Hurricane Season Update

1. Hurricane Season Update Brevard County Emergency Management

2. Myths & Misconceptions

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

4. TRUTH Merritt 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

5. “Brevard County doesn’t get hurricanes…”

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

7. TRUTH • 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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. Hurricane Season Prediction • “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!

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

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

15. “Taping your windows will protect them…

16. 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

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

18. TRUTH • 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

19. Distributed to each city • 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

20. County-City coordination • 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?

21. Notification types • 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

22. EOC email distribution • 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

23. Key decision-making factor • 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

24. When a storm approaches Brevard • 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

25. County’s function/Cities’ functions • 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.

26. Business & Local Government disaster preparedness • 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

27. Elements of a successful plan • Life safety • Evacuation? Assembly point? Employees w/disabilities? • Direction & control • Succession plan? Triggers? Decision process? • Essential functions • Priorities? Personnel/equipment needed? • Communications • Employees? Vendors? Customers? Partners? • Property protection • Fire/lightning protection? Generator? • Administration & logistics • Designate personnel to track • Alternate facilities • Vital records & databases • Where are they stored? Backed up offsite? • Media relations

28. Make a 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

29. Build a kit • 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

30. Maintain your 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

31. Stay informed • 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