Bonnie, Charley, Ivan, Frances & Jeanne: Florida s Uninvited Visitors of 2004

Transcription

1 A Presentation by the Florida Chapter American Public Works Association Bonnie, Charley, Ivan, Frances & Jeanne: Florida s Uninvited Visitors of 2004 Jeffrey A. Wilson, PE, PWLF Florida APWA Chapter President Regional Manager Weston & Sampson PUBLIC WORKS First to Respond Last to Leave 2014 Governor's Hurricane Conference Orlando, Florida May 15, 2014

2 Great First Responder Heroes in our History Police - Dragnet Fire Emergency 1 Public Works The Honeymooners

3 PUBLIC WORKS: First to Respond, Last to Leave Robert Garland, PE PWLF 2014 Florida Chapter President-Elect Regional Manager-McKim & Creed FDOT Emergency Response Contractor (2005) Mark Juliano, PWLF Deputy Director of Public Works City of Holly Hill Rick Keeney, PWLF Director of Public Works City of Punta Gorda Sam May, PWLF Director of Public Works City of Margate MODERATOR: Jeffrey A. Wilson, PE PWLF Florida APWA Chapter President Regional Manager Weston & Sampson

4 Today s Agenda Storm paths What was it like? Punta Gorda St. Lucie County Pensacola After the Storm Temporary Housing Issues Railway Systems Lessons Learned Panel Discussion

5 Tropical Storm Bonnie BONNIE Aug :00AM - Aug :00PM

6 Hurricane Charley Hurricane Charley made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Charlotte Harbor, late in the afternoon on August 13, 2004.

7 Hurricane Frances Hurricane Frances made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Sewall s Point, 35 miles north of West Palm Beach, on September 5, 2004.

8 Hurricane Jeanne Hurricane Jeanne made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Port St. Lucie, on the morning of September 26, Jeanne made landfall very near the same place the Hurricane Frances made landfall earlier.

9 Hurricane Ivan Hurricane Ivan made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Gulf Shores, Alabama, early on September 16, 2004.

10 Florida s 2004 Hurricane Season BONNIE Aug :00AM - Aug :00PM CHARLEY Aug :45PM - Aug :00AM FRANCES Aug :00PM - Sep :00PM JEANNE Sep :00PM - Sep :00AM IVAN Sep :00PM - Sep :00AM Preliminary US damage estimates are over $42 billion from the four hurricanes. Over 150 people died in the United States alone.

11 Parade of 2004 Storms

12 Today s Agenda Storm paths What was it like? Punta Gorda St. Lucie County Pensacola After the Storm Temporary Housing Issues Railway Systems Lessons Learned Panel Discussion

13 Information is huge!!! After a while, you begin to do tasks in 3-hour shifts. Don t want to miss the National Hurricane Center s updates at 8, 11, 2, and 5

14 Punta Gorda & Charlotte County Punta Gorda, Charlotte County

15 Punta Gorda After Charley Downed electrical power lines Made travel difficult Presented safety concerns Punta Gorda

16 Punta Gorda After Charley The job was enormous Punta Gorda

17 Punta Gorda After Charley The Emergency Operations Center for the City of Punta Gorda Punta Gorda

18 Punta Gorda After Charley Punta Gorda

19 Punta Gorda After Charley Punta Gorda

20 Punta Gorda After Charley The National Guard helps out with ice and water Punta Gorda

21 Punta Gorda probably has 2 to 3 years of recovery efforts ahead Punta Gorda

22 There s a street under there somewhere Punta Gorda

23 Charlotte County Airport Hangers provided little or no protection for property Punta Gorda

24 Some Slides Need No Captions Punta Gorda

25 Wind damage impacted all walks of life Punta Gorda

26 Providing for Emergency Medical Needs Punta Gorda

27 Search & Rescue Teams Went Door to Door after the Hurricane Punta Gorda

28 Debris removal was never ending Punta Gorda

29 You think hurricanes are tough on us Punta Gorda

30 This guy got so exhausted and confused he had to be carried out Punta Gorda

31 Hurricane shelters are a must In Desoto County 3,000 people had taken shelter in the Turner Center during Hurricane Charley. Desoto County

32 But, even shelters are not guaranteed. Winds destroyed the roof system. Incredibly, no one was injured. Desoto County

33 Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County

34 Road damage along the Atlantic Ocean St. Lucie County

35 Reconstructing Indian River Drive St. Lucie County

36 Shoreline stabilization after Hurricanes Frances & Jeanne St. Lucie County

37 Wind & water damage St. Lucie County

38 It s tough to evacuate residents in the path of a hurricane At right, I-95. Below, a special needs shelter. St. Lucie County

39 Boats & buildings were tossed around by the hurricanes fury St. Lucie County

40 Pensacola, Escambia & Santa Rosa Co. Pensacola, Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties

41 Interstate 10 Bridge over Pensacola Bay Storm surge associated with Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 16 knocked 58 spans off the eastbound and westbound bridges. It misaligned another 66 spans. Pensacola Area

42 Repairs proceeded quickly! Gilbert Southern Corp. and Massman Construction Co. signed a $26.4 million contract with the Department of Transportation Sept. 18 to reopen the westbound bridge in 24 days. The crews completed the task in 18 days. Pensacola Area

43 Two lanes of traffic restored on westbound lane of Interstate 10 Pensacola Area

44 Devastation was everywhere Pensacola Area

45 Road Damages Pensacola Area

46 It was just difficult to imagine Pensacola Area

47 A typical scene around Florida Pensacola Area

48 Remnants from Pensacola Bay Pensacola Area

49 Today s Agenda Storm paths What was it like? Punta Gorda St. Lucie County Pensacola After the Storm Temporary Housing Issues Railway Systems Lessons Learned Panel Discussion

50 One of the first basic needs is shelter Recovery activities will not happen overnight. Residents will need a dry place to live while lives are being re-built

51 FEMA Temporary Housing Sites were fast-tracked in Florida 14 Sites in Charlotte, Desoto, Hardee, Escambia, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie & Martin Counties Alternative Delivery Method (design-build) Average start to finish time was 6 weeks per site FEMA Temporary Housing

52 Many site constraints were overcome at the various sites around the state CHARLOTTE COUNTY SITE 100 Acre (+) site High ground water table Site raised several feet FEMA Temporary Housing

53 Escambia County Temporary Housing FEMA Temporary Housing

54 Short-term Temporary Housing Initially intended to last for 90 days Camping travel trailers were placed in compounds on large parking lots FEMA Temporary Housing

55 Short-term Temporary Housing Essential services (water, sewer, electric) were typically ran above ground on a temporary basis A rapid response approach FEMA Temporary Housing

56 Rerouting & rescheduling of service to maximize the emergency needs Florida Railways

57 Railroads worked rapidly to restore rail crossing signal systems and service Florida Railways

58 Railways needed to move much needed recovery supplies into stricken areas Florida Railways

59 FDOT Rail Office/Railroads partnered to close crossings, secure generators Florida Railways

60 Today s Agenda Storm paths What was it like? Punta Gorda St. Lucie County Pensacola After the Storm Temporary Housing Issues Railway Systems Lessons Learned Panel Discussion

61

62 Preparing crews for hurricane response & recovery If your crews reside in a storm strike area Let them know you care Talk to them on a regular basis. Information from the outside will be difficult to obtain. Be a conduit for assistance information. Find ways to help them locate temporary housing, if needed. Remember, people in disaster areas may be without water, electricity, phone and gasoline for up to 2 weeks.

63 Preparing crews for hurricane response & recovery If your crews reside outside a storm strike area Prepare them for what they may encounter (total devastation) while responding. Have crews fully stocked with supplies (food, water, ice, first aid kits. Cell phones may not work have a plan to meet during the day if needed Invest in fix-a-flat by the caseload Chainsaws are worth about a million bucks (well, almost )

64 Before the storm Talk with community leaders & public works departments about how you might provide assistance Have appropriate credentials to enter a storm-damaged area. After a storm hits, it will likely be under military control. Without proper credentials, you may be turned back.

65 Pre-set way points can provide a Reflective disks set in right-of-way and intersections Visible from ground and air GPS d at the time of installation sense of direction Material costs are about $150 per unit

66 Neighborhood 5 Key Intersection GPS Points

67 Punta Gorda currently utilizes this technology These disks can save valuable time during hurricane response and recovery efforts.

68 Directions are readily available to disaster recovery responders. Police Department Hospital Public Works City Hall Fire Stations

69 Top off fuel inventory before the storm Most of Florida receives gasoline & diesel through its ports, which close before storm strikes.

70 Recognize up-front damage assessment teams will be hampered by No electrical power No phone service Debris in roadway No street signs

71 Mobil Pit Crews are a necessity With the amount of debris, nails and other sharp objects are in the roadways. Flat tires and broken windshields WILL happen.

72 Think outside the box for solutions One water provider had an active treatment facility, but the distribution system was down. Operations staff tapped the on-site 3- MGD ground storage tank with 2-inch pipe and manifold system.

73 Keep citizens informed. One island community couldn t immediately return. An interim government center was established offisland to keep residents informed and conduct business.

74 Evaluate the need for temporary housing Identify locations for temporary mobile home parks before the storm Establish communication with FEMA as soon as possible after the storm.

75 Make sure your EOC is well protected. Essential personnel will be located there during the storm. Recovery efforts will revolve around this location.

76 Have a electric power company representative located at the EOC It will improve your recovery effort coordination with other essential services. Traffic Hospitals Water/Sewer

77 Invest in your First-in Teams Well-trained staff Good equipment Understand that cell phones/land-line phones probably won t work.

78 Have outside or off-site resources Have a way to retrieve mapping of: Electrical grid Traffic signals Water system Sewer system Aerials

79 Establish partnerships with other agencies and communities Share lists of available equipment, such as: Generators Traffic signs Staffing Repair materials Vehicles

80 Know how to procure items Don t forget things such as: Refrigerated trucks for ice storage Fuel trucks for generators Electricians to keep those portable generators running

81 Debris removal will cause other problems Meet regularly with debris hauler Mark locations of water meters on pavement

82 On behalf of the Florida Chapter APWA, Thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the Unsung Public Works Heroes that helped Florida to recover from the 2004 hurricane season.

83 Today s Agenda Storm paths What was it like? Punta Gorda St. Lucie County Pensacola After the Storm Temporary Housing Issues Railway Systems Lessons Learned Panel Discussion

84 PUBLIC WORKS: First to Respond, Last to Leave Robert Garland, PE PWLF 2014 Florida Chapter President-Elect Regional Manager-McKim & Creed FDOT Emergency Response Contractor (2005) Mark Juliano, PWLF Deputy Director of Public Works City of Holly Hill Rick Keeney, PWLF Director of Public Works City of Punta Gorda Sam May, PWLF Director of Public Works City of Margate MODERATOR: Jeffrey A. Wilson, PE PWLF Florida APWA Chapter President Regional Manager Weston & Sampson