The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season officially began on 1 June. National Weather Service forecasters predict that storm activity will be ” higher than normal this season. Some Florida cities are preparing technologies to help with response.

Storms can knock down power lines, cell towers, and internet service. This puts the cloud-based technology used by emergency dispatch and first responders in danger. Some Florida cities are adding layers to their technology that can function under these limited conditions.

Coral Gables, a Miami suburb, added a backup computer-aided dispatch system to its primary system. This provides redundancy and ensures that 911 will never go down. Tampa has expanded its mass communication tools. It layered methods of outreach to ensure that emergency management officials and residents could still access and share vital information in case of life-threatening situations, even if cell service or the internet is not available.

As a backup dispatch system, the Coral Gables Police Department uses a product from Mark43 called AlternateCAD. Ed Hudak is the Coral Gables police chief. He told StateScoop having a backup dispatch system reduces the worry of a catastrophe like a cyberattack or hurricane.

Alternate CAD is also used by police departments in Bay Harbor Islands and Boynton Beach.

Hudak added that the newly constructed public safety building in Coral Gables, which houses the city’s police department, the fire department, and the emergency operations center, was another part of the effort. Previously, departments were housed in separate buildings. Hudak said that the consolidation of the departments allows the city to use a single server, which will make it easier for fire, police, and emergency systems to communicate during severe weather.

Hudak said, “As long you have power (which could be a backup generator), you’ll have connectivity.” “I don’t need to worry about my server getting blown up if we have a breach in the building.” We have two generators, which means I won’t be without power.

Hudak said that his department has also recently developed a satellite truck, which allows law enforcement to have access to its primary or backup dispatch system from anywhere in the State.

He said that the truck has three different types of redundancy. It can communicate through cell phones, satellites, and regular hard lines. “We were able to flip the switch to have these conversations, which was important for public safety.”

‘Multiple teams to multiple facilities’

In Florida, severe hurricanes that cause catastrophic destruction are not new. In September 2022 Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on southwestern Florida, causing a catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds up to 156 mph, as well as historic flooding in the central and northern areas of the state.

According to NOAA’s report about Ian, the storm caused more than 150 deaths, both direct and indirect, in Florida, and caused $112 billion of damage. This makes it the most expensive hurricane in Florida history, and the third most costly in United States history.

Eric Hayden, Tampa’s chief information officer told StateScoop the city prepares year-round, with tabletop exercises and trainings. He said that communications are the “number-one priority” in command and control as well as situational awareness and community awareness for the city’s response to natural disasters. As in Coral Gables and Tampa, the city is focusing on redundancy through backup dispatch facilities.

Hayden added, “We can also move our 911 groups, or the actual teams, into multiple facilities.” “They can operate from the hardened facility that they are in today. We also have a second hardened facility where we can safely move them if their primary facility or any component of that facility is lost. They can continue dispatching 24/7. Instead of having a second application, we have multiple sites with the same duplicated application.”

Hayden said that his department’s WebEOC internal communications portal allows city officials to communicate within the state. Hayden said that even if power is cut during a hurricane or other natural disaster, the system will ensure that Tampa remains in contact with the rest the state.

City officials can also share information with the public about real-time vehicle tracking. This tool allows response teams to track their progress when they are clearing debris. If all else fails, the city has radios which operate on non-emergency frequencies.

Hayden said, “Let’s assume we lose cellular communication, telephone communications, or internet for many communities. We also have ham-radios throughout the area so that we can send messages back and forth between neighborhoods and communities.”

Hayden said that the city relies heavily on partnerships with local media stations to communicate with citizens during emergencies. AlertTampa is a system of alerts that sends text messages, calls, and emails.

Hayden says that one of the most critical pieces of the city response in the event a system fails doesn’t even involve technology.

He said: “We have neighborhood canvassing team, which is our teams that actually deploy in the neighborhoods. They go door to door and post information.” “It is things like ‘tune in to this channel’ or if major outlets are down, then we can tell them where else to look.”

“So many layers”

Floridians worry about the possibility that technology could fail during severe weather. In a Mark43 survey, 81% Floridians reported that they did not receive immediate assistance during extreme weather.

79 percent of Florida residents who responded to a survey said they supported increasing federal funding for local public safety agencies to upgrade technology. Eighty-one per cent said that their local law enforcement agencies need to prioritize tech upgrades.

NOAA’s forecast includes between eight and thirteen storm systems that will become hurricanes this season, meaning they have winds of 74mph or more. The weather agency predicts that four to seven storms will develop into major hurricanes.

FEMA Deputy Director Erik Hooks stated in NOAA’s forecast of last month that “severe weather and emergency situations can happen at any time, which is why individuals need to be prepared now.” “We are already seeing storms moving across the country, which can bring additional hazards such as tornadoes and flooding. A proactive approach today to our increasingly challenging climate can make a significant difference in how people recover tomorrow.

Hayden said that he is confident that Tampa has taken an proactive approach but that no technology upgrade could guarantee safety in the event of a natural disaster.

Hayden said, “We expect that a lot of the technology will stop.” “That’s the reason we have so many layers.” We have online portals and offline portals. We have ham radios and regular public radios. All of these together provide multi-layered security.”