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Fire chief urges island residents to prepare despite a lighter-than-normal season
Summary
Fire Chief Glen Joseph told the commission the 2026 Atlantic season is expected to be lighter than normal but warned one major storm can still cause severe surge, flooding and outages; he reiterated mandatory evacuation policy for Category 2+ events, special-needs registration, and shelter/practical preparedness tips.
Fire Chief Glen Joseph briefed the commission on hurricane season preparations for 2026, emphasizing that "it only takes one bad storm to make us have a miserable hurricane season, so we should always prepare for the worst." He said National Weather Service guidance points to a lighter-than-normal season, but that residents should not be complacent because the principal risk in recent years has been water — surge, freshwater flooding and rip currents.
Key points:
- Evacuation: The island is a mandatory evacuation zone for any Category 2 or larger storm; the chief urged residents to plan to be off the island during such storms because police and fire resources will relocate to the mainland.
- Registration and special needs: Residents with mobility or medical needs should preregister for transport via the clerk’s Community Connect system; there are separate preregistration requirements for shelters that accept pets.
- Practical precautions: Test shutters ahead of storms, secure or elevate batteries and rechargeable electronics, and consider relocating electric vehicles to higher ground; if items are inundated, move them away from structures to reduce post-storm fire risk.
- Return-to-island protocol: Police and fire will perform damage and safety checks; residents will need ID to re-enter once the all-clear has been issued.
Chief Joseph recommended that citizens sign up for code red notifications and obtain a battery-powered NOAA weather radio. He emphasized that while shelters exist they are not comfortable long-term solutions and encouraged residents to arrange mainland accommodations in advance.
