Laserfiche WebLink
Center, Federal, State, and local agencies. <br />8. To increase our public outreach efforts, Indian River County utilizes <br />social media. Residents now have the ability to follow us on Twitter <br />and/or find us on Facebook. <br />9. Indian River County currently has twelve public shelters. Since all <br />shelters will not open at the same time, it is crucial for the public to <br />monitor media reports for an opening in their area. Depending on the <br />storm track and intensity, the number and location of shelter openings <br />will vary. At a minimum, shelters will open in the north, central and <br />south county area. Public shelter openings will be broadcast via local <br />radio stations, television stations and the government access channel <br />listed above. <br />10. Evacuation information, along with routes, is published annually in the <br />Vero Beach telephone directory, as well as in a hurricane <br />preparedness supplement issued by the Press Journal and the <br />Florida Today just prior to each hurricane season (an example can be <br />found on Figure 9). <br />11. While the entire County is subject to a host of hazards (outlined in <br />Section II -A), there are areas which are more vulnerable to particular <br />hazards (i.e., ponding water from heavy rainfall is most likely to effect <br />the low swampy inland areas and areas along streams and canals; <br />storm surge is most likely to effect residents along the coastal areas <br />and the Indian River Lagoon; severe freezes would economically <br />damage the citrus industry). Therefore, the department's goal is to <br />increase awareness of the pre -disaster education programs available <br />to these areas. <br />12. Each year, the Emergency Management Division hosts a media day. <br />Representatives from a variety of media outlets are invited to learn <br />about emergency management procedures and the methods used to <br />disseminate public information in an emergency. Press packets are <br />distributed and tours are given of the EOC and designated media <br />area. The purpose of this gathering is to strengthen relations with the <br />media prior to an emergency event. <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 115 <br />