Page 10 - Waterways - July '20

Page 10, Waterways
Commissioner’s Update

Emergency Management – needing housing and services. Those who did not have includes evaluating the decision process for evacuation;
Keeping Our Community Safe local family or friends were taken to a triage shelter at the developing contingency plans for congregate and non-
congregate shelter options; providing additional screening
PBC Therapeutic Center in John Prince Park. From there,
And Resilient evacuees transitioned to temporary shelters. We assisted and sanitizing efforts at all shelters; enhancing spacing
155 evacuees. and more frequent cleaning of shelters; evaluating staffing
By Commissioner Many Palm Beach County residents and businesses levels and available resources; and enhancing shelter
Hal Valeche have relationships, properties and business partners in the capacity for the special needs population and pet shelters.
Most of us likely equate Bahamas, and there was a strong push to help our neighbors The Board of County Commissioners plays an important
emergency management in the Bahamas recover. Many citizens, businesses, churches, role to reinforce the EOC actions and priorities. We assist
with our annual hurricane municipalities and nonprofit organizations mobilized in with federal declarations and work with lawmakers
season, and that has response. County departments and agencies participated by to activate FEMA programs, and advocate for federal
definitely been a major conducting a relief donation drive contributing 14 truckloads assistance and reimbursement. We also disseminate public
focus of this county division and 500 pallets of supplies to the effort. information to keep our residents advised and prepared to
within the Department of Emergency Management has continued to plan and take protective actions.
Public Safety. This year, improve its emergency response systems, improving As we do each year, we cannot stress enough the
we have gained a painful outreach for the special needs shelter application process, importance of planning for disasters and we encourage
lesson in another natural expanding emergency information outlets in multiple all businesses and residents to make this a priority. It may
hazard, the pandemic. languages, increasing shelter staffing and expanding on surprise you to know that 60 percent of households lack
While the event of a hurricane from advisories, warnings, our recovery plans. disaster readiness. Everyone has a duty to be prepared. You
landfall and recovery may require the activation of our Nearly 5,300 county personnel are enlisted upon need to know if you live in an evacuation area, and if so,
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for a period of a few activation to man the emergency operations center, where you will evacuate to within the county. If you are not
weeks, the COVID-19 emergency has spanned months, with provide public information, work shelters, and inspect in an evacuation area, you are encouraged to shutter and
ongoing long-term prevention, testing and recovery efforts and respond to damages in recovery efforts, and our shelter in place. Make a kit, and keep it stocked. Consider
that will take us into an unknown future with this new virus. employees have truly stepped up to the plate, while what arrangements you need to make for your pets or loved
Palm Beach County’s Executive Policy Group (EPG) handling responsibilities to protect their own families. ones with special needs. You can find a wealth of helpful
leads the EOC Activation Organization through the County This year, the challenge has doubled with addressing information at www.ReadyPBC.org.
Administrator, Verdenia Baker, who also serves as incident hurricane season accompanied by a pandemic, and shelter As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please
commander. The EPG includes the county mayor, county staffing and facilities may need to increase further due contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@
administration senior staff, public safety director, county to COVID-19. Emergency Management has analyzed pbcgov.org. Remember, wash your hands, physically
attorney, emergency management director, sheriff, fire this scenario to develop complementary strategies. This distance, and be safe and prepared.
rescue administrator, and the Florida Department of Health
Palm Beach County director. They also serve as liaisons
officers, the school board, our state and federal legislative Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
to the county commissioners, the courts, constitutional

delegation, and to the municipalities.
Emergency Management plans include responses
to three main categories of hazards: natural – severe Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
weather, floods, agricultural pests and diseases, fires,
communicable diseases; technological – transportation, State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
hazardous materials, nuclear power plant, dike failure;
and, human caused – domestic security, workplace/ Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
school violence and mass migration.
The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above
average and 2020 is forecast to be similar, with a projected Joanne Green, D.D.S.
16 named storms, eight hurricanes and four hurricanes
greater than a category 3. 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
With oceans warming, the intensity of hurricanes is Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
increasing. Last year, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 and
the fourth named storm of the 2019 season, made landfall (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
on Sept. 1 in Elbow Cay, Bahamas with maximum sustained
winds of 185 mph. Dorian impacted the outer islands of the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Northern Bahamas and devastated Grand Bahama Island Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
and its surrounding islands. After two days, it turned north, Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
sparing Palm Beach County of its hurricane force winds, Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
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,
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