INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The brisk breeze that cooled things off Friday night provided ideal conditions for the American Red Cross Hurricane Hangar Party at Sun Aviation.
Despite it being a beautiful evening filled with musical entertainment by the local rock band OPM, great food from a wide variety of vendors and lots of family fun, the main purpose for the event took center stage – how best to prepare for hurricane season which begins June 1.
For many years, Vero Beach was spared major storm damage, but that all changed in 2004 with the double whammy from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Four years ago, to ensure that residents no longer adopt the dangerous complacency that arises after a few years without another direct hit, the Red Cross devised a event to combine educational disaster information with family fun and fundraising.
Storm related vendors displayed services available to protect homes and businesses before a storm, and to help with cleanup and recovery after a disaster.
At Homeland Irrigation Center, they do both – preparing yards before hurricane season, and offering cleanups afterward.
And what to do with all that green waste? INEOS Bio, the new bioenergy technology company under construction on Oslo Road has the solution – turn it into ethanol. The company hopes to begin processing later this year.
“It’s an exciting program; it’s the first one built in the world,” said Nigel Falcon, project director. “Our whole process runs on yard waste; turning waste into fuel.”
Lest you lose electricity, US Generator showed off their latest solutions, including the IBIS, ideal for condos since it is an indoor battery operated inverter, and the Typhoon, a new diesel generator for larger residential homes. “It’s the best residential generator in the world; very quiet too,” said Bill Broocke, president.
“We could take care of the whole city of Vero Beach if we had to,” said Chris Rice of Jarvis Emergency Services, which has worked in numerous disaster zones including the flooding of entire cities such as Nashville, Tennessee and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “People count on us when they’re in need; just like the Red Cross.
Tom Pease from Florida Shutters pointed out their Tongue and Grove Colonial Shutters saying, “We’re the only company in the United States that has a Miami Dade approval for that product.”
Rob Vaccaro of HBS Glass noted that not only are their doors and windows protection against hurricanes, but they are also protection against intruders, explaining, “You just can’t get through this glass.”
There were also a number of vendor artisans, selling an eclectic variety of hand-made items, from glass bottle chimes and hand-made ties, to carved wooden “hillbilly humor” pieces and colorful hula hoops.
Artisan coordinator Susan Ivy, selling lovely beaded necklaces, explained that each had also donated something as a silent auction item.
“It’s a fundraiser,” said Ivy. “The Red Cross gets something from the artists and the artists get some exposure.”
High school volunteers helped out with numerous children’s activities, and Tim Geib, self-appointed “official heckler” lured a constant stream of people to the dunk tank for a chance to take their aggressions out on a few good sports. But it was all in good fun and all for a good cause.
The American Red Cross offers disaster preventive education, and in times of emergency responds to those in need by providing shelter, food and emotional support.