On Frances Street in Fort Pierce, Wendy Silva shows the high water mark from Hurricane Frances after it washed into her neighborhood on Hutchinson Island in 2004.
“Saltwater in the fridge, saltwater in the freezer, fish everywhere. Seaweed. It was… yeah," remembers Silva.
Silva said they had to stay away for sometime as the island took hits from both Frances and Jeanne a few weeks later.
“What we encourage our barrier island residents to do is evacuate in the event of a severe weather event," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.
Sheriff Mascara is initiating a new Disaster Re-Entry Program designed to make it easy for barrier island residents to return.
“During and after a storm, we actually lock the islands down. We do that to prevent any form of looting or any form of criminal activity on the island while the residents are away," said the Sheriff.
Residents that show two forms of ID, can go to one of four places throughout the county, including the Sheriff’s Office on Midway road, and get a placard. The placards are not mandatory but could make it easier for you to get home after a storm.
In Martin County Tuesday, the focus was on “before the storm” as the Department of Health conducted a full scale exercise for a special needs shelter.
“You might need some help with your medication, you might be oxygen dependent, you might have some cognitive issues," said Renay Rouse with the Florida Department of Health.
Residents played actors with assorted health issues and it was up to shelter staff to determine where to best send them. Pre-registration is required to be taken in at a special needs shelter.
