CUI

Hurricane Preparedness Brief Jaret Mats

Emergency Manager

USAG-Miami

Directorate of Operations 

Email: jaret.c.mats.civ@mail.mil, PH: 305-437-2570 
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS OBJECTIVES

 Understanding Destructive Weather Hazards 

 South Florida – Hazards & Risk Analysis 

 How to Be Prepared 

 Resources & Information

 Post storm actions and recovery
23May2022

South Florida Destructive Weather
23May2022

Understanding the Cone

• Cone predictions are often misinterpreted as impact area vs. storm center 

(eye) path

• NOAA acknowledges intensity predictions are unreliable

• Rapid changes require constant monitoring

• Wind speed category ‘downgrade’ does not mean less threat: Hide from 

wind; Run from water. 
23May2022

Understanding the Cone

66% probability

the eye path will 

fall within 

the cone
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

Storm Surge vs Flood Zones

Flood ZoneMap

Flood zone: Mapped by FEMA for use in the National 

Flood Insurance Program. Each flood zone designation 

tells homeowners exactly what the risk is for flooding at 

their property over a period of years, regardless of the 

cause. By law, all homes in high-risk zones carrying a 

mortgage must be covered by flood insurance.

The Flood Zones and the Storm Surge 

Planning Zones are determined by different 

methods and have different purposes.

Residents must check both zones.

Storm Surge Map (SLOSH)

Storm Surge 

Planning 

Zones: Based 

on hurricane 

storm surge 

determined by 

the National 

Hurricane 

Center using 

ground 

elevation and 

the area’s 

vulnerability to 

water from 

lakes/oceans 

being pushed 

over land by a 

hurricane. The 

storm surge 

planning zones 

are marked 

from A through

E.

You CAN be impacted by hurricane tidal surge flooding

WITHOUT being in a 100 year flood plain!

You CAN be in a flood zone without being in a Storm 

Surge Planning Zone.

Evacuation zones are normally based on Storm

Surge zones but check with your county!
23May2022

Know Your Zone

• Know your Storm Surge/Evacuation Zone

• Miami Dade Storm Surge Interactive map (also on Ready MDC app):

http://mdc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4919c85a439f40c68d7b3c81c3f44b58

• Broward Storm Surge/Evacuation:

http://www.broward.org/Hurricane/Pages/EvacuationRoutes.aspx

• Palm Beach County Surge/Evacuation (also on PBC Dart app):

https://www.discover.pbc.gov/org/publicsafety/dem/Publications/Evacuation%20-Zones.pdf
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

Basic Hurricane Kit Essentials

• Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for 

evacuation, 2-week supply for home).

• Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply 

for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).

• Medications: (7-day supply) and medical items.

• Flashlights or Solar Powered Light Source

• Radio, battery-powered or hand-crank (NOAA Weather 

Radio if possible).

• Extra batteries.

• First aid kit.

• Multi-purpose tool, like Leatherman or Swiss Army knife.
23May2022

Build a Kit/s

• Prepare for worst case scenario 

• Fail to plan=plan to fail. 

• Build kit/s and review/replenish/cycle supplies

(72 hours minimum)

• Know the difference between Emergency Kit and Disaster Kit

• Emergency kit should have 72 hours of supplies

• Disaster kit for longer periods of no electricity or water lasting 14-30 days, even minor hurricanes 

may result in week(s) of power loss/boil water orders

• Talk the plan and kit over with your family – get input!

• Use checklists – particularly for the last-minute changes to planning.

• Exercise the plan – find gaps and instill confidence • For example, Pre-Hurricane season: test your kit for a day! 3 meals from kit; no lights or plug-in 

electricity for 1 night (spare batteries, power bank, card games)

• Does your spouse/family have access to everything to be ready without you if you are TDY or 

deployed?

• Inform your relatives and supervisor of your plan and/or 

evacuation
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS (Post Storm)

• After the Storm

• Monitor the news before, during and after the storm for information on curfews, shelters,

relief centers, contaminated water order

• Contact relatives/supervisor with your status (consider texting)

• Minimize calls and driving to allow emergency calls, first responders and utility repair personnel to 

get through

• Conduct a damage assessment and take photos of damage if possible

• Keep all receipts

• No generators indoors (or near air vents, windows)

• Avoid injury – limited emergency response capability (e.g., removing debris/cutting down trees/ 

flooded areas)

• Post Storm Potential Conditions and Hazards

• Do not trust what you cannot see! (debris blocked & flooded streets)

• Drive with caution due to missing traffic lights/stop signs

• Shortage of food, water, fuel and supplies

• Prepare for prolonged loss of utilities and public services; downed power lines

• Boil water orders due to contamination 
23May2022

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
23May2022

Local Resources

• Miami Dade Emergency Management

• http://www.miamidade.gov/oem

• Broward Emergency Management

• http://www.broward.org/Hurricane

• Monroe County Emergency Management

• https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov

• Emergency Management Resources:

• www.readysouthflorida.org (FL counties) 

• www.floridadisaster.org (FL state) 

• https://www.ready.gov (Federal) 

• SC Hurricane Hotline: 305-437-3919
23May2022

Additional Resources

• Weather

• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

• Consider apps like “My Radar”, “Max Tracker” (local 10 news)

• Local News and Weather (Battery operated radio in kit!)

• County Resources

• Miami Dade Emergency Management

http://www.miamidade.gov/oem (App: ReadyMDC, plus alert signup available)

• Broward Emergency Management

http://www.broward.org/hurricane (Alert signup available)

• Monroe County Emergency Management

https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov

• Palm Beach Public Safety (App: PBCDart; plus alert signup available)

http://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem/pages/default.aspx
Discussions & Questions?

Mr. Jaret Mats, USAG-Miami Emergency Manager