Page 9 - Jupite West - July '20

Jupiter West, Page 9
Commissioner’s Update

Emergency Management – winds of 185 mph. Dorian impacted the outer islands of the As we do each year, we cannot stress enough the importance
Northern Bahamas and devastated Grand Bahama Island and
Keeping Our Community Safe its surrounding islands. After two days, it turned north, sparing of planning for disasters and we encourage all businesses and
residents to make this a priority. It may surprise you to know
And Resilient Palm Beach County of its hurricane force winds, with only the that 60 percent of households lack disaster readiness. Everyone
outer bands brushing South Florida.
has a duty to be prepared. You need to know if you live in an
In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, 900 evacuees arrived evacuation area, and if so, where you will evacuate to within the
By Commissioner Hal in Palm Beach County via the Paradise Cruise Line, needing county. If you are not in an evacuation area, you are encouraged
Valeche housing and services. Those who did not have local family or to shutter and shelter in place. Make a kit, and keep it stocked.
Most of us likely equate friends were taken to a triage shelter at the PBC Therapeutic Consider what arrangements you need to make for your pets or
emergency management with Center in John Prince Park. From there, evacuees transitioned loved ones with special needs. You can find a wealth of helpful
our annual hurricane season, to temporary shelters. We assisted 155 evacuees. information at www.ReadyPBC.org.
and that has definitely been Many Palm Beach County residents and businesses have As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please contact
a major focus of this county relationships, properties and business partners in the Bahamas, me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
division within the Department and there was a strong push to help our neighbors in the Bahamas Remember, wash your hands, physically distance, and be safe
of Public Safety. This year, we recover. Many citizens, businesses, churches, municipalities and prepared.
have gained a painful lesson and nonprofit organizations mobilized in response. County
in another natural hazard, the departments and agencies participated by conducting a relief Tax Talk
pandemic. donation drive contributing 14 truckloads and 500 pallets of
While the event of a hurricane from advisories, warnings, supplies to the effort.
landfall and recovery may require the activation of our Emergency Management has continued to plan and improve Dear Friends,
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for a period of a few its emergency response systems, improving outreach for the As I write this message our
weeks, the COVID-19 emergency has spanned months, with special needs shelter application process, expanding emergency nation is experiencing one of
ongoing long-term prevention, testing and recovery efforts that information outlets in multiple languages, increasing shelter the most difficult chapters in
will take us into an unknown future with this new virus. staffing and expanding on our recovery plans. its history. More than 110,000
Palm Beach County’s Executive Policy Group (EPG) Nearly 5,300 county personnel are enlisted upon activation people in the United States
leads the EOC Activation Organization through the County to man the emergency operations center, provide public have died from COVID-19
Administrator, Verdenia Baker, who also serves as incident information, work shelters, and inspect and respond to damages including over 400 in Palm
commander. The EPG includes the county mayor, county in recovery efforts, and our employees have truly stepped up to Beach County. As we continue
administration senior staff, public safety director, county the plate, while handling responsibilities to protect their own to face record unemployment
attorney, emergency management director, sheriff, fire rescue families. and businesses struggle to
administrator, and the Florida Department of Health Palm This year, the challenge has doubled with addressing reopen, I have put together a
Beach County director. They also serve as liaisons to the county hurricane season accompanied by a pandemic, and shelter comprehensive list of resources that can help. Please share this
commissioners, the courts, constitutional officers, the school staffing and facilities may need to increase further due to information with your friends and neighbors – anyone who
board, our state and federal legislative delegation, and to the COVID-19. Emergency Management has analyzed this needs a hand during this difficult time.
municipalities. scenario to develop complementary strategies. This includes On a brighter note, I am excited to let you know we
Emergency Management plans include responses to three evaluating the decision process for evacuation; developing launched an entirely redesigned website for the agency at
main categories of hazards: natural – severe weather, floods, contingency plans for congregate and non-congregate shelter www.pbctax.com. The new design is ADA compliant and
agricultural pests and diseases, fires, communicable diseases; options; providing additional screening and sanitizing efforts mobile responsive, making it easier for everyone to use.
technological – transportation, hazardous materials, nuclear at all shelters; enhancing spacing and more frequent cleaning A friendly reminder our offices will be closed Friday, July
power plant, dike failure; and, human caused – domestic of shelters; evaluating staffing levels and available resources; 3 for the holiday. Have a safe and fun July 4th!
security, workplace/school violence and mass migration. and enhancing shelter capacity for the special needs population Sincerely,
The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above average and and pet shelters. Anne M. Gannon,
2020 is forecast to be similar, with a projected 16 named storms, The Board of County Commissioners plays an important Constitutional Tax Collector, Serving Palm Beach County
eight hurricanes and four hurricanes greater than a category 3. role to reinforce the EOC actions and priorities. We assist
With oceans warming, the intensity of hurricanes is with federal declarations and work with lawmakers to activate Tax Collector’s Office Helps
increasing. Last year, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 and FEMA programs, and advocate for federal assistance and
the fourth named storm of the 2019 season, made landfall reimbursement. We also disseminate public information to keep Business Owners Apply For
on Sept. 1 in Elbow Cay, Bahamas with maximum sustained our residents advised and prepared to take protective actions.
County Business Grants

From May 22 to June
12, our agency was proud to
help local business owners
apply for financial assistance
through the Palm Beach
County CARES Restart
Business Grants Program.
The program dedicated $60
million in federal dollars to
local businesses impacted by
the pandemic. Most of the
funding is earmarked for small
businesses with 25 or fewer
employees.
Applicants were required to provide a copy of their local
business tax receipt, a document that many business owners had
misplaced. On May 22, the first day of the application period,
clients came to our administrative office in the Governmental
Center seeking help.
At the time, our office was still closed due to the pandemic.
Tax Collector Gannon worked with county officials and building
You’re Retired security to safely admit clients. Once inside, our team went to
work helping numerous business owners get their business tax
Your Money Isn’t. receipt so they could apply for this important grant.
The county may reopen applications depending on how much
money it disburses. For more information, please visit Palm
Beach County’s Housing and Economic Sustainability webpage.
To learn why consolidating your
retirement accounts to Edward Jones Comprehensive List Of
makes sense, c
Resources For Those Affected
By Pandemic

Sally S Stahl, AAMS® COVID-19 Testing
Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com • Palm Beach County Public Health Information at (561) 712-
M e m b P I S r e C
1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106 6400 or public@pbcgov.org
Jupiter, FL 33458 • FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, call (561) 642-1000.
• South County Civic Center, call (800) 209-7919
561-748-7600 • Belle Glade: Primary Care Clinic, call (561) 642-1000

Tax Talk on page 10