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City presents 2024 hurricane-season after-action: improvements planned for communications, debris and permitting
Summary
City staff briefed the council on lessons learned from three major 2024 storms, reported improvements already underway and outlined next steps including an October after-action report from Hagerty Consulting.
City emergency management staff reviewed the city's response and recovery efforts from the record-breaking 2024 hurricane season, presented strengths and gaps, and described specific steps taken to improve preparedness before the peak of future seasons.
Key findings presented - Scope: Three storms in 67 days produced record rainfall and storm surge in different locations; the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated for 57 days. - Strengths: rapid EOC activation, deployment of street teams and volunteers, quick debris removal (2.1 million cubic yards in 90 days), deployment of tiger dams and temporary staging sites, waiving of utility late fees and post-disaster permitting flexibilities. - Areas for improvement: communications (template messaging, quicker mass-notification uploads), resource management for sustained multi-storm response, expanded damage-assessment training (including "substantial damage" assessments), pre-identified debris management sites, and the need for a crane/construction-site hurricane plan.
Actions underway - The city has scripted a set of communications, pre-drafted boil-water and other notices, and will expand Everbridge/Alert Pinellas reverse-9-1-1 meshes to push life-safety messages to affected polygons. - Additional high-water vehicles with firefighting capability are being procured and three were expected to arrive before the peak of the season. - The city has set up a temporary debris management site (Raytheon) and is coordinating countywide pre-storm debris plans; Parks & Recreation staff said five parks are pre-authorized by FDEP for debris operations. - Planning & Development Services is streamlining permitting: mobile permitting sites, post-disaster emergency permits, and planned how-to videos to help homeowners navigate emergency permit processes. - The Sunrise St. Pete HUD grant (about $160 million) and the We Are St. Pete fund were cited as key long-term recovery tools.
Next steps and reporting Amber (Emergency Management) said Hagerty Consulting will prepare a formal after-action report and improvement plan; the city will finish Phase 1 and reach stakeholders for Phase 2. Hagerty's final deliverable is expected in October and will include a prioritized improvement plan for disaster operations.
Council reaction Council members asked for redline versions of the Disaster Operations Plan updates; asked for clearer lists of pre-identified debris management sites; urged improved communications with hospitals and critical facilities (the Tampa Bay Health and Medical Preparedness Coalition completed site visits); and sought more formal integration with neighborhood volunteers and CERT-like training for community navigators.
Ending: Staff said many corrective steps already are in motion and the council will receive the October after-action report and proposed Disaster Operations Plan changes for review.
