The Palmetto Bay Municipal Center hosted the Tri-City Hurricane Preparedness Workshop the morning of Saturday, June 4, with the village, Cutler Bay and Pinecrest participating. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava also was involved with the workshop.
The purpose of the workshop was to provide residents with information needed to keep their homes and loved ones safe in the event of a hurricane. Besides officials and staff from the three municipalities and Commissioner Levine Cava’s office, representatives from the county’s Solid Waste Department, Office of Emergency Management, UF/County Extension office, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Power and Light and other sponsors took part.
Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn gave the welcoming remarks and introduction. Councilmember Karyn Cunningham introduced the partnering cities, and Miami Dade County District 8 chief of Constituent Services Maria Levrant spoke. There was a presentation by Robert Molleda, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Mayor Flinn was pleased with the workshop and expressed his appreciation to everyone who participated.
“We’ve had some great assets here today,” he said. “Our concern is to work together — our three cities — Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Cutler Bay. This is about our properties, our pets, the lives of our families. We are happy to bring this event back to Palmetto Bay and thank our Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava and our neighboring cities for partnering with us.”
Cutler Bay town manager Rafael Casals praised town staff members who took part in the workshop.
“Both our Public Works director, Alfredo Quintero, and storm water director, Yenier Vega, did a great job in providing participants who attended the Tri-City Hurricane Workshop several outreach informational materials, answering resident’s questions regarding evacuation procedures, and flood insurance information,” Casals said.
“The town’s storm water modeling display was very popular amongst participants since it provides residents a better understanding of daily pollutants that are discharged into the storm water system. Town staff provided mitigation efforts that can reduce the discharge of daily pollutants,” he added.
The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, but Hurricane Alex formed in the northeastern Atlantic in mid-January.
Tropical Storm Bonnie developed in late May, and Colin formed on June 5, making it the earliest third named storm in the Atlantic region in recorded history.
The forecast released from Colorado State University’s Dr. Phil Klotzbach in consultation with long-time hurricane expert Dr. William Gray calls for a total of 12 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes this season. The season will officially end on Nov. 30.
