Page 13 - Jupiter Spotlight - July '20

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 13
Commissioner’s Update

Emergency Management – landfall and recovery may require the activation of our communicable diseases; technological – transportation,
Keeping Our Community Safe Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for a period of a few hazardous materials, nuclear power plant, dike failure;
weeks, the COVID-19 emergency has spanned months, with
and, human caused – domestic security, workplace/
And Resilient ongoing long-term prevention, testing and recovery efforts school violence and mass migration.
that will take us into an unknown future with this new virus. The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above
By Commissioner Palm Beach County’s Executive Policy Group (EPG) average and 2020 is forecast to be similar, with a projected
Hal Valeche leads the EOC Activation Organization through the County 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and four hurricanes
Most of us likely equate Administrator, Verdenia Baker, who also serves as incident greater than a category 3.
emergency management commander. The EPG includes the county mayor, county With oceans warming, the intensity of hurricanes is
with our annual hurricane administration senior staff, public safety director, county increasing. Last year, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 and
season, and that has attorney, emergency management director, sheriff, fire the fourth named storm of the 2019 season, made landfall
definitely been a major rescue administrator, and the Florida Department of Health on Sept. 1 in Elbow Cay, Bahamas with maximum sustained
focus of this county division Palm Beach County director. They also serve as liaisons winds of 185 mph. Dorian impacted the outer islands of the
within the Department of to the county commissioners, the courts, constitutional Northern Bahamas and devastated Grand Bahama Island
Public Safety. This year, officers, the school board, our state and federal legislative and its surrounding islands. After two days, it turned north,
we have gained a painful delegation, and to the municipalities. sparing Palm Beach County of its hurricane force winds,
lesson in another natural Emergency Management plans include responses with only the outer bands brushing South Florida.
hazard, the pandemic. to three main categories of hazards: natural – severe In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, 900 evacuees
While the event of a hurricane from advisories, warnings, weather, floods, agricultural pests and diseases, fires, 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,
Endless indulgence. 155 evacuees.
evacuees transitioned to temporary shelters. We assisted
Many Palm Beach County residents and businesses
have relationships, properties and business partners in the
Every day. 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 its emergency response systems, improving
outreach for the special needs shelter application process,
expanding emergency information outlets in multiple
languages, increasing shelter staffing and expanding on
our recovery plans.
Nearly 5,300 county personnel are enlisted upon
activation to man the emergency operations center,
provide public information, work shelters, and inspect
and respond to damages in recovery efforts, and our
employees have truly stepped up to the plate, while
handling responsibilities to protect their own families.
This year, the challenge has doubled with addressing
hurricane season accompanied by a pandemic, and shelter
staffing and facilities may need to increase further due
to COVID-19. Emergency Management has analyzed
this scenario to develop complementary strategies. This
includes evaluating the decision process for evacuation;
developing contingency plans for congregate and non-
congregate shelter options; providing additional screening
and sanitizing efforts at all shelters; enhancing spacing
and more frequent cleaning of shelters; evaluating staffing
levels and available resources; and enhancing shelter
capacity for the special needs population and pet shelters.
The Board of County Commissioners plays an important
role to reinforce the EOC actions and priorities. We assist
with federal declarations and work with lawmakers
to activate FEMA programs, and advocate for federal
assistance and reimbursement. We also disseminate public
information to keep our residents advised and prepared to
You’ve eased into the dessert phase of life. The saving-the-best-for-now stage of life. take protective actions.
As we do each year, we cannot stress enough the
So, go ahead and delight in an all-inclusive, no responsibilities kind of life at the importance of planning for disasters and we encourage
exceptional Levin Palace. You’ll find more fabulous food, more fun with friends, all businesses and residents to make this a priority. It may
more time for family, more freedom and a more fantastic future! surprise you to know that 60 percent of households lack
disaster readiness. Everyone has a duty to be prepared. You
Live royally, with white-glove service and world-class amenities. need to know if you live in an evacuation area, and if so,
where you will evacuate to within the county. If you are not
in an evacuation area, you are encouraged to shutter and
Kosher and non-kosher gourmet dining • Free room service and happy hour daily
shelter in place. Make a kit, and keep it stocked. Consider
Concierge and valet • Pampering spa and salon • State-of-the-art fitness center what arrangements you need to make for your pets or loved
Exciting social calendar • Complimentary transportation ones with special needs. You can find a wealth of helpful
information at www.ReadyPBC.org.
As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please
Luxury designer apartments available now for lease. contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@
For more information please call: 561.220.0652 pbcgov.org. Remember, wash your hands, physically
distance, and be safe and prepared.

Stephen & Petra Levin Palace at MorseLife
4850 Ryna Greenbaum Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33417 | morselife.org
Marilyn & Stanley M. Katz Seniors Campus