Dear Friends,
We should all feel blessed that Hurricane Ian did not knock on our doors last week. Like you, our school district family sends up prayers and good wishes for all our Florida neighbors to the south.
When a hurricane heads our way, there are many things for districts across Florida to consider when deciding how to keep students, staff and families safe. With nearly two more months of hurricane season left, it is important that I share this information with you.
Action begins once a storm is named. Storm tracking and daily briefings are put in place and the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is on alert. The projected strength, size and trajectory of the storm determine subsequent decisions. Various entities come together four times a day for briefing meetings to make decisions concerning the safety of our community. At the table are:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
- Monticello Police Department
- City Commissioners
- Board of County Commissioners
- City and county fire rescue services
- Jefferson County Health Department
- Jefferson County Planning Department
- Jefferson County Road Department
- Local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), a highly trained volunteer Citizen Corps program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Various other agencies who focus on major emergency response.
I am on those daily calls working with these experts and providing information about our community, school and students so we can tailor assistance services.
I want our students in school, and I want to keep them safe. I must, however, weigh the storm’s timeline and path and make tough decisions. During these times we are at nature’s mercy, and no decision is perfect for every person involved. There are too many moving parts.
A main concern: the school is Jefferson County’s only designated shelter. Decisions must consider not only our students but the rest of the county residents as well. Preparing for a hurricane means that EOC must decide if and when the shelter will open, when to bring in services, supplies and equipment and what they will be. This all is dependent upon the significance of the named storm. (The Jefferson County shelter is pet friendly. Madison County’s shelter is designated for people with special needs.)
To some, it may seem that decisions come late; this is because Nature changes course, speeding up or taking her time. It is important that our students are in school, so I am judicious about making a snap decision to close schools. It is truly a balancing act. I ask that you trust me when I work to make the best decisions for our students and the community based on the information I have from several different sources at the table with me.
There are ways parents, guardians and caregivers can help this process:
1. Make sure your contact information is updated with the school and in FOCUS. This is the only way we can contact you in emergencies. We need current emails and phone numbers.
2. Log in to your FOCUS account and watch the district website, www.jeffersonschools.net,for updates.
During weather emergencies, you will receive emails from the school and from your students’ teachers. We are currently updating our automated call system so we can schedule callouts en masse to get messages out quickly. The system can only reach those who have provided accurate phone numbers, so it is important to keep us updated.
Thank you for working with me to keep our students safe.
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