Law enforcement planning for Hurricane Ian despite uncertainty of strength, path

Like everyone else on the Treasure Coast this weekend, law enforcement agencies are eyeing the tropics to see what will develop if Tropical Depression 9 becomes Hurricane Ian.

“We have to have all the 'what ifs' covered,” Martin County Sheriff’s spokesperson Christine Christofek said Friday.

Sheriff William Snyder's staff met Friday to review their plans, confirm shift rosters, get weather updates and plans to continue monitoring for local impacts.

Snyder said Friday “we pray for the best and prepare for the worst.”

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In addition, every staff member of the Seriff’s Office tasked with responding during a storm has an individual duty station, Snyder said.

“Everybody knows where to go, what shifts to work. Of course, we're prepared as always to staff shelters," Snyder said. "Some of our special units will do that."

In St. Lucie County, Sheriff Ken Mascara said one precaution he has taken is to order extra fuel for his patrol cruisers and other vehicles in case there's a shortage. The Sheriff's Office has its own fueling stations.

"We monitor Port Everglades, because that's where our fuel comes from," he said. "We had a storm in the past that didn't affect us, but it was going to hit in the south and it was expected to delay fuel for several days. So this week, we doubled up our fuel order. We use a lot of gas."

Other agencies, such as Port St. Lucie and Sewall's Point police departments, said they were also monitoring the storm, which could reach southwest Florida in the middle of next week, if it stays on its current path.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Friday for 24 counties, including Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties, in anticipation of impacts from the storm. The declaration makes available important resources and support, as well as frees up funding sources for emergency protective measures. Under this this emergency order, members of the Florida National Guard will be activated and on standby awaiting orders.

"We're working closely with the city's Emergency Management Office," said Port St. Lucie police Lt. John Dellacroce, encouraging the public to keep an eye on the city's social media pages for developing information.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said he and others in his agency Friday were on a conference call with the Florida Sheriff's Association Task Force "preparing assets for wherever (the storm) may make landfall.

"We want to assure the community that our agency and our partner sheriff's offices around the state are prepared should (the storm) come our way.”

Indian River County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Joe Abollo said he is the liaison between the agency and Indian River County's Emergency Operations Center. He would direct the resources, like the U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard, if they were needed anywhere in the county.

The storm’s track early next week will dictate when Stuart Police kicks their plans into high gear,  Lt. Richard Shine said.

“If the track turns and looks like it's coming our way, we will kick into the storm plan early before anything happens,” Shine said. “But right now, we're just gonna keep monitoring the track to see. So probably Sunday, Monday, as it moves, we'll pay attention to that and maybe start to get our supplies together.”

The storm is already prompting event postponements. Martin County High School’s homecoming parade was scheduled for Thursday, Shine said, but that has been moved to October..

Officials with Fellsmere, Sebastian and Vero Beach police departments all said they are independently monitoring the storm.

Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said he had informed “key staff” among the department and, if necessary, the town would activate its own emergency response plan.

“It appears based on projected paths we have time to make more specific preparations as the direction becomes more predictable,” said Touchberry.

Sebastian police spokesperson Capt. Timothy Wood said depending on weekend developments, and if the county decides to open its EOC, the department would post one officer there as liaison for the department between the county and town officials.

“As the weekend kind of goes on we’ll be looking a little closer (and) making preparations based on that as we get a little bit closer,” said Wood.

In Vero Beach, police spokesperson Master Police Officer Darrell Rivers said officials would discuss its next steps at a Monday staff meeting.

“After we look at it over the weekend we’ll make a determination,” said Rivers.

An all-terrain response

In the event of flooding, some of the agencies have vehicles just for the occasion.

“We made sure that our … high-water vehicles that we got from the military are all running in tip top shape, the batteries are charged," Snyder said. "We have three high water vehicles we can position throughout the county prior to a storm arrival. That's what we tend to do. One south, one north and one west.  That way if we get flooding we can get in and get people out.”

Snyder also has two special-trained rapid response teams with about 20 members each that are put on notice to remain on stand-by and to check their gear."

“They are especially equipped for national natural disasters,” Snyder said. "And if we did get impacted and it was a substantial storm, a big wind event, we would use our Bearcat which is our SWAT tactical vehicle."

Their array of heavy vehicle equipment gives deputies the ability to respond in almost any conditions, Snyder said.

Still, he stressed that if you are in an area that should evacuate during a storm, then you should get out, Snyder said.

Key things you can do to prepare

In the event of a major storm, these preparatiosn help. It's never too early to do this, even if a major storm is not foreast for the area.

• Create an evacuation plan. Plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and if you have to evacuate.

• Build an emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for infants or pets, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area and emergency contact information.

• Be informed. Find out how local officials will contact you and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders.

Source: American Red Cross

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Law enforcement planning for Hurricane Ian uncertain path