This year’s Palmetto Bay Hurricane Preparedness Workshop conducted on Saturday, June 9, drew more residents than last year’s event, perhaps due to the impact of Hurricane Irma lin 2017.
Intermittent light showers and a gloomy sky kept the vendor and information tables indoors in the lobby with residents browsing those before filling the Council Chambers to hear guest speakers Robert Molleda and Bryan Norcross.
After welcoming remarks by Mayor Eugene Flinn and the presentation of awards certificates to businesses, organizations and individuals who had helped the community after Hurricane Irma, the first speaker was Robert Molleda, the Warning Coordinator Meteorologist at NOAA, who talked about some of the history of storms in the area. Molleda used radar photos and charts to show the paths of previous storms.
“More major hurricanes have hit South Florida than any other part of the country,” said Molleda, who talked about wind damage, storm surge, evacuation zones and the significance of forecast cones.
At noon parks staffers grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and served chips and sodas to attendees for a stand-up lunch in the patio during a break in the weather.
Back in the Council Chambers following lunch, meteorologist and hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross, who currently is part of the WPLG Channel 10 weather team, was introduced by village PIO Kelly Craig, who covered Hurricane Andrew with Norcross 26 years ago.
“Hurricane Andrew was the most important hurricane of modern times,” Norcross said. “As a result of it, forecasting is better now; preparations are better now; insurance is worse now.”
He talked about that, about the 2017 hurricane season — especially Irma, about how the Pacific Ocean phenomenon known as El Niño influences storms and other factors, as well as what to expect this year.
“Odds are near normal or below normal for storms this year,” Norcross said, but pointed out that it only takes one bad storm to cause significant damage. He added, “No other city has had the eye of a hurricane go over it as much as Miami.”
As in previous years, a power generator was given away as a raffle prize and this year’s winner was village resident Chad Murray, who was excited to win.
“I’m all charged up,” he joked.
Mayor Flinn said he was pleased with the event, adding that the workshop’s information materials still are available at Village Hall.
“The turnout was outstanding this year,” Flinn said. “I think that after Irma people felt the need to get out here and get refreshed. The information was even better. We hope that everybody gets a chance to go through the materials we had, if you didn’t get a chance to get out here.
“We all worked well together after the storm last year,” the mayor added. “We’re all prepped, ready to go, and hopefully we’re prepared for the worst. We’ll hope for the best and that none of it’s needed.”
Council member Karyn Cunningham also was pleased with the event.
“This year, in addition to NOAA meteorologist Robert Molleda, we also had Bryan Norcross who brought his 50 years of experience in broadcasting and meteorology to our residents,” Cunningham said. “If you have been through a hurricane, you know how scary it can be.
“Events like this one help raise awareness and give real time tips to our residents that will help them prepare and stay safe in the event of a hurricane,” she said. “Special thanks to our park and communications staff for making this well attended event a success.”
Judy Stockman, a resident and member of the Palmetto Bay Garden Club, attended the workshop for the first time and was impressed with it.
“This meeting was outstanding,” Stockman said. “You learn new things every day. Even though you live in a hurricane area, I’ve learned a lot.”
She said she especially liked the speakers and the information from Bryan Norcross about how some of the damage hadn’t been caused by actual tornados in the storm but by something called spin-ups.
The event, which began at 11 a.m., wrapped around 2 p.m.
