Good News - September 2018

About this time last year, we were facing potentially far- reaching hurricane predictions as Hurricane Irma approached Florida. Nowwe’re in the midst of hurricane season again. Un- derstanding this, Good News Wants to Know... If we were 5 days away fromhurricane warnings, what is your normal pre- paredness proce- dure – past or present? As an owner of a roofing busi- ness, we have a comprehensive hur- ricane preparedness plan that goes into effect once a hurricane warning is issued. We have over 7,000 clients all looking to us to be available in the event of a storm. Not only do we have to secure our own facilities, we need to offload numerous work proj- ects and still allow enough time for our employees to secure their homes. After the storm, we must be prepared to respond to our client’s requests. Because no two storms are ever the same, it’s a challenge to know what to expect. Gregg Wallick, President/CEO, Best Roofing Hurricanes are very beautiful but a dangerous part of mother nature. Prepara- tion should be in the form of a list that is prepared in advance (months ahead) cov- ering all aspects of expected and unexpected needs during a short or prolonged event. Everything from medications, water, fuel, food, radios including batteries, generators, fully charged cell phones and electrical cords should be added to the list and checked off at least one week in advance of a storm. What is the path of the storm? Do you have hurricane shutters or hurricane windows? Are there elderly involved? Stay tuned to the stations that give you the updates and make sure you have an evacuation plan ready if you need it. If they have a mandatory evacuation…. Follow their advice. No heroics. Implement your plan and leave. Plan-Plan-Plan and Plan – Expect the unexpected and be pleasantly surprised. The quality of your planning will significantly reduce the stress generated during a dangerous event and ensure your safety. Remember to pray for safe passage for your family and friends. Andy Mitchell, President/CEO, The Fairwinds Group The models have become more accurate so we would wait until it’s imminent. Of course, we’d always ask God to blow it out to sea. He’s good at that. William C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law As our campus Crisis Management Team monitors the progress of a potential threatening storm, my normal preparation begins with prayer for the protection of our students, faculty and staff. I follow our campus hurricane preparation process and, at home, my wife and I have supplies on hand to ride out the storm. William M. B. Fleming, Jr., President, Palm Beach Atlantic University I tend to be a pretty good disaster planner, so with a five-day warning I pray that everything is prepped and secure at home and office. This present year, how- ever, my focus is radically different. What happened last year post-Irma at a Holly- wood, Fla., elderly care center will not happen again if Heart2Heart Outreach has anything to do with it. Not on my watch. Blake Silverstrom, Executive Director, Heart2Heart Outreach of South Florida As the County Commissioner representing nearly 75 percent of Broward’s coastal communities, including both Evacuation Zones A& B, I take hurricane pre- paredness very seriously. I would recommend that everyone review the Hurricane Plan at broward.org/hurricane and personalize the plan for your home and family. If you live on the barrier island (ZoneA) or east of U.S. 1 (Zone B), then you should pay particular attention to the Hurricane Center and be ready for any calls to evac- uate. If you plan to leave the area, it is best to take action sooner rather than later to avoid extreme traffic. #StaySafe Chip LaMarca, Commissioner, District 4, Broward County Commission Usually when the Hurricane is five days away I am still waiting for it to get a little closer before I do all of my preparations…I know that is not the best advice, but in the past we have had so many that turned away that I have become a little more laid back. So, at five days out I’m still keeping a close eye on the storm track and thinking about my plan if it gets closer. I usually put my plan into action the day before it hits, and I sit tight with my family in my house. Chris Lane, President, First Priority of South Florida Our normal procedure is to contact as many people as we can through our church app and email and to let them know of our plans for church services and opportunities to help others within the church to board up and find places for some to go and stay during the storm. Daryl Nelson, Pastor, Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches Five days from a hurricane warning, mostly I just keep praying that the Lord will stir his finger, dissipating and moving it away from our coast and back out to sea. Also, if a hurricane hit looks inevitable, I pray that a friend will invite me to their home since mine is in a zone where we always have to evacuate, and we don't have hur- ricane shutters. Then I throw my metal and plastic patio furniture in the pool and bring the potted plants in. Deborah Cusick, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, FAU Campus Volunteer In the past it was stressful and strenuous preparing for an impending hurricane. Now that we are empty nesters and we have high impact windows it is much easier. We spend almost all of our time helping at our church (Christ Church UM) and most importantly the homeless families in the Hope South Florida ministry! Our concerns are nothing compared to theirs! Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and Hope South Florida I make sure that the cars are filled with gas, that I have tested the generator and the cans are full of gas, and that we have water, batteries and flashlights. George R. Moraitis, Jr., Moraitis, Cofar, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey I am the hurricane prep person that picks up items along the way during late summer and stores them in the garage. My family often laughs at me when we have no hurricanes, but I was a genius last year when Hurricane Irma hit and we weren't running around in long lines for essential items. My husband, Paul, dutifully takes care of all the house preparation procedures, and I am truly grateful for our team- work. Germaine Smith Baugh, Ed.D, President and CEO, Urban League of Broward County My husband books a flight for me to stay with my daughters either in Dallas or Chicago while he and our son board up the house and ride out the stormwith our two dogs. When Hurricane Irma headed our way last summer, we set up a 24-hour prayer vigil in advance. “Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you...surely when the Andy Mitchell William C. Davell William M. B. Fleming, Jr Blake Silverstrom Chip LaMarca Chris Lane Wants to Know… Gregg Wallick