News, Comments, Notes
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Jul 10, 2008 Its Back - Hurricane season officially has begun Commentary for June, 2008 Frank Halas, Collier County Commissioner for District 2 
Its officially hurricane season. Dire warnings salted with predictions of a worse than usual season flow daily from the Weather Channel. Most Neapolitans, despite the recent serious impacts of Charley and Wilma, blithely assume such warnings are not intended for us. Wrong! This assumption is dangerous. It is true that Collier County is fortunate to have an expert Emergency Management Director, Dan Summers. Dan was recognized by the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association as the 2008 Emergency Manager of the Year. Also, under his leadership, Jim von Rinteln, Emergency Management Coordinator, received the Governors 2008 Emergency Management Award; others within Emergency Operations were similarly recognized for their outstanding performance. We also have a top flight County Manager and administrative staff. Those of you who were here during the last two hurricanes will remember how quickly we pulled our area back together in comparison to many others hit by the same storms. Unfortunately, many people drew the erroneous conclusion that we were not hit very hard and that Collier County continued to live a charmed life. Not true. Damage here was extensive and can be again. No area is immune. Thanks to improved telemetry, we can track storms and issue early warnings. Early warnings are designed to offer ample time for residents to secure their properties and evacuate the area. Warnings are geared to offer adequate time based on our existing infrastructure. What happens when these warnings go out? Typically, a slim majority leave in a timely manner, stragglers make last minute runs for the interior, and a few die-hards batten down or head for shelters and tough it out. In the last two hurricanes in Florida, few lives were lost, but property was devastated throughout the state, and FEMA bailed out numerous property owners sometimes with a caveat that a given property could not rebuild. Property insurance became harder to secure and much more expensive. Heres the reality. Despite a local grid system that has improved greatly in the last few years, we have a grossly inadequate north-south traffic grid far worse than on the east coast. Although it is being widened, it will not be finished for this hurricane season. Most of our stretch of I-75 is the same width that it was in 1986 when our population was a mere half of todays 300,700 plus. US-41 is perpetually under construction. One big accident anywhere on the grid and we cant even get to Ft. Myers and remember, we are the county farthest south on this side of the state. Common sense says either we leave very early or we, by default, wait for those living farther north to vacate the coast. There are insufficient shelter slots available and all are necessarily inland. We work constantly to improve our capacity but the present capacity bodes ill, particularly for people living west or south of US-41. Coastal Collier and much of East Naples are part of a huge flood plain bordered by outlying barrier islands. Most of this area is designated as the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) by the State of Florida and is shown on the National Hurricane Centers SLOSH (Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) map as SLOSH 1. These lands are designated for special attention, due to their hazard designation, in both state and county planning codes. Despite the fact that people living in SLOSH 1 pay higher insurance premiums for the privilege of living there and face some restrictions on rebuilding, its seen as a highly desirable place to live. Constant pressure is applied for intense development of this area. Some overbuilding has already occurred. The simple truth is that we wont all fit into available shelter space. This is the big picture and it is hardly encouraging. At an individual level, there are things you must do to protect yourself and your property. If you have not done so, get to a hurricane seminar. Learn everything you can and implement it. Pre-register with Emergency Management any special needs people living in your household. In the case of a hurricane, turn on your emergency radio station and follow the recommendations of Emergency Management to the letter. Be sure that your have three days of water and non-perishable foods on hand along with your hurricane kit of first aid supplies and other necessities. Not sure what to have ready? Go to Emergency Managements website and read the All Hazards Guide or call the department at (239) 252-8000. The department offers a wealth of information on its site from other public service emergency numbers and contact information to a schedule of seminars to help you prepare. I suggest you look it over now and download the useful information to keep on hand in a binder. You are apt to have no internet communications in a weather emergency. More good information about building a plan is available from the state at www.floridadisaster.org or by calling (850) 413-9969. FEMA already has said it will not be providing ice and water this year. Residents who stay behind will be left solely to their own resources. If you stay in an evacuation area, you must plan for at least three days with no power, no emergency services, and no water. No exceptions. Gov. Charlie Crist recently said that Florida generally is better prepared than other states because "we've had a lot of practice." Yet he too urged residents immediately to build up at least a three-day stock of food, water and supplies and ensure that their homes are ready for high winds. He warned, "Now is the time to get ready, not after the season begins." The message is clear. Be prepared. Be safe. Working together, we make a difference. Please remember that Sandra Lea, my aide, can assist you to reach me or schedule time with me if the need arises. You can reach her at 252-8097. My phone number is 252-8390; email me at FrankHalas@colliergov.net.
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