By Vice Mayor Sue Gunzburger

While we hope to have a calm hurricane season, we must be prepared in case we do not.  Broward County has added two enhancements to our Hurricane Preparedness site to help keep residents safe before, during and after a storm.  Both utilize cell phone or e-mail technology.

Broward County Launches Twitter Site
You can now follow “Ready Broward” on Twitter for the latest Emergency Management Information. Broward County is now taking advantage of the new “social” media to help you stay informed during the hurricane season. Residents can "get connected" to receive official Broward County public safety and emergency information by registering at Twitter.com/ReadyBroward. Subscribers can receive timely updates on their cell phones or by e-mail. During a hurricane threat, these updates come directly from the County's Emergency Operations Center and could include evacuation notices, shelter openings, flooding alerts and other pertinent information that will keep residents  informed and safe. To become a follower, visit twitter.com/ReadyBroward and click JOIN TODAY.

Home Damage Assessment Program Goes Mobile
To be able to quickly identify areas of devastation, even before damage assessment teams are able to canvass the County, residents can now report hurricane damage through their smartphone or other mobile device. Don’t wait. Bookmark the home damage assessment application on your cell phone now: http://gis.broward.org/mda.  After the storm passes, residents compare their homes to four photos representing different levels of damage and flooding and send in a report via the new mobile application. When using the mobile application, the cell phone’s location is automatically geo-coded to a map.  As the data is reported, it is color-coded and displayed on a map to show emergency responders where the most damaged sections are located in the County.

Broward County will also activate the Hurricane Hotline. Dial 311 or 954-831-4000 for emergency information.

Broward County Budget 2011 Information Available Online
Residents can access information for the County’s fiscal year 2011 budget online at www.broward.org/budget. The Web site includes most frequently asked questions and answers, a review of the budget process and more. Public hearings on the budget will be held on September 14 and September 28, 2010, at 5:01 p.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. This is your opportunity to tell Commissioners what services are most important to you. If you’d prefer to follow the budget process on television, the public hearings will be televised on participating cable channels and Webcast live on www.broward.org.

TSA Launches Advanced Imaging Technology at FLL
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began using the first Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) unit at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). AIT safely screens passengers for metallic and nonmetallic threats, including explosives, without physical contact. Advanced imaging technology screening is safe for all passengers, and the technology meets national health and safety standards.  Additionally, advanced imaging technology screening is optional to all passengers. FLL becomes the 27th airport in the country and the fourth in Florida to deploy AITs. For more information, visit www.broward.org/airport.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  You can always call my office at (954) 357-7006 or send me an e-mail at sgunzburger@broward.org.

I hope that you will enjoy a safe and Happy Labor Day. The Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are observed in September.  To those who celebrate the Holiday, I wish you a Happy Rosh Hashanah and an easy fast on Yom Kippur.

Until next month,

Sue Gunzburger
Broward County Vice Mayor

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