Emergency management team details town's hurricane prep

The latest “Tip Talk” video produced for the town of Longboat Key gave viewers a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes processes of the town's hurricane preparedness. 

For this month’s video, Town Manager Howard Tipton talked to key emergency management personnel: Fire Chief Paul Dezzi, Public Works Director Isaac Brownman and Chief of Police George Turner. The three shared how each of their departments plays crucial roles in preparing for, and responding to, major storm events.

Dezzi acts as the emergency manager for the town, a job that's year-round. He constantly works with the town’s departments to ensure every department has a plan in place in the event of a major storm. 

Brownman said his department also prepares year-round and maintains debris management contracts. These contracts would allow for Public Works to call in contractors to assist with debris removal after a storm, if the impact was extensive. 

As a storm approaches but is still a couple days out, each department goes into a busier but focused mode. 

“It puts Public Works into action to start double-checking our infrastructure and equipment,” Brownman said in the video. 

The normal police department call volume increases during this time, Turner said. Simultaneously, the department is getting all of its equipment ready, fueling up patrol vehicles, securing its boats and making sure any evidence is out of harm’s way. 

Turner also said that once he knows his officers have their own plans in place with their families, the department starts assigning officers to A and B shifts that will operate throughout the storm.

Dezzi’s fire rescue department also handles its own preparations at this time. The department checks to make sure it has all its medical supplies and medications ready to respond to any emergencies. 

Once these three departments have their own preparations figured out, personnel from fire rescue, police and Public Works move to Sarasota High School, which will act as their “home base” throughout the storm, according to Dezzi. The departments also coordinate with the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center, where some staff, like Dezzi, may operate from. 

Public Works stays in constant communication with Manatee County about when water may be shut off to the island, Brownman said. The town’s water tank is filled before water may be shut off, but Brownman said Manatee County usually waits until the last possible hour to shut off water. 

Tipton said that following the mandatory evacuation orders is crucial, especially since once the storm reaches a certain severity, emergency responders won’t be able to offer help until the storm passes. 

“When an evacuation order is given, try to get out as soon as you can,” Tipton said in the video.

Turner said he would be in constant contact with surrounding agencies, such as Bradenton Beach, Manatee County and Sarasota County, to coordinate evacuation routes. At this point, the department would be operating in its A/B shifts, and would be on the road working to make sure everyone is evacuating safely. 

Once the storm hits, the emergency management team rides out the storm in Sarasota High School, according to Tipton.

After the storm passes, Dezzi said the emergency management team, made of a select few staff officials, would be allowed back onto the island in the first tier of reentry. This team would be able to assess the situation and report back to the EOC if any additional resources would be needed. 

Public Works would start clearing the debris from the south to the north, Brownman said, creating a “first push” operation. With this, a single lane is opened up for emergency personnel to get through the island. 

The second tier of individuals allowed on the island includes other town employees, property management officials and some business owners. Turner said his officers would be positioned at either end of the island checking IDs. 

Before the third tier of individuals, which includes everyone else, is allowed onto the island Brownman said Public Works needs to assess the water and wastewater systems to ensure they're still functioning. 

All in all, Tipton said the emergency management team’s first priority is safety, and asks for patience if this situation were to arise. 

“Hopefully everything we talked about, we never have to use. But if we do, we’re ready,” Tipton said.