Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis made a stop in Fort Myers, Friday, urging people to get prepared for hurricane season and to highlight first responders with the state’s Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces.
With forecasters predicting another above-average hurricane season this year, Patronis held a storm preparedness event at the San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District station.
This year, the state legislature allocated $500,000 to cover education and training costs for members of the eight Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces throughout Florida. Patronis explained these first responders go door-to-door immediately after a disaster to provide potentially life-saving aide.
“As they are entering into these buildings, adverse conditions, whether it be dealing with potential gas leaks, down electricity, so again, these men and women, they’re kind of the elite,” said Patronis.
“They’re the best of the best. Some of the training they go into is a little more involved because of the catastrophic destruction they may be encountering.”
Florida’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Six consists of first responders with the Bonita Springs, Estero, San Carlos Park, South Trail, Iona McGregor, Fort Myers Beach, North Collier, Fort Myers Shores, Tice, Cape Coral and City of Fort Myers Fire Departments with support from Lee County EMS and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida CFO’s office coordinates these teams in times of disaster and Patronis thanked members of Southwest Florida’s Task Force Six who traveled to his hometown of Panama City following the devastation from Hurricane Michael in 2018.
“Hurricane Michael hit Northwest Florida and these men and women were literally boots on the ground hours after the storm hit,” said Patronis.
“Florida Forestry, the Department of Transportation, would cut the paths for them to go in and enter into those neighborhoods to do their jobs.”
Conversely, Urban Search & Rescue Task Force teams from other parts of the state were in Southwest Florida after Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Patronis is also warning against fraud, noting that the number of scams experienced after Hurricane Irma turned out to be one of the biggest lessons learned from that storm.
“These unscrupulous contractors will come through. They’ll come here from out of state. They will follow the storms because they know they will enter into somebody’s neighborhood. They will knock on your door. You will be vulnerable. And they’ll have you sign up, whether it be an assignment of benefits, which is called an AOB, or they will find some other way for you to part ways or sign documents,” said Patronis.
To avoid being scammed, he urges people to call their insurance carriers first or to contact the state CFO’s office at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO. The CFO’s office employs some 300 law enforcement officers who conduct fraud investigations.
Patronis also urges people, especially new residents who haven’t experienced a hurricane, to visit PrepareFL.com for information on how to prepare for hurricane season.
Hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November 30. Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict another season of above-average activity with 13 to 20 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes.
Patronis held a similar disaster preparedness event in Orlando on Thursday.
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