Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 29
00:04
What’s up, guys, and welcome back to another episode of the Hustle & Heat Podcast. Today is Episode 29, and we’re talking about the “H” word.
Today we’re joined by Stacy from the City of North Port Emergency Management Division to discuss hurricane season, what you should prepare for, and what you need to look out for.
Thank you so much for joining us today.
Thank you for having me. I’m excited to be here.
Tell us a little about what you do and why you do it.
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00:29
I’m the Emergency Manager for the City of North Port, and I’ve been there for about three and a half years.
When we’re not responding to disasters, we’re updating emergency plans, conducting training, and strengthening relationships with our local, county, state, and federal partners because we can’t recover from disasters alone.
During and after a disaster, we coordinate the city’s response and recovery efforts to help get everything back to normal.
What is the mission of North Port Emergency Management?
We take an all-hazards approach. That includes hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and man-made disasters. Our mission is to improve preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation so our community becomes more resilient.
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01:30
When you say man-made disasters, what does that include?
Things like active shooter incidents or civil unrest—situations where people intentionally cause harm to others.
Didn’t we have an active shooter a month or two ago?
That’s a little different. Individual shootings are typically handled by the Police Department. Emergency Management becomes involved during large-scale incidents with multiple casualties when we need to coordinate family reunification, outside resources, and additional assistance if local agencies become overwhelmed.
What are the biggest hurricane threats facing North Port residents?
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02:02
There are three major threats: storm surge, flooding, and wind.
Even though North Port isn’t directly on the Gulf, we’re still affected by storm surge because water can travel up the Myakka River into the city, which happened during Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Flooding is another major concern because North Port sits at the end of a watershed. We have to manage rainfall that falls inside the city as well as rainfall that falls north of us and eventually drains through the Big Slough into the city.
What is the Big Slough?
It’s the watershed north of the city that drains into Myakkahatchee Creek. If you look just north of North Port, you’ll see a large conservation area made up of wetlands, and all of that water eventually drains into the city.
Is that why North Port floods so much?
That’s one reason. Another thing people often call flooding is actually ponding. Our streets are designed to temporarily hold stormwater while the swales drain. Once the swales empty, the water flows from the streets into the stormwater system.
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03:57
The third major hurricane threat is wind.
We always say, “Run from the water. Hide from the wind.”
If you live in an older home that wasn’t built to today’s wind standards, you may need to evacuate to a stronger structure.
What are the biggest mistakes people make before a storm?
One of the biggest mistakes is assuming every hurricane is the same.
People say, “My house survived Hurricane Charley, so it’ll survive Hurricane Ian.”
Both storms were Category 4 hurricanes with similar tracks, but their impacts were completely different.
Charley was a much smaller storm moving around 25 miles per hour. It moved through quickly, produced less rainfall, and affected a relatively small area.
Ian was much larger and moved at only about 8 miles per hour. Because it moved so slowly, it dropped far more rain and pushed significantly more storm surge inland.
Even if two storms have the same category, that doesn’t mean they’ll have the same impacts.
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04:54
Hurricane Ian was my first real hurricane.
There had been a couple of storms before that where we put the shutters up and nothing really happened.
But Ian was different.
During the storm, everything seemed fine. Then you opened the front door afterward and realized just how much had changed.
It was definitely an all-day event.
How far in advance should families start preparing when they think a hurricane might be coming?
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00:05:22
You should start preparing before you ever think a hurricane is coming.
Before hurricane season, pick up a few supplies every time you go to the store so your hurricane kit is ready. A lot of hurricane preparedness items are now tax-free year-round in Florida, which makes it easier for families to stock up.
We recommend having everything ready before a storm is on the way because once people start preparing at the last minute, stores run out of water, toilet paper, and shelf-stable food very quickly.
What should families have in their hurricane kit?
Make sure you have shelf-stable food, plenty of water, toilet paper, and all of your medications. If a state of emergency is declared, you may be able to refill prescriptions ahead of time.
Don’t forget pet food and treats if you have animals. Portable battery chargers are also important because power outages can last for an extended period. Those are some of the basics everyone should have.
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06:14
How important is it to prepare for pets during a hurricane?
It’s a big deal.
During Hurricane Ian, we experienced hurricane-force and tropical storm-force winds for hours. If you have a dog that needs to go outside, it can become very difficult because you can’t safely open your doors during the storm.
The good news is that all of the county’s evacuation shelters are pet-friendly. If you have a cat or dog, bring their vaccination records, food, a crate, and any other supplies they’ll need. As long as you’re prepared, they can stay with you at the shelter.
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07:09
Talk to us a little about evacuations. How do they work, and when should people leave?
Every storm is different.
If we’re dealing with a tropical storm, the county may only evacuate residents in mobile home communities because manufactured homes typically aren’t built to withstand those types of winds.
For stronger storms, the evacuation levels expand based on the projected impacts. Hurricane Milton, for example, was expected to have much greater impacts before it weakened just before landfall. Because of those forecasts, Sarasota County ordered evacuations through Level C.
Evacuations are based on storm surge, not simply on the category of the hurricane. The county looks at how much water is expected to be pushed inland before deciding which evacuation levels need to leave.
How do you determine those numbers?
The National Weather Service provides reasonable worst-case scenario forecasts, and we make our decisions based on that data.
So you’re constantly communicating with them?
Absolutely. Multiple times a day whenever a storm is approaching.
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08:41
What about tornadoes during hurricanes? How do people know when those are coming?
Hurricanes can produce tornadoes.
During Hurricane Milton, there were numerous tornadoes on Florida’s east coast. It all depends on how the outer rain bands develop and move.
The challenge is that tornadoes often develop with very little warning. You’ll usually receive a tornado warning on your phone, and by then you should already be sheltering in the safest interior part of your home.
People sometimes see videos of drivers caught near tornadoes. What should they do?
The safest thing is not to be on the road in the first place.
If you can safely pull over and find shelter, do that. The National Weather Service has excellent tornado safety information, but if there’s absolutely no shelter available, they recommend finding the lowest ground possible.
Our biggest message is simple: stay off the roads during hurricanes so you never find yourself in that situation.
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10:12
How do you communicate with residents during emergencies?
There are several ways.
Residents can sign up for Alert Sarasota County through the City’s alerts page. That’s our mass notification system, and it’s how we send life-safety information before, during, and after a storm.
You’ll receive notifications about evacuation orders, shelter openings, points of distribution, fuel sites, and other important updates.
After a storm, that same webpage includes information about road closures, debris removal, curfews, shelters, and recovery resources.
We also encourage everyone to follow the City’s social media pages for updates.
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11:13
How can residents become more involved?
We have Community Emergency Response Teams throughout the city.
Most of those teams are organized by neighborhood associations and managed by the residents themselves. They become a valuable resource within their communities and often help neighboring areas after disasters as well.
If anyone is interested in starting a CERT team, they’re welcome to reach out. We have plenty of resources available and can connect people with everything they need to get started.
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12:19
How can local businesses better prepare for hurricane season?
Have a continuity plan.
Think about how your business operates every day. If the power goes out, the internet is down, or payment systems stop working, how will you continue serving your customers?
Businesses like restaurants become especially important after disasters because people still need access to food.
Take care of your employees by giving them time to prepare their homes and families before a storm. Make sure everyone has a plan, and have a way to check on your employees after the storm has passed.
Protect your building with shutters or sandbags whenever appropriate, and make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for hurricane damage.
Businesses play an important role in helping communities recover after disasters, so being prepared benefits everyone.
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00:13:48
I try to open as soon as possible after a hurricane.
Luckily, I’m on the same electrical grid as Home Depot and Walmart, so I usually get power back pretty quickly.
The day before a storm, I bring in a truckload of inventory and fill my cooler. Some people think I’m crazy, but I take that chance.
If the power goes out, it goes out. In my experience, it’s usually been out for about six hours, and the cooler holds its temperature long enough for us to reopen the next day.
During Hurricane Ian, my dad’s restaurant couldn’t get food deliveries for almost a week. We were buying supplies from Publix every day just to keep going.
It was definitely a struggle.
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14:43
What resources are available for elderly or special needs residents?
Sarasota County has a great program in partnership with the Department of Health for people who are electrically dependent.
You don’t have to be elderly to qualify. If you rely on oxygen, refrigerated insulin, or other medical equipment that requires electricity, you can register for the Special Medical Needs Program.
If you qualify, you’ll be assigned to a medical shelter with generator power and Department of Health nurses on site.
They also partner with Breeze Transit. If you’re unable to drive and need transportation to an evacuation shelter, you can register ahead of time, and they’ll pick you up.
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15:13
What makes North Port’s emergency preparedness efforts unique?
Right now, our Emergency Operations Center is in City Hall.
It’s not a building that was originally designed to function as an emergency operations center, so we’ve had to get creative and make the space work for what we need.
We’ve successfully operated there for the past few years, but we’re excited to move into our new Emergency Operations Center, which should be ready next year.
Hopefully by July.
Have you already broken ground?
Yes. If you drive by City Hall, you’ll see the site has been cleared and the footers are already in place.
The new building is going up behind the post office next to the new Fire Station 81.
It’s a great location.
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16:22
Because North Port sits at the end of the watershed, Public Works spends a lot of time preparing our stormwater system before a storm arrives.
They lower water levels to create more capacity and help reduce flooding throughout the city.
What are some of the things people don’t realize happen behind the scenes?
Parks and Recreation secures all of the parks.
Public Works protects city facilities, boards up buildings, clears debris from drainage swales, and makes sure water can move efficiently through the stormwater system if we receive heavy rainfall or storm surge.
A lot of preparation takes place before the first rain band ever reaches the city.
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17:20
If you could give every resident one piece of advice before hurricane season, what would it be?
Start preparing now.
If you haven’t started yet, don’t wait.
We have a lot of new residents who have never experienced a major hurricane, or maybe they were here for last year’s storms but weren’t here for Hurricane Ian.
People don’t always realize how stressful it becomes when a hurricane is approaching.
If you already have your supplies, your hurricane kit, and your family plan in place, the entire process becomes much less stressful.
You won’t be rushing to the store or worrying about what you’ve forgotten.
Just have a plan, have a go-kit, and prepare before hurricane season.
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18:22
A little about yourself—what made you get into emergency management?
My background is a little different.
I worked in physical therapy for ten years before I started feeling burned out.
While living in Nevada, I volunteered with a local search and rescue team, and that’s where I discovered emergency management.
After doing some research, I realized it was something I really wanted to pursue.
I went back to school, completed an internship in Brevard County, worked in Lee County during Hurricane Ian, and eventually came to North Port.
I love what I do.
It’s a great opportunity to serve the community where you live and help people put the pieces back together after a disaster.
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19:21
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that people should know?
One thing that’s really important is understanding the difference between flood zones and evacuation levels.
They’re not the same thing.
Flood zones are based on the likelihood of your property flooding.
Evacuation levels are based on the risk of storm surge.
Just because you don’t live in a flood zone doesn’t mean you won’t be asked to evacuate.
You could live outside a flood zone and still be in Evacuation Level A.
Make sure you know your evacuation level before hurricane season so you’ll know whether you need to leave if an evacuation order is issued.
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20:21
People are saying this will be a below-average hurricane season because of El Niño.
The average season produces about 14 named storms, and this year’s forecast is around 13, so it’s only slightly below average.
An El Niño pattern usually brings stronger wind shear, which can weaken developing hurricanes before they intensify.
But Hurricane Andrew happened during a strong El Niño year.
That’s why I don’t want anyone to become complacent.
It only takes one storm.
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00:20:50
Do you think we’ll get to a point where we have a hurricane every year in the same area?
Absolutely.
If it can happen once, it can happen every year.
Sarasota County was impacted by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton in 2024. We could have multiple storms in one season, or we could go ten years without one. Every hurricane season is different, so we always have to be prepared.
It’s above my pay grade. I’m not a meteorologist, but I know Gulf temperatures, jet stream patterns, and weather systems that develop off the coast of Africa all play a role in how these storms form and where they go.
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22:03
Does Africa get hurricanes?
Good question.
We’re not the only place that experiences them. In other parts of the world, they’re called different things. In the Pacific, they’re called typhoons, but they’re essentially the same type of storm.
Really?
Yeah. We’re definitely not the only ones.
What other places get storms like we do?
The Philippines, Japan, and many other coastal regions around the world can experience tropical cyclones.
I’m not trying to scare anyone. I just want people to be prepared.
Hurricane Ian wasn’t the worst storm we could have experienced.
If Hurricane Milton hadn’t weakened before making landfall, it could have produced even greater impacts than Hurricane Ian in our area.
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22:56
Sarasota County actually evacuated through Level C for Hurricane Milton, which was a higher evacuation level than Hurricane Ian because the projected storm surge was greater.
Do you think storm surge is more dangerous than the wind?
It depends on where you live, but personally, I’d rather deal with strong winds than twenty feet of water washing over me wave after wave.
Both are dangerous, and you want to stay away from both.
That’s true.
I usually don’t evacuate.
Don’t do what he does.
If we’re telling you to evacuate, evacuate.
Don’t stay because you’re stubborn.
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23:57
Anything else you’d like everyone to know?
Just be prepared.
If you ever have questions, you can reach out to us by email. We also offer hurricane preparedness presentations for neighborhoods, businesses, and community groups.
If you’d like our team to come speak, you can submit a speaker request through the City of North Port website, and we’d be happy to help people learn more about hurricane preparedness.
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24:28
We appreciate you coming on and helping us get this information out to the community.
Hopefully we don’t have any hurricanes this year, but if we do, now you know how to be better prepared.
We appreciate you guys for watching.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe.
Thank you.
