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District 2 Newsletter
What an interesting time. In the midst of dealing with a Pandemic we then experienced a Category 4 Hurricane bearing down on us. The management of the Hurricane set off a chain of events that this City has not had to deal with in twelve years.
The City immediately activated their Emergency Management Plan which began with Emergency Meetings of Administrative and Operational Staff, Infrastructure Preparation, and the Cancelling of all Leave for Employees.
As Hurricane Laura became a serious threat to the safety of our community a mandatory evacuation of the Island was ordered. This set off additional protocol culminating with having the Texas Department of Emergency Management evacuating hundreds of individuals that required assistance, to safe housing in Austin.
Staff and most of the City’s vehicles were moved to the Command Center at the San Luis Hotel, where the City was prepared for whatever the Storm would bring. City Crews were out Wednesday night and poised to manage any clean up that was needed.
We were fortunate that Laura passed us by and it was one heck of a way to test out our Hurricane Response Plan, but it showed the City is prepared for the next Storm.
Currently meetings are being held to determine the lessons learned from our response and what we can do differently to make the process more efficient.
What makes this whole experience so alarming is this is not a one time event. With Climate Change these storms may very well become more frequent and more intense. Hopefully not, but evacuations could become routine as we enter the Hurricane Season each year.
I realize that these Storms and the resultant preparations are quite a disruption to all our lives and I would like to personally thank you for your cooperation. Your actions, that prepared you and your family to weather the Storm safely, assisted the City in allowing us to concentrate on those activities that are geared to Hurricane Management.
Have an Uneventful September !
Craig
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