings, at all shelters; enhancing spacing and more frequent cleaning As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please
landfall and recovery may require the activation of our of shelters; evaluating staffing levels and available resources; contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for a period of a few and enhancing shelter capacity for the special needs population org. Remember, wash your hands, physically distance, and be
weeks, the COVID-19 emergency has spanned months, with and pet shelters. safe and prepared.
ongoing long-term prevention, testing and recovery efforts that
will take us into an unknown future with this new virus.
EOC Activation Organization through the County Administrator, Jupiter Senior Softball League News
Palm Beach County’s Executive Policy Group (EPG) leads the

Verdenia Baker, who also serves as incident commander.
The EPG includes the county mayor, county administration
senior staff, public safety director, county attorney, emergency Ted Battistone, 87, Ted played in the Jupiter Senior Softball League
management director, sheriff, fire rescue administrator, and the of Jupiter, who died for more than 20 years following his retirement from
Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County director. They April 19 after a battle Ford Motor Company. He was also a player and general
also serve as liaisons to the county commissioners, the courts, with cancer, is the manager for 22 years for the Florida Investment Properties
constitutional officers, the school board, our state and federal inaugural inductee to the Team and was inducted into the National Senior Softball
legislative delegation, and to the municipalities. Jupiter Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Emergency Management plans include responses to three Association (JSSA) Hall Ted’s wife Juanita said he learned of his selection for
main categories of hazards: natural – severe weather, floods, of Fame. Established just the Jupiter Senior Softball Association Hall of Fame before
agricultural pests and diseases, fires, communicable diseases; five days before Ted’s he died and was very pleased to be honored. “He was a
technological – transportation, hazardous materials, nuclear passing, the Hall of Fame wonderful man” and a great husband and father to their
power plant, dike failure; and, human caused – domestic honors members who blended family of six children, she said.
security, workplace/school violence and mass migration. represent the very best Tom Cosentino, commissioner of the Jupiter Senior
The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above average and of the JSSA. They are Softball Association, said, “Ted had many great
2020 is forecast to be similar, with a projected 16 named storms, players who have set accomplishments on the softball field, but he will be
eight hurricanes and four hurricanes greater than a category 3. the highest standards for remembered for how he treated people off the field. He was
With oceans warming, the intensity of hurricanes is membership and teach everyone’s friend and mentor. We will surely miss him.”
increasing. Last year, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 and us that sportsmanship Ted Battistone, 2020 Jupiter The Jupiter Senior Softball program is open to persons
the fourth named storm of the 2019 season, made landfall and competition are not Senior Softball Hall of Fame 55 and over. For information contact Tom Cosentino at
on Sept. 1 in Elbow Cay, Bahamas with maximum sustained mutually exclusive. inductee (412) 721-0173 or go to www.leaguelineup.com/jssa.
winds of 185 mph. Dorian impacted the outer islands of the
Northern Bahamas and devastated Grand Bahama Island and
its surrounding islands. After two days, it turned north, sparing
Palm Beach County of its hurricane force winds, with only the
outer bands brushing South Florida.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, 900 evacuees arrived
in Palm Beach County via the Paradise Cruise Line, needing
housing and services. Those who did not have local family or
friends were taken to a triage shelter at the PBC Therapeutic
Center in John Prince Park. From there, evacuees transitioned
to temporary shelters. We assisted 155 evacuees.
Many Palm Beach County residents and businesses have
relationships, properties and business partners in the Bahamas,
and there was a strong push to help our neighbors in the Bahamas
recover. Many citizens, businesses, churches, municipalities
and nonprofit organizations mobilized in response. County
departments and agencies participated by conducting a relief
donation drive contributing 14 truckloads and 500 pallets of
supplies to the effort.
Emergency Management has continued to plan and improve
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