Page 9 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - July '20
P. 9

Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 9
       Commissioner’s Update



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



        Joe Longo






          Frenchman’s Reserve, a Platinum Club in        Signature Recipe: Summer                         1 tablespoon sea salt or Kosher salt
        Palm Beach Gardens, welcomed Executive Chef      Country Vegetable Soup                           ½ teaspoon freshly ground cracked black pepper
        Joe Longo this past May after a 17 year run at                                                    ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
        Broken Sound in Boca Raton. Chef Longo is          Talk about a hearty AND healthy dish! Any
        noted primarily for his expertise in authentic   meal that begins with this soup – or that consists   Directions:
        Italian dishes, as well as seafood specialties and   of just this soup and a slice of delicious garlic     Coat your Dutch oven or stock pot with olive
        American fusion cuisine.  Frenchman’s Reserve    Italian bread – will satisfy and nourish even the   oil and set to medium heat.
        Members have been raving over his new menus      hungriest and most healthy minded-soul. Check      Start with the carrots and sauté your vegetables
        and daily specials and look forward to his       out the list of ingredients below of this super-  until tender.
        signature recipes for many years to come!        healthy vegetarian soup that is low in calories and     Slowly add water, tomato paste, bay leaves,
                                                         full of flavor.                                  Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper and crushed
                                                                                                          red pepper.
                                                         Serves 8 generously:                               Stir, cover and turn heat to medium low.
                                                         Ingredients:                                       Let simmer on your stove for 1-2 hours.
                                                         2-3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil             Turn off heat.
                                                         4 large carrots, sliced                            Season with more salt and pepper.
                                                         ½ bunch of celery, chopped                         Serve with hot fresh bread or rolls.
                                                         2 medium sized onions, chopped
                                                         4 large cloves of garlic, minced
                                                         1 small head of broccoli, chopped
                                                         1 small head of cauliflower, chopped
                                                         2 medium zucchini, chopped
                                                         2 medium yellow squash, chopped
                                                         4 large vine ripened tomatoes, chopped
                                                         1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
                                                         1-15oz. can peeled plum tomatoes, hand crushed
                                                         1 ½ cups fresh or frozen corn
                                                         1 ½ cups fresh or frozen green beans, chopped
                                                         3 potatoes, scrubbed and diced
                                                         10 cups of water
                                                         3 tablespoons tomato paste
                                                         3 large bay leaves
                                                         ¼ cup dried Italian seasoning
   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14