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Groveland outlines hurricane-season readiness: 34,000 sandbags, serviced generators and FEMA planning
Summary
Deputy Fire Chief Erich Thiemann told the City Council Groveland updated its Emergency Management Plan, serviced key generators, maintained a fuel depot and is working on FEMA-compliant debris contracts; Council pressed staff for details on utility-generator readiness.
Deputy Fire Chief Erich Thiemann told the Groveland City Council on June 18 that the city is updating its Emergency Management Plan and coordinating with Lake County ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The presentation cited a forecast of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes for the season and outlined the city’s operational preparations.
Thiemann summarized measures the city has taken or is implementing: annual servicing of key generators, maintenance of the municipal fuel dispenser, continued public preparedness outreach, employee disaster-readiness events, development of a disaster-pay policy to support FEMA reimbursement eligibility, IT preparations for emergency communications, and Finance work on FEMA-compliant debris-management contracts and reimbursement procedures. He also noted an inventory of roughly 34,000 sandbags and a review of heavy-equipment availability, and that two emergency phone lines were established for citizens and employees.
Council Member Michael Jaycox questioned the readiness of water and wastewater system generators, fuel availability, emergency notification capabilities, FEMA reimbursement status and debris planning. Deputy Fire Chief Thiemann said coordination with utility operators and other departments is ongoing and agreed to provide additional information to Council about utility-generator preparedness.
Mayor Keith Keogh and Council Member Stephen Shylkofski discussed options for engaging local volunteers, farmers, churches and private heavy-equipment owners in post-storm recovery while noting liability and contractual issues that would need to be addressed. Council Member Amy Jo Carroll pointed to Lake County’s volunteer recovery task force as a possible model.
Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines commended staff for preparedness work and communication with residents. The City did not take formal action at the workshop; staff will return with the requested utility-generator details and continue coordination on FEMA reimbursement and debris-contracting plans.
