Palm Beach County Emergency Management is paying close attention to the situation in the tropics.
The Emergency Operations Center is prepared to kick in a higher stage of operations, possibly as early as Thursday.
Currently, the center is in its normal phase of operations. Teams are still actively monitoring the tropics.
There are 4 levels of operations at the EOC. Right now they are in a Level 4, which is the normal operations.
However, by tomorrow Director Bill Johnson says the center could go up to a Level 3.
A Level 3 would be enhanced monitoring.
Johnson says they are watching the system closely and constantly gathering information. He says the center is in constant communications with several state and area agencies.
“We’re very closely monitoring the storm. We’re involved in conference calls with The National Weather Service and our state Emergency Operations Center,” said Johnson. “We’re reviewing our plans. We're working with our stakeholders."
Johnson says as for you at home, if you haven't already done so, please do not wait until the last minute to get your kits and plans in place.
That’s exactly what Delray Beach mom Melva Wring was doing Wednesday afternoon, staking up on the essentials. Wring says she’s taking no chances.
“That’s why I’m preparing myself now to make sure I get everything I need just in case,” said Wring. “We don’t know how it’s really going to turn out.”
And with all eyes on the tropics, many are beginning their usual preparations. However, some people in the area are still rebuilding after devastating weather earlier this year.
“It just hit like that,” said JP Listick, an assistant at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Delray. “It was very frightening.”
Back in January, a tornado barreled through her church. And the impact was caught on camera.
The video was an unforgettable sight. For Listick, it was a day she will never forget.
She was working in the office at the time. She was able to get to safety, and fortunately for the church the damage was minor, mainly trees down and patio furniture in disarray.
Months later, that horrifying experience is still fresh in her memory, especially as South Florida moves through hurricane season.
“It is nerve-wracking,” said Listick. “I am a little more unsettled this year than I’ve been in the past.”
The church's director, Bishop Bill Perkins, says it’s hard to fully prepare for tornadoes, but the church does take precautions for hurricane season.
“We start off by preparing the congregation,” said Perkins.
Perkins says once the National Hurricane Center issues a warning, the church cancels all services and activities. Then the staff gets to work preparing the church itself.
“We have accordion shutters…and we have roll down windows on the church itself.” Perkins says these preparations are part of life in Florida. “You have to keep track of those things and hopefully God willing they don’t hit.”