June Chamber at Noon: Preparing for Hurricane Season

By SJC Chamber of Commerce

6/13/2024

We all dread hurricane season, but we also know how important it is to be prepared. At June's Chamber at Noon, Kelly Wilson of St. Johns County Emergency Management shared critical information about how we all can make sure our families, homes and businesses are ready for anything.

Wilson explained that the most fundamental function of Emergency Management is coordinating information and resources. During a storm, dozens of people fill the Emergency Operations Center to provide support to the community and direct resources to those who need them.

Preparing for hurricane season is always important, but with so much new development, the county has more residents who might have never experienced a Florida hurricane season, so education and communication is more important than ever. The county's Emergency Management department has many resources for residents and businesses, and Wilson emphasized the importance of making a plan well before a storm is headed our way.

While St. Johns County hasn't experienced a direct hit by a hurricane since Hurricane Dora made landfall near St. Augustine in 1964, the county is still impacted by hurricanes nearly every year. Flooding (from both storm surge and rainfall) can be devastating, and heavy wind is often responsible for major damage. Wilson pointed out the importance of knowing if your home or business is in a flood zone (which is different from your evacuation zone) and of carrying flood insurance.

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June's Chamber at Noon was sponsored by All Dry of Southeast Jacksonville.