Officials from barrier island cities have met with their county counterparts to clarify policies for the return of residents following hurricane evacuations after an unsuccessful curfew request by Satellite Beach officials during the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew last October.
Indian Harbour Beach hosted the recent informal meeting with Brevard county Emergency Management and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, which included representatives from Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach. The sheriff’s office is in charge of access on the causeways during an evacuation.
Contacted via conference call by officials hunkering down in the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Rockledge, Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker unsuccessfully requested a curfew to a policy group of as a way to keep the city safe from looters.
“We decided that we wanted a curfew and that was not agreed upon by the group. For us it’s easier, because a lot of people aren’t home yet. We’re able to stop them when we have a curfew, find out who they are and why they are there. We’re trying to protect the property,’’ she said.
Indian Harbour Beach City Manger Mark Ryan said the meeting was held to make the rules consistent.
“We just want all the communities on the same page, engaging the Sheriff’s Department and EOC so we have a good, solid re-entry plan,’’ he said.
He was not surprised that the 2016 curfew request by Satellite Beach was not put in place because the concept was not planned for and agreed upon in advance.
“It’s like building a plane while you’re flying it,’’ he said.
Ryan said the main conflict point comes when city staffers are allowed to return but residents are held back.
“Most of our employees don’t live on the barrier island. Post storm event, I have to get essential personnel back over the bridge for damage assessments. If there are two lanes of cars of citizens wanting to get back home 100 cars deep, it’s hard for city employees to get over here,’’ he said.
Added Barker, who is a longtime resident of Satellite Beach: “It’s always an issue after every hurricane. When they (sheriff’s officials) are getting yelled at by the people and the cities are saying ‘don’t let them back in here. We’re not ready’ there’s a conflict. … A lot of times the SO doesn’t know who to let in and back out. There are people who try to take advantage. People get mad, if they go, why can’t I go?”
Kimberly Prosser, director of Brevard County Emergency Management, said a valid policy is in place to make sure the areas – and the bridges – are safe before re-entry of residents.
