City of Marco hosts hurricane preparedness seminar to kick off the start hurricane season

Marco Eagle

Residents of the City of Marco Island gathered for a hurricane preparedness seminar.

With the onset of hurricane season and Irma still in the rear-view mirror, residents on Marco Island don't want a repeat of what happened last year: stranded on I-75, no gas or water, cars floating down the streets — a complete category 5-sized disaster.

Around 30 people attended the City of Marco Island hurricane preparedness seminar on June 22 to learn from a specialized panel of city and government employees how they can best protect themselves if another storm lands on the barrier island again.

"We succeed in weathering these storms when we work together as a community," said Chief Al Schettino of the Marco Island Police Department during his part of the presentation.

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Attendees learned about evacuation routes and shelters, official sources of information, tips, checklists and kit recommendations, bridge closures, island re-entry, utility facts, debris removal and construction site preparation, electrical hazards, gas leaks, generator safety practices, preparation and recovery plans to name a few.

"We know we can do better, and that's what today is for," Cpt. Dave Baer of the Marco Island Police department said to the attendees.

For those who could not attend, have no fear.The presentation will be up on the City of Marco website soon.

All hurricane information is available to the community through multiple platforms:

www.cityofmarcoisland.com
City of Marco Island TV
City of Marco Island Social Media- Twitter(MIPD, MIFRD, City & Parks and Rec), Facebook, YouTube,
[New] City of Marco Island AM radio station
Public safety announcements by officials
Code Red
Reverse 911 (CCSO)
311 (Collier EM)

Numbers to Call:

Emergency: 9-1-1
Information Line: 239-389-5000
To report a power outage: 800-599-2356 or 239-656-2300
To report a water or sewer main break: 239-394-3168