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>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO FLORIDA
"FACE TO FACE".
THIS WEEK WE ARE "FACE TO FACE"
WITH DIRECTOR BRYAN KOON WITH
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IMPORTANT
POSITION WITH THE FOCUS ON
HURRICANE SEASON.
WE ARE GLAD YOU JOINED US,
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE
HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST COUPLE
SEASONS.
LET'S BEGIN FIRST WITH THE
SEASON'S PREDICTIONS AND THEY
ARE EXACTLY THAT.
WHAT ARE THE PREDICTIONS FOR
THIS 2017 HURRICANE SEASON WHICH
BEGAN RECENTLY?
>> THEY ARE LEANING TOWARDS AN
AVERAGE TO ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON,
THAT IS BASED ON THE CURRENT
CONVICTIONS.
THEY TEND TO CHANGE THAT AS THE
SEASON GOES ALONG BUT THE LATEST
I SAW LAST WEEK FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER INDICATED THEY
ARE PREPARING FOR SLIGHTLY ABOVE
AVERAGE.
THAT DOESN'T INDICATE WHICH IF
ANY WILL MAKE LANDFALL, JUST
GIVES YOU THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
HURRICANES THAT COULD FORM IN
THE ATLANTIC.
>> GIVE A SENSE WHAT THEY ARE
BASING THIS PREDICTIONS ON.
>> THEY LOOK AT CONDITIONS LIKE
SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES,
LOOKING AT WHETHER THERE IS EL
NIÑO OR LA NIÑA OR NEUTRAL
CONDITIONS OR WHAT HAPPENS IN
THE ATLANTIC.
THEY COMPARE THOSE TO PREVIOUS
YEARS AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT
HAPPENED IN THOSE YEARS AND PUT
THAT TOGETHER AND MAKE THEIR
BEST GUESS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY COME OUT WITH A BROAD RANGE
BUT THE BROAD RANGE IS SLIGHTLY
ABOVE AVERAGE.
>> PREDICTIONS FOR THIS YEAR ARE
ABOUT WHAT THEY PREDICTED FOR
LAST YEAR.
>> ROUGHLY.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, FOR
OVER A DECADE WE WENT WITHOUT A
BIG HURRICANE MAKING LANDFALL IN
THE STATE.
LAST YEAR WE SAW MORE ACTIVITY
IN THE STATE THAN WE HAD SEEN IN
A WILD.
ONE OF YOUR FOLKS POINTED OUT IT
JUST TAKES ONE TO DISRUPT OUR
LIVES.
TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO
PAY ATTENTION TO.
>> THIS IS THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY
OF THEIR HURRICANE ANDREW, FIRST
NAMED STORM OF THE YEAR HAPPENED
IN AUGUST THE DEVASTATED SOUTH
FLORIDA.
THAT WAS A VERY BELOW NORMAL
SEASON BUT THAT WAS THE ONE THAT
MADE LANDFALL.
SAME THING THIS YEAR.
WE DON'T CARE HOW MANY STORMS
ARE IN THE ATLANTIC, WE CARE
WHICH ONES IMPACT FLORIDA OR
IMPACT FLORIDIANS.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHICH IF
ANY OF THOSE STORES ARE GOING TO
DO THAT BUT WE PLAN AS IF THEY
ARE, WE ARE GETTING READY AND WE
WANT EVERYONE ELSE TO GET READY.
>> WHAT DO FOLKS NEED TO DO TO
GET READY?
>> THEY NEED TO REALIZE FLORIDA
IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
WE LOVE LIVING HERE, WORKING
HERE, PLAYING HERE, VACATIONING
HERE BUT WE ARE THE MOST
HURRICANE PRONE STATE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
EVERY SINGLE HURRICANE SEASON
BRINGS WITH IT THE POTENTIAL TO
BE IMPACTED BY ANYTHING FROM A
TROPICAL STORM UP TO A
CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE.
TAKE THAT PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, UNDERSTAND THAT
IT CAN HAPPEN AND START THINKING
ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO OR YOUR
FAMILY WOULD DO, RECOGNIZE THE
FACT THAT IT CAN IN FACT HAPPEN
TO YOU WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
DONE WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN THE
SPRING IS SALES TAX HOLIDAY
DEALING WITH HURRICANE
PREPARATION, THAT HAPPENED IN
THE BEGINNING OF JUNE FOR FOLKS
TO SHOP WITH TAX-FREE HOLIDAY ON
PREPARATION, TOOLS, AND THINGS
THEY NEEDED.
ANY SENSE HOW WELL FLORIDIANS
RESPONDED TO THAT TAX-FREE
HOLIDAY AND WHETHER THEY TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF TRYING TO GET THEIR
FAMILIES PREPARED?
>> I HOPE SO.
IT WILL BE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE
WE SEE A RETURN ON FAT FROM THE
RETAILERS AS TO THE TRAFFIC A
SAW BUT WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE
LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING THAT
BILL AND THE GOVERNOR FOR
SIGNING AT.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO, EVERYTHING
WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO
GET OUT AND BUY THE SUPPLIES
THEY WILL NEED IN THAT SITUATION
IS A POSITIVE.
WE HOPE LOTS OF PEOPLE TOOK
ADVANTAGE.
>> DO YOU THINK PEOPLE BECAUSE
OF WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR WITH
ARTHENIA JOYNER -- HERMINE AND
MATTHEW, PEOPLE ARE PAYING
BETTER ATTENTION THAN THEY HAVE
IN YEARS PAST?
>> I THINK SO ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO EXPERIENCED IT FIRSTHAND.
ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE WITH
HURRICANES AND OTHER NATURAL
DISASTERS IS PEOPLE REALLY WANT
TO EXPERIENCE IT BEFORE THEY
THINK IT IS REAL.
IT HAD BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE
LAST TIME WE HAD A LANDFALLING
HURRICANE IN FLORIDA.
NOW THAT WE HAVE HAD FLORIDIANS
EXPERIENCED SOMETHING RECENTLY,
I THINK THEY WILL REMEMBER THAT
IT WAS UNPLEASANT AND IT WASN'T
THAT BAD COMPARED TO WHAT IT
COULD BE SO THEY HAVE SEEN
SOMETHING NOW, IT WAS BAD BUT
HOPEFULLY THEY REALIZE IT COULD
BE WORSE AND ARE TAKING STEPS TO
MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER IN THAT
SITUATION.
>> DO PEOPLE RESPOND WELL TO THE
WARNINGS THEY GET DURING THE
SEASON?
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO THINK
ABOUT AS THEY HEAR SOME THINGS
FORMING, AS THEY HEAR SOMETHING
IS APPROACHING.
WHAT DO YOU WANT CITIZENS TO
THINK ABOUT?
>> THEY RESPOND WELL THE CLOSER
YOU GET TO THE EVENT.
IF I SAY IN JUNE GET READY FOR A
POTENTIAL HURRICANE IN AUGUST,
PROBABLY NOT MANY PEOPLE WILL
PAY ATTENTION.
THAT IS WHAT WE SEE WITH HAVE
LONG-TERM FORECAST.
THE CLOSER YOU GET, THE MORE
REAL IT SEEMS, THE MORE WILL
IMPACT THEM THE MORE THEY PAY
ATTENTION AND THAT IS NORMAL,
THAT IS HUMAN NATURE.
WHAT I WANT THEM TO DO IS TAKE
IT SERIOUSLY.
WHEN WE SEE THESE THINGS FORM
ESPECIALLY FAR OUT IN THE
ATLANTIC, WE COULD HAVE A WEEK
OR MORE HEADS UP.
AT THAT POINT WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO BUT THAT
IS WHEN WE WANT PEOPLE TO PAY
ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT IS A
GREAT TIME TO GET OUT IF YOU
HAVEN'T DONE SO YET, 5 TO 7 DAYS
AWAY, HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES
HAVE WHAT YOU NEED, YOU COULD DO
IT BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVED AND
GET READY, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT
IS FORMING IN THE GULF THIS
YEAR.
IT IS EASY TO DO TODAY WITH
TECHNOLOGY AND THE MEDIA THAT
COVERS IT.
AS IT GETS CLOSER PAY ATTENTION
TO WHAT YOUR LOCAL ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE TELLING YOU
BECAUSE THEY WILL BE PROVIDING
LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION, COULD
BE INFORMATION ABOUT STORM SURGE
OR EVACUATION OR SHELTERING.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO TO PAY
ATTENTION TO WHAT THEIR
OFFICIALS TELL THEM.
>> HOW WELL DO WE DO THAT IS
FLORIDIANS?
I ASK YOU BECAUSE IF YOU LISTEN
TO A LOT OF COMMENTARY AROUND
THE STATE, HAVING TO DO WITH
FICTION AND MOVIES AND
LATE-NIGHT COMEDY, PEOPLE MAKE
FUN OF FLORIDA FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, AMONG THEM OUR
HURRICANE PARTIES, WHEN BIG
STORMS ARE APPROACHING.
HOW WELL DO WE DO AS A STATE IN
TERMS OF RESPONDING WHEN OUR
LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE TELLING US
WE ARE IN DANGER?
>> WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
WHAT YOU SEE COVERAGE OF OUR
EXCEPTIONS.
THE NORM, PAYS ATTENTION TO WHAT
IS GOING ON AND TAKES THE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
WE SAW THAT DURING HURRICANE
MATTHEW.
WE HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST
EVACUATIONS IN A DECADE BECAUSE
WE HADN'T HAD ANY STORMS OF THAT
MAGNITUDE AND MOST OF THE
RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE
BARRIER ISLANDS ON THE EAST
COAST HEATED THAT WARNING AND
GOT TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.
THEY DID IT WHEN OFFICIALS TOLD
THEM TO, THAT HELPED US MAKE
SURE THE ROAD NETWORK OPERATED
AS IT SHOULD.
WE AVOIDED CONGESTION, WE
AVOIDED FUEL OUTAGES, PEOPLE GOT
DIFFERENT IN FAMILIES HOMES,
HOTELS OR SHELTERS AND WE GOT
THEM BACK AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
I TOO CITE A FEW EXCEPTIONS BUT
THE VAST MAJORITY OF FLORIDIANS
TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.
>> HOW THE WRESTLE WITH THE
DAMNED IF YOU DO DAMNED IF YOU
DON'T PART OF BEING A PUBLIC
OFFICIAL?
BECAUSE IF YOU WARN THEM YOU GET
THEM OUT, TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND
THINGS DON'T END UP AS BADLY AS
YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT OR
EXPECTED, PEOPLE GO I SHOULDN'T
HAVE LEFT.
HOW DO YOU -- IF YOU HADN'T
WARNED THEM AND THEY HAD STAYED
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATACLYSMIC.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE DAMNED
IF YOU DO DAMNED IF YOU DON'T
PART?
>> WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE
CONSERVATIVE ON THAT.
I WOULD RATHER ASK WAYNE TO
PEOPLE WHY WE HAD TO EVACUATE
FOR A STORM THAT DIDN'T IMPACT
THEM AS BADLY AS IT COULD HAVE
BEEN TO EXPLAIN TO THEIR
RELATIVES WHY THEY DIED IN THAT
STORM.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO AIR ON
THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE EXACT
PRECISE FORECASTS WHICH WE
LIKELY WILL NOT, WE ARE GOING TO
OVER PREPARE AND OVEREVACUATE
AND OVERESTIMATE WHAT WILL
HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT TO
MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE DEATH OR
INJURIES FROM THE STORM.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS TRY TO HELP
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
FORECASTING HURRICANES IS AN IN
PRECISE SCIENCE WAS WE ARE
GETTING BETTER AT IT YEAR AFTER
YEAR, TRACK FORECAST, INTENSITY
FORECASTING, STORM SURGE
FORECASTING BUT WE DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHERE THE STORM IS GOING
TO GO AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO
SO WE ARE GOING TO AIR ON THE
SIDE OF CAUTION AND WE HOPE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE WILL DO MORE THAN ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND IT IS IN THEIR BEST
INTEREST TO PAY ATTENTION
BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE
THEIR LIVES.
>> WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM LAST
YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON?
>> WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS.
WE LEARNED ABOUT POWER
RESTORATION ISSUES.
I LEARNED PERSONALLY THAT WHAT
YOU ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH, THE
LAST HURRICANE SEASON OF
2004-2005 IN REGARDS OF POWER
RESTORATION THIS, NO LONGER WORK
IN 2016-17.
IN AN AGE WHEN YOU CAN ORDER A
PACKAGE AND TRACK IT REAL TIME
UNTIL IT HITS YOUR DOOR OR CALL
A CAR AND HAVE IT THERE IN THREE
MINUTES AND KNOW EXACTLY WHERE
IT IS PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER
ACCEPT A STATEMENT LIKE YOUR
POWER WILL BE BACK ON SOMEWHERE
IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS, THEY WANT
TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON REAL
TIME AND HOW SOON IS THERE POWER
GOING TO COME BACK ON AND WE SAW
WE STUMBLED A BIT AND THE
BEGINNING OF HERMINE AND
CORRECTED, POWER COMPANIES NOW
ARE DOING A BETTER JOB
COMMUNICATING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS
WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON RESTORING
POWER AND WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT
TO GET IT BACK AND I THINK THAT
IS EXCITING BECAUSE FLORIDIANS
DESERVE THAT BECAUSE MOST
EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND POWER
RESTORATION IN A HURRICANE.
WHEN YOU GET THAT UP EVERYTHING
ELSE BECOMES EASY.
WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON
THAT, COOPERATING BETWEEN POWER
COMPANIES TO GET POWER BACK ON
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE LEARNED WHEN YOU ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO STAY AT FAMILY OR
FRIENDS HOMES OR AT A HOTEL
INSTEAD OF GOING TO A SHELTER
THEY LISTEN TO YOU.
WE HAD LESS PEOPLE STAY AT
SHELTERS THAN WE ANTICIPATED
BECAUSE THEY DID THAT.
WE COMMUNICATE TO THEM WE ARE
GOING TO PROVIDE SHELTERS IF YOU
NEED TO STAY AT ONE SO YOU CAN
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
BUT IT WON'T BE VERY
COMFORTABLE.
YOU MIGHT GET A CAUGHT ON A GYM
FLOOR FOR A FEW DAYS, YOU WOULD
RATHER STAY IN YOUR AUNT OR
UNCLE'S HOUSE IN ORLANDO OR GO
TO THE HOLIDAY INN DOWN THE ROAD
AND THEY DID THAT.
OUR ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE GET
THERE HAS IMPROVED.
OUR ABILITY TO HELP THEM FIND AN
OPEN SPACE RATHER THAN IN THE
OLD DAYS YOU DRIVE AROUND, NOW
YOU CAN USE AN APPS AND FIND OUT
WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
WE SAW THAT AND THAT IS GREAT.
WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SHELTERS
BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET
SOMEWHERE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE
AND THINK AHEAD OF TIME WHAT
THEY ARE DOING.
THAT WAS GOOD.
WE ARE PLEASED HOW THE
EVACUATION WENT FOR MATTHEW.
THAT WAS AN EASY EVACUATION.
THE ROAD NETWORK IS GOOD.
THE VOLUME WAS NOT OVERWHELMING.
AS I GO OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE
ABOUT LESSONS EARNED, I'M URGING
IS NOT TO BE OVERCONFIDENT WITH
AN EVACUATION OF SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA OR THE KEYS OR THE
NAPLES FORT MYERS AREA WILL BE A
LOT MORE COMPLICATED.
THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING
THE WORD OUT AHEAD OF TIME TO
EVACUATE.
>> MATTHEW WAS IN NORTHEAST
FLORIDA SO IT WAS DIFFERENT.
>> ALL PEOPLE HAD TO DO WAS MOVE
INLAND 5 TO 10 MILES TO GET AWAY
FROM STORM SURGE TO A WELL-BUILT
BUILDING AND THAT WAS EASILY
ACCOMPLISHED DURING THAT STORM.
WE GOT IT BACK HOME VERY
QUICKLY, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND THEIR
PARTNERS DID A GOOD JOB CLEARING
BRIDGES GETTING THEM OPEN, AND
GETTING SOMEWHERE TO SAFETY,
GETTING PEOPLE BACK HOME, AND
INSPECT THEIR HOME AND GET THEIR
LIFE BACK TO NORMAL, THEY DID A
GOOD JOB OF THAT AND WE WILL USE
THAT AS A TEMPLATE FOR ALL
FUTURE STORMS.
>> THIS IS FLORIDA "FACE TO
FACE" AND THIS WEEK ON OUR
PROGRAM WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HURRICANE SEASON AND PREPARATION
WITH BRYAN KOON, DIRECTOR OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU
LEARNED AS YOU MENTIONED THE
THINGS YOU LEARN FROM LAST YEAR,
YOU ALSO DO ANNUAL EXERCISES
DEALING WITH HURRICANES AND
INMATE YOU DID THIS YEAR'S
EXERCISE.
WHAT LESSONS DID YOU TAKE FROM
2016 AND IMPLEMENT IN TERMS OF
THINGS YOU WANTED TO EXPERIMENT
WITH, LEARN, TEST DURING THE
2017 EXERCISE?
>> WE DID DIFFERENT THINGS, WE
USED THE NATIONAL GUARD A LOT
DURING HERMINE AND MATTHEW AND
GAVE A FEW TASKINGS, AND MADE
SURE THAT FLOWED SMOOTHLY.
WE DID A LOT IN HERMINE AND
MATTHEW WITH ENGAGEMENT IN THE
USE OF NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS SO
WE PUSHED A LITTLE MORE ON THAT
IN TERMS OF EXERCISE BECAUSE
THAT IS A GREAT TOOL TO
COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO
FLORIDIANS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
GETTING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
ON THE OUTREACH AND
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON,
WE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE
ARE THINKING AND DOING DURING
THOSE STORMS AND IF WE SEE A GAP
IN SERVICES BEING PROVIDED FROM
THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WE CAN
FILL THAT QUICKER THAN WE DID
BEFORE.
THOSE ARE COUPLINGS WE WORKED
ON.
>> HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNICATION
STRATEGY CHANGED AND EVOLVED?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS
PLEASED WITH DURING HERMINE AND
MATTHEW WAS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
TRADITIONAL MEDIA I RECALL FOR
HURRICANE MATTHEW, PULLED UP THE
EMAIL SHOWING THE FRONT PAGE OF
THE FLORIDA NEWSPAPERS, EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAD MATTHEW
ON THE TOP OLD.
PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THE STORM.
OUR TV COVERAGE THAT A GREAT
JOB, RADIO PARTNERS DOING REALLY
GREAT THINGS, FLORIDA PUBLIC
RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK GETS OUT
AND PROVIDES, PENSACOLA TO KEY
WEST COVERAGE OF A POTENTIAL
STORM.
WE ARE USING THE TRADITIONAL ONE
THEN PEOPLE ARE TAKING US AND
POSTING THEM OUT THERE FOR OTHER
PEOPLE TO LOOK AT AND THAT HELPS
A LOT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL LISTEN
TO SOMEBODY LIKE ME OR THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR OR COUNTY
COMMISSIONER AND THEY WILL HEAR
IT AND MAY OR MAY NOT HEED IT
BUT IF THEY ARE GETTING THE
INFORMATION FROM A FRIEND OR
NEIGHBOR OR MINISTER OR PASTOR
OR TRUSTED COLLEAGUE THEY ARE
MORE LIKELY TO TAKE ACTION.
THE ABILITY TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA
TO AMPLIFY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
A TREMENDOUS GAME CHANGER.
>> HOW WELL HAVE A WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS, THIS IS, WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE
INTERVIEW BEGAN, WHAT A
PARTNERSHIP THIS IS, BUT
BASICALLY YOUR DEPARTMENT AND
DIVISION, YOU ARE THE GLUE THAT
HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER BUT THE
REAL FOLKS THAT ARE FRONT-LINE,
IT IS A WIDE VARIETY.
HOW WELL ARE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS
BEING DEVELOPED AND ARE YOU
BRINGING NEW AND DIFFERENT
PARTNERSHIPS ON DEPENDING ON THE
CHANGES IN THE WAY WE CONSUME
INFORMATION, THE WAY WE PURCHASE
THINGS, HOW IS THAT CHANGING?
>> THAT INVOLVES EVERY DAY.
THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, AND THE STATE AGENCY
GOES, WE HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED
EMPLOYEES BUT WHEN WE HAVE A
HURRICANE WE SWELL TO HUNDREDS
AND EVEN THOUSANDS, BRINGING
THAT IN DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO
FORM THE STATE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM SO ALL THE STATE
AGENCIES --
>> PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT.
>> STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, WE
FORM THE NUCLEUS OF AN BRINGING
IN ALL THE OTHER STATE AGENCIES,
LOCAL AGENCIES, WE WORK WITH
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
THE RED CROSS AND THE SALVATION
ARMY AND BAPTIST MEN, WORKING
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES
WHO ARE REALLY THE ONES
CUSTOMERS AND FLORIDIANS WANT TO
SEE BECAUSE THAT IS WHO THEY
INTERFACE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY,
ENGAGE WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS,
THE MILITARY, AND MAKE SURE ALL
OF THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
NEEDS ARE AND ARE HELPING TO
MEET THE NEEDS AND WE CONDUCT
THE ORCHESTRA OF THOSE THOUSANDS
AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE ON THE FRONTLINE
GETTING THE WORK DONE FOR US.
>> ARE YOU DEVELOPING NEW
PARTNERSHIPS, ARE THERE NEW
PEOPLE, AND EXPECTED MAYBE
ENTITIES?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I HAD A CONVERSATION A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO WITH THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSON FROM HUBER.
WHAT I SAID WAS I NEED YOU AS WE
THINK ABOUT FUTURE STORMS TO BE
AT THE TABLE BECAUSE THINGS LIKE
RIDESHARING SERVICES ARE
CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE GET
AROUND AND THAT WILL IMPACT HOW
WE WOULD EVACUATE FOR STORM.
IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS OR
DRIVERS LICENSES BECAUSE
DAY-TO-DAY THEY RELY ON A
RIDESHARING SERVICE WE NEED TO
PLAN FOR THAT AND THINK ABOUT
HOW WE ARE GOING TO EVACUATE 7
MILLION PEOPLE FROM SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT
MANY CARS AND PEOPLE SO THOSE
ARE GAME CHANGERS.
LAST YEAR WE WERE JUST OVER A
YEAR PASSED THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB
SHOOTING IN FLORIDA.
DURING THAT EVENT WE HAD AIR B
AND B PROVIDE HOUSING FOR
FAMILIES OF THOSE VICTIMS, UBER
PROVIDE FREE RIDES TO PEOPLE
WHEN THEY WERE IN TOWN, THE
AIRLINES HELP PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION FROM THOSE FOLKS
AND ALL ON THEIR OWN ACCORD.
WE ARE SEEING THAT EVOLUTION IN
HOW WE DEAL WITH DISASTERS SO WE
ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHO CAN HELP IN THIS
AREA, WHO WANTS TO HELP AND HOW
WE HELP FACILITATE THAT.
OFTEN TIMES IT IS GETTING THEM
ENGAGED, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE
THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO DO
OUTSTANDING WORK.
>> OUR COMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRIES, IT USED TO BE
TELECOM BUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL
THOSE PARTNERS COMING OR
POTENTIAL PARTNERS COMING TO THE
TABLE TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
>> THE BIG ONES YOU KNOW ABOUT,
FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE HAS A
WHOLE TEAM DEDICATED TO
EMERGENCY TYPE ISSUES.
WE STARTED ALERT FLORIDA WHICH
HELPS US COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO
CITIZENS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE THE
ONES WHO EVERY SINGLE DAY ARE
THE PLATFORM BY WHICH PEOPLE
COMMUNICATE THAT ONCE TO BE
THERE DURING BAD TIMES AS WELL.
>> THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
IS GOING TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE
WAY ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED.
EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.
IS IT THE DELIVERY?
THE CONTENT?
IS IT BOTH?
>> WITH THE HURRICANE CENTER
WILL DO IS EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCT
FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND GET
FEEDBACK ON THEM FROM THE USERS
AND COMMUTING AND FORMALIZED
THEM INTO THEIR OFFICIAL PRODUCT
SO A COUPLE THINGS.
FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THEY
HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH
STORM SURGE WARNINGS AND THE WAY
PEOPLE GET THOSE.
PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL PRODUCT.
IN A HURRICANE STORM SURGE IS
ONE OF THE BIGGEST KILLERS IN
HURRICANE.
FAR LESS PEOPLE DIE FROM WIND
AND WATER.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT STORM SURGE DOES AND WHAT
THE HURRICANE STRENGTH
IS WHEN IT MAKES LANDFALL.
YOU COULD HAVE A STRONGER STORM
SURGE COME IN THAN YOU WOULD
EXPECT GIVEN THE THE WINDS,
SO THEY HAVE SEPARATED
THE STORM SURGE WARNING FROM
HURRICANE WARNING IN AN EFFORT
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND,
WHAT COULD HAPPEN DURING
THE STORM SURGE.
SO THIS YEAR THERE
WILL BE AN OFFICIAL STORM SURGE
WARNING THAT WILL BE IN ADDITION
TO NORMAL HURRICANE WARNING,
AGAIN TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING
WITH THAT WATER.
THAT IS GOING INTO EFFECT THIS
YEAR AND IT HAS HELPED US TO
AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE AND GET THEM
TO TAKE THE ACTION THEY
NEED TO TAKE.
AN EXPERIMENTAL THING THEY
ARE GOING TO DO THIS
YEAR IS ISSUE NOTICES ABOUT
STORMS THAT ARE NOT YET NAMED.
A FEW YEARS AGO
THERE WAS A STORM,
IT BECAME HURRICANE HUMBERTO BUT
WHEN TO BE NOT MUCH TO HURRICANE
OVERNIGHT AND MAY LANDFALL
BEFORE PEOPLE HAD WOKEN UP.
SO THERE WAS NO TIME FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTICE.
THE WAY IT WORKS,
THEY ARE NOT ISSUING THEIR
PRODUCTS TO BECOME A STORM.
THEY ISSUE FORECASTS ON THE
STORM BEFORE IT GETS THE
CONSOLIDATION.
WHAT THEY EXPECT THEM TO WAIT
FOR.
AND WARN ABOUT POTENTIAL IMPACTS
BEFORE IT HAS A NAME.
THAT IS AN EXCITING EXPERIMENT.
WE CAN SEE IT PLAY OUT SOMEWHERE
ELSE BESIDES FLORIDA TO MAKE
SURE IT WORKS.
MAKE SURE WHEN THEY UTILIZE THAT
WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT AND
MAKE THAT PART OF OUR OFFICIAL
PRODUCT.
>> ONE THING FORECASTERS HAVE
DONE AND WHETHER REPORTERS HAVE
DONE OVER THE PAST FEW HURRICANE
SEASONS, THEY HAVE BEEN CAREFUL
TO POINT OUT THAT YES, YOU SEE
THIS BETTER AND THE STAFF IN
THIS PATH THAT ARE FORECAST, OR
PREDICTED, BUT DON'T PAY
ATTENTION TO THAT IS IF IT IS
EXACTLY TOWN BOARD IS A MESSAGE?
>> FILE IMPORTANT.
THAT SKINNY LINE YOU SEE, THAT
COHEN IS NOT WHERE THE IMPACT,
THAT IS WHERE THEY THINK THE
CENTER OF THE STORM MIGHT GO.
THE COHEN IS A 67% PROBABILITY
WILL BE THERE.
BUT THE WIND FIELD COULD BE FAR
LARGER THAN THAT AND THEY WILL
DO THAT THIS YEAR AS WELL,
ACCIDENTALLY, SHOW WHERE THE
WIND FIELD WILL BE AS IT MOVES
ALONG.
YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THAT SKINNY
BLACK LINE AND SAY THAT IS WHERE
THE HURRICANE IS GOING TO GO,
HURRICANES ARE NOT A LINE, THEY
ARE NOT A CONE.
HURRICANES ARE A BIG GIANT BLOB
THAT MOVE ALONG AND THEY ARE
DOING WORK WITH YOU TO HELP
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT
BLOB IS AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT
PEOPLE AND WHERE IT WILL IMPACT
PEOPLE.
>> BACK TO PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, YOU CAN ONLY DO
SO MUCH.
FIRST RESPONDERS CAN ONLY DO SO
MUCH BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AS WELL.
FIRST THING WOULD BE TO BE
PREPARED AND GET A PLAN.
GIVE US THE BASICS WHAT PEOPLE
NEED TO DO TO BE PREPARED AND
GET A PLAN.
>> 20 MILLION PEOPLE IN FLORIDA
PLUS ALL THE VISITORS, WE ARE
NOT EQUIPPED TO TAKE CARE OF
THOSE FOLKS.
WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE
WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO
TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
IF YOU WERE WATCHING THIS
PROGRAM IT IS LIKELY YOU HAVE
THE WHEREWITHAL TO TAKE CARE OF
YOURSELF SO YOUR AUDIENCE CAN
ANYONE WATCHING THIS SHOW HAS
THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO THE
BASICS, BUILD A KIT, GET THE
FOOD, GET THE WATER, GET SOME
BATTERIES, FLASHLIGHT,
BATTERY-POWERED WEATHER RADIO,
MEDICINE, CELL PHONE CHARGER,
PET FOOD, REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE,
GET FLOOD INSURANCE.
WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE DROP
THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE, YOU LIVE
IN FLORIDA, YOU CAN GOOGLE
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
AND IT RUNS THROUGH THOSE THINGS
BUT THEY ARE ALL COMMON SENSE
STUFF, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
NEED IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
YOUR HOUSE FOR A FEW DAYS
BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE COVERED
WITH WATER OR YOU DON'T HAVE
POWER FOR A FEW DAYS, THINK
ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL NEED IN THAT
SITUATION AND PREPARE FOR IT.
IT IS VERY COMMON SENSE.
YOU CAN GO TO
FLORIDADISASTER.ORG OR FEMA'S
WEBSITE, RED CROSS, ALL THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GREAT
CHECKLISTS, MOST OF THEM YOU
WILL SAY I GOT FED.
OCCASIONALLY YOU WILL SEE ONE
THAT SAYS I NEVER THOUGHT OF
THAT.
CHECK OUT THOSE LISTS TO MAKE
SURE THEY THINK OF THOSE THINGS.
>> THE STORM IS COMING, WHAT
SHOULD PEOPLE DO IS THEY SEE ONE
FORMING, AND IT IS HEADED IN
THEIR DIRECTION.
>> FINALIZE YOUR PREPARATIONS.
GO BACK AND CHECK YOUR KIT, GET
UP TO DATE, START THINKING ABOUT
EVACUATION ROUTES, THIS IS THE
GAME PLAN FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING
TO GO, GET ENOUGH GAS IN YOUR
CAR AND WATCH THE NEWS, YOU NEED
TO GO GO, BECAUSE WE DO
EVACUATIONS IN A TIMED FASHION
TO MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO GET
PEOPLE SOMEWHERE.
IF YOU GO EARLY OR LATE YOU
MIGHT GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC
SOMEWHERE.
WE WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO
WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU TO DO.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO DO
THINGS LIKE RECENTLY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND
MOTOR VEHICLES TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING IF YOU
HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE IN THE
STATE OF FLORIDA, IDENTIFYING IN
CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACTS.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE PIECES LIKE
THAT?
>> GENERALLY A COMMUNICATION
PLAN IS VERY IMPORTANT.
HE WILL HAVE A DISRUPTED NETWORK
POTENTIALLY AS A STORM
APPROACHES AND AFTERWARDS.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IF YOUR
PHONE GOES DEAD, YOU MIGHT WRITE
DOWN PEOPLE'S PHONE NUMBER
BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING ME
JUST CALL MOM OR DAD ON YOUR
PHONE, WRITE IT DOWN, THINK
ABOUT BACKUP COMMUNICATION
PLANS.
HAVE SOMEBODY YOU CALL AND SAY I
AM FINE.
THINK HOW YOU WOULD COMMUNICATE
IF YOUR PRIMARY FORM OF
COMMUNICATION WHERE DISRUPTED.
>> OF THE STORM HITS AND YOU ARE
WITHOUT POWER AND HAVE DAMAGE TO
YOUR HOME OR YOUR PROPERTY, WHAT
DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DO, OFTEN
A TIME OF SERIOUS INJURY.
>> BE SAFE, DON'T TAKE CHANCES,
BE SAFE WITH GENERATORS, BE SAFE
WITH CHAINSAWS, BE SAFE WITH
DOWNED POWER LINES, STANDING
WATER, WE HAVE MORE DEATH AFTER
THE STORMS AND DURING THE STORM,
WE WANT YOU TO LIVE THROUGH NOT
THE STORM BUT THE RECOVERY FROM
THE STORM AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US,
WE HOPE PEOPLE ARE STAYING
FOCUSED AND PAYING ATTENTION AND
HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT, THOUGH
STORMS, IF THEY ARE OUT THERE
THEY ARE NOT HEADED FOR FLORIDA.
WE HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT
HOPE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
FOR FLORIDA "FACE TO FACE," WE
WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME, BYE. 864 00:27:03,922 ♪