St. Johns County is stepping up its game to ensure residents and local businesses are not caught off-guard by the Atlantic Hurricane Season, according to a recent update. St. Johns Emergency Management (SJCEM) has been proactive in discussing disaster preparedness with the community, emphasizing the need for robust and timely knowledge that can quite literally save lives and protect property as the season persists through November 30.
On July 10th, the SJCEM Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Kelly Wilson, took the stage at a Chamber of Commerce event. She was there to not just to talk shop but to seriously educate local entrepreneurs on best practices for hurricane preparedness. An email from the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce to attendees mentioned, "The full house today at Joint Chamber at Noon! Huge thanks to Kelly Wilson, Deputy Director of St. Johns County Emergency Management, for dropping real, actionable tips on emergency planning, hazard mitigation, and how local businesses can stay protected," the Chamber wrote, according to the St. Johns County's news release.
The SJCEM isn't stopping there. They're rolling out multiple platforms to keep folks in the loop. For starters, St. Johns County residents are urged to sign up for Alert St. Johns, a service providing critical emergency information swiftly through various communication channels like phone, email, and text messages. Detailing this further on their site, SJCEM points to the efficacy of such systems, which are designed to ensure no one misses out on potentially life-saving alerts.
Additionally, SJCEM uses Nixle Alerts to send disaster preparation and recovery information directly to phones. To receive these updates, individuals can text StJohnsEOC to 888777. This text message service provides notifications without the need to check for updates manually. St. Johns County Emergency Management also shares information on its Facebook page and recommends users mark the page as a favorite to stay informed during all phases of a hurricane.
These efforts began on May 1, ahead of the official start of Hurricane Preparedness Week. Wilson has led the sessions, providing information on storm forecasting, storm surge risks, and the differences between hurricane watches and warnings. According to SJCEM, the goal is to give the public clear information through community presentations and online resources.
