FGCU Environmental Health and Safety Hurricane Preparedness Plan

Introduction

Hurricane Terms

Hurricane Wind Speed Scale

Hurricane Preparedness

Local Media Information

Emergency Web Site Information

Emergency Public Shelters

University Community

FGCU Recovery

Hurricane Assessment

Other Useful Information

Forms

Hurricane Information

EHS will like to inform all of you regarding hurricane preparedness for this upcoming hurricane season. As you well know, in previous hurricane seasons, we (FGCU) sustained some damage during the windstorms of 04’ and 05’ and the impact it had on university budgets when trying to get back to pre-hurricane conditions. This document will focus on previous years cost, preparedness steps, and hurricane assessment.

Hurricane Terms

The following are definitions of terms, used by the National Hurricane Center in their forecasts, which will help you better understand the extent of the threat posed by a hurricane.

  • Advisory: A formal message from the National Hurricane Center, issued every six hours, providing details on location, intensity and movement of a tropical cyclone.
  • Hurricane Eye: The relatively calm area near the center of a storm. The duration of the "Calm" may last from several minutes to over an hour, depending on the size and speed of the hurricane. The "Calm" usually ends suddenly as winds return, possibly with even greater force.
  • Hurricane Warning: This warning indicates that a hurricane, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph, is expected within 24 hours or less. At this point, hurricane preparedness plans should be finalized. Hurricane warnings are seldom issued more than 24 hours in advance, and in cases of hurricanes with unusual or erratic paths, the warning may be issued only a few hours before landfall.
  • Hurricane Watch: A hurricane watch indicates that hurricane conditions are a strong possibility and may threaten a given area within 36 hours. This advisory does not necessarily mean a hurricane is imminent;however, you must initiate your hurricane preparedness activities.
  • Intermediate advisories: Advisories are issued at two or three hour intervals, between regularly schedules advisories, whenever a storm nears a coast.
  • Storm Surge: A dome-like rise in ocean level associated with a hurricane. The difference between this abnormal rise in sea level and the level that normally occurs is called the storm surge. It is highest along and to the immediate right of the location where the eye of the hurricane strikes land.
  • Tornado Warning: If a tornado is reported in the area, a warning will be issued. Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes are capable of producing severe damage and casualties.
  • Tropical Depression: A non-frontal low-pressuresystem that usually originates in the tropics, it rotates counter clockwise and achieves maximum sustained winds of 38 mph.
  • Tropical Storm: A non-frontal low-pressuresystem that usually originates in the tropics, it rotates counter clockwise and achieves maximum sustained winds of 73 mph.
  • Tropical Storm Warning: This warning indicates that there is a strong possibility that a storm, with a wind speed of 39 to 73 mph, which could strike a given area within 24 hours.
  • Tropical Storm Watch: A tropical storm evolves from a tropical depression. This advisory means that a tropical storm could threaten a given area within 36 hours.

Hurricane wind speed - Saffir-Simpson Scale

  • Category 1 Hurricane – Wind speed between 74-95mph.
  • Category 2 Hurricane – Wind speed between 96-110mph.
  • Category 3 Hurricane- Wind speed between 111-130mph.
  • Category 4 Hurricane – Wind speed between 131-155mph.
  • Category 5 Hurricane – Wind speed greater than 156mph.

Hurricane Preparedness

Planning and preparing are two steps that are very important steps when an imminent storm is approaching our area.

Have an evacuation plan ready. Are you staying home or leaving town? Please decide and make necessary arrangements if you are staying home, leaving town, or going to a public shelter.

Staying Home

  • If you are staying home here are some things to consider.
  • Do you have protective devices for windows?

Different styles available from local vendors:

Window protective devices types / Cost
Automatic rolled down shutters / Very expensive
Accordion shutters / Moderately expensive
Metal or fiberglass awning shutters / Moderately expensive
Bahamas or Colonial awning shutters / Moderately expensive
Regular unlocked storm panel / Least expensive
Plywood shutters / Least expensive
  • Do you have bottle water, flashlight, canned food or other non-perishable food, medications, first aid kit, battery operated radio, generator, batteries, blankets, and sanitary supplies?
  • If you have pets, do you have adequate supplies for them?
  • Do you have your insurance papers in order?
  • Fill up your car gas tank in case you decide to leave town.

Leaving Home

  • Choose a hotel in another state or far away from the path of storm and arrange in advance, if possible. Some hotels will let you make reservations a few days in advance, so try to book a room.
  • Make sure your vehicle has battery cables, flashlight, first aid kit, tools, spare tire and road maps.
  • Make sure your vehicle had its monthly checkup. Change oil; fill up tank and checks liquids before you leave.
  • Pack clothes for at least 3 days.
  • Always check our university webpage for updates of when the university will re-open.
  • Give your cell phone number to your supervisor or on an index card make a list of your co-workers phone numbers.

Staying at Public Shelters

If you staying at public shelters, please contact your local public shelter to find out when they will be open for shelter.

  • Ensure you take the proper measures when considering staying at a public shelter. Some shelters may not permit dogs or cats unless they are animals for people with disabilities.
  • Bring towels, change of clothes, and hygiene products to shelter.
  • Bring a cooler for ice, drinks, and perishable foods.
  • If permitted, bring sleeping bags, blankets, pillows or inflatable beds. Shelters most likely will not have these items due to limited inventory.
  • Bring books, small games, magazines for entertainment.
  • Bring a battery operated radio or DVD player.
  • Bring a chair, preferably those that fold in a carrying bag.

Local Media

Stay tuned to your local radio stations to listen to current updates on storm.

Here is a list of radio stations you can tune in for update local news.

FM Stations / AM Stations
WGCU 90.1 / WWCN 700
WSOR 90.9 / WKII 1070
WINK 96.9 / WINK 1200/1240
WRLR 100.1 / WNOG 1270
WAVV 101.1 / WCRM 1350 (Spanish)
WXKB 103.9 / WWCL 1440 (Spanish)
WCKT 107.1 / WCCF 1580

Emergency Websites

In the event you need emergency assistance, one of these agencies can provide assistance.

Here is a list of websites that can be of assistance.

CSU Department of Atmospheric Science
Emergency Management – Charlotte County Government
Collier County : Emergency Management
Department of Homeland Security | Preserving our Freedoms, Protecting America
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Welcome to FloridaDisaster.org
American Red Cross
Lee County, Florida Division of Public Safety - Emergency Management/Emergency Operations Center
National Hurricane Center

Emergency Public Shelters

This is a partial list of emergency public shelters in Lee County.

Here is a partial list of emergency public shelters.

Alico Arena
12181 FGCU Lake Pkwy East / Alva Elementary
17500 Church Street
Alva Middle School
21219 N. River Road / Bonita Springs YMCA
27200 Kent Road
Colonial Elementary, Fort Myers
3800 Schoolhouse Road East / Dunbar High School
3800 E Edison Avenue
Estero High School
21900 River Ranch Road / Germain Arena
11000 Everblades Parkway
Lehigh Senior High School
801 Gunnery Road North / Littleton Elementary North Ft. Myers
700 Hutto Road
Mariner High School
701 Chiquita Boulevard / Riverdale High School
2600 Buckingham Road
South Fort Myers High School
14040 Plantation Boulevard / Three Oaks Middle
18500 Three Oaks Parkway

University Community

When the FGCU emergency representative notifies the University community that FGCU is suspending normal operations due to tropical storm or hurricane, faculty, and staff shall try to do the following:

  • Back up personal computers, recommendation is to purchase a memory key to back up important documentation.
  • If possible, cover those computers located on floor central processing units with garbage bags or put on top of desk to avoid water damage.
  • Pull down window blinds.
  • Prepare your building for maximum sustained winds. Bring things inside a building if items can be projectiles.
  • Protect important documents from water damage by storing them in file cabinets, desk draws, etc. If possible, important documents could be scanned and store in your departments server, CD, or memory key.
  • If business travel is around time of emergency, make the reasonable and necessary accommodations to travel or cancel travel.
  • Prepare emergency disaster kit for your department or for those essential personnel required to be on campus. Disaster kit may include the following contents: flashlight, batteries, poncho, hand sanitizer, security whistles, dust mask, work gloves, first aid kit, and multi pocket tool.
  • Check schedules for any special events on campus and cancel and re-schedule as appropriate.
  • In an orderly fashion, when directed to do so, please leave campus when FGCU Emergency Team directs you to.

FGCU Recovery
Do not attempt to return to the main campus or other off campus locations until an official announcement instructs you to return.

Please listen to local radio and television stations, contact (239) 590-1900 or access the FGCU web sites at updates.

Hurricane Assessment

Our continual cycle of preparing has taught us how to plan, evaluate, and recover all our damages during these storms. With your help, we will continue to request assistance from FEMA and the State of Florida.

When conducting damage assessment of university buildings taking pictures is an important ingredient for communicating damage to insurance companies. Chief Moore has agreed to have his staff take pictures of damages around campus. In order to receive assistance from FEMA for debris removal they will need pictures of debris on road such as fallen trees or branches blocking vehicles from entering a safe zone. Please estimate the amount of fallen debris in cubic yards, if possible. Per FEMA requirements, write a memo stating what was done with collected debris. For instance, was it shredded and made into mulch? The reason for this memo is to inform FEMA that we have taken environmentally friendly steps in recycling debris.EHShas before pictures; we need after hurricane hits pictures.

Take extra precautions when conducting damage assessments of campus.

Essential Personnel - FGCU employees permitted on campus to help restore campus to pre-storm conditions. This may include Physical Plant and Campus Police employees.

Essential personnel shall record all expenditures. Materials and supplies purchased for storm preparation (before) and to get campus back to pre-hurricane condition (after). Use attached spreadsheetlinkto write down all expenditures. Submit pictures, invoices, and proof of payment of invoices to risk management at earliest convenience when that damaged area is considered repaired to its pre-hurricane condition.

Essential personnel shall record the time and amount of fuel used for generators. Use attached spreadsheet linkto indicate size, capacity, horsepower, location, make, and model of generator used during power outage. Please keep separate the amount of fuel used for generators from that fuel used for university vehicles and mules and other equipment.

Essential personnel shall record equipment and vehicles used for debris removal and emergency work.

Essential personnel shall record fuel used for equipment and vehicles for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Please use the material and supply form to document fuel used for vehicles and equipment.

Essential personnel shall record laborhours for debris removal and emergency work when restoring campus to pre-hurricane conditions. Continue to give HR all your timesheets for FGCU personnel working during the disaster preparation and recovery period.

Essential personnel shall maintain time sheets documenting labor hours for those individuals hired from other agencies ie (prisoners) to help with debris removal or emergency protective measures.

Essential personnel shall maintain separate spreadsheets for each cost center for material and supplies, equipment, fuel usage, and labor.

Other Useful Information

2015 to 2020Names for Storms

NOAA “Action List”

FEMA checklist titled, Avoiding Hurricane Damage: A Checklist for Homeowners

DisasterSupply Kit- For your home or office.

Hurricane Tracking Chart

News (Click Here)

Current News Articles

Learn more about T.S. Bill

2015 – NOAA Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

25 Years: Hurricane Hugo Remembered

A few extra minutes means all the difference, NOAA’s National Weather Service Sets Sails on Improving Forecasts

2008 News Articles

News articlefrom NOAA titled, “Warmer Ocean Could Reduce Number of Atlantic Hurricane Landfalls.”

News article from NOAA titled, “NOAA Predicts Near Normal or Above Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season.”

News article fromNOAA titled, “NOAA Model Projects Fewer, But More Intense Hurricanes Late This Century.”

Forms

Employee claiming a recovery will fill out the attached spreadsheet form for materials and supplies. Material andSupplies Spreadsheet.

Employee claiming a recovery will fill out the attached spreadsheet form for equipment.Equipment Spreadsheet