Hurricane Preparedness: Fire Chief Stresses Importance of Plan

Gulfport Fire Chief James Marenkovic says he knows all too well the importance of having a plan and executing it to keep residents in Gulfport safe. Marenkovic says the department braced for Mother Nature’s wrath during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons.

“We really thought we were going to be losing lives,” Marenkovic says.

In August 2004, Hurricane Charley was predicted to have a direct hit on Tampa Bay. The helped evacuate citizens, aid with shelters and continue to answer emergency calls including downed power lines in the city.

“All the shelters were full, we had everybody in the shelters. They were hunkering down . . . praying.”

Then, two hours before landfall the hurricane turned south, hitting several counties including Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier. The chief is confident they took all the right precautions and learned from the event. “It takes a lot of time to move those people from there homes. You get to the door and people aren’t prepared. You’re trying to expedite the process and they’re not ready to leave.”

Given that experience Marenkovic stresses the importance of being prepared. He urges those who need help evacuating to register with Pinellas County as soon as possible. Once an evacuation is announced, the department receives the list of those who have registered. The chief says it’s very difficult to help if someone register’s hours before an evacuation because people are urged to fax the sheet in, the fax may not be able to keep up with the demand. He says their fax machine ran non-stop before Hurricane Charley hit. Currently there are between 300 and 400 people in Gulfport that have registered for this hurricane season.

In addition to helping elderly citizens and those with special needs, who registered with the County, staff used PA systems, warning lights and sirens around the city to inform people about the evacuation order.

Marenkovic says people who need assistance during an evacuation need to be ready to go when a firefighter knocks on their door. People should have bags packed, important paperwork with them, prescriptions and medical equipment and ready to leave as soon as possible.

Just as people need a plan in case of a hurricane, the Gulfport Fire Department has their own plan of action.

In the event of a hurricane hitting or hitting nearby Gulfport, all personnel would be called to work and volunteers with CERT who want to assist would report to the fire department. Personnel includes: Fire Chief, three Fire Lieutenants, six Fire Fighter/Paramedics, three Fire Fighter EMT’s and 25 CERT Members. Equipment includes: Pumper 17, Engine 17, two Gulfport Fire Department Ford Explorers.

The Plan

Hurricane Advisory Plan includes:

• Notify staff
• Maintain normal operations
• Begin tracking storm system

Hurricane Watch Plan includes:

• Continue tracking storm system
• Prepare Special Needs EVAC list: print and prepare to contact residents, review needs and prepare procedures, order buses through the County Emergency Operations Center (need at least one with lift capabilities)
• Activate the City Emergency Operations Center in conjunction with the County Emergency Operations Center
• Additional manpower may be called in by Fire Chief

Hurricane Warning Plan includes: (24 Hours to Landfall)

• Recall necessary personnel for minimum 36-hour shifts
• Begin Special Needs Evacuation
• Secure Fire Department with Hurricane Shutters

Hurricane Imminent: (12 Hours to Landfall)

• Maintain essential Fire and EMS services only
• Maintain EOC operations

Landfall

• Maintain EOC Operations
• Account for all Fire/EMS personnel and staff
• Everyone stays inside the Fire Station