Weekly Comments from Dale Martin

Dale Martin
City Manager
Fernandina Beach
October 14, 2016 1:00 a.m.

Well, we made it through Hurricane Matthew. Given that it was the most powerful storm to hit this region since Hurricane Dora in 1964, the City fared surprisingly well: no injuries or fatalities were immediately attributable to the storm and private property damage was relatively light. As can be seen on every street, tree debris lines the curb.

The City marina suffered the most extensive damage- enough so that it is almost entirely out-of-service for the time being. Docks are damaged, ramps collapsed, fuel lines exposed, fire suppression inoperable, and electric services disrupted. The assessment of the damage and extent of repairs will take both time and money- likely lots of both.

Other City facilities damaged include the Bosque Bello cemetery and the golf courses (both the Fernandina Beach Golf Club and the leased Amelia River Golf Club). At all of those locations, dozens of trees have been knocked down or significantly damaged. No other facilities or infrastructure suffered more than minor damage.

So looking backward to plan forward, here are a few comments from my perspective.

The call to evacuate was appropriate. The anticipatory tension in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was high. All incoming reports continued to emphasize the possibility of significant storm surge and flooding. Most of our pre-storm activity, other than waiting for the storm, was preparing for the aftermath. I ordered dump trucks, excavators, grapple trucks, chain saw teams, generators, fuel tanks, and flat-bottom boats- and not just one or two, but a dozen of everything. Those assets take days to mobilize, so we had to set that process in motion. That was the devastating environment that we had to prepare for. I do not begrudge anyone for staying, but staying could have had a much different outcome. The call to evacuate was not to incite fear, but a critical function of government’s role in the health, safety, and welfare of our residents.

Social media was a distraction. Several specific web sites were repeatedly announced as sources of official information, including the Nassau County Emergency Management site. It appears that many instead sought information on social media sites from their brother’s cousin’s sister-in-law’s nephew who is a window-washer at Florida Public Utilities and says that FPU is going to intentionally cut-off power to the Island. FPU put out formal statements on its site and through other news media sites declaring that power would not be intentionally terminated, but social media wouldn’t let go of that rumor.

The discussions related to the closing and opening of the Island bridges were unending and inevitably incorrect. On numerous occasions, EOC staff was scrambling to find the source of such rumors and correct the erroneous information. Facebook and other social media sites are excellent tools for sharing personal information, and it that regard, provided outstanding first-person perspectives as the storm hit and passed. For official information, though, use official sites.

City staff on duty performed admirably. I left the Island early Friday morning to return to the EOC. After quickly touring the City, I stopped at the Police Department and saw roughly thirty officers either coming on duty or getting ready to grab what little rest they could before the storm hit later in the day. A Fire Department crew and a small section of Utilities workers hunkered down elsewhere. Chief Hurley and I (at the EOC) continually analyzed the storm predictions and other information to coordinate the on-Island efforts led by Chief Silcox and Deputy Chief Foxworth. If the severity of the storm warranted, we were prepared to pull that staff off the Island to safety in a last minute convoy.

At some point, we made the call to shelter-in-place, remaining on the Island but not servicing calls. The safety of City personnel was our first priority (and a consequence for those who did not evacuate). I was most reassured by the experience and recommendations offered by Chief Hurley and Chief Silcox. The dedication of their personnel, and of Juan Brown and Gabriel Davis and other Utilities staff, enabled other staff, led by Mr. Rex Lester and Mr. Jeremiah Glisson, to immediately begin damage assessment and recovery activities. Several other staff supported operations at the EOC from Wednesday through Sunday.

Recovery will take time and resources. Disaster recovery represents a return to normal, but the “new normal” is never quite the same. Some change will inevitably occur. Most federal disaster funding is reimbursement- the City will have to spend money first, and then possibly receive federal funding (which is typically not 100% reimbursement, but usually 80%). It is a paperwork and personnel and time intensive process. Please be patient as we not only manage the storm recovery, but also resume normal City operations.

We still have this wonderful community, which is something I believe many of us would not have believed one week ago. Some significant challenges and fears in the community (timely evacuations, mill operations, building integrity, beach stability) have been confronted and overcome. We will review our operations and determine where we can improve, but we are proud to serve this community and call Fernandina Beach home.

Farewell, Matthew.