21st Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference Held in Fort Lauderdale

2007 Governor’s Hurricane Conference

An estimated 3,000 emergency managers, forecasters, vendors and state and local officials attended last week’s Governor’s Hurricane Conference, marking the event’s 21st year. Previously held for the past 19 years in Tampa, the conference moved to the Broward County Convention Center at Port Everglades last year.

The event officially began on Sunday, May 13 and closed on Friday, May 18.

The conference included workshops, training and certification seminars, along with a highlighted visit from Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist and other government, emergency management, insurance industry and weather forecasting officials. Topics dealt with a range of expected challenges, which included how to continue improving forecasts, evacuations and post-storm responses in an age of severe budget pressures. Those budget pressures are expected to tighten after the Florida Legislature reconvenes for a Special Session in Tallahassee next month to work on property tax relief, which could reduce the pool of money now dedicated to local hurricane preparation and recovery.

Tuesday, May 15

Tuesday’s schedule included a three-hour meeting of “Partners in Recovery,” a consortium described as a significant initiative implemented by the Florida Insurance Council (FIC) in the face of a catastrophe. This program involves critical, close communications with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Emergency Management Department. If the State Emergency Operations Center is activated, Partners in Recovery will require insurance industry personnel to staff the insurance seat at the recovery desk, which includes both FEMA and the Division of Emergency Management’s Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation. Partners in Recovery is designed to get insurance adjusters into hurricane damaged areas as quickly as possible.

Various zones of the Florida Department of Emergency Management also held meetings throughout the week.

Wednesday, May 16

Prior to his appearance at the Hurricane Conference on Wednesday, Florida Governor Charlie Crist had publicly stated that most gas stations along hurricane evacuation routes haven’t yet complied with a new law requiring them to install generators so they can still supply fuel if a storm knocks out power.

Governor Crist asked his staff to send a letter to each of the 254 gas stations along hurricane routes to make them aware of the requirement, which the Legislature passed last year. It is estimated that only about 45 percent of the stations have complied with the law. Hurricane season begins June 1.

Characterizing the situation as a “health, safety and welfare issue,” during his Wednesday address to thousands of conference attendees, Governor Crist received thunderous applause and one of several standing ovations when he indicated he would prosecute non-compliance to the “fullest extent of the law, including, if need be, to take (the gas stations) to court.”

Governor Crist also addressed the property tax issue, assuring that emergency and recovery fundamentals would be fully-funded, but also noting that he will still expect local governments to prioritize their spending.

Governor Crist’s appearance officially opened the Conference. Indian River County Emergency Manager Sherman “Tony” Carper Jr., who also serves as president of the Governor’s Hurricane Conference, moderated Wednesday’s opening session.

Craig Fugate, Director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, spoke about the Governor’s initiatives and his dedication to the effective execution of emergency management programs. Mr. Fugate cited areas he felt required concentration in the execution of these programs, which included budgetary limitations and inter-agency and governmental partnership.

Now a Broward County Commissioner and current Broward County Mayor, former State Representative Josephus (Joe) Eggelletion Jr. spoke next.

R. David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a native of South Florida, spoke after Governor Crist and announced the expansion of operations at FEMA, even making a public recruitment request.

Paulison also emphasized that the government cannot help everyone immediately after a disaster and that people need to take responsibility for their own care, which was received with applause and an audience ovation.

Bill Proenza, the new director of the National Hurricane Center in West Miami-Dade, then wrapped up the session.

Thursday, May 17

Thursday’s program consisted mainly of continuing workshops and training sessions, including a program on how to find local match dollars on Hazard Mitigation Grants.

Friday, May 18

The resignation of National Weather Service Director David L. Johnson and the retirement of Deputy Director John E. Jones Jr., came two days after hurricane chief Bill Proenza was reported to have lashed out at his superiors at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for trying to reduce the prominence of both the weather service and hurricane center.

During interviews at this week’s Conference, Mr. Proenza accused NOAA of being more concerned with building its image than bolstering storm forecasting.

Mr. Proenza said NOAA plans to spend up to $4 million on a 200-year anniversary celebration. Meanwhile, he said, the agency has shortchanged hurricane research by about $700,000. He also criticized NOAA’s effort to promote itself by, for example, changing the National Hurricane Center’s name to the NOAA Hurricane Center.

The International Association of Emergency Managers applauded Mr.. Proenza’s comments and urged Congress to “preserve and make permanent” the National Weather Service name on all its products. NOAA spokesman Greg Romano said the departures had been in the works and were unrelated to Mr. Proenza’s remarks.

Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA is the parent agency of the weather service, which oversees the Miami-based hurricane center.

Moderated by Governor’s Hurricane Conference Board member and American Red Cross Leadership Forum Chair Mercedes Karl, the Friday, May 18 Closing Session was opened by Joe Becker, a senior vice president with American Red Cross.

Florida Insurance Council Executive Vice President Sam Miller spoke next and provided a comprehensive overview of insurance-related legislation passed during the 2007 Regular Legislative Session, including SB 2498 and HB 7057.

Mr. Miller described Citizens Property Insurance Corporation as currently being the third largest insurer in America and being in the “best shape it’s ever been” and gave statistics on financing and information on contracted adjusters. He also described Florida’s efforts toward mitigation as being some of the most proactive in the country and said that the Property Casualty Insurers Association supported this legislative effort.

The highlight of the Closing Session was an appearance by Colorado State University professor Dr. William Gray, and his associate, Phil Klotzbach, who gave an overview of forecasting and meteorological techniques. In addition, statistics and information were presented to essentially debunk what Dr. Gray characterized as a myth that global warming intensifies hurricanes.