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1ST ANNUAL FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

EMERGENCY UPDATE [PG. 1] NAME THAT HURRICANE [PG. 4] SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE [PG. 2] IN THE NEWS [PG. 5] IN NEWIS FOR DOWNLOAD [PG. 3] FDOT PHONE BANK [PG. 6] THIS WHERE TO GET INFO IN MY AREA [PG. 3] MORE INFO & WEBSITES [PG. 7] HURRICANE PREP QUICK TIPS [PG. 4] ISSUE FDOT EMERGENCY Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Conference OPERATIONS UPDATE Center in Orlando. The theme this year was, “Rethink Resilience.” There were 1,218 registered [ED WARD] attendees at this year’s conference representing 9 Hurricane Season officially started June Countries (including the U.S.). Including , 1st, but this year the first storm of the the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, attendees season came almost four weeks early. represented 33 states. 1001 attendees were from Ana was a sub-tropical storm that moved Florida, representing 66 of the 67 Counties. very quickly up the eastern coastline and Training sessions began on Sunday the 10th and dissipated on Monday, May 11th. continued through Wednesday afternoon. There Although we are only a little more than were 45 different training courses offered this year a month into Hurricane Season we have covering topics such as Social Media, Damage already had our second storm, Tropical Storm Assessment, FHWA-ER Program, Tropical Meteorology, Public Bill, which caused flooding in the Central US Information Officers, Mass Care, Continuity of Operations Plans, and region. much more.

Dr. Bill Grey’s 2015 storm prediction is 7 Workshops were conducted Thursday and Friday. There were 45 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major workshops offered this year covering topics such as Mutual Aid hurricane. NOAA uses a range of numbers Assistance, Regional Evacuation Studies, Drones/Balloons & Other for their annual prediction. NOAA’s 2015 Video Assets, Mobile Command Vehicles, Critical Decision Making, storm prediction is 7-12 named storms, 3-6 and many more. The opening General Session was Wednesday morning hurricanes and 0-2 major hurricanes. It never and included Governor Rick Scott, Harris Rosen (Owner of the Rosen matters what the predictions are, it only takes Hotels.), Brian Koon (Director of the Division of Emergency one storm to ruin your day. For those of us in Management), Dr. Rick Knabb (Director of the National Hurricane , we had a beautiful Memorial Center), Michael Dunkley (The Premier of Bermuda.), and Josh Day weekend and Holiday. I hope everyone Sawislak (Former White House Resilience Official). The vendor got to spend some valuable time with family, exhibit hall was open Wednesday and Thursday. Also during the week friends, etc. and remembered all of those who the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) held meetings have served in our military to give us the of its Board of Directors and the Certification Commission. As with freedoms we enjoy. all conferences, a lot of the best training and education comes from the time spent networking with peers and vendors in the emergency FHP, FDOT and our Asset Maintenance management field. There is no certificate earned for what is learned Partners conducted the 2015 page-turn table from networking, but that time spent is priceless. The 2016 Governor’s top exercise of our one way plans on Thursday, Hurricane Conference will be May 8 – 13, and will again be held at the April 30th. Each year we conduct this exercise Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. of the I-10 and I-75 one way plans. Each plan is looked at one page at a time to determine The Statewide Hurricane Exercise took on a very different look this year. if we need to make any changes, corrections, The exercise was conducted in four phases. Phases one and two were additions or deletions to that page. Each year table top exercises conducted two weeks apart. Phase one was a there are always things that need to be updated hurricane making in the panhandle. This hurricane was due to changes to the Interstate System, modeled from Hurricane Opal in 1998. Phase two was a hurricane construction projects, changes in agency making landfall in and moving up the center of the state staffing, etc. The plans are operational, but exiting in Jacksonville. This storm was modeled from the 1928 everyone agrees we hope we never have to Hurricane Okeechobee storm that killed over 3,000 people. Phase three activate them. of the exercise emphasized recovery efforts from phase one and two storms. Phase three was conducted over the week of May 18 through The 2015 Governor’s Hurricane Conference 22. Phase four of the exercise was the exercise lessons learned and was was held the week of May 10 – 15 at the held on June 2nd. The change in format allowed the entire state to 1 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER participate this year. Many valuable lessons are SUSTAINED TYPES OF DAMAGE DUE TO always learned from the statewide exercise. CATEGORY HURRICANE WINDS The next meeting of the Florida Emergency Very dangerous winds will Preparedness Association (FEPA) will be the produce some damage: Well-con- Mid-Year Meeting and Workshop to be held structed frame homes could have August 12-14 at the Clearwater Beach Hilton. damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding 74-95 mph At the Mid-Year meeting the planning begins and gutters. Large branches of trees for the Annual Meeting held in February each 1 64-82 kt will snap and shallowly rooted trees year. Also, all of the committee meetings take 119-153 km/h may be toppled. Extensive damage place at the Mid-Year meeting. I will have an to power lines and poles likely will update on all that transpires at the Mid-Year meeting in the next edition of the newsletter. result in power outages that could last a few to several days. Now would be an excellent time to check your Extremely dangerous winds hurricane kit. Don’t wait until a storm is will cause extensive damage: approaching to begin gathering all the things Well-constructed frame homes you may need. Get your items now while could sustain major roof and siding 96-110 mph the lines at the stores are normal. Purchase a damage. Many shallowly rooted trees 2 83-95 kt few items each week/payday so the expense is will be snapped or uprooted and 154-177 km/h spread out. Check on your insurance coverages block numerous roads. Near-total and deductibles. It is much easier to get power loss is expected with outages prepared when you have time to think about that could last from several days to what you need rather than wait and have to weeks. make the decisions under pressure & stress. Devastating damage will occur: Until next time, stay safe. Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof 111-129 mph decking and gable ends. Many trees 3 (major) 96-112 kt will be snapped or uprooted, WHAT IS THE 178-208 km/h blocking numerous roads. SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE? Electricity and water will be [CONTENT PROVIDED BY: unavailable for several days to weeks THE NATIONAL HURRICANE after the storm passes. CENTER] Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE can sustain severe damage with loss SCALE is a 1 to 5 categorization based of most of the roof structure and/or on the hurricane’s intensity at the indicated some exterior walls. Most trees will 130-156 mph time. The scale was originally developed in be snapped or uprooted and 4 (major) 113-136 kt 1971 by wind engineer Herb Saffir and power poles downed. Fallen trees 209-251 km/h meteorologist Bob Simpson (who was the and power poles will isolate director of the National Hurricane Center at residential areas. Power outages will the time.) The scale became known to the last weeks to possibly months. Most public in 1973. of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale(to the right) is a 1 to 5 rating based on a Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale 157 mph or will be destroyed, with total roof estimates potential property damage. higher Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees 137 kt or considered major hurricanes because of their 5 (major) and power poles will isolate higher potential for significant loss of life and damage. residential areas. Power outages will 252 km/h or Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous, last for weeks to possibly months. higher however, and require preventative measures. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. 2 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER NOAA EXTREME WEATHER Baker County INFORMATION SHEETS http://www.bakercountyfl.org/eoc/eoc.html [NEWIS] AVAILABLE TO Bradford County DOWNLOAD http://www.bradfordcountyfl.gov/Emergency%20Man/EMindex.html

NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheets Clay County (NEWIS) for the season http://www.claycountygov.com/departments/emergency-management are published annually by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, at the Columbia County Stennis Space Center located on the http://www.columbiacountyem.com/ Gulf Coast. Dixie County These free information tools provide critical http://www.dixieemergency.com/ information for contacting government officials and monitoring information Duval County resources. Laminated and waterproof, NEWIS http://www.coj.net/departments/fire-and-rescue/emergency-prepared- are an ideal reference to keep in your home, ness.aspx vehicle, or boat providing residents with a “one- stop” ready reference containing phone Gilchrist County numbers and Web site information for use http://www.gilchristemergency.com/ during potentially life-threatening weather emergencies. Hamilton County http://www.hamiltoncountyflorida.com/cd_emergencymanage.aspx There are NEWIS available for the Gulf and Atlantic states, Caribbean and Hawaii. You can Jacksonville Beach choose and download free of charge the copy http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org/government/departments/ you need at the following URL: http://www. fire-and-emergency-services/hurricane-preparedness/hurri- ncddc.noaa.gov/activities/weather-ready-na- cane-checklists tion/newis/ or you can use the link NCDDC@ noaa.gov or call 866-732-2382 to receive a free Lafayette County laminated copy. http://www.lafayettecountyflorida.org/index.cfm/referer/content. contentItem/ID/565/item/538/ NEWIS is also available as a free app for Apple Levy County devices. Just search http://www.levycounty.org/cd_emergencymanagement.aspx ‘NEWIS” in the ITunes store to download. Madison County http://www.madisoncountyfl.com/emergencymanagement/

Nassau County WHERE CAN I GET http://www.nassaucountyfl.com/index.aspx?NID=370 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Putnam County AND EMERGENCY http://www.putnam-fl.com/bocc/index.php?option=com_con- INFORMATION FOR MY AREA? tent&view=category&layout=blog&id=179&Itemid=175

Information for your area can be obtained by St. Johns County going to your County’s Emergency http://staugustine.com/hurricaneguide Management website. The website links for all FDOT District Two counties are provided Suwanee County below and to the right. http://www.suwanneefirerescue.com/

Alachua County Taylor County http://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/Pub- http://www.taylorcountygov.com/em/ licSafety/em/Pages/EmergencyManagement. aspx Union County http://www.unionsheriff.us/ 3 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 2015 2016 2017 QUICK TIPS Ana - Tropical Alex Arlene • Plan ahead! Select your evacuation route in advance. Depression (May) Bonnie Bret • If you are in the projected path of a hurricane, listen Bill - Tropical Colin Cindy to evacuation advice or orders from emergency Depression (June) Danielle Don officials and do not delay your departure. Claudette (was a Earl Emily • Monitor local TV and radio stations for updated hurricane in 2003) Fiona Franklin emergency and traffic information. Danny Gaston Gert • As part of your plan, assemble Erika Hermine Harvey a disaster supplies kit. Fred Ian Irma • If evacuating, pack your medicine, bring extra cash, Grace Julia Jose medical insurance card, food and water, etc. Henri Karl Katia • Don’t forget your pets. Inquire in advance which Ida Lisa Lee hotels and shelters allow pets and remember to pack Joaquin Matthew Maria their food and necessities. Kate Nicole Nate • Make sure your vehicle is fully fueled and serviced. Larry Otto Ophelia • Remember to call 511 or use the Florida 511 app to Mindy Paula Philippe get real-time traffic information, but not while you Nicholas Richard Rina are driving. Odette Shary Sean • NEVER drive through standing or moving water. Peter Tobias Tammy • Watch out for downed power lines and if you Rose Virginie Vince encounter them do not get out of your car. Sam Walter Whitney Teresa Victor Wanda NAME THAT HURRICANE 2018 2019 2020 [CONTENT PROVIDED BY: Alberto Andrea Arthur THE NATIONAL HURRICANE Beryl Barry Bertha CENTER] Chris Chantal Cristobal Debby Dorian Dolly Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms had been Ernesto Erin Edouard named from lists originated by the National Florence Fernand Fay Hurricane Center. They are now maintained Gordon Gabrielle Gonzalo and updated through a strict procedure by an Helene Humberto Hanna international committee of the World Isaac Imelda Isaias Meteorological Organization (WMO). Joyce Jerry Josephine Kirk Karen Kyle The six lists to the right are used in rotation Leslie Lorenzo Laura and re-cycled every six years, i.e., the 2014 list Michael Melissa Marco will be used again in 2020. Nadine Nestor Nana Oscar Olga Omar The only time that there is a change in the list is Patty Pablo Paulette if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future Rafael Rebekah Rene use of its name on a different storm would be Sara Sebastien Sally inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that Tony Tanya Teddy occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO Valerie Van Vicky committee, the offending name is stricken from William Wendy Wilfred the list and another name is selected to replace it. Several names have been retired since the lists were created.

Retired names of hurricanes affecting Florida include: • Donna - Category 4 (late August 1960) made landfall in the Florida Keys before crossing the peninsula September 11 • Agnes - Category 1 (June 1972) produced devastating flooding across the Southeast U.S. and caused nine deaths in Florida mainly from thunderstorms • Andrew - Category 4 (August 1992) made landfall in Homestead and produced a 17-foot

4 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER • Opal - Category 4 (September 1995) was a Category 3 when it made landfall near Pensacola but a combination of storm surge and breaking waves devastated the beaches • Mitch - Category 5 (October 1998) hit Honduras and was downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit South Florida causing two deaths and $40 million in damages in Florida • Charley - Category 4 (August 2004) came ashore north of Captiva Island, crossed and is tagged the second costliest hurricane in U.S. history with $15 billion in damages • Frances - Category 4 (August 2004) was a Category 2 when it made landfall in Stuart and spawned over 100 tornadoes across the Southeast. • Ivan - Category 5 (September 2004) came ashore in Gulf Shores, but circled around through and South Florida before dissipating in • Jeanne - Category 3 (September 2004) came ashore in Stuart where Frances made landfall three weeks earlier and blew across the peninsula • Dennis - Category 4 (July 2005) was a Category 3 when it hit Navarre Beach in the Panhandle • Katrina - Category 5 (August 2005) made landfall near the -Dade/Broward county line as a Category 1, crossed southern Florida swept into the Gulf where it became a Category 5 when it devastated coastal Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Katrina caused seven deaths in southern Florida and is the costliest hurricane to date in the U.S. • Wilma - Category 4 (October 2005) was a Category 2 when it came ashore at Cape Romano, swept across South Florida and out into the Atlantic near Palm Beach. Wilma is blamed for five deaths and $16.8 billion in damages in southern Florida

Before storms were named: Great Miami Hurricane - Category 4 (September 1926) made landfall in Miami, swept across South Florida and made second landfall in Pensacola.

San Felipe - Okeechobee Hurricane - Category 4 (September 1928) made landfall in Palm Beach and swept up the middle of the state.

Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane - Category 5 (late August 1935) made landfall in the Florida Keys, swept up the Gulf coast and made second landfall in Cedar Key as a Category 2.

IN THE NEWS... [EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEADERS APPLAUD GOV. SCOTT’S “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” BUDGET] Gov. Rick Scott signed the “Keep Florida Working” budget, which includes a $4.5 million investment to develop a statewide emergency alert notification system, June 23. According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the system will protect lives and reduce National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP) premiums by $47 million across the state.

FDEM director Bryan Koon said, “The statewide emergency notification system will allow a uniform method for delivering immediate information needed to save lives. The system is also a unique opportunity to use a relatively small investment to return ten times that amount in flood insurance savings to the people of Florida.”

The new system will reduce premiums paid by NFIP policyholders, through the NFIP Community Ratings System (CRS), a points-based program allowing enrolled communities to earn reduced flood insurance premiums. Communities earning 500 points in CRS will be rewarded with a five percent savings to policyhold- ers. The new statewide notification system will provide CRS communities with 395 of the 500 required points.

For more information or to download a copy of Florida’s Severe Weather Awareness Guide, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org.

5 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER [FLORIDA EMERGENCY With more than 41 training sessions and 45 workshops, the Governor’s PREPAREDNESS Hurricane Conference® remains the premier event for the delivery of ASSOCIATION (FEPA) MID- training and education at an economical price. This year’s training YEAR MEETING IN AUGUST] sessions, workshops, and general session focused on new methods to The FEPA 2015 Mid-Year Meeting and Work “Rethink Resilience.” Session will be held at the Clearwater Beach Hilton August 12-14. There is a nominal regis- Presentations from the conference area available to download at http:// tration fee of $25 for FEPA members and $50 flghc.org/ for non-FEPA members. For more information visit www.fepa.org. FDOT PHONE BANK PROVIDES VALUABLE [29TH ANNUAL GOVERNOR’S SERVICE HURRICANE CONFERENCE®] “Rethink Resilience” Connecting Capabilities During a response to or recovery from a disaster or emergency affecting for Stronger Communities large areas or populations, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Public Information Office may activate a Re • sil • ience | \rǝ-ꞌzil-yǝn(t)s\ | noun: the non-emergency ability to withstand stressand catastrophe; to become strong, healthy, or successful again information phone bank. after something bad happens. A non-emergency information phone bank is designed to provide Florida’s emergency management community event-specific information, such as road closures, evacuation areas, and stakeholder partners all recognize the access points, etc. danger and threat of tropical cyclones, our state’s top natural hazard risk. Yet eroding During a disaster or emergency event, the public information officers budgets, shifting priorities, loss of seasoned are inundated with incoming phone calls and emails from the media experience through staff attrition, and our which require immediate and thorough attention. communities’ expanded expectations, are threatening Florida’s hurricane resilience; these The general public also calls for information related to the emergency challenges are further complicated by an event that does not necessarily require the immediate attention of a unprecedented nine-year landfall hiatus public information officer. The non-emergency phone bank is staffed coupled with the dangerous growth of with FDOT volunteer employees who answer the incoming non-me- community complacency. dia related calls in a timely manner, freeing up the public information officers to answer more critical calls and allowing them to disseminate This year marked the 29th anniversary of the timely information to the media. Governor’s Hurricane Conference®, where partners and colleagues came together to The 888-558-1518 number to the phone bank is used year-round. When enhance professional knowledge and foster the phone bank is not activated, the number is used to deliver interagency fusion and cooperation. The recorded information about planned road closures such as railroad Governor’s Hurricane Conference® is the crossing replacements or long-term closures of bridges or roadways. nation’s largest forum offering cutting-edge sessions that help build capacity, clarify In the event of a statewide event, the Florida Emergency Information Line cross-sector policy, leverage previously is operated by the Department of Emergency Management. The number unidentified resources, and explore new (800-342-3557) is answered in Tallahassee and provides basic information technologies in social media and innovative on travel, shelters, etc. communications systems. The 2015 conference was specifically structured to present THE 2016 NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE information in a dynamic and IS MARCH 21-24 AT THE HILTON ORLANDO network-centered atmosphere while providing opportunities for emergency management practitioners in Florida and across the country to learn from experts and each other, and to create more effective partnerships. Working and learning together gives us a significant advantage to successfully rethink our hurricane resilience and to collaboratively plan LINK FOR MORE INFO HTTP://HURRICANEMEETING.COM/ and improve our readiness. 6 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER MORE INFORMATION AND WEBSITES [CAN BE FOUND AT THE URLS PROVIDED BELOW] Video of the Governor’s Hurricane Conference 5/13/15: General Session http://thefloridachannel.org/videos/51315-governors-hurricane-conference-general-session/ Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 24-30, 2015 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/hurricane_preparedness.html#.VZqAmUaTQ3n Article: NOAA: “Below-normal Atlantic Hurricane Season is likely this year” http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2015/20150527-noaa-hurricane-outlook-below-normal-atlantic-hurricane-sea- son-is-likely-this-year.html Current Wind, weather and ocean conditions, as forecast by supercomputers, on an interactive animated map. Updated every 3 hours. (source: Governor’s Hurricane Conference Facebook page) http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-94.64,28.89,2048 Article and video from The Weather Channel: “Below-Normal 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted by NOAA” http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-season-forecast-atlantic-2015-noaa-weather-channel-csu Hurricane Preparedness provided by NOAA http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php

Climate Prediction Center http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Florida Division of Emergency Management http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp Tips on how you can better prepare for hurricane season: http://www.ready.gov/ Central Florida Hurricane Center http://flhurricane.com/ Governor’s Hurricane Conference Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloridaGHC?fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/FloridaGHC NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center Social Media for the Atlantic: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSNHC?fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic

7 FDOT DISTRICT TWO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM - HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER