Accolades from Town for Notification to Reduce Storm Damage

Poquoson is a quiet coastal town in Virginia. That is, until the storms come. In 2003, Poquoson received about $95,000,000 in property damage from Hurricane Isabel. It did not have to happen, as city officials learned last year. The lesson came from another big storm. The storm last year was very similar to Isabel. It was a strong one. But, the damage was significantly less --- about $90,000,000 less, in fact.

What changed from 2003 to 2009 was a concerted approach to avoid such damage, knowing Poquoson would be hit again. City officials and residents rallied, according to a recent article in the Daily Press, which serves Poquoson and the surrounding area.

The program was multi-pronged. Homes were elevated, using federal money. A multi-hazard mitigation plan was implemented. A volunteer Community Emergency Response Team was created. 911 operations were consolidated with the County. A call-in center was established for use during big storms.

Poquoson also subscribed to a high-speed notification service. City Manager Randy Wheeler said damage was down, in part, because of advance notice and instructions to prepare delivered by the telephone notification system, "The messages quickly gave residents in flood prone areas the information they needed to prepare, secure their property, move vehicles and avoid damage by safely parking on higher ground. The CodeRED emergency messages let residents know that we were actively managing the situation”, he said.

I'd never heard of Poquoson before. But, next time I'm in the area, I'll visit. This is a success story worth celebrating with a walk on their waterfront.

All the best,

Rick