Shannon Weiner, Director of Emergency Management for Monroe County, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about how the EOC helps during storms.
With another hurricane — Hurricane Milton — on the horizon, it’s clear how important the Emergency Operations Center really is.
Weiner said, “The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for the entire Florida Keys island chain, and that includes mainland Monroe, and there’s a hurricane watch out there now for the Dry Tortugas. Just to remind everyone that tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions, which is that minimum sustained winds of 39 miles per hour, are possible within the area within 48 hours. So we really need to be mindful today. Today is a big day for our residents and visitors to pay attention to the weather. I can tell you that I know this morning, Milton is now a major hurricane, and those maximum sustained winds are 125 miles per hour and and those hurricane force winds are extending out 30 miles from the center. So while the current track is keeping Milton, a good distance away from us. We always mention that the impacts of a storm and the tropical storm force winds, those bands extend out far, far from that center sometimes. So right now the tropical storm force winds are extending about up to 80 miles out for the center. So we need to watch that track today. Then the other big concern for us as we move through the next couple days is that coastal flood watch. The National Weather Service, Key West and the hurricane center put that watch up for us also this morning, and there’s a potential, as that storm passes to our west, that we have that significant salt water flooding. Right now we’re looking at one to three feet above ground level for both the bay and the Gulf side, and we’re looking at that for Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. So if you are in one of those neighborhoods or low lying areas where you are known to experience that saltwater flooding, that surge flooding, those king tides, it’s going to be that one to three and then at the time of king tide, possibly one foot higher. So everyone really needs to be mindful of that as we go through Wednesday and Thursday.”
Rainfall is another serious issue.
Weiner said, “It’s not very helpful and the rain that we’re having is regular, seasonal rain. It is a separate system from the storm, so keep that in mind. It does help saturate the ground and leave us with some standing water in some places. So it could potentially exacerbate the situation, as we look to potentially feel some impacts from Milton, early Wednesday, before sunrise. So everyone should really have made sure that they have secured their watercraft, done their personal protective actions, secured loose outdoor objects and if they need to move or locate from a structure in those low lying or unsafe areas, keep monitoring. But know that Tuesday by sunset is the time for those protective actions should we need them to be completed.”
Will Milton be similar to Helene?
Weiner said, “Right now, it’s hard to tell, and it is contingent upon what Milton is going to do and how it’s going to move over the next 24 hours. It’s expected to take that turn to the north and be pulled up by a front so we need to watch and make sure that that happens. It’s really, really important to to stay vigilant, but definitely we are looking at the potential for tropical storm conditions.”
What are other emergency management directors doing in preparation?
Weiner said, “From Pinellas County north to just east of Tallahassee, those counties really took a hard hit from Helene and Clearwater, St Pete area, those are barrier islands. So they took the brunt of that for Hillsborough and Pinellas County and those counties and all the way north in that Big Bend area, they’re all still recovering. They’re only week one into recovery, so they’ve had to do some very creative things to regroup and reorganize for the impacts of this storm. It does happen to us here in the state of Florida, it’s not uncommon where you get back to back storms, unfortunately, but we are a tight knit community, and the emergency managers that are in non impact areas go and support those that are and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, we have daily calls with them, twice a day when there is a storm system out there, and they work very closely with our county emergency managers to help do as much as they can in advance for what we will be needing after an impact, and preparing during the storm for what we would need post impact. So a lot of communication going on between the Florida Division of Emergency Management and all of the county emergency managers in the state of Florida at this time.”
There are also two other storms in the ocean right now, Leslie and Kirk.
Weiner said, “We’re very fortunate that those two storms are going to stay out in the Atlantic, and there may be something coming off the coast of Africa again, but it’s that time of year where we remain busy. All of our residents in Monroe County know how vulnerable we are to those storms. A lot of them come by us the first before they go anywhere else. So I really appreciate the partnership, not just those that fit in our EOC, but the partnership of the municipalities and their awareness and preparedness as well. We’re very wise to those hurricanes and everyone here does a good job.”
Michael Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM pointed out, “I want to certainly send along our gratitude and thanks to you for always keeping a very level head and keeping everything coordinated expertly. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes leading up to and during a storm that the public just doesn’t see and is not aware of, but rest assured that our officials such as Shannon Weiner, are working very diligently and very expertly to keep us all safe. It’s really amazing the amount of coordination that goes on.”
Weiner said, “Well, thank you, Michael. It’s the business we’re in an emergency management and we’re happy to help serve our community. Keep up to date. Look for any potential government closures. We’re hoping not to do those things ever, but it is storm dependent. So keep an eye on the storm. Watch your social media for the sheriff’s office and municipalities and, of course, the National Weather Service, Key West and the county as well. We’re all working hard to communicate together and keep our residents and visitors informed.”
For more information, click here: https://monroecountyem.com/1324/Emergency-Management