Hurricane Season Update

Brevard County Emergency Management

Myths & Misconceptions

“Brevard County doesn’t get hurricanes…That’s why they put the Kennedy Space Center here…”

TRUTHMerritt Island & the Cape were chosen because: Close to the equator while still in the US

◦ Better fuel economy Most launch trajectories are west to east

◦ Further south in Florida and the Bahamas would begin to pose problems

Large ocean nearby◦ Easier to retrieve reusable parts from◦ Early space crafts returned via splashdown◦ Unpopulated, natural safety buffer

“Brevard County doesn’t get hurricanes…”

“I was in Brevard during 2004, so I’ve survived a REAL hurricane season…”

We received only hurricane-force gusts

Brevard last experienced sustained hurricane-force winds in Hurricane David (1979)

What about all the damage?◦ Mostly deferred

maintenance issues◦ Items near the end of

their economic life ◦ Tornadoes

TRUTH

“Causeways are closed before storms........”

TRUTH Emergency Services stop using the

causeways when winds are 40 mph sustained

No longer safe for high profile vehicle traffic (fire trucks, ambulances, buses)

Too dangerous to keep a law enforcement presence on site

After a storm, initial access via causeways is controlled to ensure safety and limited to those with a purpose

“The number of storms forecasted for the season matters…”

TRUTH 2011 Hurricane Season

◦ 3rd most active season on record (tied)◦ 19 tropical storms, 7 hurricanes, 4 major◦ 2 Tropical Storms & 1 Hurricane in the US

2010 Hurricane Season◦ 3rd most active season on record (tied)◦ 19 tropical storms, 12 hurricanes, 5 major◦ No Tropical Storms or Hurricanes in the US

1992 Hurricane Season◦ 2nd quietest season on record◦ 4 tropical storms, 3 hurricanes◦ Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida

1983 Hurricane Season◦ Quietest season on record◦ 7 tropical storms, 4 hurricanes◦ Hurricane Alicia devastated the Houston area

“Extremely Active” Dr. William Gray, Colorado State

◦ 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, 4 major◦ “Above-average probability for major hurricanes

making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean.”

NOAA◦ 13-19 named storms, 6-9 hurricanes, 3-6 major

It only takes one to have a bad season!

Hurricane Season Prediction

“If we’re outside the Cone of Uncertainty, we’re safe...”

TRUTH•Cone is correct 67% of the time.•Cone contains probable CENTER of the storm.•Storms can be hundreds of miles wide.

“Taping your windows will protect them…

TRUTH Taping your windows prior to a storm does nothing to keep your windows intact Antiquated advice from the 1970’s Actually does more damage than good

◦ Can create larger, deadly shards of glass◦ Creates a false sense of safety◦ Sticky mess to remove

Better choices◦ Hurricane shutters◦ Impact resistant glass◦Temporary plywood

“The dangerous winds of tropical cyclones are why people should evacuate…”

Storm Surge is the number one concern with any storm

Primary reason to evacuate Storm surge is the abnormal rise in water

level caused by wind and pressure forces of a hurricane

Not a giant wall of water, rather the methodical, rapid rise of water

Can go significant distances inland Causeway approaches are a concern

TRUTH

Municipality Emergency Operation Books◦ EOC & ESF contact info◦ Situation Report form & Resource Request form◦ Remember: all resource requests must go through

the County, or when there is a Disaster Declaration, FEMA will not pay for it!

Pocket Guide for Public Assistance◦ Preliminary damage assessment◦ Public assistance categories◦ Not the same as individual assistance

Distributed to each city

Local Mitigation Strategy update in process Continuity of Operations plan update in

process◦ Template available

How best to receive damage reports in smaller events, when EOC is not activated?◦ I will send an email to all city managers, have

them collect info from their agencies & submit.◦ Requested by NWS

Next year’s hurricane exercise: city-focused?

County-City coordination

WEA (Presidential, Amber, or Weather)(Tsunami, Tornado, Hurricane or Extreme Wind)

NWS (http://www.weather.gov/subscribe) Call notifications (not really Reverse 911)• “Alert Sign Up” at embrevard.com

Twitter/text messages• (Follow BrevardEOC to 40404)

Facebook EOCconsole1@brevardcounty.us email

distribution list

Notification types

Weather notices (severe storms, tornadoes, flooding possibility) – NWS

Advisories (possibility/or EOC activating, tropical storm) – NWS and EM

Situation Reports (EOC activated, summary of actions/impacts) – NWS, EM, cities

EOC email distribution

Arrival of Tropical Storm (40mph) force winds in the county:◦Baseline point for all backwards planning

efforts◦Drives all protective action decision timing

Issuing of evacuation orders Opening of shelters Call-down of special needs registrants Consideration of school cancellations

◦Goal is to have everything complete prior to their arrival

◦Not linear, more art than science

Key decision-making factor

Always plan for one category higher With Atlantic-approaching hurricane,

evacuations of barrier islands will be ordered

Create matrix of decisions/actions Confer regularly with NWS-Melbourne,

surrounding counties & FDEM Meet with Policy Group Local State of Emergency declaration? Email & social media updates more frequent

When a storm approaches Brevard

FL Statute 252: County emergency management agencies serve as liaisons and coordinators for municipalities’ requests for State and Federal assistance.

Counties must have CEMPs; cities may have.

Counties must provide for evacuations, shelters, pet shelters, post-disaster recovery, special-needs registries, alerting & warning, annual exercises.

County’s function/Cities’ functions

Ensure that your employees have a plan for their families◦ In a disaster, families will always trump employer

Have a communications plan that:◦ Ensures you can notify employees of

company/agency status and needs ◦ Accounts for everyone

Hold frequent preparedness meetings with your staff

No matter how good your plan is, it will fail without the employees there to execute it

Business & Local Government disaster preparedness

Life safety◦ Evacuation? Assembly point? Employees w/disabilities?

Direction & controlo Succession plan? Triggers? Decision process?

Essential functionso Priorities? Personnel/equipment needed?

Communicationso Employees? Vendors? Customers? Partners?

Property protectiono Fire/lightning protection? Generator?

Administration & logisticso Designate personnel to track

Alternate facilities Vital records & databases

o Where are they stored? Backed up offsite? Media relations

Elements of a successful plan

Your plan should consider:◦ Checklist of important things to do, before, during

and after disaster ◦ Where are you going to go and how you are going to

get there◦ Unique individual needs – medical, dietary, etc ◦ Your pets ◦ Communication and reunification

Establish an out of area lifeline Texting may still work when phones go down

◦ Utility shut-off and safety procedures

Make a plan

The primary mission of emergency responders is life safety and security immediately following a disaster◦ Government’s focus is not your comfort level

Stores may be damaged and closed Additional resources may take time to get

into the county◦ Food, water & ice may not be available immediately

after the storm Being prepared to be self-sufficient for 3 days

(72 hours) after a disaster will ensure that we can recover as a community

Build a kit

Just as important as collecting your supplies Ensures they are safe to use when needed To keep your supplies ready:

◦ Store food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend the shelf life

◦ Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies

◦ Rotate stored supplies every 6 months – note the date ◦ Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as

your family needs change Remember, your kit needs to be mobile

Maintain your kit

Many tools and resources are available to get informed on disasters that could affect you or your community◦ Local Emergency Management Office◦ Local Red Cross◦ Local Weather Service◦ NOAA Weather Radios◦ Internet◦ Television◦ Social Media

Stay informed