Boca Grande: Local Weather Forecast

Safety Preparation Procedures

Flag Flying Procedures

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Weather Equipment Information

WeatherHawk is a system composed of weather monitoring meteorological instruments with data loggers to store measurements. Installed atop the G.I.BA. Bridge Tender House.

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G.I.B.A. Wind Procedures

Constant Winds above 40 MPH : The Swing Bridge is locked down and “closed to boat traffic openings.” NOTIFICATION: U.S. Coast Guard & CC/Lee County - Emergency Management Operations Center.

Constant Winds above 55 MPH : Bridge House and Customer Service close. Toll Booths stay open.

1. A Hurricane Warning has been issued which directly targets this area

2. The Island has been placed under an Evacuation Order by the Governor of Florida then, the Toll Booth will be closed. Sheriff's deputies will take over the Toll Booths and they will stop all traffic going to the Island, until the Hurricane has passed, and the Island has been declared “safe to re-enter” by the County Emergency Operations Team.

Constant Winds above 70 MPH :
Clear Bridge, Toll Plaza and all facilities of any loose objects. Begin final evacuation of all GIBA staff. Execute GIBA Hurricane Actions Plan, to include identifying 2-Man Teams, running evacuation checklists and securing all buildings and equipment for Hurricane winds. Computers are secured on second floor of GIBA Generator-Maintenance Bldg. NOTIFICATION: U.S. Coast Guard. Two-Man Team relocates GIBA vehicles to Charlotte County complex on San Casa in Englewood.

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Hurricane Warning Issued For G.I.B.A. Area

72 Hours in Advance : Begin pre-mobilization checklists, to include identifying essential records, equipment, and computers to be packed up. Establish primary phone communications and radio communications channels with key Island and County Emergency Services personnel.

48 Hours in Advance : Begin packing up mobility items and identify 2-Man Teams for evacuation, operations monitoring and reconstitution. Ensure all radios are charged and ready to go.

24 Hours in Advance : Mobilize all identified equipment and begin securing all items and buildings. Lock Down/Close Bridge to Boats (winds 40 MPH). Toll Closed/Traffic Stopped (Winds 70 MPH)

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Governor’s Official Order to Evacuate the Gasparilla Barrier Island

Sheriff's Role . Island evacuation is primarily a Lee County Sheriff responsibility. Sheriff's officers will notify residents & monitor their orderly departure. When the Lee County Sheriff's officers reach the Boca Grande Bridge, they will notify Charlotte County Sheriff's Dept. - who will position a vehicle in front of the GIBA Toll Booth - From then until after the Hurricane: Bridge traffic will be closed by the County Sheriff to all personnel. Post-Hurricane - Bridge remains closed until official notice from Charlotte & Lee County Emergency Management teams that the Island is safe to re-enter.

GIBA Role . After a Hurricane has passed, it is the GIBA staff's responsibility to inspect the Bridges and Causeway to verify they are safe for traffic. Once this process is complete, the GIBA Inspection Team notifies the Charlotte & Lee County Emergency Management “First In” Reconstitution Teams.

County Emergency “First-In” Team Role . The Charlotte & Lee County Emergency Management teams will evaluate many factors, before authorizing re-entry to the Island. First, is the safety of the bridges and causeway (GIBA responsibility). Other key factors include: Fire, Health, Utilities and Building Department evaluations of safety conditions, such as on-scene road reliability, flooding, structural integrity of buildings, a utilities safety assessment of electrical power lines, water lines, and health considerations including possible contaminated water, disease or sewage overflow.

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Weather Flag Flying Protocol

The Swing Bridge Tender House is built 19 feet above the waterway. Which means - all flags displayed on the 20 ft. high flagpole are almost 40 feet above the ICW, which is in relatively easy view of all approaching boaters.

AMERICAN FLAG : Under normal weather conditions, the GIBA flies the American Flag -- 24 hours/day -- every day. It is always lighted after dark, which is proper protocol. The American flag lets boaters know that the Tender House is manned and that the GIBA is a governmental State Agency. It also is a very useful method for boaters of determining the direction of prevailing winds. They can also use the GIBA Weather Station -- www.gibawx.com.

WEATHER FLAGS : The weather Flags are flown to notify boaters & motorists of approaching STORM WARNINGS. The GIBA also has STORM WARNING Signs, which should be displayed on the Southern side of the Bridge House facing the ICW, whenever the WEATHER FLAGS are flown. The following procedures contain the official nautical rules for flying the Weather Flags and procedures that GIBA employs to keep the Bridge and its personnel as safe as is possible.

Single RED Pennant Flag--"SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY" *For constant Winds (1 minute or more) *Velocity of: 18 to 34 MPH. (20-33 Knots) NOTE: To help preserve the American Flag, lower it & raise the Red Pennant - 20 MPH 2-Single RED Pennant Flags --"GALE Winds WARNING" *Flown at the same time *For constant Winds (1 minute or more) *Velocity of: 39 to 54 (34-47 Knots) *WINDS Above 40 MPH -- Swing Bridge is CLOSED TO BOATS -- No Openings Are Permitted REMINDER: The Coast Guard MUST be notified, anytime the Swing Bridge is closed to boaters. RED Flag w/BLACK Square "STORM Winds WARNING" *For constant Winds (1 minute or more) *Velocity of: 55-74 MPH (48-63 Knots) *WINDS Above 55 MPH -- Bridge Tenders will LEAVE THE BRIDGE HOUSE -- For Safety. *MAINTENANCE -- will then LOCK the Bridge in-place, using the Heavy Metal Turnbuckles each end. REMINDER: The Coast Guard MUST be notified if the Bridge is LOCKED & No Tender is on duty. 2-RED Flags w/Black Square "HURRICANE WARNING" *Flown at the same time *For constant Winds (1 minute or more) *Velocity of: 75 MPH or HIGHER (Above 64 Knots)