IBE schedules hurricane seminar, invites residents of other parks to attend

The folks at Imperial Bonita Estates want all mobile home park residents, not just those in their park, to be overly prepared for hurricane season this year. That's why they have decided to personally invite 11 parks in Bonita Springs to a seminar on hurricane readiness that includes guest speakers from Lee County Emergency Management, the Red Cross and insurance companies.

Hank Duarte, community association manager, said IBE President John Bicknell produced a complete procedural manual with emergency contacts and step by step procedures, including evacuation routes and directions to nearby shelters for residents, and they have also produced one for management. After taking a trip to Lee County Emergency Management, and mentioning the community's desire to have them hold a seminar, things got under way.

"If (we're) the only seminar in the area, then it should include other mobile home parks, so people can plan ahead," Bicknell said. "This is one of the purposes, so people can get prepared."

The park's clubhouse can hold 300 guests, which should leave plenty of room to invite the 11 other parks, because summer resident numbers are significantly lower than in winter months.

Both Duarte and Bicknell stressed the importance of mobile home residents having a plan to stay with family and friends before a storm hits. And, for those residents with serious medical problems they urged them to plan ahead with vigilance by calling Lee County Emergency Management to register for the shelters that will have the capabilities to care for those with oxygen tanks, or other medical necessities.

Imperial Bonita Estates calls each resident individually to find out what their needs are in case of a mandatory evacuation. This year, the park has 13 people who might need assistance during an evacuation.

According to Bicknell, the regular shelters, which are limited to begin with, are only for those who need to evacuate and who do not have the transportation to get to a relative's home. The pair said a shelter should be the last resort.

The manual, which will be handed out to Imperial Bonita Estates residents, contains valuable information such as information pertinent to emergency operations in the mobile home park, and local information about hurricanes, such as tips like not shutting off air conditioning, but turning off the water main and water heater, keeping documents and records in a secure place, and performing disaster checks on neighbors.

The handout also provides a detailed hurricane plan that residents can fill out; emergency contact numbers for people in the park, and around the community, a map detailing evacuation routes, all shelter listings in Lee and Collier counties, preparation ideas for pets, local radio stations, useful links on the Web, and a pull-out sheet to turn in to community managers with emergency contact information.

"It's a compilation of experience," Duarte said.

Bicknell, who put the handout together, admits it's mostly bits and pieces of information he has gathered from various organizations and hurricane guides, tailored to fit their community, but Duarte boasts the booklet should be a guide for other parks in the area.

"Don't wait until the last moment to start taking action," Duarte said.

Gerald Campbell, chief of planning for Lee County Emergency Management, said they bring in experts on hurricane readiness to assist those who may have questions not answered in any manual. They also will pass out information material.

The seminar will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, and should last about one hour, with a chance for questions and answers afterward. Sweetbay and Dunkin Donuts of Bonita Springs will be providing refreshments. It will be held at the Imperial Bonita Estates clubhouse, 27700 Bourbonniere Dr., off Dean Street, and is open to mobile home park residents in Bonita Springs.