Monroe County Emergency Management Director Corey Schwisow joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
It’s important to remember it only takes one storm to make a season devastating.
The lull in tropical activity has allowed emergency management officials to strengthen partnerships, review response plans and prepare for both hurricane season and other large-scale events throughout the Florida Keys.
“It’s nice to have a little bit of a breather in the middle of hurricane season because we can take the time,” Schwisow said. “We’re partnering with the National Weather Service today and talking with the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative about our plans, their plans, and how we can support each other so we can evaluate our infrastructure and recover as quickly as possible after a storm.”
Maintaining close coordination with utility providers is critical to restoring power and services following a hurricane.
While forecasters lowered their seasonal outlook earlier this summer, residents should not let their guard down.
“Colorado State updated their storm numbers earlier in July and decreased the forecast to nine named storms,” Schwisow said. “Four of those could be hurricanes and one could be a major hurricane. It really only takes one hurricane to make it a devastating season.”
Residents should enjoy the calm weather while continuing to prepare their homes, vehicles and families for the possibility of severe weather.
“I want everybody to enjoy these nice calm waters we’ve had over the last couple of weekends and get out there and enjoy what makes the Florida Keys so amazing,” Schwisow said. “But also continue that conversation and continue practicing good preparation.”
The combination of a developing El Niño pattern and persistent Saharan dust has helped suppress tropical development in the Atlantic while contributing to increased storm activity in the Pacific.
“They’ve been talking about a super El Niño and even a historic El Niño,” Schwisow said. “It’s really been a game changer.”
While El Niño may reduce hurricane activity in the Atlantic, it could also bring different weather challenges later in the year.
“A warm El Niño summer usually follows with a very wet winter,” Schwisow said, noting that the pattern could produce heavy snowfall across parts of the continental United States and increase the threat of severe weather in South Florida.
Emergency Management is also using the quieter period to expand public education efforts.
The department will host a National Weather Service Skywarn Storm Spotter training course from 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 15 at the Marathon Monroe County Public Library. National Weather Service meteorologist John Rizzo will lead the free certification course, which teaches participants how to identify severe weather, understand thunderstorm development and safely report hazardous conditions to meteorologists.
“It’s open to the public,” Schwisow said. “If anybody is interested, please reach out to Holly Winhoven, our Monroe County Emergency Management Mass Care Specialist, to RSVP.”
Beyond hurricane preparedness, the department has already begun planning for major community events scheduled later this year, including Fantasy Fest, offshore powerboat races and New Year’s celebrations.
“We’re reaching out to our partners down in the City of Key West and all the way up through Marathon and Key Largo and taking a look at what events we have coming up,” Schwisow said. “We like to be part of that discussion and ask our partners what gaps they have and what we can do to help.”
Monroe County also expects to benefit from public safety equipment used during the FIFA World Cup in Miami.
“There’s a lot of equipment still available that was used for protective barriers,” Schwisow said. “We’re going to start moving some of those assets down here so our partners in the Florida Keys can use them to make sure our visitors and residents can enjoy events and feel safe.”
National Night Out activities throughout the Keys are happening tonight.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for our residents and visitors to meet the men and women who are the tip of the spear to make sure we’re safe,” Schwisow said. “We have some great professionals that work for us, and we have probably the most challenging environment to do it in.”
As hurricane season continues, don’t overlook pets when developing emergency plans.
“Don’t forget about the little furry friends and any other animals,” Schwisow said. “You can register them now, and that way it’s one less thing to worry about when things get a little chaotic.”