JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Lenny Curry called the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey a reminder of the potential impact of tropical weather on a community.
Curry, speaking to reporters Tuesday about how Jacksonville would handle a similar disaster, was asked about the mayor of Houston's decision not to evacuate the city ahead of Harvey.
He said didn't have access to the information Houston officials were given and will not pass judgment on the decisions.
"This is a reminder, a sad reminder of how serious Mother Nature is, and that last year, those in Jacksonville who heeded our evacuation plans, those in Jacksonville that took the seriousness of having a plan, knowing your zone, creating a kit, all that paid off when we went through what we went through," Curry said. "If that storm in Jacksonville had not wobbled off like it did by the grace of God, Jacksonville likely would have faced the horrific scenario that we're seeing now in Texas."
Curry said every tropical system is different, and should be treated as such. He said the decision to evacuate is never an easy one.
"When you make a decision to evacuate, then you've got to quickly get," he said. "Then you're thinking about all the stakeholders you should inform, but you also know you're on the clock because you need to make sure you get people this information and can begin to move quickly."
Curry also explained a number of specific questions go into making that choice in Jacksonville.
"First, we do evacuate the zone because those people could be at risk -- real risk. And then (if) the answer is 'yes,' the next question is, before we make the call, coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Interstate Highway System and the governor to ensure the best traffic flow possible," Curry said.
The mayor said Jacksonville has a plan in place, and said the city’s response to Hurricane Matthew last year was efficient and effective. Curry acknowledged that the city is still awaiting reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but said now isn't the time to press the agency on that.
Curry said the city would be prepared even for a more extreme situation like Harvey. He said the evacuation zones that Jacksonville and other Florida counties utilize during tropical and other events worked well for the city before, and should serve the city well even if the storm surge or flooding is worse.
Curry also said he has communicated to Gov. Rick Scott the city of Jacksonville's readiness to send assets to Houston if needed, but as of this time, FEMA has made no such request.