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June 10, 2009
By Cortez Strickland
Prattville Progress Staff Writer
Hurricane season has officially begun for 2009, and more than a dozen named storms -- including two possible major ones -- have been predicted, according to the Hurricane Prediction Center.
The Elmore County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Office are jointly urging county residents to "be ready," in case a hurricane does move inland, and to have an emergency plan in place.
"We must continue to develop a culture of preparedness in Alabama, in which every citizen takes personal responsibility for his or her own safety," said Elmore County EMA Director Eric Jones.
Alabama is prone to hurricanes, and storms generally move along the coastal shores. But county EMA officials are cautioning residents to be prepared for the possibility of high winds, tornadoes and inland flooding, events that often occur as results of hurricanes.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Frederic -- one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit Alabama. On Sept. 12, 1979, Frederic made land and caused havoc throughout the state. Damage estimates reached beyond $2.3 billion as the storm ravaged power lines and other public and private property.
David Brunson, deputy director of the county's Emergency Management Agency still remembers the strength and fury of the devastating storm.
"I remember Hurricane Frederic very well," said Brunson. "I grew up in Mobile, and it was terrible. The wind blew 100 mph all through the night, until the next morning around 5:30, sometimes gusting up 195 mph. I couldn't sleep for thinking the house was going to blow away. When the sun came up, (we) could get outside and see what all that stuff was that kept hitting the house all night long."
However, Brunson recalled that the worst part was being without any type of emergency assistance.
"I guess the biggest thing I remember is that we were on our own," he said. "There was so much debris outside. We did not see emergency personnel for about five or six days, and we were without power for 28 days."
The local EMA official said his experience, although it was along coastal Alabama, proved that the need for an emergency plan is vital to all citizens, no matter what disaster were to strike.
"If you didn't have a plan of action, you were in trouble," Brunson said of the 1979 storm. "That is why Elmore County EMA-Homeland Security Office wants to stress to our citizens to 'be ready'."
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Elmore County has already experienced an adverse weather event -- last month's heavy rainfall that damaged a great deal of county roads and private property.
EMA officials said three things are key to total preparedness. First of all, households should have a family emergency plan that helps ensure that everyone knows what to do; secondly, they should have an emergency supply kit that should sustain them for 72 hours.
Lastly, local citizens should remember that they might be on their own for the first 72 hours following any major disaster, as 72 hours are usually required for full implementation of recovery efforts by state and federal agencies.
Further information on hurricane preparedness may be obtained at one of three online sites -- www.ready.gov; www.ema.alabama.gov and www.srh.noaa.gov.
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