CRESTVIEW — Strong storm cells’ passing reminds Florida residents that hurricanes aren’t the only severe weather patterns moving through the area.
Northwest Florida was hit by 55 hurricanes from 1851-2015, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The area receives a hurricane once every three years on average. However, Crestview receives 119 precipitation days per year, according to the National Weather Service.
“One nice thing about hurricanes is that we have time to prepare,” Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety Alvin Henderson said. “The challenge for us is supercells — storms that pop up over us.”
“Supercells often produce damaging wind, large hail and tornadoes,” the NOAA website states. They offer experts little time to issue watches and warnings and even less time for residents to prepare, Henderson said. The Emergency Alert System, in coordination with local media and a county smartphone app, spread the word, according to Henderson.
Education is conducted at various levels and aimed to inform adults as well as children. The public safety department gives presentations at grade schools and conducts preparedness training to local government and civic groups. The department also operates an emergency plan to facilitate aid and resources to areas affected by severe weather, chemical spills and terrorist attacks.
Local roadway and public utility management play a role in storm readiness as well. Crestview has an emergency response plan covering events such as hurricanes, floods, fires and chemical leaks in its storm preparedness section, according to Public Services Director Wayne Steele. The plan details goals, responsibilities and expectations of public services personnel during emergencies.
The staff ensures public utilities are functioning and accessible as rapidly as possible during recovery phases. Alternative supply plans are also coordinated, in the event of a contaminated water supply for example.
Beyond utilities, the department ensures roads and evacuation routes are publicly accessible, the plan states. Coordination with local, state or federal authorities on the department’s behalf further increases these capabilities.
The public services department determines local needs, repairs infrastructure, restores governmental operations and tracks recovery costs.
Okaloosa County operates nine emergency shelters as needed, according to the county’s public safety website. On the north end, five of these shelters are in Crestview; one’s in Baker and one’s in Laurel Hill.
Designated area emergency shelters can open for any reason, including fires, floods or whenever there is a demand, Henderson said.
Crestview has constant plans in place to respond to various severe weather events.
See www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/ps/home for more information on what to do in case of immediate storm emergencies.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: How Crestview braces for storms