For our latest feature story, "Weathering the Storm: A Look Inside Alachua County Emergency Management," we take you behind the scenes to explore the diverse emergencies officials handle and the collaboration between agencies to keep residents safe.
From the story:
In October 2018, Tropical Storm Michael emerged in the Caribbean Sea southwest of Florida. Within just 48 hours, it intensified into a formidable hurricane, charting a course straight toward Florida's panhandle.
As Michael approached, roughly 375,000 residents faced evacuation orders with minimal time to prepare. Many chose to stay, only to later regret their decision as the storm unleashed its fury.
The hurricane carved a path of devastation, claiming 74 lives and becoming the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Jen Grice, then a special needs shelter consultant for the state, found herself at the heart of the crisis. She was tasked with relocating dozens of displaced individuals from a Tallahassee shelter to a new facility in Pasco County, nearly four hours away.
“They were distraught,” Grice recounted. “Most, if not all, had lost everything and their homes were destroyed. To tell them they had to move even farther away was terrifying for them.”
Now serving as the director of Alachua County Emergency Management, Grice reflects on the experience as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and staying informed.
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