Hurricane 2016 by Archives Weekly

CITY OF MARATHON

HURRICANE GUIDE 2016

Observation of Hurricane Joaquin taken by the Expedition 45 crew aboard the ISS.

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CONTENTS 8 Calm in a Crisis Monroe’s new Emergency Management Director talks hurricanes. 10 What to Expect Forecasters call for an ‘Average’ season 14 Evacuation Be prepared to heed warnings of approaching storms. 15 Take Cover Four shelters in the Keys, another on the mainland, are ‘last resort.’ 16 ‘Chaser’ Remembered Jim Leonard made his home in the Keys during off season. 17 Hurricane History Terrible 1700s storm responsible for many treasure finds.

Publisher Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com Managing Partner Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com Editor Sara Matthis sara@keysweekly.com Director of Sales/ Marketing Lesley Aaron lesley@keysweekly.com Staff Writer Kristen Livengood kristen@keysweekly.com Hays Blinckmann hays@keysweekly.com Gabriel Gonzalez gabriel@keysweekly.com Account Executive Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com Ben Elliott ben@keysweekly.com Hollie Will hollie@keysweekly.com

20 Weather Center Key West office helps keep the Keys safe.

Office Manager Lynn Ritli lynn@keysweekly.com

22 Any Other Name List of hurricane names for 2016 — Alex to Walter.

Art/Design Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com

Keys Weekly Newspapers 9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL. 33050 P. 305-743-0844 | F. 305-743-0866 Key West office 5450 MacDonald Ave. No. 5 Key West, FL. 33040 P. 305-453-6928 | F. 305-743-0866

Published MMXVI

Tavernier office 91831 Overseas Hyw. Tavernier, FL 33070 P. 305-743-0844

How to Prepare for a Hurricane

Don’t Get Caught Without Water! Get the latest news about water issues in your area! Sign up for Priority Call at www.fkaa.com. Like us on Facebook to receive important messages. Store at least one gallon of water per person, per day in sterilized sealable containers for drinking and cooking (save enough for 3-7 days). Fill bathtub with water for non-drinking purposes. Report water line breaks to FKAA

(Breaks are often distinguished by extremely low water pressure, discoloration, water bubbling in street or yard).

In the event a precautionary boil water notice is issued, disinfect by using one of the following methods: Bring to a rolling boil for one full minute, or Disinfect by adding 8 drops (1/8 tsp.) of unscented chlorine bleach to one gallon of tap of water, shake, then let stand for 30 minutes before drinking, or Disinfect using purification tablets Monitor radio stations for emergency broadcasts. Check the Aqueduct website at www.fkaa.com for updates.

Middle Keys - 3200 Overseas Hwy, Marathon Upper Keys - 91620 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier Lower Keys - 1100 Kennedy Dr, Key West

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority www.fkaa.com

305-296-2454

keysweekly.com 3

Dear residents and visitors, Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. On average, six of 12 tropical storms become hurricanes throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season. (June 1 to November 30). On average, the U.S. coastline is struck by three hurricanes every two years. Of these three, one is traditionally classified as a major hurricane (winds of 111 mph or greater). By being proactive and knowing what actions to take before, during, and after a hurricane, you can increase your chance of survival and minimize impacts to your family and home.

• While hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and depressions can also be devastating. The primary hazards from any tropical cyclone are storm surge, flooding, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents. • Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States. Storm surge and large battering waves can result in large loss of life and cause massive destruction along the coast.

• Flooding from heavy rains is the second leading cause of fatalities during land falling tropical cyclones. Widespread torrential rains from tropical storms and hurricanes often flood hundreds of miles inland. • Destructive Winds from a hurricane can destroy buildings and mobile homes. Debris, such as signs, roofing material, and items left outside can become missile hazards during hurricanes.

9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050 • 305.743.0033

• Tornadoes are often produced by land falling tropical storms and hurricanes. These tornadoes typically occur in rain bands well away from the center of the hurricane. • High surf and rip currents produced by hurricanes pose a significant hazard to coastal residents and mariners. These waves can cause deadly rip currents, significant beach erosion, and damage to structures along the coastline, even when the storm is more than a 1,000 miles offshore

Our city has been blessed for many seasons, please don’t let our good fortune cause you to be caught off guard. Plan early and use the information contained in this guide, as well as other available resources, to ensure you and your loved ones are prepared. As always, the City Council and staff are available to assist you should you have any questions. We want to wish everyone a very safe hurricane season. Sincerely.

Mark Senmartin / Mayor

Mark Senmartin Mayor

Doctor Dan Zieg Councilmember

John Bartus Councilmember

John A. Johnson Fire Chief

Bill Kelly Vice Mayor

Michelle Coldiron Councilmember

Charles Lindsey City Manager

Gene Thompson Captain, MCSO

| Hurricane Guide 2016

CITY OF MARATHON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN

The City of Marathon has developed its own Disaster Preparedness Plan especially to deal with tropical cyclone emergencies. The multiple purposes of this plan are: • Reduce vulnerability of people to damage, injury, and loss of life and property. • Prepare for prompt and efficient response and recovery. • Prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of victims. • Provide a setting of rapid and orderly restoration of services and rehabilitation of affected property. • Provide for interagency coordination to facilitate immediate delivery of assistance.

Once the Mayor (or his designee) declares a local State of Emergency, the Preparedness Plan is then put into action. Depending upon the level of the threat of the approaching storm, the City will take actions in coordination with Monroe County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Additionally, the city will set up its own EOC to coordinate necessary local response.

Storm surge can reach heights well over 20 feet and can span hundreds of miles of coastline. In addition, shallower offshore waters can contribute to higher storm surge inundation. Storm surge is by far the greatest threat to life and property along the immediate coastal areas such as Marathon.

At timed intervals before landfall different parts of the plan will be implemented. These include early visitor, boater, and special needs evacuations, coordination of response and recovery teams, any necessary mandatory evacuations, and all necessary interagency coordination. Marathon has a Disaster Preparedness Plan for its residents and visitors, so should each resident have their own plan. Use the resources in this guide to formulate your own plan, and then make sure you follow the plan when needed. A government-authored preparedness guide is available online from FEMA.

Storm Surge: An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm, and whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. Storm surge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomic high tide from the observed storm tide. Gale Warning: A warning of 1-minute sustained surface winds in the range 34 kt (39 mph) to 47 kt (54 mph) inclusive, either predicted or occurring and not directly associated with tropical cyclones. Hurricane Warning: An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical

storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropicalstorm-force winds. The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force. Hurricane Watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher are possible within the specified. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds. Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 kt (39 mph) to 63 kt (73 mph).

City of Marathon http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/ Phone Number: 305.743.0033 City of Marathon Hurricane Preparedness Information http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us government/departments emergency-management Phone Number: 305.743.5266 Rumor Control: 305.289.5268* City of Marathon Fire rescue/EMS 305.743.5266 / Marathon, No. 14 305.743.7599 / Grassy Key, No. 15 National Weather Service, Key West www.srh.noaa.gov/key Phone Number: 305.295.1316 National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov Monroe County Information www.monroecounty-fl.gov Monroe County Sheriff’s Office www.keysso.net Phone Number: 305-289-2430 or 9-1-1 *Only operational when the City Emergency Operations Center is activated.

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| Hurricane Guide 2016

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KEY WEST 294-4494

EMERGENCY MAN MONROE COUNTY HAS NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Martin Senterfitt joins the Keys’ preparedness and response crew.

By Sara Matthis No one is more ready than Monroe County’s new emergency management director for the 2016 Hurricane Season. “We are incredibly fortunate to be able to hire a person with so much professionalism and with so much experience and expertise in emergency management,” County Administrator Roman Gastesi said. Senterfitt, 49, comes to the Keys from the City of Jacksonville. He started as a firefighter and worked his way up the ranks, serving as the Director of Duval County Emergency Preparedness and Director/Fire Chief of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue. As Fire and Rescue Chief, he managed a $210 million budget and managed 1,300 employees. As director of Emergency Preparedness, he was responsible for overseeing preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation and Homeland Security. He also led the city’s Emergency Operations Center in all disaster activations. Senterfitt said he’s impressed with the Keys’ preparedness. “The bad news is that the Keys are the most at risk from hurricanes. The good news is because the risk is so real, the community is very aware,” he said. His first few weeks on the job were spent meeting a variety of Keys officials — city managers, county employees, law enforcement — and also average citizens. It was more than a meet-and-greet. He said he needed to learn about the different agencies assets and needs. “The emergency manager should consider himself the conductor of the orchestra,” he said. “We need to have all those agencies playing at the same tempo, delivering the services at the time they are needed.”

His most public role will come if a hurricane threatens. It will be his voice of reason that convinces people to leave. No doubt he will use his considerable experience in the field to temper the decisions. Senterfitt has witnessed not only the terrible effects of Hurricane Katrina — he called it “a monster, a killer” — but also Tropical Storm Faye that dumped 22 inches of rain in a day on parts of Florida causing both mayhem and strife. “You can’t say that a Category 1 storm won’t be dangerous,” he said. “On the other hand, you don’t want to overact because you need to have credibility when a Category 4 or 5 Storm is threatening. Then everyone HAS to leave.” Senterfitt knows what it’s like to hand his family a credit card and tell them to go. He also knows what if feels like when the storm is over and recovery begins. “I know that together we can accomplish anything. Witnessing the teamwork of the community coming together brings tears to my eyes,” he said. “Those people that picked themselves out of the mud and worked through it. It’s when Americans give the best that they have to offer.” Senterfitt replaces Irene Toner who retired after nearly two decades of service to Monroe County and 35 years working in emergency management.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

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AVERAGE SEASON FORECAST

Hurricane outlook probability for 2016 Major hurricane to make U.S. landfall

2016 forecast FORECAST

AVERAGE

U of C

NOAA

Named storms

10-16

Hurricanes

6.5

4-8

1-4

Major hurricanes

Source: NOAA

50%

Entire U.S. coastline

Forecast parameter: 1981-2010

30% 29%

U.S. East Coast, including Florida

U.S. Gulf Coast from Florida panhandle to Brownsville

Ten years ago: The hurricane season of 2006 was a huge relief after the “super season” of 2005. While forecasters anticipated a slightly less active season, it ended much calmer than experts predicted. Out of 10 storms, only five reached hurricane strength and only two reached major hurricane status.

By Sara Matthis Weather experts agree on one detail about the coming hurricane season: El Niño, a weather condition which typically mean a calmer hurricane season for Keys residents, is waning. Whether La Niña, indicative of a more active season, takes its place has yet to be determined.

Is La Niña coming? Climate maker could mean more active season

According to the University of Colorado, the current weakening El Niño is likely to transition to either neutral or La Niña conditions by the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wary about iron-clad seasonal projections.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

“This is a more challenging hurricane season outlook than most because it’s difficult to determine whether there will be reinforcing or competing climate influences on tropical storm development,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “However, a near-normal prediction for this season suggests we could see more hurricane activity than we’ve seen in the last three years, which were below normal.” NOAA forecasts a 70 percent chance that La Niña — which favors more hurricane activity — will be present during the peak months of hurricane season, August through October. However, current model predictions show uncertainty as to how strong La Niña and its impacts will be.

An important message from the Florida Keys Contractors Association

& Monroe County Growth Management

Peace of Mind is important during Hurricane Season. Be sure to hire a licensed and insured contractor to get your home and business ready during storm season. After the storm: Be sure to hire licensed contractors to repair storm damaged structure. Ask your contractor • Do you have a Monroe County License? • Do you have general liability and workman's comp insurance? • Are you familiar with Monroe County Building Regulations? • Will you pull a permit if my work requires it? • Have you done this type of work before? • Are you self performing the entire project? • Will you supply releases of liens for your subcontractors and suppliers?

Work that requires a licensed and insured contractor Aluminum • Landscaping • Masonry • Rooﬁng • Shutters • Windows & Doors • Seawalls & Docks and more...please call for more information.

Monroe County Building Department (305) 289-2501 monroecounty-ﬂ.gov

Florida Keys Contractors Association

Florida Keys Contractors Association (305) 743-5984 ﬂoridakeyscontractorsassociation.com

The ill, infirm and elderly have an extra network of support in the Florida Keys in the event of a hurricane. It’s called the special needs registry, and it’s a guaranteed ride off the islands to the mainland. Individuals are eligible to be registered if they need assistance during a hurricane evacuation because of physical, mental or cognitive impairment; have sensory disabilities; and are not served by a residential facility program.

GET A RIDE:

It is simple to register, but participants must register every year. If a storm approaches, participants will be called to see if the service is needed. If so, they are advised to pack supplies, and given an approximate time the bus will arrive to take them

You have a choice for

Home Health, Palliative and Hospice Care!

to a mainland shelter. Registered participants may also arrange for their pets to be evacuated. Again, the pets must be registered and have up-to-date vaccination records. The agency will make arrangements for the pet’s evacuation. To register, call 305-292-4591 or visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov and click on the social services button located in the county administrator’s division. The forms to register are available online to download. — Weekly Staff report

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| Hurricane Guide 2016

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HURRICANE

FINANCIAL CHECKLIST Loans Hurricane A Mortgage, Home Equity Line of Credit, or Personal

Loan can provide peace of mind knowing that money is on hand to prepare and, if necessary, recover quickly from a hurricane. A First State Bank loan can help you to secure your home, purchase generators, or make repairs after a storm. Apply for a mortgage or personal loan online @KeysBank.com.

Banking Electronic Online, Mobile, and Text Banking, Mobile Deposit, Direct

Deposit, and BillPay ensure that payroll and other important banking transactions can happen automatically or on the go. Enroll today at KeysBank.com or with the KeysBank Mobile App to access to your accounts 24/7, even if you have to evacuate.

& ATM Cards Debit First State Bank Debit and ATM cards are essential for quick cash access when banks are closed or if you have to evacuate. Remember, your FSB Debit and ATM cards work at over 1,000 Publix Presto! ATMs with NO fees and you can get cash back with your Debit card purchase at many businesses. Instant issue cards are available at our 11 Keyswide locations, get yours today!

HEED EVACUATION ORDERS A couple of things about hurricane evacuations in the Florida Keys: If the officials say it’s time to go, believe them; the decision is never made lightly. And tune in to the media frequently for not only the latest storm track, but also important notifications from local agencies. Finally, rest assured: the Keys have a very detailed and practiced plan in place. All of the Keys agencies and government offices work together including the Navy, Coast Guard, hospitals, county health department, public works departments, utilities companies, schools and even the Salvation Army. All of the decisions are made locally with heavy input from the National Weather Service office in Key West. In the event of a Category 1 or 2 hurricane, officials asks tourists to leave first. Then the call goes out for those with special needs, hospital patients, mobile home residents, and those living in low-lying areas to seek alternate shelter. If the storm is larger, a Category 3 to 5 storm, evacuation for everyone is mandatory. County shelters are only open for a Category 1 or 2 storm.

Cards Credit When evacuations become necessary, a credit card is critical for emergency funds, travel expenses, and supplies. First State Bank offers personal and business credit cards to meet both your everyday and emergency needs.

Cash & Checkbook Emergency In the event of a power failure, electronic means of payment like credit, debit, or ATM cards may not be available. Be sure to have cash and your checkbook on hand for purchases.

Important Documents Secure Make copies of your insurance papers, Social Security cards, birth certificates, mortgages, and other important documents to keep on hand. Originals can be stored in a First State Bank Safe Deposit Box.

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| Hurricane Guide 2016

“That the general rule of thumb,” said Martin Senterfitt, the Monroe County Emergency Management Director, “but there may be special circumstances that require us to adapt. The important thing is to follow the evacuation orders.” Evacuations are handled in a very precise manner because of the Keys’ geography. It takes time to get everyone out of the Keys safely before a storm hits. Evacuations generally begin 48 hours before a storm is expected to impact the islands. Often, the evacuation is called by zone. The Keys are divided into five zones. Monroe County Emergency Management officials, as well as other agencies, will disseminate pertinent hurricane information through a variety of media. Check the website of your local municipality; tune in to channel 76 on Comcast Cable; friend the US National Weather Service Key West on Facebook or call the hotline, 1-800-955-5504. — Weekly Staff report

ARTIC-TEMP SERVICE

The Sugarloaf School at MM 19 will be open in the event of a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.

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TAKE SHELTER In the event of a Category 1 or 2 storm, Monroe County will open four shelters up and down the Florida Keys (see sidebar). For a Category 3 or higher hurricane the shelters will not open and residents will be advised to seek shelter on the mainland.

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Shelters are designed to be safe, not comfortable. Residents are instructed to bring their own supplies including food and drink and comfort items. Pets are allowed at every shelter, however they must have a crate and veterinary certificates of health. Pet owners should provide all the necessary supplies — food, water, leashes, litter, etc. Category 1-2 Hurricanes • Key West Key West High School 2100 Flagler Avenue • Sugarloaf Elementary MM 19, U.S. 1 • Stanley Switlik Elementary MM 48, U.S. 1 • Coral Shores High School MM 90, U.S. 1

Category 3-5 Hurricanes • The E. Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, located adjacent to Florida International University campus. Take the Florida Turnpike north and take Exit No. 23. Follow the ramp right toward SW 40th Street (Bird Road). Bear left onto SW 117 Avenue. Turn right onto SW 40th Street. At SW 112th Avenue, make a left to head north and continue until you see signs for the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center.

Shelter supplies • Box of essential documents • Non-perishable food, water, cooler and ice • Bedding and change of clothing • Toiletries and baby supplies • Games, books, entertainment • Medication (Alcoholic beverages and firearms are not allowed.)

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‘CYCLONE JIM’ (1950-2014)

STORM CHASING LEGEND SPENT THE ‘OFF-SEASON’ IN THE KEYS

By Gabriel Sanchez In his biography, Jim Leonard remembers hurricane Donna as, “…the most awesome experience of my young life.” The Category 4 storm made landfall in South Florida on September 10, 1960. The pioneering storm chaser from Miami said the howling winds of severe thunderstorms were the spark for his lifelong obsession with chasing nature’s fiercest winds. Throughout his lifelong career “Cyclone Jim” intercepted and filmed 72 tropical cyclones. Hurricanes were not enough; he began chasing tornados along the Midwestern flatlands in 1974. As fate would have it, on June 6, 1975 near Freedom, Oklahoma, Jim captured the “first known motion picture of an anti-cyclonic tornado (clockwise rotating) in the northern hemisphere.” One of the first to use portable videotaping devices and color cameras during documentation, Leonard’s collection of footage has been featured on National Geographic's "Cyclone!," the CBS special "Forces of Nature," the Discovery Channel's "Raging Planet," the Weather Channel’s special "The Chase," and on NBC specials as well. But at the conclusion of hurricane and tornado chasing season, Jim would return to his small oceanside apartment on Lower Matecumbe Key. He spent his offseason distributing local newspapers, delivering pizzas, and toiling over other humble jobs. Jim would assuredly have his camera in the car, however, and was ready to chase down a waterspout at the slightest hint of swirling wind. His ties to the Florida Keys and South Florida were undeniable — he wore his flip flops year round.

CHRIS KRIDLER/Contributed

“He was hardcore. He enjoyed the dangers of chasing,” said Keys friend Mike Theiss, a fellow storm chaser who happened to captured the definitive footage of Hurricane Katrina coming ashore at the Holiday Inn in Gulfport, Mississippi. “Jim loved it when hail would demolish his car. He loved wind and being in it. After so many years of chasing it took stronger winds to get him excited, but when he felt that gust pick up, a smile would appear and his energy would skyrocket.” Theiss, a photographer for National Geographic and fellow storm chaser, says Leonard was his storm chasing mentor. “If you look up storm chasers in the dictionary, Jim’s photograph should be next to it, he’s one of the first and founders of the community.”

Leonard enjoys a break from tracking to chew the fat with fellow storm chasers.

“It was very fascinating to watch Jim’s predictions become reality (good or bad) on an annual basis,” wrote Blake Naftel, a stormchasing journalists, in a 2014 article remembering Leonard. “I certainly learned quite a lot from our discussions over the years, of which I apply to my own blend of weather pattern prediction.” Before the allure of storm chasing was made popular by blockbuster hits like “Twister,” trailblazers like Jim Leonard were capturing nature’s violent beauty. A legacy more than 40 years in storm chasing anthology came to an end Nov. 11, 2014 when Leonard finally joined the sweeping winds of the heavens.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

HURRICANE TREASURE STORM OF 1733 SUNK A FLEET, ARTIFACTS RECOVERED 200 YEARS LATER

Left: Art McKee and company dive on the 1733 fleet. Top: Art McKee retrieved many Spanish silver bars in his lifetime.

By Karuna Eberl Given enough time, the calamity of a hurricane can bring positive consequences – in the Keys, that amount of time is about 215 years. In 1733 a Spanish treasure fleet left Havana amidst much fanfare. They were headed for Spain to deliver the king’s treasure. But two days later the seas turned. A hurricane pounded their decks. They turned course to run back to Cuba, but it was too late. The wind shifted from the south, blocking their flight and dashing 21 ships into the reefs between Marathon and Biscayne. In time their stories were forgotten, hidden under the sea until 1948 when a local fisherman invited a diver to explore one of his prized fishing sites. It was a fateful day, not only for the diver, Art McKee, but for the future of the Keys. “When Art jumped in the water it wasn’t the fish that astounded him, but a pile of rocks,” says treasure diver Capt. Carl Fismer. “Not just any rocks, but a ballast pile from the Spanish treasure galleon El Rubi, the flagship of the 1733 Fleet.”

Art soon found other wrecks from the fleet along with so many artifacts that he opened up the first treasure museum in the world, on Plantation Key. It drew international attention and sparked the imaginations of people around the world — including Mel Fisher, who eventually came to the Keys and found his own Spanish treasure ship, the famous Nuestra Señora de Atocha. It was another hurricane of good fortune that sank her for Mel in 1622. Art’s museum is now Treasure Village Montessori, but Art’s legacy lives on from the rooftop tower, where three lines can still be seen etched into the stone, pointing across the ocean to the location of Art’s most beloved shipwrecks. “Thanks to Art, the mystery of lost treasure is forever ingrained into the fabric of the Keys,” says Fismer. “It’s all thanks to a hurricane, when you really think about it.”

Karuna Eberl writes, photographs and dreams of treasure from Cudjoe Key. Her work can be found at wanderingdogcreations.com.

keysweekly.com 17

HURRICANE HOME SUPPLIES

Food • Gas or charcoal for the grill • Manual can opener • Non-perishable foods • CARBS • crackers, cereal, popcorn, chips • FRUIT & VEGGIES • canned vegetables and fruit • PROTEIN • canned tuna or tuna, soup or stew, peanut butter, beef jerky, canned sausage or ham • Staples such as salt, pepper, sugar, mustard, sugar • Drinking water, sports drinks, instant coffee

The basics

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| Hurricane Guide 2014

Marathon Mile Marker 54 305-289-0213

• First aid kit, sunscreen, mosquito repellent • Prescription medicines • A watertight, easy-to-carry container to store essentials and paperwork

• Cash • Bleach • Cans of gasoline • Propane gas • Large coolers • Heavy duty garbage bags • Tools such as saw, rake, machete, pruning sheers, power drill, utility knife • Duct tape, screws, nails, tarps, buckets • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils • NOAA weather radio with extra batteries • Flashlight (1 per person) with extra batteries a• Matches in a waterproof container • Napkins, paper towels • Aluminum foil • THIS GUIDE!

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Clothing & Bedding • Work clothes, heavy shoes, hat, sunglasses • Towels, Bedding

Sanitation • Toilet paper, towelettes • Soap, liquid detergent • Feminine supplies • Toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, shaving supplies

Special needs items Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons • Infant needs: formula, bottles, baby food, diapers, rash cream, fever medicine, decongestant, anti-diarrhea medicine. • Pets: papers, leash, collar with ID, crate, food, bowls, litter, bed

Important Family Documents (Keep these documents in a waterproof, portable container) Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds Passports, social security cards, immunization records Bank account numbers Credit card account numbers and companies Important telephone numbers Family records (birth, marriage and death certificates) Proof of occupancy

Disaster kit tips: Water: Store water in sanitized bathtubs, washing machines and water heaters. At least one gallon of water, per person, per day for 7 days. Cooking: Do not use charcoal or gas grills indoors. Supplies: Pack your supplies in a container you can carry. — Weekly Staff Report

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305-587-0477

THEY KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS WEATHER OFFICE IN KEY WEST PLAYS VITAL ROLE DURING ISLAND STORMS By Hays Blinckmann The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Key West is a vital and critical part of life in the keys. Each year, Keys residents are faced with the daunting possibility of a hurricane, or even damaging tropical storms. The result could be a variety of consequences from extensive wind damage, coastal flooding, to power outages — all in all, a disruption of daily life. The Weather Center meteorologists already monitor weather information 24 hours a day seven days a week, for all of the Florida Keys, adjacent waters and ocean areas. And come hurricane season, forecasters will closely watch any Atlantic based storm system in order to prepare the Keys for any eventuality. “It starts with the five-day cone,” said Jon Rizzo, warning coordination meteorologist, “logistically it takes a long time to prepare the Keys from anywhere to simply securing your home or boat to full scale evacuation. So we are in touch with county and city emergency managers immediately. It is our job to get out as much factual weather information as fast as we learn it, to who needs to know it.” In the event of a hurricane, Rizzo will be at Emergency Operations Center at the Marathon Government Center. Around the 48 hour mark before a storm, he will be advising and discussing all weather probabilities with city and county leaders, fire, EMS, and law enforcement officers and the Tourist Development Council.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

Left: Jon Rizzo, warning coordination meteorologist, stands atop of the Weather Center with tracking antenna (not a Doppler radar) behind him. Middle: The Weather Center — a fully fortified building with an auxiliary generator — is located on White Street in Key West. Bottom: Bill South has lots of computers and two titles: tropical program manager and social media program manager.

60-Ton Lift • Dry Storage • Bottom Painting

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The Weather Center itself will be fully staffed — up to 22 employees — during a hurricane. A management team will be in place with forecasters focused on data acquisition, electronic technicians, and tropical program leader will be on hand around the clock monitoring wind, marine and fire forecast. The weather balloon will be launched four times a day (a normal day would be two) retrieving information and transmitting it to the National Hurricane Center In Miami. In the event of a power outage at the center, the diesel generator can keep the building operational, complete with sleeping room and steel encased storm shelter to keep forecasters safe. Keys residents can directly access weather information during the storm through social media. The Center has both a Facebook page and Twitter account.

Here for you BEFORE and AFTER the storm Management and emergency services for your home and yacht

Serving Ocean Reef to Key West since 1976 Florida Solar Contractor License #CVC56734

• Marine Electrical Services • Sale/Service of generators, batteries, battery chargers • Air Conditioning/Refrigeration • Solar/Wind 305-289-1150 - saltservice.net 2992 Overseas Hwy. Marathon • MM48.5 keysweekly.com 21

WHAT’S MY NAME? Add strength to your home, let us spray foam! We are a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor in the Florida Keys and do full residential & commercial construction specializing in Spray Foam Insulation.

CaprockConstruction.com Warren Werling #CBC1251610 Mobile: 305-797-5323 • Office: 305-745-8311 22484 Overseas Hwy., Cudjoe Key

| Hurricane Guide 2016

To better communicate with the public, forecasters worldwide use short, distinctive names to describe tropical storms and hurricanes. According to the National Hurricane Center, the practice of naming storms is especially important when exchanging detailed weather information between hundreds of widely scattered weather stations, coastal bases and ships at sea. Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms 2016 Hurricane have been named from season names lists originated by the Nicole, Bonnie, National Hurricane Otto, Colin, Center. The only time Paula, Danielle, that there is a change in Earl, Fiona, Richard, the list is if a storm is so Shary, Gaston, deadly or costly that the Tobias, Hermine, future use of its name Virginie Ian, Julia, on a different storm and Karl, Lisa, would be inappropriate. Walter. Matthew, For example, Hurricane Joaquin, a Category 4 storm that hit the Bahamas and Bermuda, was retired in 2015. Contributed

Marathon Garbage Service, Inc. 305-743-5165

Recycle Right in the Florida Keys Recycle the following items Plastic Bottles & Containers #s 1 - 7 Plastic lids and caps are OK!

Paperboard Boxes Office Paper Newspapers Magazines Catalogues Phone Books Aluminum & Metal Cans Clean foil and foil containers Paperback book Junk Mail Cereal Boxes Corrugated Cardboard Paper Milk, Juice and Soup Cartons Glass Bottles & Jars

(green, brown & clear only – no lids)

Location

Pick-Up Day

Knights Key

Tuesday

11th - 30th Ocean Side 12th- 52nd Gulf Side

Thursday

48th St Ocean - 74th St Ocean Side Wednesday 60th, 61st, & 70th Gulf Side 75th - 117th Ocean & Gulfside Behind Airport & Aviation Including Stirrup Key

Friday

Sombrero Beach Road

Wednesday

Sombrero Blvd & Flamingo Island

Thursday

Vaca Cut- Coco Plum

Saturday

Grassy Key, Duck Key, & Conch Key

Saturday

Key Colony Beach

Tuesday

Long Key - Layton

Thursday

(emptied and rinsed)

Let’s Keep the Keys Clean!

Specializing in Containerized Service, Roll-Offs and Clam Shell Pick-up for Large Piles of Debris. Please call our office with any questions and have a safe hurricane season.

These items will not be accepted

Paper Plates • Plastic Bags • Aerosol Cans Window Glass • Toys • Tires • Hoses • Dishes Styrofoam • Ceramics • Oil Containers

(Up to 75 Tons)

Your pets are dependent on you and the decisions you make. When Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast in 2005, FEMA reported approximately 600,000 pets were either killed or left without shelter. Here’s how to keep your pet safe in the event of a hurricane:

s ’ a n a D AIR CONDITIONING

• Microchip your pet, plus have your pet wear a collar with an ID and rabies tag. Carry pictures of your pet to aid in finding a lost pet.

Lic # CAC 1818326

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• Know your Debit MasterCard® PIN to access cash at over 1,000 surcharge-free Presto! ATMs at all Publix. • Download our FREE Mobile App with Mobile Deposit to manage your account, transfer money, apply for a loan & pay bills. • Apply for a Keys Visa® Credit Card, Personal Loan or Line of Credit to get cash or help pay for supplies, travel and more.

24/7 Loan Line: 305-293-6000 Online Services: KeysFCU.org

Local branches: Key West 3022 N. Roosevelt Blvd. and 514 Southard St.

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Restrictions may apply. Subject to credit approval. NCUA insured.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

• Prepare an evacuation pack for your pet. It should include food and water for two weeks and bowls. Keep dry food sealed in waterproof containers. Also pack kitty litter and litter trays and bring bags to pick up after your pet. Carry proof of vaccinations and copies of your pet’s medical records. (Put this on the “to do” list at the beginning of the hurricane season, before a storm threatens.) The pets will also need a comfortable pet carrier and leashes (and muzzles if they will become aggressive around other animals), any medication and heartworm, flea and tick prevention supplies. Finally, pack some crate bedding or, if too bulky, bring several towels. • Storm prep and evacuation will likely be stressful on your pet. Make special efforts to minimize the stress. Look for common signs of fear; hiding, trembling or shaking, sudden urination or defecation, pacing, chewing, digging, barking or howling, and an abnormal clinging behavior around the pet’s owner. Take time to comfort your pet often when your pet is fearful. Also, create a safe haven where pet can retreat to when the pet feels threatened; small spaces, such as a closet or their crate. If evacuating to a mainland motel/hotel, www. petswelcome.com and www.bringfido.com will help you find pet friendly lodging. When evacuating, don’t wait too long to get your cat in its carrier. It may take some time to capture a scared cat.

Article submitted by Island Hammock Pet Hospital, located at 98175 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo. For more information, call 305-852-5252 or visit www.IHPH.net.

We’re here to help in all kinds of weather.

Member Services: 305-294-6622 800-805-7535

HURRICANE PREPARATION GUIDE FOR PETS

Download our

Mobile App

Marathon 12790 Overseas Hwy. MM53 Gulfside

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

What You Should Know Before the Power Goes Out Make sure FKEC has your current phone numbers

BABY READINESS As families in the Florida Keys prepare for the upcoming storm season, they will hear about the various storm warnings, evacuation orders, and how to prepare a home for a storm. With all the information swirling about including checklists for purchasing batteries, flashlights and water, it’s important not to lose sight of protecting life — especially that of pregnant women and babies. Mothers-to-be need to make certain they have an alternate birth plan and location in case the order to evacuate is given. Do some research and collect phone numbers and locations for local providers in that area. In the past, some Keys mothers have evacuated and given birth in another part of the state. This scenario may be unlikely, but for the mother nearing a due date, a backup plan is essential. For baby, nutritional and comfort needs need to be considered first when creating a hurricane kit either at home, or for a car ride out to safer ground. Babies six months and younger need to have a supply of breastmilk or formula. For those babies that drink formula, the family needs to have a supply of safe drinking water and method to sanitize bottles (or use disposable dispensers). It’s a good idea to have a supply of pre-washed bottles and nipples in a clean plastic storage bag with proper formula measuring scoops. Pack at least three full day and nights worth of bottles, water and formula. Additional bottled water should be on hand to mix the formula if using concentrate or powder and separate clean water to wash the bottles. If financially feasible, collect ready-to-feed formula for times of natural disasters. Babies and young children are affected by mood and environment just as much as adults. Keep in mind comfort items for your child such as favorite blankets, pajamas or dolls. Having the child’s comfort items and nutritional needs already planned for can ease some of the burden of the storm. Oh, last but not least, don’t forget to stock up on extra baby wipes and diapers. Supplies can be slow to restock in stores after a storm.

FKEC’s phone system automatically matches your phone number(s) to your electrical equipment for faster restoration.

Make sure FKEC can access your meter equipment To make repairs FKEC must have 24 hour access to your meter.

If your power goes out, check your breakers first Approximately 33% of all power outages are caused by breaker issues, which are the responsibility of the member to resolve.

Report the outage by calling or texting Call 305-852-2431 or Text 451-83 to report your outage. Note, your mobile number must be pre-registered with FKEC to report via text.

Track the status of a power outage online Visit www.FKEC.com and click the Live Outage Viewer to check the restoration status of an outage.

305-852-2431 • 800-858-8845 www.FKEC.com keysweekly.com 25

Services:

perience

30 Years Ex

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Call or email Vicki today: HomeWatchKeys@bellsouth.net www.HomeWatchKeys.com

• Home Opening and Closing • Minor Maintenance Issues • Cleaning • Contractor & Repair Supervision • Home Monitoring Services • Pre-storm Inspection & Preparation • Post Storm Assessment and Cleanup

We Customize Our Services to Meet Your Needs

p 305-304-3830 f 305-289-3115

SERVING THE MIDDLE KEYS SINCE 1980 DEPENDABLE SERVICE • FAIR PRICES Service • Repair • Residential • Commercial

ELECTRICAL SERVICES Bill Kelly, Owner

FREE ESTIMATES

305-743-6098

Licensed & Insured #EC 525 • Marathon, FL • Kelly6098@aol.com

NUISANCE FLOODING

NO NEED FOR A HURRICANE TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT

By Hays Blinckmann Nuisance Flooding sounds like the gout of tropical weather ailments. It doesn’t have the razzle dazzle of a category hurricane or the intrigue of a water spout. But unfortunately, nuisance flooding is here, and it’s only going to get worse in the Keys. Focus and attention is easily drawn to the potential impact of a hurricane, but if there was ever the lesson to be learned from Wilma, it was flooding can wreak havoc on Keys life. Last year alone, three super moons in August, September and October caused unusually high tides that flooded streets, caused traffic delays and well, was a general nuisance to getting around the keys. “A lot of folks focus on bigger storms with the category labels, but really it will be the smaller storms that will have a larger impact on our lives. Little things like nuisance flooding will matter more which can be caused by a regular storms and wind,” said Jon Rizzo, warning coordination meteorologist of the National Weather Service office in Key West.

Impact Windows and Doors Shutters - Interior Doors Hardware - Trim & Moldings Millwork - Sky Lights Historic Wood Windows 1700 N. Roosevelt Blvd., #1 Key West FL 33040 PH (305) 296-0899 FAX (305) 296-0889

A super moon, a small tropical storm, even just high winds, will intensify flooding as the climate changes and sea levels rise. This can affect property values and structural concerns as low lying areas stay inundated with water for longer periods of time. In order to access infrastructure vulnerabilities, Rhonda Haag, Monroe County’s Sustainability Program Manager says, “We have conducted a year’s worth of inundation modeling so we know what to expect in terms of road and neighborhood inundation from sea level rise.” The research will complete Monroe County’s Sustainability Action Plan which will focus on which roads need elevating in accordance to their level of usage and service. This can be costly, but in the long run will keep us moving up and down the Keys.

BEAUTIFY ANY EXISTING C O N C R E T E S U R FA C E Have an award winning Keys artist, Ed Moran, design and resurface your concrete at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

Our Concrete Resurfacing System Can Change The Look of Any Existing Concrete Surface, Preserve & Protect It STAMPED CONCRETE

• Concrete Stamping & Sealing • Limitless Colors & Designs • Stain, Mildew & Oil Resistant • Acid Staining & Sealing • Pool Decks/Patios • Driveways • Commercial Floors

Factory Authorized Dealer • Licensed & Insured SP#3136 • FREE ESTIMATES

ARTISTIC CONCRETE DESIGN CORP. For more information go to www.keysdecoconcrete.com or call 305-923-0654

CONCRETE

Big Pine Shipping of The Florida Keys NOTARY SERVICES AVAILABLE 30342 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key p 305-872-5733 f 305-872-5750 Bigpineshipping@gmail.com Facebook - Big Pine Shipping of the Florida Keys MON – FRI 9AM-5PM SAT 9AM-11AM

UNCOVER YOURSELF!

GETTING AWNINGS AND BOAT CANVAS READY FOR THE STORM

By Steve Alberts

Awnings and carports are handy on sunny days, but when a hurricane is imminent the covers should be removed to avoid damage to your house and others’ property.

Call 396-3404 for a Free Estimate

South Seas Rigging Your Boat Trailer Specialist • Buy, Sell, Trade

Trailer Sales & Service Marine Service • Storage Welding & Fabrication

Dealer for:

• Continental • Rocket • Float-On • Real-X • Magic-Tilt • Cruz-On 3800 Overseas Hwy, MM 49, Marathon • (305) 289-3330

IVAN TILE

IVAN STONE CREATIONS Visit Our Large Showroom in Marathon Great Deals on Tile and Stone

40% - 50% off Select Tiles Ask About our Installation Services

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www.ivanstonecreations.com

| Hurricane Guide 2016

For awnings and carports, the easiest way to secure your covers is by calling your canvas company to schedule removal. For the brave of heart, you can do it yourself by following these simple steps: Awnings are most commonly attached to their frame with lacing cord, which is tied through grommets in the material and lashed around the framework. To remove the cover from the frame simply cut the lacing cord at approximately 1-inch intervals, and pull it from the grommets. If your awning is free standing, such as a carport not attached to a building, you can now pull the material off the frame to roll up and store until the storm has passed. For awnings that are attached to a building, you must also remove the cover from the track at the top. There is a small “C” channel track that the cover slides into. After you have removed the lacing cord, slide the cover out to the left or the right. If the cover won’t slide, check each end of the track to see if there is a retaining screw holding the fabric in place. If so, remove it then pull. Bimini tops should be folded and secured, or removed and stored, as well as small covers used for sun protection. If you do have a well-fitting, heavy-duty cover, it’s still a good idea to add additional strapping or rope to insure it is there once the storm has passed. Be diligent and store your covers, we don’t want to see anyone get blown away!

Steve Alberts owns and operates Oceanside Canvas. Visit oceansidecanvas.net or email oceansidecanvas12@gmail.com.

Hurricane Shutters of Key West

Office 295-6374 Direct 304-5753 Fax 295-2995 HSKW1@aol.com hurricaneshuttersofkeywest.com Lic.: CC141/ SP1383

All the styles of shutters that we carry meet current building codes and are Dade County and Florida Building Code approved. Styles available are: • Operable or fixed louvered Bahama and Colonials • Accordion shutters • Roll down shutters that can be remotely controlled. • Hurricane screens that are fixed or roll down style. • Clear and aluminum hurricane panels

Covering all the openings on your home of commercial property will REDUCE your windstorm premium by 39%! Purchasing shutters protect your investment and will pay for themselves.

Metal Roof & Single Ply Membrane Specialists Licensed & Insured Since 1988 All Major Credit Cards Accepted Mention this ad and receive $100 off Your NEW ROOF FREE ESTIMATES

305.296.2568 5686 Maloney Avenue aplusroofingkeywest.com aplusroof@aol.com

• Finished shuttering the house with the battery-operated drill and calling all the family up North on your cell phone? Excellent, now put everything you own on the charger. Storms will knock out the power and fully charged tools will make the first couple of days a little easier. • There are two types of people. Half of them will throw a huge party before a storm hits and cook ALL the food, anticipating the loss of electricity (see above). The other half of locals will turn the freezer down to its lowest setting and then fill every available space with jugs of water (that will freeze) at the approach of a storm. It’s good to have one of each type in the neighborhood — that way you eat before and after the storm. • Most everyone can anticipate the need to put stuff up high, out of the reach of floodwaters. But it’s best to put those important documents and photo albums on a high shelf, something affixed to the wall. It’s hard to imagine a heavy piece of furniture tipping over, but that’s exactly what will happen if the water rises.

Design, Construction, & Project Management from Start to Finish

We'll be there for you... before & after the storm • house shuttering • building maintenance • debris removal

• White boots. Because. Always err on the side of caution. Like the internet joke says, dolphins hitting the side of the house is a hurricane’s way of tricking you into coming outside. In other words, don’t take unnecessary risks. Evacuate. After the storm, no one will be handing out medals to locals who put themselves through hell for no reason.

Member: Florida Keys Contractor’s Association

Chris Gratton

President

Lic # CGC1521156, CFC1427749

305-743-7080 935 107TH ST, GULF • MARATHON FL 33050

New Construction • Remodels • Sewer Laterals keysweekly.com 29

Sandra Henderson & Stephanie Donohue

Owners/Operators

Kleen-Rite Services “The First Time & Every Time”

HURRICANE PREPARATION & After Storm Clean Up Bonded / Licensed / Insured Servicing Key Largo To Key West

FREE onsite estimate

Call Us Before or After the Storm

770-265-9811 • 678-234-8071

5409 Overseas Hwy., Ste. 266 • Marathon, Fl • Bonded, Licensed & Insured

kleenritesvcs@att.net

GET YOUR BOAT READY SAIL AWAY OR TIE IT TO AN IMMOVABLE OBJECT

If there’s a hurricane, the best place for the boat is as far away as possible from the storm track. Many Keys residents with small- to mid-size boats choose to trailer the boat to a safer location. If that’s your plan, be ready to go early: Monroe County’s phased evacuation calls for high-profile vehicles to leave first. After that, boats are not allowed on the highway. Captains who intend to sail to their destination must also leave early; at some point during a mandatory evacuation the Snake Creek drawbridge will be locked down so vehicular traffic flows smoothly. If it’s not possible to either sail or tow the boat away from the storm, take the boat out of the water and stow it in a garage or on the lee side of a building. Tie the boat to the trailer and the trailer to an immovable object — such as a palm tree. Do not fill the boat with water. Boats are designed to keep water out and filling it with water could cause structural damage.

Covering All The Keys From Key Largo To Key West Upper Keys Weekly 91831 Overseas Highway, Suite 3 Tavernier, FL 33070 305.743.0844 Marathon Weekly 9709 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 305.743.0844 Key West Weekly 5450 MacDonald Avenue, Suite 5 Key West, FL 33040 305.453.6928

| Hurricane Guide 2016

If it’s not possible to stow the boat on land, find a spot in a protected harbor. Again, the early bird will get the best spot though it’s recommended to keep checking on the vessel as the harbor fills with other boats to ensure safe clearances are maintained. Take everything off the boat — sails, electronics, etc. Heavy and extra anchors are needed for this option and enough line should be on hand to allow a scope of at least 10:1 for each anchor. Many working Keys captains adhere to the time-honored tradition of stowing their vessels in a hurricane hole, or a narrow inlet lined with mangroves. These protected spots block the wind and provide a tie-off. The best location for a hurricane hole — preferably scouted ahead of time — is one far enough inland to avoid the most severe winds and tides, yet close enough to reach under short notice.

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Now is the time to prep your yard and clean those trees for Storm Season!!

SERVICES AVAILABLE: TREE TRIMMING • FINE PRUNING • REMOVALS LOT CLEARING • STUMP REMOVALS • HEDGE TRIMMING LAWN MAINTENANCE • MULCHING

Call for a free estimate and have your property ready for the next tropical weather “situation”!

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Open Daily 8 am -9 pm 1779 Overseas Hwy, Marathon • MM 48 305-396-7751

keysweekly.com 31

It’s Hurricane Season! Have Your Roof Inspected Before the Storm!

Tile • Metal • Shingle • Flat Roofs Commercial & Residential Repairs • Free Roof Inspections Maintenance Program

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Visit us at www.keysallarearoofing.com Licensed.Insured.Bonded. CCC#1326177

Key West 5511 5th Avenue • Stock Island DionAllAreaRoofing@gmail.com

(305) 296-5932

CITY OF KEY WEST

HURRICANE GUIDE 2016

Observation of Hurricane Joaquin taken by the Expedition 45 crew aboard the ISS.

keysweekly.com 33

Dear Residents and Visitors, Welcome to Hurricane Season 2016. It has been 10 years since the City of Key West was hit with a major storm. Therefor anyone who has moved to Key West within the last 10 years has yet to experience what a hurricane brings with it. There are also many of us who have lived on the island through our share of storms. Together, we can make sure everyone is prepared and ease any uncertainties we may have of the unknown. That’s one of the great things about this little town at the end of the road, neighbors help neighbors, we share thoughts and experiences, and together we get through anything.

3126 Flagler Ave., Key West, Florida 33040 305.809.3840

With a little guidance, residents of Key West can be prepared to deal with the effects a storm may have on our island. You’ve already taken the first step towards preparedness just by picking up this 2016 Hurricane Preparation Guide. By heeding the suggestions and advice give in the following pages, you will have the tools necessary to successfully make it through this year’s season. Storms are unpredictable and can be very destructive, whether they blow by us or hit the island head-on. With that in mind, we urge all residents and business owners to have a hurricane plan in place should a storm threaten Key West. In addition, our visitors need to know what to do in case a hurricane heads for the Keys. The City of Key West is pleased to sponsor this 2016 Hurricane Preparation Guide. In the following pages you’ll find information from the National Hurricane Center and your local government, a hurricane tracking map and all the necessary information you’ll need to develop your own hurricane plan. The time to prepare is now, and we hope this guide will help you do just that.

Thank you,

Craig Cates, Mayor of the City of Key West

Craig Cates Mayor

Billy Wardlow District III

Clayton Lopez District VI

Michael Davila Key West Fire Chief

Jimmy Weekley District I

Richard Payne District IV

Donald J. Lee Jr. Key West Chief of Police

Alan Averette Emergency Manager

Samuel Kaufman District II

Margaret Romero District V

| Hurricane Guide 2016

CITY OF KEY WEST DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN

The City of Key West has developed its own Disaster Preparedness Plan especially to deal with tropical cyclone emergencies. The multiple purposes of this plan are: — Reduce vulnerability of people to damage, injury, and loss of life and property. — Prepare for prompt and efficient response and recovery. — Prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of victims. — Provide a setting of rapid and orderly restoration of services and rehabilitation of affected property. — Provide for interagency coordination to facilitate immediate delivery of assistance. In the event of a foreseeable emergency, the Mayor (or in the Mayor’s absence, Vice Mayor, Mayor’s designee, or an available Commissioner) will sign

an Increased Sate of Readiness, which will then be followed by a declared Local Sate of Emergency. This process is important for activation of various emergency management plans, says Key West Division Chief of Emergency Management and Training Alan Averette. Depending upon the level of the threat of the approaching storm, the city will take actions in coordination with Monroe County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Additionally, the city will set up its own EOC to coordinate necessary local response. At timed intervals before landfall, different parts of the plan will be implemented. These include early visitor, boater, and special needs evacuations, coordination of response and recovery teams, any necessary mandatory evacuations, and all necessary interagency coordination.

City of Key West www.keywestcity.com Phone Number: 305-809-3700 City of Key West Police Department www.keywestcity.com/ department Phone Number: 305-809-1111 City of Key West Fire Department www.keywestcity.com/ department Phone Number: 305-809-3936 National Weather Service, Key West www.srh.noaa.gov/key/ Phone Number: 305-295-1316 National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov Monroe County Information www.monroecounty-fl.gov Phone Number: 1-800-955-5504

Monroe County Sheriffís Office www.keysso.net Phone Number: 305-292-7000

keysweekly.com 5

EMERGENCY MAN MONROE COUNTY HAS NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Martin Senterfitt joins the Keys’ preparedness and response crew.

It will be his voice of reason that convinces people to leave. No doubt he will use his considerable experience in the field to temper the decisions. Senterfitt has witnessed not only the terrible effects of Hurricane Katrina — he called it “a monster, a killer” — but also Tropical Storm Faye that dumped 22 inches of rain in a day on parts of Florida causing both mayhem and strife. “You can’t say that a Category 1 storm won’t be dangerous,” he said. “On the other hand, you don’t want to overact because you need to have credibility when a Category 4 or 5 Storm is threatening. Then everyone HAS to leave.” Senterfitt knows what it’s like to hand his family a credit card and tell them to go. He also knows what if feels like when the storm is over and recovery begins. “I know that together we can accomplish anything. Witnessing the teamwork of the community coming together brings tears to my eyes,” he said. “Those people that picked themselves out of the mud and worked through it. It’s when Americans give the best that they have to offer.” Senterfitt replaces Irene Toner who retired after nearly two decades of service to Monroe County and 35 years working in emergency management.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

We are pleased to be the leading environmental services provider for Monroe County.

By using our waste-to-energy facility, your trash is turned into enough clean, renewable electricity to power 25% of your homes, saving 2.7 million gallons of oil each year.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE FLORIDA KEYS 125 Toppino Industrial Drive • MM 8.5 • Rockland Key, FL 33040

305•797•3312

UNCOVER YOURSELF!

GETTING AWNINGS AND BOAT CANVAS READY FOR THE STORM

By Steve Alberts

Awnings and carports are handy on sunny days, but when a hurricane is imminent the covers should be removed to avoid damage to your house and others’ property.

In the Keys, it seems we have canvas covers protecting everything from patios and cars to boats and grills. But when a major tropical storm or hurricane is approaching, the majority of these should be removed, otherwise they can be damaged, or worse yet, convert whatever they are attached to into a dangerous projectile. For awnings and carports, the easiest way to secure your covers is by calling your canvas company to schedule removal. For the brave of heart, you can do it yourself by following these simple steps:

South Seas Rigging Your Boat Trailer Specialist • Buy, Sell, Trade

Trailer Sales & Service Marine Service • Storage Welding & Fabrication

Dealer for:

• Continental • Rocket • Float-On • Real-X • Magic-Tilt • Cruz-On 3800 Overseas Hwy, MM 49, Marathon • (305) 289-3330

IVAN TILE

IVAN STONE CREATIONS Visit Our Large Showroom in Marathon Great Deals on Tile and Stone

40% - 50% off Select Tiles Ask About our Installation Services

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www.ivanstonecreations.com

| Hurricane Guide 2015

Awnings are most commonly attached to their frame with lacing cord, which is tied through grommets in the material and lashed around the framework. To remove the cover from the frame simply cut the lacing cord at approximately 1-inch intervals, and pull it from the grommets. If your awning is free standing, such as a carport not attached to a building, you can now pull the material off the frame to roll up and store until the storm has passed. For awnings that are attached to a building, you must also remove the cover from the track at the top. There is a small “C” channel track that the cover slides into. After you have removed the lacing cord, slide the cover out to the left or the right. If the cover won’t slide, check each end of the track to see if there is a retaining screw holding the fabric in place. If so, remove it then pull. Bimini tops should be folded and secured, or removed and stored, as well as small covers used for sun protection. If you do have a well-fitting, heavy-duty cover, it’s still a good idea to add additional strapping or rope to insure it is there once the storm has passed. Be diligent and store your covers, we don’t want to see anyone get blown away!

Steve Alberts owns and operates Oceanside Canvas. Visit oceansidecanvas.net or email oceansidecanvas12@gmail.com.

Hurricane Shutters of Key West

Office 295-6374 Direct 304-5753 Fax 295-2995 HSKW1@aol.com hurricaneshuttersofkeywest.com Lic.: CC141/ SP1383

Covering all the openings on your home of commercial property will REDUCE your windstorm premium by 39%! Purchasing shutters protect your investment and will pay for themselves.

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Design, Construction, & Project Management from Start to Finish

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Member: Florida Keys Contractor’s Association

Chris Gratton

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305-743-7080 935 107TH ST, GULF • MARATHON FL 33050

New Construction • Remodels • Sewer Laterals keysweekly.com 29

It’s Hurricane Season! Have Your Roof Inspected Before the Storm!

Tile • Metal • Shingle • Flat Roofs Commercial & Residential Repairs • Free Roof Inspections Maintenance Program

Marathon 12690 Overseas Highway DionAllAreaRoofing@gmail.com

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Key West 5511 5th Avenue • Stock Island DionAllAreaRoofing@gmail.com

(305) 296-5932

FLORIDA KEYS

HURRICANE GUIDE 2016

Observation of Hurricane Joaquin taken by the Expedition 45 crew aboard the ISS.

MONROE COUNTY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN

Monroe County has developed its own Disaster Preparedness Plan especially to deal with tropical cyclone emergencies. The multiple purposes of this plan are: • Reduce vulnerability of people to damage, injury, and loss of life and property. • Prepare for prompt and efficient response and recovery. • Prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of victims. • Provide a setting of rapid and orderly restoration of services and rehabilitation of affected property. • Provide for interagency coordination to facilitate immediate delivery of assistance.

of the Florida Keys. Once the Mayor (or his designee) declares a local State of Emergency, the Preparedness Plan is then put into action. Depending upon the level of the threat of the approaching storm, the county will take actions in coordination with Monroe County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

An abnormal rise of water generated by a storm’s winds. Storm surge can reach heights well over 20 feet and can span hundreds of miles of coastline. In addition, shallower offshore waters can contribute to higher storm surge inundation. Storm surge is by far the greatest threat to life and property along the immediate coastal areas

Monroe County has a Disaster Preparedness Plan for its residents and visitors, so should each resident have their own plan. Use the resources in this guide to formulate your own plan, and then make sure you follow the plan when needed. A government-authored preparedness guide is available online from FEMA.

National Weather Service, Key West www.srh.noaa.gov/key Phone Number: 305.295.1316 National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov Monroe County Information www.monroecounty-fl.gov Monroe County Sheriff’s Office www.keysso.net Phone Number: 305.289.2430 or 9-1-1

when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force. Hurricane Watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher are possible within the specified. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds. Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 kt (39 mph) to 63 kt (73 mph). Tropical Storm Warning: An announcement that sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours.

keysweekly.com 5

EMERGENCY MAN MONROE COUNTY HAS NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Martin Senterfitt joins the Keys’ preparedness and response crew.

| Hurricane Guide 2016

PRO-TIPS FROM THE LOCALS By Sara Matthis Some things only experience can teach. Old-time islanders have lived through more than one “blow,” and have some interesting tips to share with newcomers. It’s stuff outside the standard rule-book, advice specific to the Keys. • If there’s a storm coming, park on high ground. Hurricane Wilma taught us this one. Often a public parking lot is better elevated, though more exposed, than your driveway. If you have to pick between high ground and falling coconuts, consider this: a windshield can be repaired; a flooded car must be replaced. • Finished shuttering the house with the battery-operated drill and calling all the family up North on your cell phone? Excellent, now put everything you own on the charger. Storms will knock out the power and fully charged tools will make the first couple of days a little easier. • There are two types of people. Half of them will throw a huge party before a storm hits and cook ALL the food, anticipating the loss of electricity (see above). The other half of locals will turn the freezer down to its lowest setting and then fill every available space with jugs of water (that will freeze) at the approach of a storm. It’s good to have one of each type in the neighborhood — that way you eat before and after the storm. • Most everyone can anticipate the need to put stuff up high, out of the reach of floodwaters. But it’s best to put those important documents and photo albums on a high shelf, something affixed to the wall. It’s hard to imagine a heavy piece of furniture tipping over, but that’s exactly what will happen if the water rises. • White boots. Because. Always err on the side of caution. Like the internet joke says, dolphins hitting the side of the house is a hurricane’s way of tricking you into coming outside. In other words, don’t take unnecessary risks. Evacuate. After the storm, no one will be handing out medals to locals who put themselves through hell for no reason.

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

What You Should Know Before the Power Goes Out Make sure FKEC has your current phone numbers FKEC’s phone system automatically matches your phone number(s) to your electrical equipment for faster restoration.

Make sure FKEC can access your meter equipment To make repairs FKEC must have 24 hour access to your meter.

If your power goes out, check your breakers first Approximately 33% of all power outages are caused by breaker issues, which are the responsibility of the member to resolve.

Report the outage by calling or texting Call 305-852-2431 or Text 451-83 to report your outage. Note, your mobile number must be pre-registered with FKEC to report via text.

Track the status of a power outage online Visit www.FKEC.com and click the Live Outage Viewer to check the restoration status of an outage.

305-852-2431 • 800-858-8845 www.FKEC.com keysweekly.com 25

South Seas Rigging Your Boat Trailer Specialist • Buy, Sell, Trade

Trailer Sales & Service Marine Service • Storage Welding & Fabrication

Dealer for:

• Continental • Rocket • Float-On • Real-X • Magic-Tilt • Cruz-On 3800 Overseas Hwy, MM 49, Marathon • (305) 289-3330

IVAN TILE

IVAN STONE CREATIONS Visit Our Large Showroom in Marathon Great Deals on Tile and Stone

40% - 50% off Select Tiles Ask About our Installation Services

(305) 743-5562 6465 Overseas Hwy – Marathon, FL

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UNCOVER YOURSELF!

GETTING AWNINGS AND BOAT CANVAS READY FOR THE STORM

By Steve Alberts

Awnings and carports are handy on sunny days, but when a hurricane is imminent the covers should be removed to avoid damage to your house and others’ property.

Steve Alberts owns and operates Oceanside Canvas. Visit oceansidecanvas.net or email oceansidecanvas12@gmail.com.

2016 | Hurricane Guide 2015

We are pleased to be the leading environmental services provider for Monroe County.

By using our waste-to-energy facility, your trash is turned into enough clean, renewable electricity to power 25% of your homes, saving 2.7 million gallons of oil each year.

Waste Management Does More than Just Garbage WM CAN SERVICE ALL CONSTRUCTION SITE NEEDS

Roll Off Dumpsters

Call Margret Lara

Port-O-Lets

WM's Local Territory Manager

305•797•3312 • mlara5@wm.com

WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE FLORIDA KEYS 125 Toppino Industrial Drive • MM 8.5 • Rockland Key, FL 33040

305•797•3312

7603 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050

305-743-6000

1450 Ne 1st Ave, Florida City, FL 33034

305-246-4229