After the 2024 hurricane season, some homeowners have yet to return to their residences. As a new hurricane season draws near, Manatee County residents warned they need a strategy now.
According to county officials, they are even more prepared to deal with any situation that arises this year.
Three devastating hurricanes hit Manatee County in a span of two months. Matt Myers, the county’s emergency management chief, advises citizens to prepare for the upcoming storm season while the recovery process continues.
“They need to be prepared now for anything that can happen,” Myers stated.
The same has been true in Manatee County. The ability of the rescue squad to reach residents at night has been improved within the past year.
Additionally, they have improved technologies.
“The rapid response we can do with the information, it’s faster and it’s better,” Myers stated.
Collaborating with Peregrine, a business that assists in compiling a dashboard of real-time data from all throughout Manatee County. By identifying places that require assistance, Manatee County will be able to provide resources more quickly.
“We can source 911 calls using the artificial intelligence to run through the calls for us and type in flooding, and it will plot it on the map. We will know where those calls are coming in from, so we can start flooding,” Myers stated.
It also aids in delivering supplies to households and identifying what will be required throughout the long-term recovery process, according to Jodie Fiske, the director of public safety for Manatee County.
“That leads to expedited categories of reimbursement. That leads to major declarations. All of the steps we need to do we have cut really critical time off of the process we had before to get it moving to get our residents what we need,” Fiske stated.
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Manatee County stated that they are available to assist citizens as they begin a new storm season, some of whom may still have damage or issues.
“We want people to be proactive in asking the questions, hopefully before we take an impact,” Fiske stated.
On June 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., Manatee County will host a coffee and questions event at the Emergency Operations Center, situated at 2101 47th Terrace East in Bradenton. Residents are welcome to ask inquiries and voice any concerns.
