After Matthew: St. Johns County learns from last year's storm

Hurricane season opens June 1

ST. JOHN'S COUNTY, Fla. – Hurricane season starts June 1.

Many people are looking back as they look ahead, including emergency management leaders in St. Johns County, who said last year should serve as a wake-up call to everyone in the area and storm preparations should be made long before they are needed.

Last year, as Hurricane Matthew moved towards St. Johns County, evacuations were ordered, and many, but not all residents, chose to leave.

"Had that forecast come to fruition, we would be having a much different conversation," said St. Augustine Fire Rescue Chief Carlos Aviles. "You can't emphasize enough the importance of not being complacent."

One concern that county leaders have talked about is a frustration that many people had after the storm, not being able to get back in as quickly as they like if they evacuated.

"Coming back in at noon the next day may not be realistic for folks," Aviles said. "If we asked you to leave and are still keeping you out, it's because there are still a multitude of hazards that we have got to mitigate on our end and it would be irresponsible to let you back in otherwise."

Despite the major damage to Davis Shores and Vilano Beach, it could have been much worse in many other areas had Matthew made direct landfall in St. Johns County.

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"It was so close. We were so lucky, so blessed that just a few miles, not hundreds of miles," said St. Augustine police Chief Robert Hardwick. "A few miles, and it would have been a much more devastating, catastrophic impact."

County leaders also urged business leaders to prepare their businesses for another storm. They recommended knowing whether employees live in flood zones and where to go if your business is evacuated. They said that will help get things up and running faster after the storm.


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.