storm guide for may 26, 2013

STORMGUIDE

2013

• TRACKING MAP, 10

• PET SAFETY, 13

• DISASTER SUPPLY KIT, 14

• LIST OFSHELTERS, 19

SUNDAY , MAY 26 , 2013 www.gainesville.com

See the GRU guide inside and visitStorm Central at www.gru.com

NUMBERS TO KNOWPower Outages, Emergencies and Downed Power Lines(352) 334-2871

Natural Gas Service Emergencies(352) 334-2550

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GRU Customer Service(352) 334-3434

Internet Help Desk for Gator.Net and GRU.Net(352) 334-3000

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HURRICANE

2 | SUNDAY , MAY 26 , 2013 THE GAINESVILLE SUN | www.gainesville.com

UniversityTree Service

www.gainesville.com | THE GAINESVILLE SUN SUNDAY , MAY 26 , 2013 | 3

By Joe CallahanStaff writer

Al Sandrik, the National Weather Service’s warning coordination meteorologist in Jacksonville, can never understand why so many state residents never prepare for hurri-cane season, which begins Satur-day.

Sandrik compared hurricane preparation to the Florida Lottery. The odds of one “specifi c” location getting hit by a major hurricane may be low, but those odds are still greater than winning the lottery.

And both, he said, will “change your life signifi cantly.”

Marion sheriff’s Maj. Paul Laxton, the county’s new emergency management director, said even tropical storms can cause power outages for days or even a week, as in 2004 when Frances and Jeanne slammed the county as tropical storms just two weeks apart.

Frances, which struck Sept. 5, damaged 2,000 homes and caused $20 million in damage.

Jeanne didn’t damage as many homes or cause as much damage.

Laxton said the better prepared residents are during hurricane season, the better emergency offi cials can get the community back to normal.

Those comments come as the 2013 hurricane season is about to begin. And some hurricane experts predict a very busy year for storms.

Colorado State University experts predict this year’s Atlantic hurri-cane season will produce 18 named storms — nine of them hurricanes — by the end of the season, which is Nov. 30.

This is the 30th year Colorado

State University has issued its annual hurricane forecast.

The team, which includes profes-sors Philip J. Klotzbach and William Grey, believe the lack of an El Nino infl uence, which sheers the tops off hurricanes, will lead to increased storm development.

The men lead the school’s Tropical Meteorology Project.

They believe the 2013 hurricane season will nearly be as active as last year.

In 2012, there were 19 named storms — 10 of them hurricanes — in the Atlantic.

The team predicts that of the nine hurricanes this season, four will become major storms, which is Category 3 or above.

The average annual number of named storms for the past three decades is 12, with six and a half of those being hurricanes and two being major storms, according to the team’s research.

Offi cials say Colorado State’s forecasts are great tools, especially when the team predicts above-aver-age activity, like it was from the mid-1990s through much of the 2000s.

A prediction of an active season tends to lead more residents to get fully prepared.

Of course, even the slow hurri-cane seasons can be devastating. Take 1992, for instance.

The fi rst hurricane of the season that year did not hit until late August.

And that was Andrew, one of the strongest storms to ever hit the United States.

CSU’s experts say there is a 72 percent chance the U.S. East Coast

will be struck by a major hurricane, which is above the century average of 52 percent.

The U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula, has a 48 percent chance of being hit by a major storm, down from the century average of 31 percent.

Last year, there were changes to hurricane preparedness procedures and hurricane strength scales.

Offi cials say tape is no longer needed to protect windows, and the intensity scale for major hurricanes was adjusted by 1 mph in recent years.

On the Saffi r-Simpson hurricane scale, a Category 4 hurricane now has wind speeds between 130-156 mph, which in turn affected the wind scale for the other two major hurricane categories.

Category 3 is now 111-129 mph, while a Category 5 is 157 mph and above.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or [email protected]. Fol-low him Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

Expert predictionsHere’s a look at what the experts predict

for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season:COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY/TROPICALMETEOROLOGY PROJECT

18 named storms ■

Nine hurricanes ■

Four major hurricanes ■

THE WEATHER CHANNEL16 named storms ■

Nine hurricanes ■

Five major hurricanes ■

ACCUWEATHER16 named storms ■

Eight hurricanes ■

Four major hurricanes ■

WEATHERBELL ANALYTICS16 named storms ■

12 hurricanes ■

Five major hurricanes ■

— Staff report

Colorado State researchers believe the lack of an El Nino infl uence will lead to more storm development.

Strong season predictedRoll callThe fi rst storms of the Atlantic

hurricane season will be named as follows: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian and Erin.

Inside5

SEMINOLES: New FSU scale measures hurricane season’s strength.

6PREPARE: Know what to do to prepare

for the season.

8TROPICAL STORMS: A look back at last

year’s tropical storms that hit the area.

10TRACKING MAP: Follow the path of the

storm as it approaches.

13PETS: Keep your four-legged friends safe.

14SURVIVAL: Tips on making a plan on

what you’ll need during and after a storm.

15PLAY IT SAFE: Safety tips for dealing

with a storm’s aftermath.

16GRU: The power company has plenty of

experience dealing with storms.

17HOSPITALS: Gainesville hospitals

practice for severe weather yearly.

18SHELTERS: Area shelters are ready when

called upon.

19MORE SHELTERS: A list of shelters.

COVER ART: Illustration by Sean Ochal/StaffEDITOR: Jim RossCOPY EDITOR: Ted Beck

Colorado State University experts lead the school’s Tropical Meteorology Project. They believe the 2013 hurricane season will nearly be as active as last year. In 2012, there were 19 named storms — 10 of them hurricanes — in the Atlantic.


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BY THE NUMBERS2: The number classifi ed as major (Category 3 or higher)

10: The number of hurricanes during the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season

82.2 million: Population, as of July 1, of coastal states stretching from North Carolina to Texas — the areas most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes.

26.2: Percentage of the nation’s population that lives in these states

591,821: Collective land area, in square miles, of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas

By Jim RossSenior editor

Call it the Seminole Scale.

Florida State University researchers have devised a new way of measuring a hurricane season’s activity — more fully accounting for storms’ size, duration and capacity for destruction.

When it comes to hurricanes, most people want to know category — 1 through 5, with 5 being the strongest. That scale is mostly based on wind speed.

But wind speed doesn’t necessarily correspond to ultimate damage.

Sandy never got stronger than Category 2, for example, but it killed 285 people in seven countries and became the second costliest storm in U.S. history.

“Likewise, Hurricane Katrina was a weaker storm than 1969’s Camille but caused much more destruction — even though the two hurri-canes followed essential-ly the same path,” FSU said in a news release.

The FSU team wanted a better way to measure a hurricane season’s impact. Its answer is a new scale — the real name is Track Integrated Kinetic Energy, or TIKE — which builds on the concept of Integrated Kinetic Energy.

“IKE involves using kinetic energy scales with the surface stress that forces storm surge and waves and the horizontal wind loads specifi ed by the American Society of Civil Engineers,” the news release said.

TIKE expands that

concept by accounting for the IKE readings for all named storms in a hurricane season.

“TIKE gives a succinct picture by taking into account the number of tropical cyclones in the season, the duration of each tropical cyclone, and the time history of the wind force over a large area surrounding each tropical cyclone,” said Vasu Misra, an associate professor of meteorology in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmo-spheric Science and FSU’s Center for Ocean-Atmo-spheric Prediction Studies (COAPS), in the release.

Sandy’s IKE reading was more than 300 terajoules, which is a measure of energy. That was the largest such reading for any hurricane between 1990 and 2006.

New FSU scale measures hurricane season’s strength

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/FILE

This NOAA satellite image taken Oct. 30, 2012, shows superstorm Sandy slowly moving westward while weakening across southern Pennsylvania.

By Jim RossSenior editor

So long, Sandy.The World Meteorologi-

cal Organization’s hurricane committee has retired the name from the offi cial list of Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone names.

It’s easy to see why:

Sandy was the storm of the year in 2012, causing damage in the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic United States.

The offi cials explana-tion, as spelled out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-tion:

“Storm names are reused every six years for both the Atlantic and eastern North Pacifi c basins. If a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of the name

would be insensitive or confusing, the WMO hurricane committee, which includes personnel from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, may retire the name.”

Since 1954, some 76 names have been taken off the Atlantic list. Sandy is the 77th.

So, what happens if a future season progresses to the point that an “S” name is needed.

Starting in 2018, we can say hello to Sara.

Since 1954, 76 names have been retired from the storm list.

Sandy no more: Name retired from list


By Morgan WatkinsStaff writer

With the start of the six-month-long hurricane season fast approaching, local emergency aid agencies and residents alike are preparing for potential storms.

The American Red Cross of North Central Florida, which covers Alachua County and seven others, is primarily focused on prepping its volunteers before storms start rolling across the state, said Casey Schmelz, emergen-cy services manager for

the local chapter. It is hosting refresher training for volunteers, and it welcomes new helpers as well.

With the unusually warm Pacifi c waters of El Nino in play this year, Schmelz said the Red Cross is expecting a more active storm season because the oceanic phenomenon brings with it an increase in both the possibility and strength of storms.

“We’re looking at the chance of a 2004 hurri-cane season again, which

for most Floridians is the last time that we’ve seen a pretty strong impact,” she said.

Last year, Tropical Storm Beryl was an early arrival in late May and carried almost-hurricane-force winds. Tropical Storm Debby followed Beryl’s fi rst act, causing wide-spread fl ooding in North Florida.

Almost a year later, Schmelz said Debby made the local chapter more aware of certain vulner-able populations within its jurisdiction, some of whom still are trying to recover from the effects of that storm.

The Red Cross is trying to be extra vigilant about anticipating residents’ needs and is establishing strategic partnerships with various organiza-tions that will help communities better recover from storms.

Dave Donnelly, emer-gency management director for Alachua County Emergency Management, said his department also has been working on forging relationships with local groups because of the region’s experience with those tropical storms.

During Debby, the Florida Department of Children and Families in Suwannee County had many clients asking for diapers, baby formula and other supplies.

“People are going to go to where they go day to day during an emergency,” he said.

Alachua County’s emergency management team has been working with organizations ranging from churches to businesses to civic groups over the past six months to

educate them about what they need to know for hurricane season, Don-nelly said. The department will host its fi rst Emergen-cy Response Business Summit in June, which will help local businesses with disaster planning.

Floridians also need to remember to pay attention to a tropical storm as well as to a hurricane, Schmelz said.

“It can really throw us for a loop, and it can really affect many people who wouldn’t have thought twice about it because it wasn’t named a large storm,” she said.

Residents also should be aware of the threat posed by tornadoes that can accompany storms, she said, especially since the National Weather Service has a hard time gauging weather phenomena such as tornadoes in portions of southeastern Alachua County and northern Levy County.

“It’s like the Bermuda Triangle for the National Weather Service in our area,” she said.

In addition to staying up to date on weather developments during hurricane season, people should make other preparations so they’re ready for a storm if it pays a visit to their neighbor-hood.

Donnelly, of Alachua County Emergency Management, emphasized four pillars of prepared-ness everyone should consider: form a plan; develop a disaster kit; be informed; and be involved.

Families need to plan for a disaster in advance. If you aren’t going to evacuate, is your home storm-worthy, or do you need to prune or remove

some potentially danger-ous trees? If you go to a relative’s house, do you have alternate paths mapped out in case other routes are jammed?

You’ll also need a disaster kit, Donnelly said. Pack at least fi ve days’ worth of food and water. Families need one gallon of water per person per day just to drink. Buy food you’d normally eat that doesn’t require much preparation. If you don’t like canned sardines, don’t get them.

Staying informed about weather changes is especially important, Donnelly said, whether you do so through the media, the county’s code-red notifi cation

system or other means. The county’s notifi cation system, which residents can sign up for at codered.alachuacounty.us, can send alerts via phone, text or email.

Finally, Donnelly said people should consider getting involved in the county’s Community Emergency Response Team or another volun-teer program through which they can receive disaster training. Neigh-bors or loved ones, not trained personnel, are usually the fi rst ones on-scene during a big disaster.

Contact Morgan Watkins at 338-3104 or [email protected].

An Alachua County offi cial emphasizes forming a plan, developing a disaster kit, being informed and getting involved.

Being prepared is half the battle during storm season

DOUG ENGLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

Ocala’s George Gossett pumps gas at Sam’s Club.


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By Cindy SwirkoStaff writer

North Central Florida last year fi nally got the rain it needed to end a lengthy

drought that had sent groundwater and lake lev-els plunging.

But with Tropical storms Beryl and, especially, Debby, rain came in torrents. People scram-bled to save their lives and those of their pets and live-stock. Homes fl ooded. Downtown Live Oak fl ooded.

The public damage in Columbia County alone was estimated at $12 million to $15 million just for roads and other infrastructure, not including private homes.

In the months since then, state and local agencies have taken steps to prepare for future storms. But as Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan said, it’s diffi cult to prepare for the type of rain that Debby produced.

“One of the problems is that we got 30 inches of rainfall in two and a half days. That’s a boatload of rain coming down,” Morgan said.

So heavy was the rainfall that the Suwannee River at White Springs, which stood at 51 feet mean sea level on the Sunday before the storm hit, rose to 81.37 by Tuesday. Flood stage there is 77 feet.

The rain forced the closure of a section of Interstate 10 in Columbia

County while rainfall that overwhelmed swales along Interstate 75 sent water pouring into the adjacent Lake City Country Club neighbor-hood.

Now, with the repairs

and plans for future work, offi cials hope that should storms hit again, commu-nities will be better able to absorb it.

Gina Busscher, district spokeswoman for the Florida Department of

Transportation, said modi-fi cations are planned to Interstate 10 that should make it better able to fend off fl ooding after heavy rains.

Tropical storms soaked North Central Florida and packed a pricey punch.

Lesson learned from last year

BRAD MCCLENNY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

DOUG FINGER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

ABOVE: Don Boyette stands near his home in Live Oak last July. Boyette’s home of 46 years was completely gutted after fl ood waters from Tropical Storm Debby breached the house. “With the good Lord’s help I’ll get through,” he said.BELOW: Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson walks on a section of a fl oating dock that broke loose during storm surge from Tropical Storm Debby last June.

TROPICAL on Page 9


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“We’ve opened bids to raise the interstate and put in giant culverts so the water can fl ow under I-10, which will keep it from fl ooding in the future, we hope,” Busscher said. “It’s a $24 million contract. The work should commence in November. That will take care of a lot of the prob-lems when it fl oods.”

Busscher added that crews are steadily clean-ing ditches and culverts to remove debris that contributes to fl ooding.

Morgan said that as Columbia County repaired roads and associated infrastructure, it made improvements that will lessen the chance of fl ooding.

“We were looking at about $9 million in damage to road and culverts being blown out,”

Morgan said. “All road repairs have been com-pleted so the roads are all usable again. We’ve tried to make improvements to better handle an infl ux of rain. We have just repaired them with the same thing that was there.”

Morgan added that the county has reviewed its response to the needs of people from last year’s storms with an eye toward improving its emergency response plan.

“I saw that we probably need to shore up the plan,

and we’ve been working toward doing this, in the area between the immedi-ate response and the long-term recovery part of the equation,” Morgan said. “Getting people the help they need in between is one of the areas we are working to improve on.”

Steve Minnis, communi-cations director for the Suwannee River Water Management District, said the district now is working more closely with emer-gency coordinators in advance of storms.

Many of the areas hardest hit by Debby and Beryl are in the district, whose Live Oak headquar-ters was surrounded by water for weeks after Debby.

Minnis added that the district also is developing ways, in conjunction with local governments, to better store stormwater so it can be used in a benefi -cial way.

“We are working through what needs to happen and what needs to be done to not only get rid of the water, as has been done in the past, but to also benefi t the resource with that excess water,” Minnis said. “We are actively exploring a number of projects to possibly capture some of that excess fl ow and recharge the groundwater system.”

Continued from 8

TROPICAL: Offi cials adjusting their plansMATT STAMEY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

Austin Tinker fl oats on fl ood waters from Tropical Storm Debby in downtown Live Oak last June.

“I saw that we probably need to shore up the plan, and we’ve been working toward doing this, in the area between the immediate response and the long-term recovery part of the equation.”

SHAYNE MORGAN,Columbia County Emergency Management director


CARIBBEAN SEA

ATLANTICOCEAN

GULFOF

MEXICO

90˚ 80˚ 70˚ 60˚

10˚

20˚

30˚

HURRICANE TRACKING MAP

0˚ 10˚0˚ 20˚˚0˚

MILES

VENEZUELA

COLOMBIA

PANAMA

COSTARICA

NICARAGUA

HONDURAS

ELSALVADOR

GUATEMALA

BELIZE

YUCATANPENINSULA

MEXICO

CUBA

JAMAICA

HAITI DOMINICANREPUBLIC

PUERTORICO

BAHAMAS

Texas

Arkansas

Louisiana

Mississippi

Alabama Georgia

Tennessee

SouthCarolina

NorthCarolina

Florida

95˚ 85˚ 75˚ 65˚

15˚

25˚

Wilmington

Jacksonville

Cape Canaveral

Miami

Tampa

Savannah

Charleston

CedarKey

Gainesville

ExampleRead west to 63° West

Read north to 34° North

Map and Graphics by ROB MACK/Staff artist;SOURCE: National Weather Service

■ TROPICAL DISTURBANCE: First stage of unstable weather that may develop into a hurricane.

■ TROPICAL DEPRESSION: The tropical activity has a low-pressure area that could become a hurricane. Highest wind speed is 38 mph.

■ TROPICAL STORM: Wind speeds of 39-73 mph. Low-pressure area is well-defined by rotating circulation.

■ TROPICAL STORM WATCH: An announcement that a tropical storm poses a threat within 36 hours.

■ TROPICAL STORM WARNING: Tropical storm is expected within 24 hours.

■ HURRICANE WATCH: An announcement that a hurricane is expected within 36 hours.

■ HURRICANE WARNING: A hurricane is expected within 24 hours. Because of the erratic nature of hurricanes, the warning could come only a few hours before.

2013 Atlantic namesAndreaBarryChantalDorianErinFernandGabrielleHumbertoIngridJerry

KarenLorenzoMelissaNestorOlgaPabloRebekahSebastienTanyaVanWendy

THINGS TO KNOWTropical weather terms

WebsitesHere is a list of websites that track the progress of approaching hurricanes:

The National Weather Service: nws.noaa.gov

The National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov

The Federal Emergency Management Agency: fema.gov

The Weather Channel: weather.com

Florida Forecast: floridaforecast.com

Accuweather: accuweather.com

Important local information, radar,updated forecasts and thistracking map available at

gainesville.com/hurricane

Hurricane myths

FACT: Surge of high water asstorm reaches land is caused bywinds pushing ocean surfaceahead of the storm.

MYTH:Low pressurein storm’s eyecauses stormsurge.

FACT: Friction decreasessustained winds but increasesgusts. Storm weakens becauseit lacks moisture and heatthat ocean provided.

MYTH:Friction overland killsthe storm.

FACT: Size and intensity areindependent. Hurricane Andrew,for example, was very intensebut relatively small.

MYTH:Big hurricanesare intensehurricanes.

FACT: All doors andwindows should be shut. Thedifference between pressureinside the house and outsidein the storm is not enoughto cause an explosion.No house is airtight.

MYTH:Windows,doors shouldbe closed onthe storm side,open on theopposite side.

FACT: Surge of high water asstorm reaches land is caused bywinds pushing ocean surfaceahead of the storm.

Some common misconceptions about thephysics of hurricanes:

MYTH:Low pressurein storm’s eyecauses stormsurge.

FACT: Friction decreasessustained winds but increasesgusts. Storm weakens becauseit lacks moisture and heatthat ocean provided.

MYTH:Friction overland killsthe storm.

FACT: Size and intensity areindependent. Hurricane Andrew,for example, was very intensebut relatively small.

MYTH:Big hurricanesare intensehurricanes.

FACT: All doors andwindows should be shut. Thedifference between pressureinside the house and outsidein the storm is not enoughto cause an explosion.No house is airtight.

MYTH:Windows,doors shouldbe closed onthe storm side,open on theopposite side.

SOURCES: National Hurricane Center, The Audubon SocietyField Guide to North American Weather; research by PAT CARR

The eye of a storm

Thick cloud walls thatcan reach 7 miles to9 miles in heightsurround center

Absorb huge amountsof moisture from ocean,causing heaviest rainfall

Winds here move in counter-clockwisedirection with great speed; combined with low pressure can raise ocean surfaceby 23 ft. to 40 ft.

Eye

Eyewall

Once a storm has caused greatdamage, its name is retired.

Retired names

Carol, Hazel, EdnaJanet, Connie, Diane, IoneAudreyDonnaCarlaFloraCleo, Dora, HildaBetsyBeulahCamilleCeliaAgnesCarmenEloiseAnitaDavid, FredericAllenAliciaElena, GloriaGilbertHugoBobAndrewLuis, Marilyn, Opal, RoxanneCesar, Fran, HortenseGeorges, MitchFloyd, LennyKeithAllison, Iris, MichelleIsidore, LilliFabian, Isabel, JuanCharley, Frances, Ivan, JeanneDennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, WilmaDean, Felix, NoelGustav, Ike, PalomaNo retired namesIgor, TomasIreneSandy

195419551957196019611963196419651967196919701972197419751977197919801983198519881989199119921995199619981999200020012002200320042005200720082009201020112012 AP

Any storm of Category 3 or more is considered major.

Moderate96-110 mph winds

Extensive111-129 mph winds

Extreme130-156 mph winds

CatastrophicWinds over 157 mph

Minimal74-95 mph winds

Hurricane strengths

CATEGORY 1

CATEGORY 2

CATEGORY 3

CATEGORY 4

CATEGORY 5

Storm surge:4-5 ft.

Storm surge:6-8 ft.

Storm surge:9-12 ft.

Storm surge:13-18 ft.

Storm surge:18+ ft.

10 | THE GAINESVILLE SUN | www.gainesville.com SUNDAY , MAY 26 , 2013 STORM GUIDE 2013 | 11

By Kristine CraneStaff writer

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, a retirement center in southwest Gainesville, is getting ready to start its annual hurricane education and training so staff and residents are fully equipped for a hurricane as the season approaches.

CEO Cathy Ferguson said the training spans information on what residents should have on hand, such as extra toilet paper, to where you can go and how to communi-cate needs to staff. Residents also are reminded to know where their medications are.

She added that in the event of a disaster, more staff members are called in; and an emergency phone system rings to all residents’ numbers, leaving the same mes-sages for them.

“Oak Hammock as a facility is designed to withstand a hurricane of level 5,” Ferguson said. The strongest hurricane to hit Florida in the past 20 years was a Category 4 — Hurricane Charley — in 2004, which hit the southwestern part of the state but affected the central and eastern parts, as well. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was a Category 5 and affected

mostly South Florida. Ferguson added that

people living in the independent living houses that surround the main facility can come and stay in the main building during a disaster if they feel uncomfortable, although the homes are well-built.

“We would have enough food to continue to feed people, and enough water stored,” she added.

Rebecca Catalanotto, director of Health Services at North Florida Retirement Village, home to 600 residents —140 of whom are in assisted living — said the complex has an emergency management plan should inclement weather strike. That includes having a certain amount of food and water on hand, levels that are approved by the county health depart-ment.

She also said the facility has mutual aid agree-ments with other facili-ties throughout Florida that will take in residents if the facility would need to be evacuated.

The complex regularly has fi re drills that residents participate in and hurricane drills for staff.

Contact Kristine Crane at 338-3119, or [email protected].

Retirement communities prepping for storm season

ERICA BROUGH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

There are no public shelters in Alachua County that will allow pets to accompany their owners.

By Maru I. OpabolaStaff writer

As hurricane season approaches, it’s important for pet owners to remem-ber when making their storm survival plans that they have choices on how to protect their furry family members, Alachua County Emergency Management Director Dave Donnelly said.

Donnelly said the best option during a major storm is for pet owners to travel with their animals to the home of a friend and/or family member who lives outside of the area affected by the disaster.

If that option not avail-able, pet owners are urged to research pet-friendly hotels outside of the disaster zone, he said. Alachua County Animal Services’ website provides a link to the website www.

petswelcome.com, which allows users to search along their route for hotels that allow pets.

Donnelly recognized there are circumstances when neither a relative’s home nor a hotel option

are possible for pet owners. In that case, they should contact their veterinarian regarding boarding or contact a kennel where they can leave their animal.

There is no public shelter in Alachua County that will allow pets to accom-pany their owners who are fl eeing from a storm. In the event a person arrives at a shelter with a pet, he or she will be met by an Animal Services offi cer, who will take the pet to the county facility located at 3400 NE 53rd Ave. The owner must provide the pet’s shot records, and the animal must be in a carrier or on a leash. It also must be wearing a collar with identifying tags at all times.

Regardless of the plan, Donnelly said it’s advis-able to have all of the

above-mentioned items in a disaster kit for pets prepared in advance.

Donnelly will be speak-ing July 13 at the Alachua County Pet Disaster Preparedness Forum, an event being hosted by Paul Davis Restoration, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the Alachua County Department of Emergency Management. The event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the College of Veterinary Medicine, 1945 SW 16th Ave., Building 211.

Experts from the College of Veterinary Medicine also will be speaking about disaster preparation for animals and the use of micro-chipping and social media in the reunifi cation of pets with their owners in the event of separation.

Does your readiness plan include pets’ needs?Kit for pets

Pet carrier ■

Three-day supply of ■

food and waterFirst-aid kit ■

Special medications ■

Vet records ■

Proof of rabies vaccina- ■

tionSpare leash and collar ■

Familiar toys and/or ■

blanket to reduce stressPet sanitary items (litter, ■

collection bags, paper towels)

Current photo and ■

description of pet


Staff report

The disaster planPost emergency tele- ■

phone numbers by the phone.

Install safety features in ■

your house, such as smoke detectors and fi re extin-guishers.

Inspect your home for ■

potential hazards (items that can move, fall, break or catch fi re) and correct them.

Have your family learn ■

basic safety measures, such as CPR and fi rst aid; how to use a fi re extin-guisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home.

Teach children how and ■

when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number.

Pick two places to meet: ■

a spot outside your home for an emergency and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your “family check-in contact” for everyone to call if the family gets separated.

Keep important docu- ■

ments in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller disaster supplies kit in the trunk of your car.

Keep enough supplies in ■

your home for at least three days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit (as listed below). Store these

supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffl e bags.

The disaster checklist

General fl ashlights and ■

or lantern with extra batteries. Candles are not recommended because they can pose a fi re hazard if left unattended.

A corded, land-line ■

telephone. Cordless telephones do not work without power.

Extra, charged cell- ■

phone battery and or car

charger for cellphoneRadio, and/or weather ■

radio (NOAA radio) with extra batteries

Camera and fi lm; extra ■

batteries. To take photo-graphs of damage for insurance purposes

Fire extinguisher ■

Sterno fuel and unit; ■

charcoal and lighter or propane for gas grill

Tools: Keep a set with ■

you during the storm. A pocketknife, nails, saw, a hammer, an ax and rope are important. Towels and buckets are useful if you develop a leak.

Clothing, beddingOne blanket and or ■

sleeping bag a person, stored in a watertight container

One change of clothes ■

and shoes a person, stored in a watertight container

Rain gear, heavy/sturdy ■

boots or shoes; work gloves, and hat or cap to wear in sun

Medical, personal hygiene

First-aid kit and manu- ■

alsSunscreen and insect ■

repellentBleach, for demolding ■

Medications and ■

specifi c medical informa-tion. Special infant needs diapers, bottles formula and food.

Food, water and supplies

Drinking water. One ■

gallon a person, a day. A three-day supply is recommended. (Replace stored water every six months)

Special infant needs, ■

diapers, bottles and formula, medicine

Pantry well stocked: ■

canned goods, dry milk, dry cereals, powered drinks, pastas

Non-electric can ■

opener, plastic utensils, disposable plates, garbage bags

Extra ice in freezer, ■

when storm is approach-ing

Other needsCar tank fi lled with ■

gasolineFlat fi xer for tires, ■

properly infl ated spare tireAir horn or whistle (to ■

call for help)Fill tub and large ■

containers with water for fl ushing toilet if water supply stops

Pets inside or otherwise ■

protected, ample supply of pet food

Loose outside objects ■

stored or securedTree branches tied or cut ■

Inventory of personal ■

belongings for insurance claims: A written list and proof of purchase (re-ceipts, warranties) for

expensive items. Supple-ment with photographs or video and keep with important documents in secure location (safe-de-posit box, workplace or out-of-state relative).

Bring to a shelterPrescription medicines ■

Baby food and diapers ■

Cards, games, books, ■

toysToiletries ■

Battery-powered radio ■

Flashlight (one per ■

person)Extra batteries ■

Blankets or sleeping ■

bagsIdentifi cation ■

Valuable papers (insur- ■

ance)Cash (with some small ■

bills) and credit cards. Banks and ATMs might not be available for extended periods.

Post-storm cleanup

Duct tape ■

Bleach ■

Tarp to temporarily ■

cover damaged areasWater purifi cation ■

tabletsSources: NationalHurricane Center,

American Red Cross

Having a plan and gathering essential needs will help you ride out a hurricane.

Storm survival: Stock up on supplies

BRUCE ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Radio Shack sales associate Brandon Verhalen looks over weather alert radios.

DOUG ENGLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Flashlights, lanterns and head lamps range from $2 to $20 at The Home Depot.

Inspect your home for potential hazards (items that can move, fall, break or catch fi re) and correct them.


Staff report

The rain and wind might have died down, but it doesn’t mean the danger is over. As residents start to get out, move about and assess damage, there are some precautions everyone should take.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement, garage or camper — or even outside near an open window. Have at least one working carbon monoxide detector.

Be aware of the risk of chain-saw injury

Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency depart-ments for injuries from using chain saws.

Operate, adjust and maintain ■

the saw according to manufac-turer’s instructions provided in the instruction manual.

Properly sharpen chain-saw ■

blades, and properly lubricate the blade with bar and chain oil.

Choose the proper size of ■

chain saw to match the job, and include safety features such as a chain brake, front and rear hand guards, stop switch, chain catcher and a spark arrester.

Wear the appropriate protec- ■

tive equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, cut-resistant legwear (chain-saw chaps) that extend from the waist to the top of the foot, and boots which cover the ankle.

Always cut at waist level or ■

below to ensure you maintain secure control over the saw.

Bystanders or co-workers ■

should remain at least two tree lengths (at least 150 feet) away from anyone felling a tree and at least 30 feet from anyone operating a chain saw to remove limbs or cut a fallen tree.

If injury occurs, apply direct ■

pressure over heavy bleeding.Beware of injury from the ■

release of bent trees or branches.

Driving safely in a disaster location

Avoid driving through water, ■

especially when it is moving fast.Do not drive through standing ■

water if fallen electrical wires are in the water.

Avoid driving when tired, ■

fatigued or upset.Plan your route in advance. ■

Protect yourself from electric hazards

Never touch a fallen power ■

line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.

Avoid contact with overhead ■

power lines during cleanup and other activities.

Do not drive through standing ■

water if downed power lines are in the water.

If a power line falls across ■

your car while driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local utility company and emergency services. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.

If electrical circuits and ■

electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not enter standing water to access the main power switch. Call an electrician to turn it off.

Never turn power on or off ■

yourself or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. Do not turn the power back on until electrical equip-ment has been inspected by a qualifi ed electrician. All electri-cal equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service. Have a certifi ed electrician check these items if there is any question.

After the storm: Remember to play it safe

STAFF PHOTOS BY BRAD MCCLENNY/FILE

ABOVE: Avoid contact with downed lines during or after a storm. They may be live and can be deadly. Report any outages or lines down to your power company. BELOW: Avoid driving through water, especially when it is fast-moving.


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Gainesville Regional Utilities workers are used to pitching in after a storm, whether it’s right here or helping other companies across the nation. Last year a crew helped restore power in New Jersey after Sandy hit.

By Christopher CurryStaff writer

After a storm barrels through, snapping poles and downing power lines, electric companies rely on one another to rebuild.

When Tropical Storm Sandy hit last year, a 25-member Gainesville Regional Utilities line crew trekked up the East Coast to assist. The fi rst stop was Baltimore. For the most part, the brunt of the storm spared that area. After four or fi ve days, GRU workers headed to the devasta-tion in hard-hit New Jersey. For two weeks, the crew restored power in a 100-mile radius around Jersey City.

Used to torrential rains and

tropical storms, the GRU crews were more battle-tested than their Northeastern counterparts, said Charlie Holder, an electric systems operations coordinator with GRU.

“They weren’t prepared for that kind of stuff,” he said. “Hurricanes aren’t typical up there.”

David Sparks, the electric transmis-sion and distribution manager for GRU, said decades of responding to tropical events have taught lessons about the need to fi x the main transmission lines and substations fi rst in order to restore power to large groups of customers quickly.

The aftermath of a storm also demonstrates how electric compa-nies rely on one another. In Florida, the municipal-owned utilities all have mutual aid agreements, Sparks said.

When Tropical Storm Fay hit in 2008, crews from Tallahassee,

Lakeland, Ocala and Orlando came to assist GRU.

“It’s a big group of people that all know each other and all help each other,” Sparks said of the utilities’ line crews. “At the drop of a hat, in a matter of hours, you can double your workforce.”

But even that assistance was delayed in 2004, when multiple storms blew through most of the state and electric companies had to worry about their own territories fi rst. Still, when the Florida crews were occupied, power companies from other Southeastern states came to assist.

Looking ahead to the storm season, Sparks said customers may monitor information about power outages and report outages at www.gru.com/StormCentral. Customers also may phone in information about a power failure at 352-334-2871.

A large Gainesville crew pitched in aft er Sandy hit the Northeast last year.

GRU crews have experience with recovery after storms


By Kristine Crane Staff writer

If there’s one good thing about a hurricane, it’s that it gives you some forewarning.

And for hospitals, that ability to plan can be critical for caring for current patients and planning for a potential infl ux of others, said Steve Truluck, the director of safety, security and external transportation and parking at Shands at the University of Florida.

“With a hurricane, you’ve got days, watching it from way out in the Atlantic. You’ve got just enough time to do water checks to protect against water intrusion,” Truluck said, adding that other types of disasters such as torna-dos don’t give as much advance warning.

“You don’t see the tornado coming fi ve and seven days out. It’s an immediate strike thing,” Truluck said. “The damage is usually in a much smaller location than a hurricane, which is a 150 miles wide.”

In the event of either disaster scenario — and others such as bombings — Shands, like Gaines-ville’s other major hospitals, has emergency plans that are con-stantly being refi ned, Truluck said. Part of that is increasing Shands’ 852-bed capacity, Truluck said.

“We have beds in supply and locations designated within the hospital where rooms are — may-be a conference center that can have beds,” he explained, adding that the beds would be for a potential surge of incoming patients and not for critical care patients.

Truluck said all disaster victim patients go through a triage process — either on site at the disaster, or in the hospital emer-gency room — and they are given a color based on a color-coded scheme related to their level of

trauma.“Green are walking wounded

— they can ambulate and could have a broken arm or a laceration. Really it’s like an urgent-care type level of care,” Truluck said, adding that “red” is for more serious injuries, and black means dead upon arrival.

Truluck said Shands goes through drills twice a year to simulate what would happen in the event of severe weather or something like a bombing on game day, in which power and city water would potentially be lost.

The drills, which involve patient volunteers, allow them to deter-mine things such as whether they have enough stretchers in stock. Then they go over plans with various departments in the hospital such as food services and facilities maintenance.

“We make sure all of our call lists are up to speed. A number of things are constantly in review, but we refresh all of those things as we go into hurricane season,” Truluck said.

■ ■ ■

Across the street from Shands, the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center also does drills twice a year to assess the hospital’s preparedness for natural disas-ters, said spokeswoman Heather Frebe.

She added that because the VA treats only veterans, it probably would be a last-resort resource for other patients in the community. However, the VA does take in other vets from around the state during disasters.

“If something happens in Tampa, and we do have beds, we could take patients,” Frebe said, explaining that all VA hospitals in Florida are connected via satellite radio. All VA patients in the U.S. are also in the electronic records, which facilitates care during emergencies, Frebe added.

“There’s still going to be confu-sion because of an emergency, but in terms of what patients’ needs are, they are able to assess because that’s part of patients’ electronic records,” she said.

Frebe said that the hospital also

constantly communicates details of its operating status on its Facebook page and website.

She added that during Tropical Storm Debby, several VA patients and employees were affected in Lake City — which meant that work schedules and doctors’ appointments had to be resched-uled.

“People weren’t coming in to be triaged; it was more of an informa-tion-type incident for us,” she said.

■ ■ ■

In Northwest Gainesville, North Florida Regional Medical Center has a 2,500-square-foot command center for emergencies on the fi fth fl oor of the surgical tower that includes a communications and monitoring hub, a large living space for staff to stay in during a surge of patients, and emergency food and water supplies, said Jeremy Gallman, director of safety, security and emergency management at North Florida.

Gallman said that after each major disaster the country experiences — such as the intense rainstorms that impacted New York City last summer — the hospital goes through its own emergency plan “with a fi ne-tooth comb” and reassesses its own patient capacity.

The hospital soon will have a 445-bed capacity once construc-tion on additions is completed this summer. Gallman estimates at least 90 more beds could be added — with some patients doubling up in rooms — during disasters.

Gallman said people need to be aware that during disasters, hospitals are for patients and not the general public. Having experienced Hurricane Hugo in Charlotte, N.C., in 1989, Gallman said people wandered in seeking food and shelter.

“While we would love to do that, it’s almost an impossible task when you need to take care of patients,” he said.

Contact Kristine Crane at 338-3119, or [email protected].

Gainesville hospitals prepare for severe weather with drills twice a year.

Preparation critical for hospitals

The Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE — Last year’s hurricane season drove home some big lessons, according to the nation’s chief hurricane fore-caster: Storm surge and fl ooding are dangerous and diffi cult to predict, and sometimes it’s even harder to communicate that sense of urgency to the public.

It wasn’t just high winds that posed a threat and caused damage, said National Hurricane Center Director Rick Knabb, who joined Florida’s emergency managers earlier this month in Fort Lauderdale at the annual Governor’s Hurri-cane Conference. “2012 was all about water, water, water. Debby, Isaac, Sandy,” Knabb said. “It was storm surge from the ocean, it was inland fl ooding, it was river fl ooding.”

The hurricane center has been working for several years to improve its storm surge forecasts and public warnings about potential fl ooding risks far from the coastline. The last season has added a sense of urgency to get those upgrades ready by the 2015 season, Knabb said.

Superstorm Sandy brought high winds, extreme tides, drenching rains, fl ooding and even heavy snow when it slammed into New Jersey in October.

Much of the damage left by Tropical Storm Debby in June came from river fl ooding after heavy rains soaked northern and central Florida.

The hurricane center said it would change the way it warns people about tropical storms that become some-thing else, after some critics suggested that Northeast residents underestimated Sandy’s danger because forecasters stopped issuing hurricane warnings when the storm merged with two cold-weather systems and lost its tropical characteris-tics.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rick Knabb, National Hurricane Center director, talks this month in Fort Lauderdale about the lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy and expectations for the Atlantic storm season, which begins Saturday.

Improving its storm surge forecasts has been a goal, especially aft er last season.

Hurricane center chief focusing on water hazards


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By Morgan WatkinsStaff writer

Alachua County didn’t need to open its hurricane shelters last year, but it still has a roster of sites ready for action this storm season in case people need them.

The county has 11 general population shelters and four special-needs shelters for resi-dents with specifi c medical needs. Alachua County Emergency Management goes through a process each year to ensure the shelters and their staff members are prepped for hurricane season, Emergency Management Director Dave Donnelly said.

The county’s Community Support Services staff run

the general population shelters, so they’re receiving training from the American Red Cross of North-Central Florida, he said. The Alachua County Health Department staffs the special-needs shelters.

The emergency manage-ment department also hosts an annual shelter summit each year, where it reviews its shelter plan with staff from the local Red Cross chapter, various county offi ces and other organizations. The Regional Transit System also is a part of these discussions because the county will work with its staff to help transport people to the shelters in emergency situations.

“It is a large team of people coming together to

make this happen when we do open shelters, so we’re kind of touching base, refi ning the plan a little, [and] discussing issues that may have come up from last year,” Don-nelly said.

Even though the county didn’t need to open any shelters last year, it needs to be prepared, and residents should be ready to take advantage of them if and when that happens.

Residents can check out the list of county shelters online at alachuacounty.us/em.

If a storm comes that requires opening the shelters, people should check which ones are operational because the one nearest to them may be closed or already fi lled,

Donnelly said. The county may open the shelters in a staggered pattern by open-ing two shelters until they’re fi lled before opening up two more.

The county hasn’t removed or replaced any shelters since last year, but it has added a new one: Meadowbrook Elementary.

Residents should come up with a plan for how they will handle the situation if they need to go to a shelter this hurricane season, which runs from Saturday to Nov. 30.

Donnelly suggested people pack changes of clothes, as well as toys and books for children to keep them occupied at the shelter.

Residents need to bring something to sleep on because not every person gets a bed at a shelter, said Casey Schmelz, emergen-cy services manager for the local Red Cross chapter. She also suggest-ed anyone who uses a walker or cane, even just occasionally, should bring it with them because the beds are low to the ground

and they may need it for support.

People with pets should think about where they will take their animals as well since they aren’t permitted in county

shelters. “Sometimes pets are an afterthought,” she said.

Contact Morgan Watkins at 338-3104 or [email protected].

Area storm shelters ready to open for residents

STAFF/FILE

ERICA BROUGH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE


These sites will serve as shelters for the general population or those with special

needs during a hurricane or other natural disaster.Shelter openings will

be announced based on the severity and potential damage of a storm. Contact the emergency management offi ce in each county for more information.

ALACHUA COUNTY352-264-6500

Rawlings Elementary School (spe- ■

cial needs)3500 NE 15th St.Gainesville

Westwood Middle School (special ■

needs)3215 NW 15th Ave.Gainesville

Buchholz High School (special ■

needs)5510 NW 27th Ave.Gainesville

Alachua Elementary School (special ■

needs)13800 NW 152nd PlaceAlachua

Talbot Elementary School ■

5701 NW 43th St.Gainesville

Williams Elementary School ■

1245 SE Seventh Ave.Gainesville

Shell Elementary School ■

21633 SE 65th Ave.Hawthorne

Archer Community School ■

14533 SW 170th St.Archer

Eastside High School ■

1201 SE 45th TerraceGainesville

Kanapaha Middle School ■

5005 SW 75th St.Gainesville

Oak View Middle School ■

1203 SW 250th St.Newberry

Waldo Community School ■

14450 NE 148th Ave.Waldo

High Springs Community School ■

1015 N. MainHigh Springs

Meadowbrook Elementary School ■

11525 NW 39th Ave.Gainesville

Santa Fe High School ■

16213 NW U.S. Hwy 441Alachua

BRADFORD COUNTY904-966-6336

Bradford High School ■

581 N. Temple Ave.Starke

Bradford Middle School ■

527 N. Orange St.Starke

Starke Elementary School (special ■

needs and pet shelter)1000 Weldon St.Bldg. 4Starke

Lawtey Community School ■

North Park Street and U.S. 301Lawtey

Brooker Elementary School ■

18551 Charlotte Ave. (SR 18)Brooker

Hampton Elementary School ■

SR 221 and CR 18Hampton

Southside Elementary School ■

823 Stanbury St.Starke

Reception and Medical Center (sex ■

offender shelter)7765 S. CR 231Lake Butler

First Baptist Church ■

163 W. Jefferson St.Starke

Madison Street Baptist Church ■

900 W. Madison St.Starke

Hope Baptist Church ■

3900 SE SR 100 E.Starke

CLAY COUNTY904-284-7703

Argyle Elementary ■

2625 Spencer Plantation Blvd.Orange Park

Oakleaf High School ■

4035 Plantation Oaks Blvd.Orange Park

Oakleaf Junior High ■


Oakleaf Village Elementary ■

410 Oakleaf Village ParkwayOrange Park

Orange Park High School (pet- ■

friendly shelter)2300 Kingsley Ave.Orange Park

Coppergate Elementary ■

2250 CR 209 N.Middleburg

RideOut Elementary ■

3065 Apalachicola Blvd.,Middleburg

Tynes Elementary ■

1550 Tynes Blvd.Middleburg

Clay High School (pet-friendly ■

shelter)2025 SR 16 WestGreen Cove Springs

Green Cove Springs Junior High ■

1220 Bonaventure Ave.Green Cove Springs

Lake Asbury Junior High ■

2851 Sandridge RoadGreen Cove Springs

Shadowlawn Elementary ■

2945 CR 218Green Cove Springs

Clay Hill Elementary ■

6345 CR 218Jacksonville

Keystone Heights High School (pet- ■

friendly shelter)900 SW Orchid Ave.Keystone Heights

McRae Elementary ■

6770 CR 315 C.Keystone Heights

St. Johns River Community College ■

(special-needs shelter)Thrasher-Horne Building283 College DriveOrange Park

Plantation Oaks Elementary ■


DIXIE COUNTY352-498-1240, ext. 7

Old Town Elementary School (spe- ■

cial needs and general population)221 SE 136th Ave.Old Town

Ruth Rains Middle School (back-up ■

shelter)981 SW CR 351Cross City

Anderson Elementary (back-up ■

shelter)815 SW CR 351Cross City

GILCHRIST COUNTY386-935-5400

Trenton Elementary School ■

1350 SW SR 26Trenton

Bell Elementary School ■

2771 E. Bell Ave.Bell

Health Academy at Bell High School ■

(special needs)930 S. Main St.Bell

LEVY COUNTY352-486-5213

Bronson Elementary School (special ■

needs)SR 24Bronson

Chiefl and Elementary School ■

1205 NW Fourth Ave.Chiefl and

Williston Elementary School ■

801 S. Main St.Williston

Bronson Middle/High School ■

8691 NE 90th St.Bronson

Williston High School (secondary ■

shelter)427 W. Noble Ave.Williston

Chiefl and Middle School (second- ■

ary shelter)811 NW Fourth DriveChiefl and

Joyce Bullock Elementary School ■

130 SW Third St.Williston

PUTNAM COUNTY386-329-0379

Browning-Pearce Elementary ■

School (American Red Cross)100 Bear Blvd.San Mateo

Ochwilla Elementary School (Amer- ■

ican Red Cross and pet friendly)229 N. SR 21Hawthorne

Q.I. Roberts Middle School (Ameri- ■

can Red Cross)901 SR 100Florahome

Interlachen Elementary School ■

(American Red Cross)251 S. SR 315Interlachen

Jenkins Middle School (last-resort ■

shelter)1100 N. 19th St.Palatka

Palatka High School (last-resort ■

shelter)302 Mellon RoadPalatka

Middleton-Burney Elementary ■

School (last-resort shelter)1020 Huntington RoadCrescent City

Crescent City Junior/Senior High ■

School (last-resort shelter)2201 S U.S. 17Crescent City

Kelley Smith Elementary School ■

(special needs)121 Kelley Smith RoadPalatka

UNION COUNTY386-496-4300

Union County High School (special ■

needs and general population)1000 S. Lake Ave.Lake Butler

Where can you go if you can’t stay home?www.gainesville.com | THE GAINESVILLE SUN SUNDAY , MAY 26 , 2013 | 19

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