Hurricane Preparedness

The 2015 HURRICANE SEASON is HERE!!!!

If you haven’t already, NOW is the time to plan and prepare for HURRICANE SEASON 2015, which run annually from June 1st to November 30th, with a peak in mid-August through mid-October.  So far, in 2015, though it has been estimated that it will be an “average” to “below average” year, do not lull yourself into complacency with regard to you and your family’s safety.  This year, we’ve already seen TWO named storms, Ana and Bill.  Do you remember Hurricane Andrew (1992)?  That too was also forecast to be a below average year and it didn’t even hit until August 1992, so you never know when, where or how a hurricane, powerful or not, will form, much less strike Florida.

Updated annually, the All Hazards Guide (distributed by Collier County Emergency Management) is a helpful guide that provides information about Collier County disaster plans, how to prepare your property, shelter locations, insurance issues and much more. Stop by any Collier County Library to pick up a copy today. NAA has a limited quantity; stop by and pick up a copy before they’re gone. They will be located at the Customer Service Desk.

The Naples Airport Authority would also like to provide the following reminders for aircraft/hangar owners and pilots who use the field:

Hangars ARE NOT WIND RATED FOR ANY SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF STORM and should not be considered shelters. Authority staff highly recommends that all tenants have evacuation plans for their aircraft and REMOVE THEIR AIRCRAFT FROM THE AIRPORT early.

  • Tenants should have two (2) destinations for their aircraft in the event of a storm. Alternative airport FBO’s should be contacted now, early in the season to arrange for hangar or tie-down space, as space will be at a premium during a storm. Also, please plan to stay at the location you choose for several days; consider a minimum of 5 days. The airport may not be re-opened immediately, except for emergency flights, due to damage or clean-up efforts and may be restricted for relief operations only. Also, please remember that our staff may be victims of the storm and may not be available to report back to work immediately.
  • Plan to leave at least 48 hours prior to the storm force winds. If you leave your vehicle in the hangar, please leave the keys at the Customer Service Desk to be secured (vehicle to be moved by NAA staff only if necessary). Should there be a storm approaching, we may need to move your vehicle over to the side or to another hangar so that we can utilize the hangar for aircraft storage. Please rest assured that we will take the utmost care with your vehicle and it will be kept inside a hangar, not left outside to weather the storm.
  • Plastic zip tie-straps will be put on all mechanical hangar door locks so they don’t rattle loose with the high winds. They will put a sticker over all electrical switches so that tenants don’t flip the switch prior to the tie-straps being removed. They will remove the tie-straps and stickers as time permits, but this may not be one of their top priorities.
  • All gates and ID readers will be inoperable, as well as our telephone system, when the airport loses electricity. Do not come out to the airport after a storm to “check” on things.  Not only is traveling on unsafe roadways after a storm incredibly dangerous, you could add to potential problems if you inadvertantly travel into an unsafe areas (e.g. power lines down, roadway washouts, overflowing canals), so please allow local public safety officials to assess area safety issues and make local announcements after the disaster.  Additionally, please allow NAA staff who remain at the airport to perform their inspections, reopen the runways (if closed), and assess damage. Gates will be padlocked until electricity and security can be restored, or guards are posted. Also, hangars with electric doors will not be accessible, so please do not come out to the airport and ask staff to open up hangars utilizing generators. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give us a little time.
  • Please do some spring cleaning and keep your leasehold area clean and free of anything that can blow around, not only during a hurricane, but also during the daily thunderstorms that occur.
  • In the event of a hurricane, tenants with T-Shelters should use special care when leaving the area and remember that they will be asked to remove their equipment boxes that may be attached to the posts.
  • If you do vacate your hangar, we may put someone else’s aircraft in there for a short time period to clear the ramp.
  • Tenants with private leaseholds should consider contacting a building contractor to conduct a pre-hurricane season inspection of their facility. Ideas concerning upgrades and better methods of stabilizing doors may be obtained, as well as getting emergency contact numbers for after storm repairs.
  • It is our standard practice to clear the ramp of all aircraft prior to a storm in order to minimize the damage to aircraft, our buildings and tenant leaseholds.

Please remember that our staff needs to prepare their homes too, and things that normally occur in a timely fashion may take a bit longer just prior to a storm. If we are hit by a storm and receive damage to the airport or to our homes, things that normally occur after the fact will definitely take longer as well. Extra patience goes a long way during these difficult times!

 

RECOMMENDED ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN A BASIC EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

Water – one (1) gallon of water per person/pet, per day, for a minimum of three (3) days, for drinking and sanitation.  For a family of three with a dog, that would equate to a minimum of nine (9) gallons.  A good source of water storage is a water home delivery service that can drop off a few 3- or 5-gallon water jugs, or pre-purchase full/empty containers that can be self-filled, or safely remain in your garage or other storage area “just in case.”

  • Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Manual Can Opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Dust mask – to help filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, along with extra batteries for both.
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Important family documents, i.e.: copies of insurance policies, ID and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • First Aid Kit
  • Local Maps