Weekly comments from Dale Martin

Dale Martin

September 15, 2017 1:00 a.m.

I hope that everyone safely pulled through Hurricane Irma and that property damage was minimal. Although obviously some property was damaged, the damage throughout the community as a whole was

City Manager Dale Martin Fernandina Beach

limited. Preliminary estimates are that approximately a dozen homes suffered moderate to major structural damage. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities related to the storm were reported.

Damage to City facilities was light. The Marina, previously battered by Hurricane Matthew, sustained no additional evident structural damage, but did have about nine inches of water in the Captains’ Lounge. The Airport’s damage was relatively small in scale, with the exception of McGill Aviation’s facility which suffered roof damage that has yet to be fully assessed. The Golf Course lost scores of trees.

So what are some of the comparisons between the recent hurricanes, Matthew and Irma?

Accurate communication continues to be a challenge. The “official” announcement at 4:30 PM, Thursday, of the evacuation to go into effect at 6:00 PM, Friday, was “scooped” and posted on various unofficial County sites nearly three hours early on Thursday.

The question regarding the possible closure of the Shave Bridge was asked (and answered) over and over on several official and unofficial sites. For clarification, the Shave Bridge is not “scheduled” for closure: any closure is based upon wind speeds, specifically, sustained winds of forty miles per hour or greater. Therefore, asking what time the bridge will close cannot be answered. If, in the future, you want to have an idea when such high winds are predicted, please review local weather forecasts: when wind speeds are predicted to be 30-35 miles per hour, it may be wise to consider crossing the bridge. During Hurricane Irma, surprisingly, officials indicated that sustained winds never reached the forty mile per hour threshold and the bridge was never closed.

Another common question was when would the power (water, sewer) be turned off? None of those utilities are intentionally turned off. Service interruptions may occur, but that is due to storm effects and damage. I have been told that some agencies or organizations promote the theory of service termination to encourage evacuation. The City (and through conversations with Florida Public Utilities officials) categorically refutes any such action.

Similarly related is the question of when power would be restored. The City (nor the County, as a matter of fact) does not control the electric and gas utilities. Those services, on Amelia Island, are provided by Florida Public Utilities (FPU). It is difficult to specifically predict when power will be restored, which is why a range is often provided. Given the attitudes of some on social media, if FPU announced that power would be restored in forty-eight hours, and at 48:01 power was not back on, a vitriolic torrent would likely be unleashed. Crews are deployed from other regions to support power restoration in a timely manner. Living without power is an inconvenience- but Nassau County officials repeatedly indicated that if you were in a safe location with power, do not return. Some may not have heeded that advice.

Another issue that warrants further examination is the departure of public safety and utilities staff from Amelia Island (and other Zone “A” evacuation zones). In my role as the City Manager, I am responsible for the safety of the City’s men, women, and equipment. While City personnel and equipment may remain following an evacuation order, it becomes a critical decision, given storm conditions and other factors, when to secure the safety of City personnel, either on the Island or off. That decision is not taken lightly, and I rely upon the knowledge and experience of key staff and the information provided by other officials (County and State).

What is important for residents to be very clear about is this: if you decide to remain in an Evacuation Zone “A” (or any other zone so ordered) following an evacuation order, it is possible that public safety or other services may not be available to you. Your decision to remain inherently includes acknowledgement of that risk.

The most enlightening aspect of the storm has been the surge of community support for each other. The willingness of neighbors to assist each other is a demonstration of the sense of community that prevails in Fernandina Beach. Volunteers wielding chain saws and hot meals have emerged everywhere. Businesses have offered expansive support to the community. Troubling issues have been rare, with the Police reporting very few negative incidents. I urge you to continue to support each other, local businesses, and the entire community. Please share with me residents or businesses that you believe merit special recognition for the hurricane support.

I would like to thank the City staff that manned computers, pumps, and vehicles to keep everyone safe. I am proud to work with all of you.

We’ll dust-off our yards and streets and fix our buildings and get ready for the next one.