DATE: May 21, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Ric Barrick, Assistant Director
Broward County Office of Public Communications
PHONE: 954-831-3890
EMAIL: rbarrick@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - In preparation for the 2014 hurricane season, Broward County agencies and community response partners who play a role during activations of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will participate in a daylong emergency simulation exercise titled "Hurricane Jones" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the EOC, 201 N.W. 84 Ave., Plantation.
The local exercise is part of a statewide exercise during Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 19-23. Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30.
The simulation will test the County's readiness to respond to and recover from an emergency, such as a hurricane, and provide emergency responders with an opportunity to gain "hands on" experience with disaster preparedness, response and recovery procedures.
The fictional "Hurricane Jones" is classified as a Category 3 and makes landfall in Miami-Dade County. The eye of the storm moves northwest and bisects Broward County, traveling in a north-northwest direction. Due to the size and strength of Hurricane Jones, Broward County is under tropical storm force winds for approximately 33 hours.
This exercise is being sponsored by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Broward County Emergency Management Division.
Participants in this exercise include representatives from Broward County Departments, Divisions and Offices; Florida Division of Emergency Management; Broward Sheriff's Office; the School Board of Broward County; Florida Department of Health in Broward County; American Red Cross; Florida National Guard; Florida Power and Light; Housing and Urban Development; South Florida Water Management District; and representatives from Broward County's 31 municipalities; the Seminole Indian Tribe; and other non-governmental organizations.
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