2MC Podcast Eps 81 - In Case of Emergency (Listen to Pod)
E81

2MC Podcast Eps 81 - In Case of Emergency (Listen to Pod)

00:00:07:04 - 00:00:09:03
Courtney
I'm Courtney. Welcome back to 2MC

00:00:09:06 - 00:00:10:29
MAK
Got our ball caps on today. We do.

00:00:11:00 - 00:00:13:24
Courtney
We're back in the studio. You usually say that.

00:00:13:25 - 00:00:15:21
MAK
I do, I do.

00:00:15:22 - 00:00:16:29
Courtney
I beat you to it today.

00:00:17:04 - 00:00:29:05
MAK
Thank you very much. You're welcome. We have a cool program today, right? We have a very special guest joining us, and she's got some good information for us about preparedness.

00:00:29:06 - 00:00:30:29
Courtney
So you guys should be prepared.

00:00:31:00 - 00:00:37:08
MAK
Yeah. Am I supposed to say something else? Nope. Okay. That's it.

00:00:37:10 - 00:00:45:17
Courtney
Okay. And we are back with our special guest, Amy Hamburger Lopez. She is the deputy director of emergency management. She is? Yeah.

00:00:45:22 - 00:00:47:05
MAK
So there's a lot of stuff.

00:00:47:06 - 00:00:48:00
Courtney
She does.

00:00:48:02 - 00:00:50:06
MAK
Hey, Amy. Hi. Thanks for coming in today.

00:00:50:08 - 00:00:51:20
Amy
You're welcome. Thanks for having me again.

00:00:51:22 - 00:00:53:06
Courtney
Yes.

00:00:53:09 - 00:00:57:07
MAK
We're in hurricane season. We are. We're, like, mid-season.

00:00:57:07 - 00:01:00:05
Courtney
So some would say peak season.

00:01:00:06 - 00:01:00:26
MAK
Really?

00:01:00:28 - 00:01:01:22
Courtney
I would, yeah.

00:01:01:26 - 00:01:04:11
Amy
We were going into the peak of her season. Yeah.

00:01:04:12 - 00:01:14:13
MAK
Okay. So where do you want to start? You want to start with what you guys are doing. You want to start with, like, the National Weather Service and what they're saying. What do you think?

00:01:14:14 - 00:01:33:25
Amy
Well, there's just so much to talk about. I know. So let's talk about what we've been doing so far. Okay. So far this year, we've done tons of trainings, tons of exercises. You've been included in some of those. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Of course we love doing those because we prefer exercises to the real thing. Yes.

00:01:33:28 - 00:01:35:03
MAK
Exercise exercises.

00:01:35:04 - 00:01:54:26
Amy
Exercise, exercise. And that makes perfect. So if and when, you know, hopefully we don't get it. We'll be prepared. Yes. We've also been doing tons of outreach events and preparing our team, preparing our county employees, because our county employees are also part of this whole operation. So we're we're all prepared.

00:01:54:27 - 00:02:04:25
Courtney
Yeah. And the employees, I mean, when you say that, like they are at the shelters there at the EOC, there are boots on the ground, right? Like it is all hands on deck.

00:02:04:28 - 00:02:23:17
MAK
Really? It is. I, I do like when we're all together in an event, actually, because you see all that training just straight into action. And I feel like you may see differently from your viewpoint, but I feel like we're just working seamlessly through, you know, whatever the situation is.

00:02:23:18 - 00:02:36:01
Amy
Yeah. And that's the point of the training. You know, we come in, we we work on stuff and, and then when it's time to go, everyone just goes and does what they're supposed to do. So it's seamless transition from day to day operations to something that.

00:02:36:02 - 00:02:42:21
MAK
Yeah. It does feel like it's it's always just getting the information right out to our residents and visitors.

00:02:42:22 - 00:02:49:11
Amy
Yeah. And you guys are very good help with that. So thank you. Thank you. I mean, this is our team. This is the dream team here. Thank you.

00:02:49:12 - 00:03:06:13
MAK
So what? Okay. We've kind of gone through our coordination and what we've been doing. What you and your team at the EEOC been doing. What are you asking residents to do? Because it's quiet, right? It's been quiet. So people kind of.

00:03:06:16 - 00:03:23:02
Amy
Yeah. Great. Right. And you forget about it for a little while. Out of sight, out of mind. Yeah. And what the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center have been saying is that this is going to be a below average season, which is great for us. Right. And we're in the El Nino. You've probably heard of that a lot.

00:03:23:03 - 00:03:44:21
Amy
Yeah. But do remember that Frances and Jean in 2004 and Andrew in 92 were all during El Nino as well. Right. So it only takes one hurricane to devastate our community. So we really want to make sure that people are still have that in the back of their minds, like it is August. September is the peak of hurricane season.

00:03:44:23 - 00:03:48:20
Amy
You know, it doesn't stop there. You know, it continues. I think we had.

00:03:48:25 - 00:03:50:15
MAK
Hurricane season.

00:03:50:18 - 00:03:54:28
Amy
However. Yes. So? So it'll happen. Okay. It'll.

00:03:55:02 - 00:03:56:06
Courtney
It'll happen when the weather.

00:03:56:07 - 00:04:01:20
MAK
So residents should if they haven't done their preparations, they should.

00:04:01:21 - 00:04:02:09
Amy
Now's the time.

00:04:02:09 - 00:04:03:04
MAK
Dart. Right.

00:04:03:05 - 00:04:05:09
Amy
Yeah. Of course we have.

00:04:05:10 - 00:04:07:18
Courtney
What are some of those preparations that they should do?

00:04:07:21 - 00:04:15:19
Amy
So let me introduce you. And I have copies for you as well. Our new road to readiness guide. Hot off the presses.

00:04:15:21 - 00:04:16:16
Courtney
She's beautiful.

00:04:16:23 - 00:04:35:14
Amy
I know, it's great. And then on the back, it has really like the five step process. Real simple. Five steps. Know your risk. Make a plan. Build a kit. Stay informed and get involved. And all the information is in here. You can pick these up at any library in Martin County and in our admin building. Sure, yes.

00:04:35:15 - 00:04:43:03
Courtney
Awesome. So you said make a kit. Yeah. Okay. So can you kind of tell us what?

00:04:43:10 - 00:04:44:27
MAK
The third step. Build a kit?

00:04:44:28 - 00:04:45:14
Courtney
Yes.

00:04:45:15 - 00:04:45:28
MAK
Yeah.

00:04:45:29 - 00:04:48:17
Courtney
Can you tell us. Oh, you want to do this?

00:04:48:18 - 00:04:51:21
Amy
Do you want to skip a hat or do you want to go in order? Okay.

00:04:51:22 - 00:04:54:09
Courtney
Okay. So knowing your risk know you talk about that.

00:04:54:10 - 00:05:01:00
Amy
So where do you live? Do you live in an area that's going to flood or that's going to have storm surge, or that you may have to evacuate from.

00:05:01:00 - 00:05:03:06
Courtney
Hollywood residents? Find that information.

00:05:03:07 - 00:05:14:03
Amy
They can go online and it's actually in the book. They can find where their evacuation zone is. And we have a map that's right at the front. Yeah. At the.

00:05:14:03 - 00:05:15:04
MAK
Front post about this.

00:05:15:06 - 00:05:27:05
Amy
Yeah. Right here. So red, yellow and green. Those are our our different zones. So you want to know which zone you live in. So if we do do evacuations you know when to go. Yeah. And you want to.

00:05:27:05 - 00:05:29:27
Courtney
Plan for it on our. You can find that map on our website as well.

00:05:29:28 - 00:05:34:10
Amy
Absolutely. And you can put in your address and you can pinpoint exactly where you are.

00:05:34:15 - 00:05:37:04
MAK
Awesome. And just because you're inland.

00:05:37:06 - 00:05:38:29
Amy
Doesn't mean that you're safe.

00:05:39:00 - 00:05:39:15
MAK
Yes.

00:05:39:16 - 00:05:40:04
Courtney
Yes.

00:05:40:06 - 00:05:41:13
Amy
So. So if you live.

00:05:41:13 - 00:05:43:12
MAK
In a flood, other areas.

00:05:43:12 - 00:05:53:16
Amy
And we also have the flood zones, the FEMA flood zone. So you might have to even if you don't live on the coast, you might have to have flood insurance for your home because you live in a playground.

00:05:53:18 - 00:05:57:03
MAK
Right. So you could have storm surge or flooding.

00:05:57:04 - 00:06:05:17
Amy
And also we're having king tides. Yes. Right now. So that's another layer of water. So like.

00:06:05:20 - 00:06:05:25
Courtney
You.

00:06:05:25 - 00:06:06:01
Amy
Need.

00:06:06:01 - 00:06:08:09
Courtney
To consider the sky. Sky.

00:06:08:11 - 00:06:14:05
Amy
Right. Right. So if you combine that with storm surge, with tons of rain with, you know, we could have we could have a lot.

00:06:14:07 - 00:06:14:23
Courtney
Not a great time.

00:06:14:24 - 00:06:31:05
Amy
So no, no. Your risk. No your risk. And also the type of home that you live in. So if you live in a mobile or manufactured home, you're also considered to be in that storm surge, a B zone. So if the a b is a vacuuming, you should too. Right? Right. No matter where you are.

00:06:31:06 - 00:06:49:15
MAK
Right. And this one I actually love make a plan. Because even though I do what I do for a living, I do it here. We talk about being ready and all of this stuff. I felt like our my family plan was could have used some work and we worked on it so well.

00:06:49:15 - 00:06:53:00
Amy
I have a perfect example for you. Hopefully perfect. Right.

00:06:53:03 - 00:06:54:16
MAK
Tell me more.

00:06:54:18 - 00:06:56:11
Courtney
Tell us more.

00:06:56:13 - 00:07:01:24
MAK
And I know your plan involves not only you and your husband.

00:07:01:26 - 00:07:02:23
Amy
But our kitties.

00:07:02:24 - 00:07:03:14
MAK
But your kids.

00:07:03:16 - 00:07:03:28
Courtney
Yeah.

00:07:03:29 - 00:07:06:10
Amy
Animals. And that is our emergency plan.

00:07:06:11 - 00:07:08:27
Courtney
Oh, my gosh, look at that. And there we are.

00:07:09:00 - 00:07:09:13
MAK
On there.

00:07:09:14 - 00:07:11:01
Courtney
Yeah, we're all on here cause it's ours.

00:07:11:02 - 00:07:17:20
MAK
Okay. This is. And look. Updated 2026. This is a little fancier than mine.

00:07:17:22 - 00:07:35:21
Amy
Well, I did it this way because I wanted to show everybody that it is personal to you. It's your family. One size does not fit all. But I do have tons of information in here. I won't show you everything because it's, you know, personal information. But I do have a list of contents if you want to kind of read off.

00:07:35:24 - 00:07:36:13
Courtney
Look at that.

00:07:36:15 - 00:07:38:17
Amy
What would be in your plans?

00:07:38:18 - 00:07:39:05
Courtney
Okay.

00:07:39:06 - 00:07:44:28
MAK
Locations, pet information. Important documents. Homeowner's insurance. Yep.

00:07:44:29 - 00:07:45:29
Courtney
Vehicle insurance.

00:07:46:00 - 00:07:52:01
MAK
Vehicle bank information. Medical a list of medications. We talk about that a lot.

00:07:52:03 - 00:07:54:26
Courtney
A predecessor checklist. I like this.

00:07:54:27 - 00:07:56:08
MAK
I like this oh.

00:07:56:10 - 00:07:58:07
Courtney
Responsibility assignments, I like that.

00:07:58:08 - 00:08:03:01
Amy
Oh, yeah. We all have something to do. Everyone has something to do. Even the cats.

00:08:03:02 - 00:08:04:02
Courtney
Even the cats? Yes.

00:08:04:03 - 00:08:23:14
MAK
Us. Interesting is. It made me start thinking. Last year, my daughter went to college. Yeah. And the universities obviously all have plans to. But that was something I asked, like, you know what? What do they do? Because we have our plan at home. But she goes in Miami, so I don't know what they do there.

00:08:23:22 - 00:08:40:15
Amy
Yeah. Yeah. I mean every every location, every person, no matter where you are, you should have a plan. And maybe her plan is to come home. Yeah, maybe her plan is to my grandma somewhere else. Yeah. So everyone should have a plan regardless. And you update it every time something happens.

00:08:40:16 - 00:08:43:10
MAK
I think next time we see you, we will have personal plans.

00:08:43:11 - 00:08:46:16
Amy
We will. Or I can send you my template if you want. You can just fill.

00:08:46:16 - 00:08:49:05
Courtney
Out a dating. I like that.

00:08:49:06 - 00:08:49:24
MAK
Okay.

00:08:49:26 - 00:08:51:14
Courtney
Now let's build a kit.

00:08:51:15 - 00:08:54:00
Amy
Yes. Okay. That's the. That's the show and tell.

00:08:54:01 - 00:08:54:21
Courtney
Yeah.

00:08:54:23 - 00:08:55:12
MAK
Okay.

00:08:55:15 - 00:09:00:29
Amy
Yeah. Right. So let's start with the the basics. Everyone needs food and water.

00:09:01:00 - 00:09:02:02
Courtney
Right. This is true.

00:09:02:04 - 00:09:14:09
Amy
So this is something that the emergency the Division of emergency Management and State of Florida hands out. So if you've ever been in a disaster, you probably recognize these water.

00:09:14:15 - 00:09:17:03
MAK
Wells like the soup. But it's not.

00:09:17:04 - 00:09:18:20
Amy
It's not soup, just water.

00:09:18:25 - 00:09:22:01
Courtney
It is not chicken broth. It is rotten. It is water.

00:09:22:03 - 00:09:22:10
Amy
Yeah.

00:09:22:11 - 00:09:23:02
Courtney
You can use water.

00:09:23:09 - 00:09:23:28
Amy
The drink.

00:09:23:29 - 00:09:24:29
Courtney
Highly important.

00:09:25:01 - 00:09:28:27
Amy
Yes. And how much water do you think you should have?

00:09:28:29 - 00:09:35:04
MAK
You should have one gallon per family member per day.

00:09:35:05 - 00:09:37:03
Amy
Correct? Yes.

00:09:37:04 - 00:09:38:12
Courtney
Wow. That was.

00:09:38:15 - 00:09:50:07
Amy
A gallon per person per day for at least three days. Probably five. Right. Because disasters are getting worse. We don't know how long it's going to take for us to get to you or for you to.

00:09:50:07 - 00:09:51:18
Courtney
Get out of your shopping.

00:09:51:25 - 00:09:53:24
MAK
No, she's always got an angle.

00:09:53:26 - 00:09:54:19
Courtney
I mean.

00:09:54:24 - 00:09:55:21
Amy
Any excuses?

00:09:55:21 - 00:09:56:25
Courtney
Good to go shopping, right?

00:09:56:27 - 00:10:03:14
MAK
Well, and then you have to think about your neighbors to like, if you have enough, you might have some to share if somebody.

00:10:03:14 - 00:10:05:07
Courtney
Else absolutely hasn't.

00:10:05:08 - 00:10:06:17
MAK
Yeah. Planned appropriately.

00:10:06:19 - 00:10:09:24
Amy
Another thing is snacks. I mean.

00:10:10:02 - 00:10:10:22
Courtney
This is.

00:10:10:23 - 00:10:12:16
MAK
Tuna fish is not a snack.

00:10:12:18 - 00:10:13:15
Amy
I mean, I like.

00:10:13:15 - 00:10:14:15
Courtney
It because it's.

00:10:14:17 - 00:10:27:06
Amy
It's nutritional. Yeah. And when we're working, like, we kind of don't want to have all the the junk food as much. Although I do have junk food in my drawer. Right. So, I mean, just like stuff that won't go bad.

00:10:27:07 - 00:10:33:09
MAK
Yes we do. We have go. We have go. Bags and snacks for when we go to the EOC. Yeah for sure.

00:10:33:13 - 00:10:41:11
Amy
I mean, and people, if they're going to a shelter, they'll be fed. If you're going to a family members house, you'll probably be fed too.

00:10:41:13 - 00:10:46:22
MAK
But it's nice to have something that's comforting. Comforting you. Yeah. Feel good about weight.

00:10:46:22 - 00:10:52:02
Amy
Is this. Which brings me to my comfort item. Hot sauce. I didn't.

00:10:52:04 - 00:10:55:29
MAK
Know this about you. Mine's Cheetos. Uses hot sauce.

00:10:56:03 - 00:10:59:05
Amy
Well, I put it on Cheetos so we can share everything.

00:10:59:06 - 00:11:01:28
MAK
Yeah. You're right. You could do that on your tuna. You can do that.

00:11:01:29 - 00:11:10:15
Amy
I can do it on. On a little taste of home. It is a go to. I like it. Yeah. Okay. What else? So that's the basic food and water.

00:11:10:17 - 00:11:12:01
MAK
Food and water.

00:11:12:03 - 00:11:28:06
Amy
And then in here, you have a whole list of things that you can bring. And it's the typical the first aid, the, you know, pet food, food and water, medications, batteries, flashlights, you know, all those kinds of things.

00:11:28:09 - 00:11:30:15
MAK
But yeah. Go ahead.

00:11:30:18 - 00:11:35:22
Amy
Well, what I wanted to share is like, make it personal. Yes I have. Make it your own.

00:11:35:23 - 00:11:49:18
MAK
Yep. So, and just a little aside, the state of Florida has now deemed certain items tax free, not just during hurricane season. All year, all year long. So. Yeah.

00:11:49:19 - 00:11:54:18
Amy
Yeah. Which is great. Generators. Batteries. Yeah. Stuff.

00:11:54:20 - 00:11:55:02
MAK
Insects.

00:11:55:02 - 00:11:56:04
Amy
Great. Yes.

00:11:56:09 - 00:11:57:26
MAK
Fire extinguisher! Fire!

00:11:58:01 - 00:11:59:03
Amy
Fire shirt. Yeah.

00:11:59:04 - 00:12:06:17
MAK
All kinds. Oh, you know what else I have in my in my pack is like a charger that doesn't need electricity for my phone.

00:12:06:19 - 00:12:06:28
Amy
Yeah.

00:12:06:29 - 00:12:08:16
MAK
Of course, that kind of stuff. Well.

00:12:08:16 - 00:12:11:00
Amy
It's up to see what we got.

00:12:11:03 - 00:12:13:21
MAK
Some cool stuff in there. I bet.

00:12:13:23 - 00:12:29:06
Amy
I won't pull everything out because this is my survival kit. So you have. You do have the pep power bank, the bat. It's the solar. And it has all the types of has a flashlight. So a two and one and a compass and a compass in case I get lost.

00:12:29:08 - 00:12:29:25
MAK
I like that.

00:12:29:26 - 00:12:30:12
Amy
I like that.

00:12:30:13 - 00:12:31:02
MAK
I do too.

00:12:31:03 - 00:12:33:06
Amy
Yeah. So like I said.

00:12:33:13 - 00:12:34:16
MAK
Emergencies I have.

00:12:34:16 - 00:12:39:12
Amy
That, you know, wipes. Yup. Always good. Don't flush them.

00:12:39:13 - 00:12:41:21
MAK
No. They say they're flushable.

00:12:41:24 - 00:12:55:06
Amy
They don't. They say flushable, but they're not emergency. We're in a in a room with a lot of people. So our situation is a little different where we're working the whole time. But this is also if you're in a shelter, you probably want to have some good immune systems.

00:12:55:11 - 00:12:59:28
MAK
Yeah. Even with the family members, it's like you're just in a heightened state of maybe anxiety, too.

00:12:59:29 - 00:13:01:24
Amy
Yes, it's a stressful situation.

00:13:01:25 - 00:13:02:26
Courtney
So a little vitamin.

00:13:02:28 - 00:13:07:23
Amy
C, little vitamin C, here's all our medications just in case we not feeling too.

00:13:07:24 - 00:13:09:15
MAK
And I see some earplugs in there.

00:13:09:17 - 00:13:10:06
Amy
Yes.

00:13:10:09 - 00:13:12:23
MAK
We need them for the Eocene. We do.

00:13:12:29 - 00:13:21:15
Amy
We sleep communally. So. Yes. So this is a lifesaver for night. No, it's not a it's not a pajama party. It's not.

00:13:21:16 - 00:13:26:13
MAK
We do have air conditioning, so that's great. But there's some snores there.

00:13:26:14 - 00:13:34:07
Amy
Yeah. Yeah. And you want to make sure you got some rest because you are in a very stressful situation. You know, you're going through a lot. Your family is going through a lot.

00:13:34:12 - 00:13:35:19
MAK
Oh.

00:13:35:22 - 00:13:38:25
Amy
This is just something like things that I pick up along the way.

00:13:38:28 - 00:13:40:19
MAK
Is that.

00:13:40:22 - 00:13:43:06
Courtney
That's cool. It's like a little flashlight.

00:13:43:08 - 00:13:54:00
Amy
These are some things that have, like after sun Spray disaster insect spray SPF 30. Like I pick these up at, like, conferences and stuff. Like, you don't have to buy everything.

00:13:54:07 - 00:13:54:27
MAK
Give away.

00:13:54:28 - 00:14:06:26
Amy
Yeah, you don't have to buy everything. You know. Yeah. And also with your food, you might say, oh, I need to go buy everything, but really, you don't know? You probably already have stuff at home. You want to sleep.

00:14:06:28 - 00:14:11:18
MAK
You don't have to do it all at once. You can do a couple things at a time, and then it's not a burden.

00:14:11:20 - 00:14:13:03
Amy
Not overwhelming either.

00:14:13:04 - 00:14:16:09
MAK
Yes.

00:14:16:11 - 00:14:21:26
Amy
So our employee wellness like, for for hot and cold, you know, just in case.

00:14:21:29 - 00:14:22:06
Courtney
It's.

00:14:22:06 - 00:14:22:28
MAK
A good pack you've.

00:14:22:28 - 00:14:32:13
Amy
Got there. Yeah. You know, tons of stuff. Band-Aids, important hooks for when you like. You go to the bathroom and you have your towel. You want to hang it somewhere? You know.

00:14:32:14 - 00:14:33:28
MAK
Think of, like you're towing.

00:14:34:00 - 00:14:36:04
Amy
Yeah. You can't think of camping.

00:14:36:06 - 00:14:40:07
MAK
Yes. You're right. You want to have those. Those things that make it easier for you.

00:14:40:09 - 00:14:42:08
Amy
Nice. So that's this one. Let's see what's.

00:14:42:09 - 00:14:44:04
MAK
In the yellow. It's the other one.

00:14:44:07 - 00:14:44:21
Amy
You move that.

00:14:44:25 - 00:14:46:05
MAK
Wait. You have makeup in yours?

00:14:46:07 - 00:14:48:03
Amy
I do not I do not work makeup.

00:14:48:04 - 00:14:54:07
MAK
Okay. Oh, your eyebrows are so nice. I do any makeup. Thank you.

00:14:54:10 - 00:14:59:00
Amy
This is probably the most important for other people. And that is deodorant.

00:14:59:01 - 00:15:00:10
Courtney
Deodorant.

00:15:00:12 - 00:15:01:09
Amy
Thank you.

00:15:01:12 - 00:15:02:10
MAK
Yes, that's a good one.

00:15:02:11 - 00:15:13:27
Amy
Make sure you have some all of your hydrogen items that you need to survive for 3 to 5 days. Hairspray. You know, the pits? Yeah. Ponytail holders.

00:15:14:03 - 00:15:16:13
MAK
Here's another.

00:15:16:15 - 00:15:22:03
Amy
Little brush. A little brush. Sheep are cute. Yeah. This is another important one.

00:15:22:05 - 00:15:23:19
MAK
I do have one of those in mine.

00:15:23:21 - 00:15:28:27
Amy
Because you never know when someone's going to come in and flip the lights on. Yep. For you? Yeah.

00:15:28:28 - 00:15:30:04
Courtney

00:15:30:06 - 00:15:33:12
MAK
Or even if you just started in a starter situation.

00:15:33:15 - 00:15:34:13
Courtney
Yes. Always good.

00:15:34:15 - 00:15:39:25
Amy
Always good. Tom's. You know, hair times. Yep. Because the more stress to get, the higher.

00:15:39:28 - 00:15:41:11
MAK
Higher than telling us.

00:15:41:12 - 00:15:42:12
Courtney
This is very true.

00:15:42:13 - 00:15:44:18
MAK
Right. We're not stressed right now because all our hair. Oh. We're good.

00:15:44:19 - 00:15:45:05
Courtney
We're all done.

00:15:45:11 - 00:15:51:23
Amy
That's good. And obviously like stress. Yes, we're all stressed. So we gotta make sure.

00:15:51:25 - 00:15:59:08
MAK
That's a great reminder. And then like I think you mentioned. But things for your pets your animals. So that's there equally as stressed.

00:15:59:09 - 00:16:08:18
Amy
So of course. So you want to make sure that they have all the comfort items that you like. If you have campfire irons they need them too. Yeah. So they're toys. Maybe a blanket that they like.

00:16:08:20 - 00:16:09:18
MAK
Or a crate.

00:16:09:26 - 00:16:24:05
Amy
A crazy. Yes. Depending on where you're going. You know, if you need. But yes, probably. You always want to have a crate their vaccination records, just in case you need to take them to a vet or something. Obviously food and water like we.

00:16:24:05 - 00:16:24:28
Courtney
Do.

00:16:25:00 - 00:16:28:11
Amy
And any medications that they take.

00:16:28:13 - 00:16:31:02
Courtney
Maybe some treats. Obviously some trees.

00:16:31:03 - 00:16:31:13
Amy
Yeah.

00:16:31:14 - 00:16:32:23
MAK
So some treats like us.

00:16:32:25 - 00:16:33:07
Courtney
Like us.

00:16:33:14 - 00:16:35:06
Amy
Just pack for them as you would for yourself.

00:16:35:10 - 00:16:35:22
Courtney
Yeah.

00:16:35:25 - 00:16:37:15
Amy
Yeah. There also are a family members.

00:16:37:16 - 00:16:38:04
Courtney
Yes.

00:16:38:06 - 00:16:57:23
Amy
And then so different families have different people in them. You might have kids. You might want to make sure you have something for them to do. Like this is an activity book. This is a there's a storybook, you know. Yeah. So there's just something for people to do because. Sometimes there's just nothing to do but wait.

00:16:57:25 - 00:16:59:23
MAK
Yes. Wait.

00:16:59:25 - 00:17:00:13
Amy
Wait it out.

00:17:00:14 - 00:17:02:05
MAK
Yep. Yes.

00:17:02:07 - 00:17:10:00
Courtney
And then. So after our residents do all of that, staying informed is a very big one.

00:17:10:01 - 00:17:10:13
Amy
Yes.

00:17:10:14 - 00:17:21:07
MAK
And we talk about getting your news from a trusted source. I know we used to say just, you know, get your news, go online. Right. But we've really narrowed that down to a trusted source.

00:17:21:08 - 00:17:30:16
Amy
Right. So your trusted sources in this case, and Martin County is the county itself. So your team. Yeah. The press conferences.

00:17:30:20 - 00:17:31:14
MAK
For social.

00:17:31:15 - 00:17:40:08
Amy
Yeah. The website is a lot. Has a lot of information on it. I know that you update it every single day when we're or maybe twice or three times a day.

00:17:40:13 - 00:17:41:14
MAK
What's there? Yes.

00:17:41:19 - 00:17:45:17
Amy
Constant update. It is. It's it's a lot of work to keep all that information.

00:17:45:18 - 00:17:54:10
MAK
Off season or when we're not in a storm. We do have general information out there about, you know, resources and where to go to find information during a, during.

00:17:54:13 - 00:17:58:15
Courtney
And another way for people to stay informed is by signing up for alert Martin to correct.

00:17:58:16 - 00:18:00:15
MAK
That is correct. Yeah. Talk to us about that.

00:18:00:16 - 00:18:19:21
Amy
So alert Martin, is a system that we use for mass communication so we can reach everybody. We can send out emergency alerts. We can also send out, like, targeted community alerts as well. So you really want to sign up for that if you haven't already. You can sign up online or you can sign up by texting. And all the information is.

00:18:19:21 - 00:18:34:03
MAK
In here. I love alert, Martin. I can tell you I really do. It's great. Yep. And even though we're in it, like we're signed up personally, and we get those, you know, we get those alerts when there's something going on in it. It's great to be informed.

00:18:34:04 - 00:18:58:11
Amy
And the sheriff also has access to our system. So if you've ever gotten the, you know, lock your doors at night in this area, you know, that's that's our system that's working. Yep. And also another trusted information for weather, especially if we're talking about hurricanes, is the National Hurricane Center and our local Melbourne National Weather Service, because they are the ones that are going to have they get the data from those hurricane hunters from their models.

00:18:58:12 - 00:19:02:14
Amy
So it's really I mean, I got the chance to visit their offices.

00:19:02:17 - 00:19:03:28
MAK
Oh, exciting.

00:19:04:00 - 00:19:07:18
Amy
What they do. It's just mind blowing. They know what they're.

00:19:07:18 - 00:19:27:29
MAK
Doing during an event. We're talking with them. Yeah, we talk about on a daily basis multiple times a day. So we're getting that information from them. And they're modeling for our our specific community. Yeah. And I know we're in South Florida right. So some people there's the one in Miami. Yes, there's the one in Melbourne, but Melbourne. But you really do have to pay attention to.

00:19:28:02 - 00:19:31:09
MAK
Yes. Art here in Martin County. Ours in Melbourne.

00:19:31:10 - 00:19:48:17
Amy
Yeah. And they have local specific information. And we use their data and their information to make those decisions about timing for evacuations. What areas are at risk of flooding? Where are the high winds are going to be. So we really rely on them to.

00:19:48:18 - 00:19:48:24
MAK
Yeah.

00:19:48:24 - 00:19:49:02
Amy
And I.

00:19:49:02 - 00:20:09:08
MAK
Think you know we we're in the Treasure Coast. We're very close to Palm Beach County. And so people, you know, our news stations cover a lot of ground. And so I think it's good to to listen to those and get that information, but really hone in and make sure that that information you're getting is for your specific community.

00:20:09:09 - 00:20:10:15
MAK
Yes. And that's why I love this.

00:20:10:16 - 00:20:12:17
Courtney
Everyone has can have different things.

00:20:12:18 - 00:20:13:15
Amy
Yes. Right.

00:20:13:16 - 00:20:29:12
MAK
Yeah. And even as close as we are, I mean, it can. It can miss. Palm Beach County come through here or miss us. And so it really is kind of crazy how we're so close together, but it can create a path that Mrs. and and doesn't miss.

00:20:29:13 - 00:20:44:08
Amy
Well, I mean, speaking of creating a path that Mrs. and doesn't miss at the same time. Yes. If anyone remembers a couple years ago Milton. Yes. We were not in a hurricane. No. You know, we were not not going to experience those high winds. We were just on the verge of getting.

00:20:44:09 - 00:20:49:12
MAK
We were in the EOC. Yeah. But not in the path of that storm.

00:20:49:14 - 00:20:59:00
Amy
Right. It was way on the other side of the coast. Yes. We were like, oh, we're in the clear. Luckily, we were ready. Of course not. Luckily, it's not by chance. Right.

00:20:59:03 - 00:21:00:06
MAK
We were ready.

00:21:00:10 - 00:21:03:23
Amy
We were ready. And then we got seven tornadoes.

00:21:03:24 - 00:21:04:07
MAK
Yeah.

00:21:04:08 - 00:21:12:00
Courtney
Unprecedented hazards. That can happen. Yeah. Just because it's not a storm on our coast. Yes. Doesn't mean it can't affect us.

00:21:12:01 - 00:21:12:24
Amy
In our reaching.

00:21:12:25 - 00:21:33:24
MAK
Yes. And that's something that we, well, we've learned through National Weather Service is that, you know, they used to just talk about or people used to talk about the winds or the cone. And now it's all of the hazards that come along with a storm such as that. Yeah. And you're right. Milton was a great example of how that how that.

00:21:33:27 - 00:21:34:19
Amy
Could happen. Yes.

00:21:34:19 - 00:21:35:09
MAK
Yes.

00:21:35:11 - 00:21:38:18
Courtney
Yes. Yeah. And then we have kid involved.

00:21:38:18 - 00:21:40:20
MAK
One of my favorites.

00:21:40:23 - 00:22:03:17
Amy
Yeah. So getting involved means a lot of things. You can do it for yourself. You can do it for your community. You can do it for your organization. You can make sure that you are donating where resources are best used to, to good sources. One of our our nonprofits here in Martin County that deal with handles a lot of other nonprofits.

00:22:03:17 - 00:22:16:09
Amy
And they they help with other ones. Is United Way. Right. So they're a good source, a trusted source for donations and volunteers. If you want to volunteer, that's another way to get involved.

00:22:16:10 - 00:22:26:12
MAK
They're always I mean, they used to help with sandbags. It's like you find United Way in all aspects, all areas of our community during an event like this.

00:22:26:13 - 00:22:38:22
Amy
Yeah. And one of the most basic things is just checking on your neighbors and helping your neighbors. Yeah. And how guilty are we all of not really talking to your neighbors anymore? You know, just different.

00:22:38:24 - 00:22:43:21
MAK
You're busy. You get into your house, and then you get. You get busy. But it's like, check on, check on people.

00:22:43:23 - 00:22:55:16
Amy
You might have a neighbor who has, like, a little baby and like, they can't run around and put up hurricane shelters or an elderly couple who can't do it anymore. You know. Yeah. Everyone has their own.

00:22:55:17 - 00:22:58:19
MAK
Yeah. It's nice to be checked on when, you know.

00:22:58:21 - 00:22:59:27
Courtney
During a helping hand.

00:22:59:28 - 00:23:02:16
MAK
Yeah. Be a good neighbor. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

00:23:02:18 - 00:23:15:27
Amy
And you can also involve your community by requesting a presentation from us. We're happy to go and go to your community. Give a presentation. We can. We can talk for five minutes. We can talk five hours. Really? It's whatever you want.

00:23:15:27 - 00:23:17:02
MAK
To be.

00:23:17:04 - 00:23:24:02
Amy
Somewhere between. You know? That's great. We're passionate about what we do and what we. You know what we.

00:23:24:03 - 00:23:24:11
MAK
Yeah.

00:23:24:13 - 00:23:24:26
Amy
That's help.

00:23:24:26 - 00:23:27:03
MAK
Our community source. And that is a perfect time to do it.

00:23:27:04 - 00:23:32:08
Amy
Yeah. Yeah. Right, right before something happens. You want to make sure that you are ready.

00:23:32:09 - 00:23:32:27
MAK
So good.

00:23:33:04 - 00:23:36:29
Courtney
Yeah. I was just going to say. Or throughout the year.

00:23:37:01 - 00:24:01:20
Amy
Yeah. Obviously, yes. We're here because we're talking about hurricane season. But in emergency management we deal with stuff all year round. We have tornadoes that can happen during the, you know, the winter months. Yeah. The spring storms that come up and we have a nuclear power plant and we have flooding that can happen at any time. And wildfires have all kinds of stuff.

00:24:01:20 - 00:24:05:11
Amy
So we're ready year round. It's just this is when you hear from us.

00:24:05:13 - 00:24:05:27
MAK
Yes.

00:24:05:28 - 00:24:08:05
Amy
Yeah. Because this is one of the major things.

00:24:08:06 - 00:24:21:17
MAK
Yeah. We work with you all year and it's it's amazing, really how busy you guys are year round. And it's it's just like it's like roadways or whatever. You're driving down the road, you don't realize all that goes into, you know, it's.

00:24:21:19 - 00:24:21:23
Courtney
The.

00:24:21:23 - 00:24:23:10
MAK
Scenes behind the scenes.

00:24:23:11 - 00:24:23:23
Courtney
Yeah.

00:24:23:24 - 00:24:36:28
Amy
Yeah. And well, perfect time because August is emergency Management Awareness month. So if you follow us on social you'll, you'll see like where team is and what we do.

00:24:37:01 - 00:24:39:17
MAK
Introducing your team is great.

00:24:39:21 - 00:24:51:09
Amy
What is emergency management. What else do we do. We plan, we train, we exercise. We we do all the things we do recovery. We do preparedness, mitigation. You know, all. All of it.

00:24:51:11 - 00:24:52:09
Courtney
Yeah. Yeah.

00:24:52:10 - 00:25:00:08
MAK
That's good for us. We will make sure to drop your socials down in the show notes as well. Yes. What else?

00:25:00:11 - 00:25:01:10
Amy
Are you prepared?

00:25:01:16 - 00:25:10:25
MAK
I am prepared, but I am going to brush up my. I was proud that we had updated our plan, but I'm. I'm a little embarrassed. My plan is not quite that robust.

00:25:10:26 - 00:25:11:14
Amy
It doesn't, you.

00:25:11:14 - 00:25:11:29
MAK
Know.

00:25:12:05 - 00:25:12:26
Courtney
It's beautiful.

00:25:12:27 - 00:25:19:22
Amy
Also, the important thing about the plan is that you know it and you share it with your family members, right?

00:25:19:25 - 00:25:23:11
MAK
And not just immediate family. Right in your home. Yeah, but.

00:25:23:13 - 00:25:31:24
Amy
Other people know where I'm going to be, where my cats are if I don't come home, you know how to contact me. Yeah. Yeah.

00:25:31:26 - 00:25:35:07
MAK
So I know where your cats will be.

00:25:35:10 - 00:25:36:11
Amy
They'll be taken care of.

00:25:36:12 - 00:25:37:00
Courtney
Yes.

00:25:37:00 - 00:25:45:24
Amy
Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, as long as you know what's in here. Contact information. How many times do you know your home phone number growing up?

00:25:45:25 - 00:25:46:20
MAK
No. Well.

00:25:46:23 - 00:25:47:09
Amy
Growing up, you.

00:25:47:09 - 00:25:48:13
MAK
Did okay growing up. I did.

00:25:48:14 - 00:26:02:10
Amy
But do you know it now? Like other people? Like neighbors? What? Like you don't know unless you're. It's in your phone, right? So your phone is a big resource. And if you lose power and you can't, you can't access that, then it's a it's a good thing to have it written down.

00:26:02:11 - 00:26:05:10
MAK
Yes. Yeah. It's a great reminder for a good a good plan.

00:26:05:11 - 00:26:14:28
Courtney
I think we rely so heavily on our electronics. We do that. Thinking they may not be working is like we. Yeah. I would need to have.

00:26:14:29 - 00:26:31:06
MAK
A well and for your family to that plan going over it, making sure everybody knows it. You know. Well you're going to the USC, but the rest of your family is not. So knowing where everybody knowing who goes where, where to meet up, what's happening.

00:26:31:07 - 00:26:40:20
Amy
It's what happens. Where do we go if our house is destroyed, we have a meeting point after disaster two. So just, you know, little things that you want to think through.

00:26:40:22 - 00:26:41:17
Courtney
But it's critical.

00:26:41:19 - 00:26:49:03
Amy
Well, you know, you don't want to you don't want to think about these things, but it really matters when things happen.

00:26:49:04 - 00:26:50:03
MAK
Because then you can just.

00:26:50:04 - 00:26:55:23
Amy
Because you can just execute your plan. Yeah, yeah. That's easy. Know it. You know what to do.

00:26:55:25 - 00:26:59:18
Courtney
It somewhat helps a little bit with any chaos like it.

00:26:59:21 - 00:27:00:29
MAK
Does it call.

00:27:01:01 - 00:27:02:11
Amy
You down? Yeah. Because you're going.

00:27:02:11 - 00:27:05:01
Courtney
To be stressed anyway. Yep. Yeah.

00:27:05:02 - 00:27:07:11
MAK
You just go right into that mode.

00:27:07:13 - 00:27:08:13
Courtney
Yes.

00:27:08:15 - 00:27:31:26
Amy
And so with the digital so we talked about having stuff on your phone and also like I have in here some like plastic sleeves so that I can put in documents. Right. So I can put in my copy of my driver's license, copy of my passport, whatever. But we also have it on our phones. So what if this gets, I don't know, burnt or lost or wet or something.

00:27:31:28 - 00:27:38:15
Amy
Then I have, I have it on my phone as well. I have copies of my phone dies, I have this. So you just. I want to have a little bit of redundancy.

00:27:38:18 - 00:27:39:15
Courtney
Flash drive.

00:27:39:19 - 00:27:41:10
Amy
A flash drive. Yes.

00:27:41:12 - 00:27:48:25
MAK
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We have a little plastic. I don't know what you call it. Just like a little carry case, very thin with the handle. And that's got, like.

00:27:48:26 - 00:27:49:14
Amy
The thing.

00:27:49:20 - 00:27:54:15
MAK
You just. We know if there's an emergency, you grab that and you go. Yep. So.

00:27:54:18 - 00:28:13:20
Amy
Yeah, in our house, if we have an emergency, it's like you grab the documents, I grab the cats. Yeah. Yes. We both pack our suitcases real quick and we're out the door. So it's like that assignment of responsibilities. Like, everyone knows what they're supposed to do, and then you just go, just like what we do in the county, like, everyone has their assignments.

00:28:13:21 - 00:28:15:22
Amy
You just when it's time, you just do it.

00:28:15:23 - 00:28:19:11
Courtney
Yeah. That's awesome. That's good. Well thank you.

00:28:19:12 - 00:28:20:25
MAK
So I feel better prepared.

00:28:20:26 - 00:28:27:12
Courtney
Yeah. I feel like if you have not done any of these things, y'all don't get on it.

00:28:27:14 - 00:28:34:06
Amy
It's good for your round. Yeah, it's really critical right now because we're going into peak hurricane season. But this year.

00:28:34:06 - 00:28:35:03
MAK
Round.

00:28:35:06 - 00:28:36:09
Amy
It's for all hazards.

00:28:36:10 - 00:28:37:06
Courtney
Yes.

00:28:37:08 - 00:28:39:04
Amy
You're prepared for one. You're prepared for all.

00:28:39:06 - 00:28:40:02
Courtney
Yes.

00:28:40:04 - 00:28:41:03
MAK
That's good.

00:28:41:05 - 00:28:43:10
Amy
Oh right.

00:28:43:14 - 00:28:46:04
MAK
I like it. Thanks for being here.

00:28:46:05 - 00:28:46:17
Courtney
Thank you for.

00:28:46:17 - 00:28:47:24
MAK
Sharing all this information.

00:28:47:26 - 00:28:49:06
Courtney
Absolutely.

00:28:49:09 - 00:28:50:20
MAK
Be prepared.

00:28:50:22 - 00:28:54:19
Courtney
Okay, so that was I know a lot of information, but very good.

00:28:54:19 - 00:28:57:18
MAK
It was a lot of information, but it's incredible.

00:28:57:19 - 00:28:58:05
Courtney
Yes. Yeah.

00:28:58:06 - 00:29:04:24
MAK
And it's it is the stuff that we do every single day. And I think it is.

00:29:05:00 - 00:29:08:15
Courtney
It's vitally important for our residents to know this.

00:29:08:17 - 00:29:11:25
MAK
It is, it is. And it's easy stuff to do. Right.

00:29:11:26 - 00:29:12:26
Courtney
It's small things.

00:29:12:27 - 00:29:15:27
MAK
Know your risk. Make a plan. Build a kit.

00:29:15:28 - 00:29:22:08
Courtney
Yeah. To make sure that you're you're going to make up the last. Get involved. Yes.

00:29:22:10 - 00:29:23:10
MAK
Stay informed.

00:29:23:13 - 00:29:24:16
Courtney
Stay informed and get involved.

00:29:24:17 - 00:29:28:06
MAK
Literally written right there. Yes. I moved her mic.

00:29:28:08 - 00:29:30:02
Courtney
Yeah. So.

00:29:30:03 - 00:29:31:18
MAK
It was an accident.

00:29:31:21 - 00:29:32:10
Courtney
It's okay.

00:29:32:11 - 00:29:33:00
MAK
Okay.

00:29:33:06 - 00:29:49:26
Courtney
It's okay. Okay. So, yeah, it was. It was really good. And we will put everything down in the show notes for you guys. And honestly, you guys should come pick up one of these. It's informative. It has everything you need in there. And if your phone stops working, you got the information.

00:29:49:27 - 00:30:03:29
MAK
That should go in your go bag. Yeah, right. Should. So any Martin county library system, Martin County administration building. Pick them up when you're on your way to a board meeting or just coming in to visit. Yeah. Yeah.

00:30:04:01 - 00:30:16:17
Courtney
Right. Yeah, definitely pick one up. All right. Well, thank you guys. And don't forget to like, subscribe follow share comment. Listen do all the things. Yeah we'll see you guys next time.

00:30:16:18 - 00:30:17:05
MAK
Bye.

Episode Video