The City of Atlantic Beach, as part of the broader Jacksonville area, is actively engaged in comprehensive hurricane preparedness efforts, with a significant focus on optimizing disaster cost recovery through the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (F-ROC) system.

F-ROC System Implementation:

Atlantic Beach is leveraging the F-ROC system, an initiative by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), designed to standardize, streamline, and simplify the Public Assistance process for disaster cost recovery. For Atlantic Beach, F-ROC preparation entails:

• Standardized Documentation: Ensuring that all project forms and documentation adhere to a consistent format, which leads to fewer questions and faster approvals.
• Training: City departments and divisions critical to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery undergo in-depth training on the F-ROC process to enhance their ability to recover disaster-related costs efficiently and accurately.
• Enhanced Financial Recovery: By utilizing F-ROC, Atlantic Beach aims to significantly increase the amount of costs recovered after a disaster, thereby protecting the city's financial stability. The system is designed to reduce the risk of de-obligations (denials of funding) and increase funding advancement. This includes incentivizing applicants to proactively manage risk, establish clear documentation expectations, and understand procurement processes.

Broader Hurricane Preparedness Measures in Atlantic Beach and the Jacksonville Area:

Beyond F-ROC, Atlantic Beach and the surrounding Jacksonville region implement a multi-faceted approach to hurricane preparedness, which includes:

• Individual and Family Preparedness:

  • Emergency Plans: Encouraging residents to create family emergency plans, including assigning responsibilities and identifying meeting places.
  • Emergency Kits: Promoting the assembly of emergency supplies for both "Go-Kits" (3 days of supplies) and "Stay-at-Home Kits" (2 weeks of supplies), including water, non-perishable food, medications, and essential tools.
  • Home Hardening: Advising residents to secure homes by protecting windows (shutters or plywood), trimming trees, cleaning gutters, and bracing garage doors.
  • Staying Informed: Emphasizing the importance of monitoring NOAA Weather Radio, signing up for local emergency alerts (like AlertJax and CodeRED™), and following official social media channels.
  • Evacuation Planning: Guiding residents to identify their evacuation zones, plan evacuation routes, and register for special medical needs assistance if applicable. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) also provides free transportation to public shelters for those who cannot evacuate themselves.
  • Pet Preparedness: Reminding residents to include pets in their evacuation plans and emergency kits.

• City-Level Preparedness and Response:

  • Communication Systems: Utilizing systems like AlertJax to provide critical notifications on debris collection, road closures, and power outages.
  • Public Safety Command Center: Operationalizing a state-of-the-art public safety communication command center.
  • Damage Assessment and Recovery: After a storm, residents are advised to assess and report damage safely, follow official "all clear" orders, avoid floodwaters, and document damage for insurance claims. The F-ROC system plays a crucial role in streamlining the financial recovery aspect of this process.
  • Power Restoration: JEA provides information on how they restore power and emphasizes safety during power outages, including safe generator use.

By combining the proactive financial recovery measures of the F-ROC system with comprehensive individual and community preparedness strategies, Atlantic Beach aims to build a more resilient and secure future for its residents and businesses in the face of hurricanes.

Questions? Email info@coab.us or call (904) 247-5804.