County looks hurricanes in the eye

Officials say that the lessons they learned from weathering last year's season has helped them better prepare for this year.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published June 1, 2005

Last year's hurricane season provided all the real-life training anyone could need.

In Pasco County: three storms, two dozen neighborhoods flooded, 14 homes destroyed, nearly 1,000 buildings with major damage, about 3,500 with minor damage, $6.8-million spent on response and cleanup.

And Pasco didn't even take the hardest hits from hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne.

So there is a touch of dread that today brings the start of the new hurricane season. But there also is a sense among officials that they are better prepared as a result of last year's lessons learned.

"Everybody's had to step back and take a look at the procedures and the way they did things in the past, and based on what occurred last year, try to make the changes that will benefit everybody across the board," said Jim Johnston, Pasco's emergency management operations coordinator.

Among other things, Pasco officials hope to improve the flow of information and poststorm assistance to the public.

They have talked to the local television stations about airing more news on Pasco County evacuations, weather conditions, road closures and other information. Last year, residents complained that the coverage focused mainly on Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

They have scoped out recreation centers and clubhouses that could double as post-storm shelters for residents whose homes are too damaged for habitation. Evacuees ride out the storms in specially-reinforced school buildings, but they need to leave after the storm so classes can resume.

County officials also have revamped their plan for distributing water, ice, food and other necessities after the storm, Johnston said.

Last year the county had a handful of regional distribution centers, which meant some residents had to travel for miles to get the necessities.

In the future, the county will send truckloads of aid directly to the affected neighborhoods.

"We found we needed to move supplies out into the field to areas that were isolated," Johnston said.

The power companies, which provide a crucial link to normality, also have beefed up their plans.

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative will have more assessment crews on hand to scope out storm damage and prioritize power restoration efforts, spokesman Ernie Holzhauer said.

Progress Energy has updated its list of customers, such as hospitals and fire stations, that need power first, and the company bought new software to provide customers with better estimates on when power will be restored, spokesman Aaron Perlut said.

"For electric companies in the state of Florida, it's a matter of constant preparation," said Tampa Electric Co. spokesman Ross Bannister, noting the utility has added training and double-checked its plans for power restoration.

County government has made a point to tell new hires, from traffic crews to secretaries, that they could get roped into hurricane duty, personnel director Barbara DeSimone said.

But Pasco heads into the new season without the most crucial employee: a director of Emergency Management. The previous director, Michele Baker, moved to the engineering department in March.

The county has narrowed the pool to two finalists: David Casto, Pinellas County Emergency Management coordinator; and Roberta Sichta, emergency management director for Burnett County, Wisconsin. DeSimone hopes to make a hiring choice this month and have the new person on board by mid July.

The hurricane season might start June 1, but it "usually doesn't heat up til later on, knock on wood," DeSimone said.

Johnston, the No. 2 person in Pasco emergency management, applied for the top job, but did not have the college degree or five years of leadership experience required for the post, DeSimone said.

County officials say they're prepared. The key is for residents also to be prepared.

Johnston said residents should have the supplies to last a couple of days without power or water. Residents also should know their evacuation plan.

"This past season was a nightmare, but that doesn't mean a similar circumstance couldn't present itself again," Johnston said. "Obviously we hope nobody gets a hurricane this year, but the probability exists that somewhere up and down the coast there will be an impact.

"Because it's going to happen - it's just a matter of where - everybody has to be prepared."

Bridget Hall Grumet can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 1, 2005, 00:38:18]