City of Tampa Emergency Management

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City of Tampa Emergency Management

• Hurricane Preparedness
• Tampa Police Department
• Special Incident Management Unit

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2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Noted hurricane experts Dr. Philip J. Klotzbach
and Dr. William M. Gray from Colorado State
University.

• On December 7, 2007
• 13 named storms
• 7 hurricanes
• 3 of Category 3 or higher

• As of April 9, 2008
• 15 named storms
• 8 hurricanes,
• 4 intense hurricanes

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It only Takes
A BAD DAY!
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Your City and County
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Are You Ready?

• If yes, now is a good time to
• Review
• Recycle
• Restock

• If no, now is a good time to
• Get A Plan
• www.floridadisaster.org.

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Major Disaster

• In a major disaster
• Chances are - no electricity, no gas, no water
  and no telephone service.
• Emergency workers may not be able to reach
  everyone right away.
• It may take 3 or more days for help to arrive.
• Having a plan for your family and their needs
  will help ensure their safety and comfort during
  these difficult times.
• Go to www.floridadisaster.org/family to create a
  family disaster plan online from the FDEM
  website.

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Emergency Preparedness Checklist
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Evacuations

• Executive Policy Group
• Mayors (3)
• County Commissioners(3)
• Sheriff
• When are they activated?
• At the request of the County EOC
• At the discretion of the EPG members
• What do they do?
• Declare a State of Local Emergency
• Issue an evacuation order

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Community Notifications

• Media
• City and county EOC make media notifications
• for evacuations.
• Reverse 9-1-1
• Old system 24 calls at at time / 2.5 days for
  whole city / 3hours for mobile homes.
• Enhanced system 2000 calls at a time / 2 hours
  for whole city / one phone call for all mobile
  homes / .20 cent per call.
• Door-to-door
• For all mobile homes

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Evacuation Preparedness

• Know where you live.
• Are you likely you will need to evacuate?
• If so, figure out in advance where you will go -
  either to a shelter, the home of a friend or
  relative, or perhaps a hotel farther inland.

• Go to www.tampagov.net and click on emergency
  preparedness guide to determine what evacuation
  zone you are located in. 
• The Hillsborough County Hurricane Guide can also
  help you determine if you live in an evacuation
  zone and can help you identify Red Cross shelters
  closest to you

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Flood Zones
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Evacuation Route

• Plan an evacuation route
• This plan should include information on the
  safest evacuation routes and nearby shelters.
• Learn safe routes inland.
• Be ready to drive 20 to 50 miles inland to locate
  a safe place and remember roads and interstates
  will be crowded.
• Pack what you will need (cash, medicines,
  important docs, etc.). Remember, you will need
  proof of rent or ownership.

Run from the WATER and HIDE from the wind.
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Evacuation Compliance

• When a HURRICANE WATCH is issued for your area,
  this indicates the possibility that you could
  experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours.
  This watch should trigger your family's disaster
  plan, and proactive measures should be initiated
  especially those actions that require extra time
  such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier
  island, etc.

• When a HURRICANE WARNING is issued for your area,
  this indicates that sustained winds of at least
  74 mph are expected within 24 hours. Once this
  warning has been issued, your family should be in
  the process of completing proactive actions and
  deciding the safest location to be during the
  storm.

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Evacuation/Reentry Enforcement

• FSS Chapter 252
• Law enforcement can arrest if citizens refuse to
  evacuate during a mandatory evacuation.
• Misdemeanor

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Special Needs Evacuations

• Special needs shelter registration
• Try to shelter close to home Stay with friends,
  relatives,
• or at a public shelter close to home.
• Leave early as the roads will be very busy during
  evacuations.

• Mobile home residents and those with special
  needs should always evacuate even if not in a
  flood zone.
• You must pre-register for a Special Needs Shelter
  by calling
• [phone] x6006.

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Your Pets

• DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND!
• Pets most likely cannot survive on their own
• Have a Safe Place to Take Your Pets
• Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit
• Know What to do As a Disaster Approaches
• Warnings are issued hours, even days, in advance.
  At the first hint of disaster, act to protect
  your pet.
• Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets
• Service animals that assist people with
  disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red
  Cross shelters.
• Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your
  research.
• Visit www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepa
  red/animalsafety
• Contact County EOC for pet shelter locations, but
  remember, space is very limited and pet shelters
  really arent the best place to house an animal
  you love.

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Public Transportation
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Public Transportation
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Re-Entry Policy

• No Re-entry
• No re-entry by the public.
• There are apparent hazards that might endanger
  the general public.
• Limited Re-entry
• Limited re-entry by the authorized public.
• Public safety has been assured.
• Basic services have not been restored.
• Subject to curfew conditions.
• Unlimited Re-entry
• No apparent Hazards.
• Public health and private property are no
  longer threatened.
• All restrictions lifted.

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Greater Tampa CERT

• Volunteer with GT-CERT!
• Greater Tampa-CERT trains residents to be
  prepared for emergency situations in their
  communities and neighborhoods. 
• CERT teams receive training in disaster
  preparedness, disaster fire safety, disaster
  medical operations, light search and rescue,
  terrorism, communications, disaster psychology
  and team organization. 
• CERT teams provide immediate assistance to
  victims, collect disaster information to support
  first responder efforts and provide the first
  neighborhood help in the immediate hours
  following a major emergency.
• For CERT training visit www.tampagov.net/cert

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Discussion / Think Sunshine!
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Prepare Your Home

• Take important papers with you including
  identification with your local address and
  insurance information.
• Contact friends relatives Let them know where
  you are going.
• Elevate furniture, TV's, computers, etc. Protect
  what you can.
• Lock windows doors Others may get back before
  you do.
• Turn off electricity, gas, appliances water
• Don't let your home survive the storm then burn
  down

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Business

• Consider this
• Almost 40 of small businesses that close due to
  a disaster event never re-open.
• What would you do if the building your business
  is located within was damaged or destroyed in a
  disaster?
• Where would you go to continue providing your
  customers with your business services?
• Would you be prepared and have the correct
  resources, databases, contact information and
  other necessary items to adapt to these changes?
• Having a disaster plan that identifies these
  important items will help ensure your business is
  prepared to survive during unexpected and
  difficult times!
• Visit http//www.floridadisaster.org/business/
• Visit http//www.ready.gov/business/index.html