| The tragic events in Florida point up again the fact | | | | disaster responses began and damages were |
| that adverse events, whether weather related or | | | | mitigated, but the adverse event itself could not |
| manmade are an unavoidable part of life for | | | | be prevented. New early detection equipment and |
| individuals and communities. However, it is through | | | | the newest of Doppler radars have afforded the |
| planning, preparation, practice and unfortunately | | | | people of Lake, Brevard and Volusia County a |
| experience that the communities of Lake, | | | | small but expanded window of time to see shelter |
| Brevard and Volusia County turn tragedy into | | | | and begin and activate their disaster plans. Less |
| triumph with their rapid response, their | | | | than a decade ago, the warnings would have been |
| professional caring and their ability to keep needs | | | | measured in minutes, now they are measured in |
| from exceeding resources, in short, they diverted | | | | minutes to hours. |
| large scale disaster. | | | | The response phase begins at the moment that |
| To be certain, the severe weather and tornadoes | | | | the adverse event strikes and continues until |
| that ravaged Lake, Brevard and Volusia County | | | | needs no longer exceed resources. Thanks to the |
| were tragedies on an individual and even local | | | | dedicated professionals of Lake, Brevard Volusia |
| basis. Lives were lost. Homes destroyed. | | | | County, excellent disaster planning, extensive |
| Businesses leveled. On the other hand, Lake, | | | | disaster preparedness, adequate practice and |
| Brevard and Volusia County are served by some | | | | unfortunately hard earned experience, the |
| of the best first responders, search and rescue, | | | | response in Florida was short lived. By sundown |
| emergency management and disaster response | | | | on the first day, the majority of the response |
| professionals in the State of Florida and in the | | | | phase has been completed and recovery has |
| nation. Storms have struck in the wee early | | | | actually begun. The usual community or |
| morning hours and caused large swathes of | | | | countywide disaster lasts three to seven days, |
| devastation, these were answered by | | | | before the response is completely shutdown and |
| professionals who were on the road before | | | | certainly the response in Lake County and Volusia |
| daylight even broke. Within hours, the overall | | | | County will continue in earnest for at least that |
| damages had been assessed. Urban search and | | | | long. However, most experts agree that recovery |
| rescue was on the job before the fog had even | | | | cannot begin in the first three days, yet Lake |
| fully burnt off and had been stood down, having | | | | County and Volusia County were already calling in |
| completed their task by 4:00 p.m. | | | | recovery professionals by midday on the first day |
| To be sure, there will be an ongoing recovery | | | | of their response. Their recovery plans were |
| efforts in Florida, but it is through planning and | | | | already in full swing by nightfall. |
| preparation that this community, vulnerable at a | | | | Recovery begins with good planning and certainly |
| higher degree than most, due to the large number | | | | this is an exampled of just such a recovery. |
| of manufactured homes and its own beautiful lake | | | | The people of Lake, Brevard and Volusia County, |
| dotted landscape, completed its recovery phase in | | | | Florida, are to be admired for the professionalism, |
| such a short time. | | | | the bravery and the strength in which they have |
| The disaster lifecycle consists of four phases: | | | | faced their most recent tragedies. While they |
| * Interphase | | | | suffered personal disasters, they staved off |
| * The Adverse Event | | | | countywide and regional disaster and even |
| * The Response Phase | | | | communitywide catastrophe. They insured that |
| * The Recovery Phase | | | | resources exceeded needs and that the ability to |
| The interphase is that period beginning at the end | | | | respond was never lost. |
| of the previous recovery and continuing until the | | | | On official appeared on television, shortly after the |
| next adverse event. It is during this phase that | | | | tragic event of the morning and asked that those |
| planning, preparation, practice and review occur. | | | | listening on the radio and watching on television |
| Resources are amassed and professional | | | | remember the people of Lake, Brevard and |
| community education are advanced. It is during | | | | Volusia County in their prayers. I would add that |
| the interphase that the ability to respond to the | | | | we not only extend prayer, but congratulations |
| next adverse event is determined. | | | | and admiration to two counties and multiple |
| The adverse event is a discreet moment in time, | | | | communities that have learned the lesson that we |
| when adversity strikes, but Lake, Brevard and | | | | all must learn: Plan, Prepare, Educate, Respond and |
| Volusia County when severe storms and | | | | Recover to Save Lives and Livelihoods. |
| tornadoes represented a discreet moment when | | | | |