JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Images of flooding and destruction out of Texas are a constant reminder of what people in Florida could be facing if a Category 4 hurricane comes their way.
But are average Floridians prepared for such a storm? More importantly, are they prepared be first responders?
That question was raised after Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator William Long told The Washington Post, “People need to be the help until help arrives.”
Millions of Texans have been directly affected by massive flooding and wind damage.
“This will be a devastating disaster, probably the worst disaster the state’s seen,” Long told The Washington Post on Sunday.
If a Category 4 hurricane was headed toward Jacksonville, people along the river would have to deal with major flooding. But are they prepared to do so? And would they be prepared to help a neighbor in distress?
News4Jax asked residents in San Marco and Riverside on Monday if they would be prepared if a storm with the same kind of punch as Harvey were to slam into the Jacksonville area.
“No. I live on the first floor of a duplex. I would not be able to handle anything," said Calli Fletcher, who lives in the south Riverside area.
“Absolutely not. I mean, they’re still repairing on the river now and it’s still caving in. So I don’t think Jacksonville is prepared, nor San Marco residents," said Chris Yoe, who lives in San Marco.
In The Washington Post article, Long said storm damage this massive is not only expensive, but incredibly taxing on first responders. He said in situations such as this, ordinary citizens need to be prepared to become first responders.
Randy Wyse, president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, said federal, county and local first responders can't handled flooding of that magnitude by themselves.
“In a massive hurricane or disaster, yes, maybe some citizens should be a little bit well-trained as it relates to CPR or basic first aid," Wyse said. "I’m sure they’re not looking at citizens to search a home or go into damaged structures to determine their stability.”
But are people here ready to step up and help a neighbor?
“I know I wouldn’t," Fletcher said. "My husband’s a medical professional, so he might be able to.”
“I got a boat sitting outside my yard. If the flooding were bad enough, I could make that happen," Yoe said.
James Salzer, a Jacksonville resident, also said he would be prepared to be a first responder if necessary.
Of course, there are some things that would require months, if not years, of training, so no one is asking ordinary residents to do something that would put their lives in danger.