Announcements from Oct. 3 Meeting

President Jasmine Mills

• We are close to having 100% paid dues - only one or two members remain who have not paid
• Reminder to provide any and all feedback in real-time (don’t wait until the end of the year)
• Let Jasmine and Jamie know if you spot club members in the news, any recognition/awards/announcements on social media - let's spread the good MetRotarians news!

• We need your help, Metro! 21 Host families are needed for GRSP weekend, Oct. 13-15. Pick-Up/Drop-Off requirements. Contact Jim Drake ASAP at jdrake@drakefirmpc.com 912.655.9882 
• Savannah Sunrise Rotary is hosting the 1^st annual Sam Eskew Memorial Golf Tournament. 11/10, 8:30am tee, Savannah Country Club. Benefits Operation Patriots FOB. Register or donate via Venmo to Tony Uhrich as part of Metro Support.

• Zerik is still challenging us to each ring a guest, and especially the longer standing members to get plugged in at the next level.

GUESTS/VISITORS:

• Kayla Reynolds, CEMA - guest of Chelsea Sawyer
• Christian Shellman, Housing Savannah - guest of Bret Bell
• Emerson Ingram, Booz Allen Hamilton Cyber Security - guest of Jeff Brady

Chelsea Sawyer has worked for the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) since September 2016. Throughout her time with the agency, she has served as an Emergency Management Specialist, Emergency Management Coordinator and is now the Emergency Preparedness Manager.

 

In this role, Chelsea serves as the lead of the Community Preparedness Division and is responsible for overseeing the agency's community outreach programs as well as managing Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6- Mass Care, ESF 8- Health and Medical, ESF 11- Food and Water, ESF 14- Public-Private Partnerships and ESF 18- Animal Services. In addition, Chelsea manages the agency's social and digital media presence, coordinates the Chatham County Disaster Faith Network, liaises with Chatham County's disaster recovery committee and supervises the Agency's volunteer workforce. Throughout her time with CEMA, Chelsea has gained a wealth of experience in disaster response and recovery communications and operations in both natural and man-made disasters such as tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms and during a military plane crash.

 

Chelsea is a Georgia Certified Emergency Manager and holds her Master's Degree in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech. One of her many passions is working with government agencies as they craft crisis communication plans and develop standards for emergency messaging. This passion led her to become the Southeast United States representative on the Government Social Media Membership Council.

 

Chelsea's love for emergency management and response is also evident in her personal life as she has served as the panel chair for the United Way of the Coastal Empire's Crisis Intervention Community Investments process and as the Disaster Response Chair for the Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club. When she is not working or volunteering, Chelsea enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband, Seth, and their two children.

 

Chelsea commented that she reported to our chapter immediately after Hurricane Matthew and only after 3 weeks on the job.

 

Hurricane Season Forecast:

• Named Storms: 18
• Hurricane: 9
• Major Hurricanes: 4

So far there have been 17:

• Named Storms: 17
• Hurricanes: 5
• Major Hurricanes: 5

Hurricane Seasons ends Nov. 30^th

TV Meteorologists came up with the idea of naming storms in the 1950’s

 

Largest threats to Life & Property:

• Water- 80% of deaths (drive through floods and drown)
  • Deadliest storms are NOT always the primary threat.
• Heavy Rainfall & Flooding (weaker storms can produce more rainfall)
  • i.e. Hurricane Harvey- up to 60 inches of rain. Overpasses were flooded.
• Storm Surge- water pulled and pushed based on the storm’s counterclockwise motion.
  • i.e. Hurricane Ian in Tampa Bay- water pulled out of the bay and pushed onto normally dry land.
  • MEOW (Maximum Envelopes of Water)- worst case scenarios maps was shown for each category of storm. (size, strength, slow speed, high tide, direct hit/angle of approach- right front quadrant is the “dirty side” of the storm.)

Family Emergency Plan: Booklets available.

• What’s your shelter plan? Can we stay at home and feel safe?
• CEMA alerts- text CEMA to 77295, news, social media, NOAA Weather Radio, disaster website: ready.chathamcountyga.gov
• Evacuation Plan- know your zone & routes, A, B, C
  • “Voluntary Evacuation” is NOT used in Chatham County- Evacuation Order is used instead, and a Mandatory is an executive directive- personal discretion is NOT an option. There is no legal obligation for first responders to respond to citizens. Would also void your life insurance policy if you died while staying for the storm.
• Household communication, multiple vehicles
• Supplies- create your own emergency kit.
• Re-Entry Plan, 5 step process:
  • Render Safe Task Force-
  • Life Safety Workers (requires pass)
  • Essential Public and Private Sector (requires pass)
  • Local residents, property owners
  • Open to public with limited access (i.e. Tybee Island)