Our first “Zoom” hurricane meeting this past Saturday, June 20, was a real success with 55 participants.

Mayor of Jamaica Beach, Steve Spicer, gave a welcome speech.

Mayor Pro Tem of Galveston, Dr. Craig Brown, also made a welcoming speech plus significant recommendations in preparation and recovery from a hurricane as follows:

• The City is prepared to assist those that need assistance with evacuation.
• Individuals needing assistance would need to register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry program on line or 211 and press 4 on their phones, to be eligible. Currently there are 850 individuals registered on Galveston Island and these individuals will be evacuated prior to issuing a formal evacuation order. The Staging area for these individuals is the Community Center at 4700 Broadway.
• Precautions in response to CoVid-19 will be in effect for all evacuees.
• General Evacuation Orders, if needed, will be issued dependent on the details of the Storm but will probably be 36-48 hours in advance of the storm.
• If Evacuation Orders are issued it is important to evacuate, not only for your safety but to keep our first responders safe.
• All information concerning the Storm and evacuation will be disseminated via all forms of communication and your personal phones.
• Readmittance to the Island and Jamaica Beach will be through a progressive system and be sure to bring some proof of residency with you when you evacuate, to use when being re admitted.

We had three prominent and well know weather people with years of experience.  The bios and all of their presentations are attached.

• Bill Read discussed “Hurricane Season 2020 Outlook and Basic Preparedness Message”
• Lew Fincher presented the “History and Current Threat of Storm Surge for Galveston Island”
• Dan Reilly talked about the “Hazards and National Weather Service Operations for Hurricane Threats”

Presenter Biographies
Hurricane Season 2020
Storm Surge – West End Hurricane
Tropical Outreach

Our next meeting on July 18 will also be a “Zoom” meeting with presentations from Julie Ann Brown, Executive Director of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC), and Joanie Steinhaus, Gulf Program Director for the Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN).

Many thanks again for your support.

Jerry Mohn
President