Comp Plan Amendments Concerning Hurricane Shelter Deficiency

ManaSota-88 has worked for good growth management, environmental protection, and community interests in the region and the state since 1968. We are alarmed by the present and increasing shortage of hurricane shelters needed to accommodate the people in Sarasota & Manatee County in the event of a major hurricane. 
 
Accordingly, ManaSota-88 recommends both county comprehensive plans be amended to require that all new county buildings be constructed sufficiently to function as hurricane shelters, that the counties urge other agencies also to adopt that practice, that the counties conduct an inventory of existing shelters, and needs and that rezonings and comprehensive plan amendments which would add to the shelter shortage be constrained to the extent allowed by law until the hurricane shelter shortage is resolved. 
 
Revised county comprehensive plans should prohibit the construction of new development in low-lying areas. Instead, plans should designate these areas for conservation, recreation, and open space.

Coastal governments must recognize the futility of evacuating an ever-growing population and the need for existing and future hurricane evacuation plans and decide to limit population.

In recognition of the existing emergency presented by the absence of adequate shelter capacity to accommodate anticipated needs in the event of a hurricane, ManaSota-88 urges the adoption of the following amendments:
 

 
Amend the comprehensive plans as follows:
 
GOAL:   Protection of Residents from Natural Disasters Through Disaster Mitigation, Provision of Adequate Warning, Provision of Adequate Shelter Capacity, and Post Disaster Planning.
 
OBJECTIVE:  Hurricane Shelters:   Plan, design,n and construct buildings sufficient to function as public shelters for emergency management purposes in accordance with present and projected needs.
 
POLICY: Sarasota & Manatee County shall adopt by ordinance standards and criteria that ensure that appropriate core facility areas in all new public buildings constructed by the county or constructed in anticipation of lease by the county are planned, designed, and constructed so that they can serve as public shelters for emergency management purposes.
 
POLICY: Sarasota & Manatee County shall coordinate with other public and private agencies within the county and the region to encourage them to plan, design, construct, and open their buildings sufficiently to serve as public shelters for emergency management purposes. This shall include encouragement of the Sarasota & Manatee County School Board to seek no exemption from the emergency shelter requirements of Florida law.
 
POLICY: It is recognized that both counties have a severe shortage of facilities sufficient to function as public shelters for emergency management purposes to protect residents and visitors from injury or loss of life in the event of a major hurricane or other disaster.
 
Accordingly, Sarasota & Manatee County shall adopt a resolution that sets forth the existing capacity of adequately constructed and located public shelters for emergency management purposes, if any, together with a statement of the additional capacity needed to meet estimates of present and projected demand. Sarasota & Manatee County shall thereupon undertake such appropriate actions as are available to eliminate any shortage of such capacity and then to maintain that capacity in accordance with projected demand.
 
POLICY: It is recognized that both counties have a severe shortage of facilities sufficient to function as public shelters for emergency management purposes to protect residents and visitors from injury or loss of life in the event of a major hurricane or other disaster.

Accordingly, Sarasota & Manatee County shall adopt resolutions that set forth the existing capacity of adequately constructed and located public shelters for emergency management purposes, if any, together with a statement of the additional capacity needed to meet present and projected demand estimates. Sarasota & Manatee County shall thereupon undertake such appropriate actions that are available to eliminate any shortage of such capacity and then to maintain that capacity in accordance with projected demand. 
 

 
GOAL: Control of Growth Sufficient to Prevent Injury and Loss of Life Resulting from Inadequate Hurricane and Emergency Shelter Capacity.
 
OBJECTIVE: Balancing Growth With Public Shelter Capacity: Restrain growth, which would further aggravate a shortage of public shelter capacity for emergency management purposes.
 
POLICY: At least until such time as Sarasota & Manatee County have eliminated its shortage of capacity in public shelters for emergency management purposes in accordance with the comprehensive plan and maintains that capacity to meet demand. Sarasota & Manatee County shall exercise the options provided herein and in the zoning and land development code regarding approval of site and development plans, rezoning to higher densities, and amendment of the comprehensive plans in such manner as to restrain to the full extent available by law the creation of additional demand on such public shelters.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.