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Hurricane Task Force
A message from Commissioner Burt Aaronson

I recently organized a Hurricane Task Force in anticipation of the upcoming hurricane season. I invited The Alliance, COBWRA and the West Boca Community Council to join me along with representatives from the County's Emergency Management Division, Fire Rescue, Water Utilities and the Sheriff's Office. The first meeting took place recently. Each agency outlined its plans for hurricane recovery efforts. Your civic organizations gave their comments and suggestions.
Everyone agreed that the meeting was highly successful.

As a result, I am working with staff on several issues. I would like to have food, water and ice distribution centers located so the impact of people driving on the roads after the hurricane can be minimized. Staff is researching several ideas: having the distribution centers placed in large communities with the small surrounding communities having access, having trucks sent from the distribution centers to communities and having communities send trucks to the distribution centers. In addition, I am working with the Sheriff=s office to make sure that traffic safety issues are addressed. I am also working with FPL and urging them to examine and replace their poles at a faster pace so that power failures can be prevented or at least minimized as much as possible. A follow-up meeting of the Hurricane Task Force is being arranged.

In a related matter, Publix has developed a plan to install generators at a number of its stores so that they can reopen as soon as possible after a hurricane. They established a list of ten stores that will be retrofitted by June 1st. The list includes Westwinds of Boca Raton and the Fountains of Boynton. There was no store for west Delray. At my insistence, Publix has added the Villages of Oriole Shopping Center to the list. In addition, I am working to insure that Publix installs generators in as many stores as possible before the height of the storm season in August.

The Hurricane Task Force will be meeting again in the near future. I am pleased that The Alliance, COBWRA and the West Boca Community Council are participating in these meetings. I know that each one of these organizations is preparing its own plan. These meetings provide the opportunity for us to share information and ideas that help us reach our ultimate goal - the safety and well-being of all the residents in District 5.

As always, I invite your comments on any issue of interest to you. As your Commissioner, I am here to help you. You may write me at 301 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, 33401 or call my staff at 276-1310 or toll free at 877-930-2205. You can also email me at baaronso@co.palm-beach.fl.us.