Page 20 - Southern Exposure - July '20

Page 20, Southern Exposure

CommiSSioner’S uPdate

Emergency Management –

Keeping Our Community Safe And Resilient

By Commissioner Hal Valeche

Most of us likely equate in the Bahamas recover. Many citizens, businesses, churches, more frequent cleaning of shelters; evaluating staffing levels
emergency management municipalities and nonprofit organizations mobilized in and available resources; and enhancing shelter capacity for
with our annual hurricane response. County departments and agencies participated the special needs population and pet shelters.
season, and that has by conducting a relief donation drive contributing 14 The Board of County Commissioners plays an important
definitely been a major truckloads and 500 pallets of supplies to the effort. role to reinforce the EOC actions and priorities. We
focus of this county division Emergency Management has continued to plan and assist with federal declarations and work with lawmakers
within the Department of improve its emergency response systems, improving to activate FEMA programs, and advocate for federal
Public Safety. This year, we outreach for the special needs shelter application process, assistance and reimbursement. We also disseminate public
have gained a painful lesson expanding emergency information outlets in multiple information to keep our residents advised and prepared to
in another natural hazard, languages, increasing shelter staffing and expanding on our take protective actions.
the pandemic. recovery plans. As we do each year, we cannot stress enough the
While the event of a Nearly 5,300 county personnel are enlisted upon importance of planning for disasters and we encourage
hurricane from advisories, warnings, landfall and recovery activation to man the emergency operations center, provide all businesses and residents to make this a priority. It may
may require the activation of our Emergency Operations public information, work shelters, and inspect and respond surprise you to know that 60 percent of households lack
Center (EOC) for a period of a few weeks, the COVID-19 to damages in recovery efforts, and our employees have disaster readiness. Everyone has a duty to be prepared. You
emergency has spanned months, with ongoing long-term truly stepped up to the plate, while handling responsibilities need to know if you live in an evacuation area, and if so,
prevention, testing and recovery efforts that will take us into to protect their own families. where you will evacuate to within the county. If you are not
an unknown future with this new virus. This year, the challenge has doubled with addressing in an evacuation area, you are encouraged to shutter and
Palm Beach County’s Executive Policy Group (EPG) hurricane season accompanied by a pandemic, and shelter shelter in place. Make a kit, and keep it stocked. Consider
leads the EOC Activation Organization through the County staffing and facilities may need to increase further due what arrangements you need to make for your pets or loved
Administrator, Verdenia Baker, who also serves as incident to COVID-19. Emergency Management has analyzed ones with special needs. You can find a wealth of helpful
commander. The EPG includes the county mayor, county this scenario to develop complementary strategies. This information at www.ReadyPBC.org.
administration senior staff, public safety director, county includes evaluating the decision process for evacuation; As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please
attorney, emergency management director, sheriff, fire rescue developing contingency plans for congregate and non- contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@
administrator, and the Florida Department of Health Palm congregate shelter options; providing additional screening pbcgov.org. Remember, wash your hands, physically
Beach County director. They also serve as liaisons to the and sanitizing efforts at all shelters; enhancing spacing and distance, and be safe and prepared.
county commissioners, the courts, constitutional officers, the
school board, our state and federal legislative delegation, and
to the municipalities.
Emergency Management plans include responses to three
main categories of hazards: natural – severe weather, floods,
agricultural pests and diseases, fires, communicable diseases;
technological – transportation, hazardous materials, nuclear
power plant, dike failure; and, human caused – domestic
security, workplace/school violence and mass migration.
The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above average
and 2020 is forecast to be similar, with a projected 16 named Need a Private Jet?
storms, eight hurricanes and four hurricanes greater than a
category 3. Call for a quote.
With oceans warming, the intensity of hurricanes is
increasing. Last year, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 and One-Way Pricing Available
the fourth named storm of the 2019 season, made landfall
on Sept. 1 in Elbow Cay, Bahamas with maximum sustained Kerry Hill Mobile 24/7 561.644.3914
winds of 185 mph. Dorian impacted the outer islands of the Senior Flight Coordinator Kerry@StratosJets.com
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. Upscale Resale
Many Palm Beach County residents and businesses
have relationships, properties and business partners in the
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