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Lake County emergency management reviews Hurricane Milton response, hazard‑vulnerability assessment and special‑needs registry
Summary
Megan Milanese, director of Emergency Management, detailed the county's Hurricane Milton EOC activation, a 21‑day recovery center, volunteer nonprofit work, the special‑needs registry and a countywide hazard‑vulnerability assessment that could unlock mitigation funding.
Megan Milanese, director of Lake County Emergency Management, told commissioners May 22 that the office activated the Emergency Operations Center for Hurricane Milton and for several other incidents last season and is advancing a countywide hazard‑vulnerability assessment.
Milanese said the EOC fully activated for 16 days in response to multiple storms, with a 21‑day storm‑recovery center set up to provide short‑term aid (housing, legal assistance, referrals) to impacted residents. She said nonprofit partner LASER recorded more than 300 assistance cases, facilitated over $200,000 in donated goods and services, and contributed roughly 1,300 volunteer hours for debris removal and home repairs.
The office said it operates the Alert Lake emergency notification system, manages the special‑needs registry (about 566 residents currently registered) and reviews emergency plans for 97 health‑care facilities. Milanese said the county is completing a countywide hazard‑vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructure and floodplain risks over a 50‑year horizon; she said completion could make projects eligible for mitigation funding.
Milanese also said the office will exercise new EOC software before full deployment and increase funding for long‑term recovery aid. Commissioners and staff thanked the office for cold‑weather shelter activations and coordination with faith‑based partners; Milanese encouraged volunteers and described the citizens’ information line used during activations ((352) 253‑9999).
