Emergency Operations Center to Open
Southwest Florida Water Management District officials began preparations today to activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in anticipation of the possible landfall of Hurricane Wilma in Florida.
District officials today discussed coordination of activities with staff, state coordinators and the other water management districts.
The District plans to fully activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Brooksville Friday or Saturday morning, depending on the storm’s progress. At 3:30 p.m. Wednesday the hurricane was at Category 5 strength and projected to hit the southwestern coast of Florida late Saturday or early Sunday.
The District EOC is activated and staffed up to 24 hours a day during emergency conditions to monitor water levels, operate water structures, direct external crews, and provide up-to-the minute information to state and local government emergency groups, the media and the general public. The EOC is manned by operations staff, along with engineers, hydrologists and communications personnel. The EOC will be online with the State Live EOC Tracker Database. The Tracker system provides an alternative communications device that allows county emergency management officials to track requests, update reports, and keep informed of new developments and vital statistics during emergency events.
During the next two days, all of the District’s 79 water conservation and flood management structures will be inspected to make sure any debris that might interfere with reliable operation is removed, generators are in good operating condition in the event of power failures and that structures are well prepared for possible use. Staff has also been monitoring the water levels at these structures to determine what action, if any, is necessary.
The District’s hydrologic data collection network consisting of several hundred remote stations is also being checked to minimize the chances of malfunction during a potential major weather event. These sites collect rainfall, water level and streamflow information in many of the region’s lakes, rivers and streams.
Heavy equipment, transport vehicles, power tools and sandbagging equipment are being staged for use if required and District manpower shift assignments are being scheduled.
Information concerning District-related meeting cancellations and office closures will be provided to the media and made available on the Districts web site at www.Watermatters.org.