COUNTY OVERVIEW: Lee officials: Planning starts with you and it starts now
When it comes to hurricane season in Lee County, emergency management and countless staff work year-round to be best prepared for whatever is on the horizon, as all it takes is one storm to change everything.
Despite forecasts for a below-average season in terms of total number of storms, county experts stress residents should have a plan in place should the region experience a major weather event.
Lee County Emergency Management Chief John Schultz said while preparedness on a local level is always ongoing, individuals should be ready for what may come.
“Every season, when it comes around this time of year, first and foremost is every family has to have a plan,” Schultz said. “Especially those that are caregivers to the elderly or to young children. You’re going to have to have a plan if you’re in care of someone else. But we also want people that are young adults or live alone to have a plan as well. Anytime we have those structures of a storm or those anxieties of a storm and approaching, you have to have a plan of ‘Where am I going to go? How am I going to get there?’
“Those are all questions should be answered before the season. That’s one of the big stressors that we want to emphasize, that people have that message and we’ll be on guard and watching out and we’ll be communicating that through our public messaging.”
Schultz said residents should take time now to learn about their evacuation zone and your flood zone, which are not the same.
Evacuation zones are used in emergencies. When a major storm is approaching, it is critical to watch for Emergency Management updates and know your evacuation zone to move away from a dangerous storm.
Flood zones are routinely used for flood insurance purposes and construction requirements. It’s very important to know about this afterward for your recovery efforts.
For new residents to Lee County who may not have experienced a hurricane, it’s a great idea to talk to neighbors to see how the area fares when water and wind arrive. Schultz also made the point that just because one storm impacted an area one way doesn’t mean another storm will bring the same results.
County officials remind residents that shelters are “last resort” options. All shelters are pet friendly.
“If you’ve done it correctly and you have that plan, most people are not going to find themselves in a shelter,” Schultz said. “They’re already have that family plan. ‘I’m going to go to my cousin’s. I’m going to go here with loved ones, friends,’ and that is the plan instead of a shelter. I totally understand where people hold out and wait for the last possible second. Those are the ones that usually end up in a shelter.”
Rather than waiting for a storm to look like it’s heading in the county’s direction, residents should ensure they have what they need before an impending weather event, collecting items prior to the season being in full swing.
Critical parts of a hurricane kit include a weather radio, batteries, water, a solar-powered phone charger, non-perishable items and any medications or other life-dependent items an individual may need.
“Obviously the bottled water, nonperishables, always good to have a flashlight and if you can afford it, NOAA weather radios,” Schultz said. “Make sure you have chargers for the phone. I use a block battery so I am never out of power with my phone. It’s such a lifeline nowadays with those battery chargers. An alternative source of power for your phones would be something that I would invest in as well.”
When a storm is on the way, as well as during impact and in the aftermath, residents can find information from the county via social media, local media and AlertLee. The AlertLee system enhances officials’ ability to quickly communicate with the public and provides critical and time-sensitive information for emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, evacuations and missing persons. By registering for AlertLee via alertlee.com, individuals can receive alerts via cell phone by voice or text, email addresses, home phone, business phone and more.
The hub for all things emergency management for the county recently saw an upgrade.
The previously existing Emergency Operations Center was renamed the Lee County Public Safety Center. The nearly $30 million expansion project was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and State Appropriation Funds with key support from Lee County’s legislative delegation.
When activated for an emergency such as a hurricane, the center will be staffed with key personnel from first-responder agencies, emergency relief organizations, county departments, municipalities, utility companies and other essential agencies.
“We work with everyone,” Schultz said. “We’re constantly in communication with them, just on a daily basis, even outside of hurricane season.
“We work well with the national weather service year-round. We recently held our municipal partner quarterly meeting with partners from Cape Coral, Fort Myers, our municipals and so we always are in that constant communication with them as well.”
Of having everyone under one roof at the new emergency hub, Schultz said, “Everything is dispatched out of our facility here. Having that visibility and the ability to walk across the hall and communicate and make decisions and see the things up on the video board, hear the 911 calls, see the radio transmissions from the people in the field is a huge asset for the county.”
To accommodate the numerous personnel during activation, the facility is equipped with technology and equipment, numerous restrooms, showers and sleeping accommodations, an extensive training facility, and additional amenities to contribute to the building’s efficiency and operational requirements.
“We have an EOC responder list, so we curate that constantly,” Schultz said. “Our partners in the field from law enforcement, fire, the nonprofits, National Weather Service, and all the people that you would think that would need to be involved, they’re involved, and we have their contact information. We blast out emails and text messages, putting them on notice, telling them we’re looking to do a partial activation. We’re starting to see something brewing or that some of the models have it coming to may impact our area. That’s when we start having those conversations and see where the models are taking us.”
When it comes to the aftermath of a storm, there are various hazards residents should be wary of, such as generator safety, using tools such as chainsaws to cut debris, and standing water.
“I could go through countless incidences, some fatal, of people hurting themselves accidentally after a storm,” Schultz said. “There are incidents involving chainsaws and generators. While generators are a very important lifeline, you have to use them responsibly. You don’t want to put them in a garage or near a window. The exhaust and carbon monoxide will kill people and has killed people. You don’t want it in a bath near your window, or a neighbor’s window. You want to be responsible. Take these things out pre-hurricane and have a plan of how it’s going to be set up, so when the anxiety is high and you’re making decisions without a clear head, you are prepared. Be cautious of wading through water that may be contained after a storm. Shelter in place and let Public Safety get their folks out there and do their job.”
Schultz said it’s also important to know your home, especially for those that may rent.
“What year was your home built? Metal roofs versus shingle roofs. Storm windows versus non-storm impact windows,” Schultz said. “Those upgrades and little things you can do, data shows we have better structures now with building code changes. You want to make sure your home is ready, too.”
New technology has been implemented by the county to help during storm events.
Lee County has contracted with a company called Hohonu, which uses data and technology to protect communities from flooding by providing real-time information Lee County can use to keep residents informed.
The county has deployed flood sensors that quickly provide information during a storm event and integrate their data with partners like NOAA and NWS.
“We’re pulling in our weather station network in the county, with 30 weather stations around the county pulling data in real time so decision-makers can make decisions,” Schultz said. “Having that technology at our fingertips gives us the information we need to proceed safely with recovery.”
For more information on Lee County Emergency Management, visit www.leegov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com