Message from Commissioner Burt Aaronson

July 7, 2008

Last month I advised that the County’s 2008 Hurricane Survival Guide was available to all residents.  Many individuals have picked them up at the South County Civic Center, Coconut Cove Waterpark, Daggerwing Nature Center, Morikami Museum and the county libraries on 95th Avenue in West Boca, West Atlantic Avenue in West Delray and Jog Road in West Boynton.  Many associations called and arrangements were made to have them delivered to a county facility where a representative picked them up.  The Guides are still available and I urge you to obtain one so that you have the most up-to-date information available.

There are several other items that I want to share with you.  Channel 20 has produced a series of 12 hurricane public service announcements (PSA).  The PSAs are hosted by Bill Read, the Director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The information contained in the spots is specific to Palm Beach County and many issues that you face during hurricane season.  The spots are currently airing on Channel 20 and Comcast Cable stations throughout the county.  In addition, the 12 announcements have been compiled onto a CD for viewing.   If your community has an in-house channel for your residents and you would like a copy of the CD, please contact my office and the staff will arrange for you to get one.

The County’s Emergency Operations Center has a Dialogic Notification System.  This is a high-speed automated phone system that is used to communicate vital information to communities at-risk during a potentially life-threatening situation.  It is used to transmit information about hurricanes, boil water notices, etc.  The system gets information out quickly so that residents have accurate information.  If your community is not on this call list and you would like to be added, please contact my office.  I will need the name and phone number of a responsible person in the community (your president, property manger, etc.) who will be contacted with any messages that pertain to your geographic area.  Please note that this is not available for individual residents.

Finally, if you have not received the current list of the Publix and gas stations who have installed generators in the event of a power outage, you can find them on the County’s Emergency Management website:  www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement.

Finally, I cannot stress enough how important it is for you as a resident, as a family or as a community to be prepared during this hurricane season.  We care about you and we are here to help you all we can before, during and after a hurricane.  However, ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety.  I would urge all of you to make your plans if you have not or to review your plans to be sure that you are prepared.