Authorities stress need to prepare for storms

Here we go again.

For many, it seems like hurricane season 2005 just ended a few days ago. But Thursday marked the start of hurricane season 2006.

“I don’t know if anyone would say happy first day of the hurricane season,” joked Dan Summers, emergency management director of Collier County.

Collier County officials marked the day by welcoming U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami. The congressman whose district includes eastern Collier County toured the county’s emergency operations center and complimented the county on being well-prepared.

“It’s a privilege to come to a place that is the epitome of great leadership,” Diaz-Balart said. “We’re blessed to be in a county that’s ready to help its citizens and has a plan.”

Summers and Diaz-Balart both stressed personal responsibility. They encouraged every person to take responsibility for their own safety and welfare.

People who stay in the area when a hurricane hits should have a 72-hour supply of food and water, Summers said.

“No matter how prepared government is, you have to be prepared as individuals,” Diaz-Balart said. “We live in an area that is vulnerable to storms.”

The congressman said the federal government learned important lessons from hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005.

President Bush and officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency were accused of being out of touch after those storms hit.

“The director of FEMA needs to be next to the president during emergencies,” Diaz-Balart said. “I think you’ll see a re-energized and less bureaucratic FEMA this year.”

Summers said the county was happy with its response to Wilma and other storms during 2005.

“I wouldn’t say we’re changing anything (for the 2006 season),” Summers said. “But we are continuing to refine things.”

Marco Island has taken a few legislative steps since Hurricane Wilma came ashore last October that should help make recovery from a potential storm smoother, city officials say.

The Marco Island City Council passed an emergency ordinance in the days following Wilma that allows residents and contractors to obtain permits quickly for basic repairs to homes and businesses.

The council this year approved an ordinance that requires property owners to secure or store items or equipment that could become loose and dangerous during a high-wind event. The ordinance provides expensive fines for violators.

Also, the council is scheduled on June 5 to consider awarding a contract to Horsepower Electric Inc. of Hialeah for nearly $1.5 million to pay for new traffic signals and controls at major city intersections. The contract covers replacing electric wires for powering the signals with steel poles capable of withstanding high winds.

Intersections to get the new traffic equipment are San Marco Road at Bald Eagle Drive; the San Marco Road emergency signal; North Collier Boulevard at San Marco; North Collier at Kendall Drive; North Collier at West Elkcam Circle; North Collier at Bald Eagle Drive; and North Collier at East Elkcam.

“These will take three to four months to install,” Marco Island Public Works Director Rony Joel said.

The ceramic-tiled roof at Marco Island’s Fire and Rescue Department suffered heavy damage during Wilma, but the council on June 5 will be asked to approve a contract with Advanced Roofing Inc. for $151,160 to replace the roof with a metal roof that meets current hurricane code.

Marco will continue to stage emergency operations at the fire department and has a few alternative standby locations in case a storm surge should force city officials to leave the current EOC at the fire station at Heathwood Drive and San Marco Road.

As they did during Wilma’s crossing, Marco officials could hole up in an upper floor at a resort hotel on Marco’s southern end if need be, Fire Chief Mike Murphy said.

Marco again will rely on its Code Red program, which automatically can dial as many as 50,000 phone numbers at once to deliver pre-storm alerts on storm status and evacuation advice, plus post-storm alerts on general damage assessments to infrastructure and re-entry advice.

Marco residents can go to the city’s Web site at www.cityofmarcoisland.com or call City Hall at 389-5000 to register home, mobile or out-of-state phone numbers for contact during a storm.