IRMA VOLUNTEERS

The elderly are now the most endangered, there maybe hundreds and perhaps thousands who are stranded in their condo’s and other homes throughout Florida. Most have no transportation and no way to get out before the storm. NOW is the time to do your best to get them out. At least get them to shelters. After IRMA passes it will become a huge search and rescue undertaking. Remember you must keep yourself safe. If, your not safe you will not be able to help others. The elderly adults are less mobile and far less likely to be able to evacuate on their own.  Their eating habits may be more finicky and, for health reasons, restricted.  The need for life-sustaining prescription medications and medical devices increases with age, and perhaps most difficult of all, the sense of fear may result in profound depression as the familiar and comforting world around them has changed. Elderly adults many have out lived there families, friends and relatives. They are truly on their own. They are the people who need our help the most.

The below information was received from DHS FEMA at 10:50 am today.  We will share additional information as it becomes available.

Hurricane Irma - ESS Status September 8

Emergency Services

• Emergency response could be impacted by blocked and flooded roads.  Loss of 911 call centers may result in difficulty reaching emergency services. Emergency Alert Systems may be impacted, likely causing delay in response and recovery efforts.  Fire/Rescue and EMS members in the storm surge area may be limited in the service they are able to provide due to damage and the large number of volunteer departments in rural areas where responders may be storm affected as citizens.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has more than 200 officers standing by for the first wave of response based on potential storm impacts. Thirty teams with supporting resources such as trucks, coastal and river patrol boats, an ATV and two shallow draft boats are preparing for evacuation support, search and rescue missions, or any additional needs.
• FWC is also coordinating with partners in states such as Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas in case additional officers or resources are needed.
• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is assisting with fuel escorts in impacted areas. FDLE established 18 emergency response teams for deployment to impacted areas and those teams will begin deploying tomorrow to pre-staging locations. Each FDLE region is operating its Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Team in advance of the storm to assist local law enforcement with any needs.
• The entire Florida Highway Patrol, approximately 1,700 troopers, is on 12-hour shifts, with the primary mission to assist emergency preparedness and response, including escorting fuel trucks.
• A total of 330 FHP troopers are currently on standby for deployments. A 33-member team is currently in route to the Fort Myers area for quick response efforts once storm track and potential impacts are determined. Additionally, equipment such as high water recovery vehicles has been prepared for quick deployment to assist with recovery and road clearance efforts.

Communications

• Loss of wireless coverage due to disruption of electric power service and tower and antenna damage from high winds is anticipated. Backup generator power could be insufficient if the facility was not designed to withstand an extended power disruption. Degradation of wired communications due to electric power service disruption could occur. Flooding could damage facilities and assets that have not been hardened.
• Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) has been sharing vital information about Hurricane Irma through their broadcast network, social media and station websites. FPREN is also reporting important news and information through the Florida Storms app and social media pages.
• The state is monitoring the State Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), which is fully operational.

Evacuations

• 9/7 - Florida’s Governor issued voluntary evacuations of the cities (South Bay, Lake Harbor, Pahokee, Moore Haven, Clewiston, Belle Glade, and Canal Point) surrounding the southern half of Lake Okeechobee from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties. Mandatory evacuations for these jurisdictions will be effective 9/8.
• Brevard County: mandatory evacuations for Zone A, Merritt Island, barrier islands, and some low-lying mainland areas along Indian River Lagoon beginning Friday
• Broward County: voluntary evacuations mobile homes and low-lying areas; mandatory East of Federal Highway including barrier islands beginning Thursday
• Collier County: mandatory evacuations for Goodland, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, all mobile homes beginning on Friday
• Flagler County: mandatory evacuations for nursing homes, all varieties of assisted living facilities, and community residential group homes within coastal and Intracoastal areas and voluntary for zones A, B, C, F beginning on Thursday; mandatory for Zones A,B,C,F, and substandard housing beginning on Saturday
• Hendry County: voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas, non-slab-built homes, mobile home and RVs beginning on Thursday
• Lee County: mandatory evacuations for barrier islands – Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine Island beginning on Friday AM
• Manatee County: voluntary evacuations for Zone A
• Martin County: voluntary evacuations for mandatory for barrier islands, manufactured homes, and low-lying areas beginning Saturday
• Miami-Dade County: mandatory evacuations for all of Zone A, all of Zone B, and portions of Zone C. Miami Dade residents can find their zones by clicking HERE.
• Monroe County: mandatory evacuations for visitors and residents. A dedicated transportation hotline is available specifically for individuals in the Keys at 305-517-2480
• Palm Beach County: mandatory evacuations for Zone A and B, voluntary for Zone C
• Pinellas County: mandatory evacuations all mobile home and Zone A
• St. Lucie County: voluntary evacuations
• School buses are available for transportation needs in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At this time, Monroe has accepted 10 buses to help with evacuations, Miami-Dade Counties are using these services to help evacuate those with special needs and Broward has buses on stand-by.
• Additional evacuations are expected throughout the state.

Transportation

• Real-time traffic information and evacuation routes are available at www.FL511.com.
• FDOT has increased the number of road rangers who are patrolling Florida’s roadways 24/7 to assist motorists.
• Around the state, FDOT has 13 Traffic Management Centers where hundreds of DOT workers are monitoring traffic cameras 24/7 to ensure traffic flows continue and evacuations proceed without interruption.
• FDOT officials are also monitoring road cameras at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee around the clock to help keep traffic moving.
• FDOT is coordinating with Google’s emergency response team to prepare to ‘close’ roads in Google Maps in real time in the event that Hurricane Irma forces the closure of any roads in the aftermath of the storm. Google Maps are used for Uber and Waze among other directional applications.

Military Support

• 4,000 members of the Florida Army and Air National Guard have been activated to support with planning, and logistics operations. All remaining National Guard members will be reporting for duty 9/8 morning. Additional guard members will continue to be activated this week as needed.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the North Carolina National Guard to utilize air assets to assist with ongoing evacuations in the Florida Keys.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the New Jersey National Guard and approximately 130 soldiers and more than 50 vehicles are in route to provide transportation assets for movement of troops, supplies and equipment to aid mobilization efforts during Hurricane Irma operations.
• The Florida National Guard has coordinated with the Ohio National Guard and Pennsylvania National Guard to have teams standing by for Hurricane Irma support.
• The Florida National Guard has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700 generators on standby.
• The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and air evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support, if needed.
• The Florida National Guard Joint Operations Center at Camp Blanding has activated to Level 1 to facilitate Hurricane Irma mission command and coordination efforts.

State Emergency Operations Center

• The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to level one, which is a full-scale, 24-hours-a-day activation.
• A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet and for the west coast of Florida north of Bonita Beach to Venice. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
• A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
• A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet and for the west coast of Florida north of Bonita Beach to Anna Maria Island. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
• A Hurricane Warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
• The Florida Emergency Information Line has been activated and is available 24/7 for families and victors at 1-800-342-3557.
• Floridians can text FLPREPARES to 888777 in order to receive text alerts from FDEM.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Irma.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.
• Miami-Dade - A Hurricane Warning has been issued for Miami-Dade County as of 11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. The Emergency Operations Center is activated at Level 1. The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department has suspended inmate visitation at all facilities effective Friday, Sept. 8, until further notice.
• Monroe County - The Lower Keys Medical Center is evacuating its patients tonight in a North Carolina National Guard C-130. The patients will be taken by Monroe County Fire Rescue and Key West Fire Rescue to Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Airfield and transported to Gadsden Regional Medical Center in Alabama. Monroe County’s two other hospitals, Mariners Hospital in Tavernier and Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, will be making decisions on when to close this afternoon.
• Palm Beach County - The EOC is at Level I.

General Michael(Mick) Webster,

United States Civil defense Assoc. (USCDA)HQ

Web site www.uscda.us

Email mvwsr@aol.com

Ph. (949)697-5676