ACT ON YOUR PLAN
Friends, Residents, and Tourists,
Hopefully, you had a great 4th of July weekend and heeded our warning top plan for Tropical Storm Elsa. Your City staff and elected officials have been busy, between ensuring our beaches were perfect with our annual garbage bag distribution occurring at the beach and in our parks, and our progressing Emergency Operation Plan. Thank you to the volunteers, employees, and elected officials who helped residents fill sandbags at John Pass Park on Sunday and at Archibald Memorial Park on Monday. Special thanks to Mayor Hendricks and Commissioner Hudson who worked hard both days. The sandbag filling will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, July 6 for residents and our friends in the Redingtons, as long as weather conditions are calm.
The time of arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa should affect us has been delayed because the storm has slowed. As of 3 p.m. today, the tropical storm force winds should be experienced from 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2021 and continue through Wednesday, July 7, 2021. The forecasters have been waiting to see how strong the storm is as it leaves Cuba. The tides may be 2 – 4 feet higher than normal at high tide.
The time to put your plan in action is tomorrow once we know more about the storm:
- DO NOT PANIC!
- Secure your home and place a plastic barrier down with sandbags on top with minimal gaps between the bags.
- Implement your evacuation plan. Keep in mind that the County shelters will not open with a Tropical Storm. Take your valuables and pets with you, to a friends or relatives house, or a hotel on high land. Take some pictures of your home for insurance purposes.
- If you decide to shelter in place, you are making a commitment to stay in your home during the storm. If your home floods, please remember downed power lines can energize standing water and can kill you or members of your family. If you home floods, turn your breakers off so chances are you will not be shocked.
- After the storm if you shelter in place, make sure it is safe to exit your home and again take photographs of the interior of your home and the exterior. Photograph any evidence of the flood water height inside and outside your home, preferably water marks by your front door.
- We will have City damage assessment teams out on Wednesday as soon as conditions are safe. They will have City identification and we ask that you cooperate with their documentation requirements before you start stripping items out of your home. Representatives from our building department will also be available to answer questions.
- We will have our phones at City Hall operating on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 and Wednesday July 7, 2021 during normal business hours.
- Remember to stay informed:
My plans are to update this information tomorrow and on Wednesday. Please be safe and do not panic. Keep informed. Should you have any questions, please e-mail me at rdaniels@madeirabeachfl.gov.
Good Luck,
Bob Daniels
City Manager, City of Madeira Beach