Author: Keith Jones

2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season – Preparation Tips

 

The Atlantic Hurricane season begins June 1, 2017 and runs through November 30, 2017.   The following information is being provided in advance of this year’s season to assist our community with preparation efforts should a Tropical Cyclone event threaten our City.  Last year Hurricane Matthew impacted our City and that storm should serve as a reminder that Tropical Storms are highly unpredictable and they can pose a serious threat to our community.

 

Family Preparedness Tips

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. Don’t forget a plan for your pet(s).
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows.  A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install.  Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts. Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies and test the generator before a storm.
• Get any cash you may need before banks close (ATM’s may not work due to loss of electricity).
• Locate and place important documents in a waterproof container.
• Charge your cell phone battery as well as camera battery in case you need to take pictures of property damage. Keep a cell phone charger in your vehicle.
• Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank because if there is a power outage in your area, gas pumps won’t work.
• First sanitize and then fill your bathtubs, sinks and other containers with water for sanitary usage.
• To keep food fresh, turn the settings on your refrigerator & freezer to their highest settings in case of a power outage.
• Turn off and unplug any non-essential electrical equipment in your house.

 

Know a Safe Place to Take Your Pet(s)

• Local and State health and safety regulations do not permit the Red Cross to allow pets in disaster shelters. (Service animals are allowed in Red Cross shelters.)
• Contact hotels and motels outside your local area to check their policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size and species. Ask if “no pet” policies can be waived in an emergency.  Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with your disaster supplies.
• Ask friends, relatives or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals.
• Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include twenty-four (24) hour phone numbers.
• Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets during a disaster.

Should you have any questions about the tips listed above, please feel free to contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

Additional Hurricane preparedness information can be obtained by accessing any of the following websites;

FEMA website:  http://www.fema.gov/

FEMA for the Disabled & Elderly: http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2006/05/03/disabled-elderly-need-prepare-hurricanes

Red Cross website: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family

Humane Society: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/pets-disaster.html#.U2vnPNTD-70

 

“Flagler Beach Enhancements for the Disabled”

 

The City of Flagler Beach is proud to announce the recent acquisition of equipment to enrich the Beach experience for residents and visitors with disabilities.  The equipment includes wheel chairs with extra-large tires for movement through sand, a semi-recliner chair for use in the water and wheel-chair accessible benches on the Pier.

 

The City thanks the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast for donating the two (2) beach wheel chairs.  The seaworthy chair, called a Mobi-Chair, was purchased in part with profits from the two (2) telescopes at the North 4^th and South 8^th Street Sea Dune crossovers, and through the City Recreation Fund.   All chairs are available to the public free of charge.  Additionally, wheel-chair accessible benches have been added to our World Famous Pier.

 

“Our continuing goal is to make our Beach experience one that is safe and memorable for all who come to Flagler Beach,” stated Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom.  “As a City we are pleased and proud to offer those with disabilities more access to our lovely beach and ocean.”

 

Persons or parties that would like to utilize the mobi-chair or the beach access chairs, should contact the on-duty Flagler Beach Pier & Bait Shop Attendant.  A Driver’s License or identification Card will be required to reserve the specialty equipment and will be promptly returned when the specialty equipment is returned. The daily hours of operation for the Flagler Beach Pier & Bait Shop are 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and the phone number for the Pier & Bait Shop is (386) 517-2436.  Photographs of the specialized equipment are on page two (2) of this release.

 

#FlaglerBeach

 

 

 

 

“Mobi-Chair”

 

 

 

Beach Access Chairs

 

 

Wheel Chair Accessible Benches

 

 

 

Flagler Beach Pier & Bait Shop

(386) 517-2436

Sea Dunes Protection Card

If you cannot see the two page card above, click HERE to open it.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

 

June 26, 2017

 

“Floating Sky Lanterns & Aerial Drones – July 4^th Festivities”

 

This year the Flagler Beach Police Department is once again requesting that aerial drones and floating sky lanterns stay grounded during this year’s Fourth of July festivities.

“Last year we issued a similar request and compliance by the public with that request was outstanding.  We’re issuing this year’s request in advance for the event in order to obtain similar results’” said Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney. “The helicopter allows us to identify traffic problems in real time and create solutions that are not easily recognizable at ground level.  Having the helicopter in unoccupied airspace after the fireworks is greatly appreciated”.

The increased use of aerial drones by the public over the past few years, along with the release of numerous floating sky lanterns after the 2015 fireworks presentation, has prompted this request.

In cases requiring an emergency response by Fire Flight, the helicopter may be required to land in a public area or near the beach.  Flying drones in or near an emergency helicopter pose a risk to the pilot as well as the general public and under FAA guidelines, unless you have a permit, they’re unlawful in Flagler Beach due to our close proximity to Flagler County Airport.

“While floating sky lanterns and drones may be beautiful to look at or fun to fly, they create a serious conflict with airspace,” Doughney continued.  “The safety of the public and the crew of the helicopter is our utmost priority”.

This request is being made in a proactive effort to reduce any conflicts in airspace.  We want this year’s event and subsequent traffic egress to be as safe as possible.  Your compliance with this request is greatly appreciated.

For more information regarding this request, please contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2022.

#FlaglerBeach4th

 

Floating Sky Lanterns

 

 

Aerial Drone

Hot Weather Tips

 

Summer officially starts on June 21, 2017 and the heat and humidity can present some very unique challenges.  The following tips are provided in an effort to assist our residents and visitors who may not be familiar with how to prepare themselves (and their pets) for extremely hot/humid weather.  We can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware, so please share this information with family, friends and neighbors.

 

The best defense is prevention.  Here are some prevention tips:

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level.  Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.  Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar; these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.  Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place.  If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness.  Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone or an animal in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Visit adults-at-risk at least twice a day and watch them closely for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
• Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:

• • Infants and young children
  • People aged 65 or older
  • People who have a mental illness
  • Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure

 

If you must be out in the heat: 

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Cut down on exercise.  If you must exercise, drink two (2) to four (4) glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.  A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first tip (above), too.
• Rest often in shady areas.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).

 

Tips for pets & companion animals;

 Visit the Vet:  A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe flea and tick control program.

 

Made in the Shade: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.

 

Know the Warning Signs:  Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

 

Additional hot weather safety tips can be accessed at the following links;

 

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.html

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/hot-weather-tips

beready_extreme_heat