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2007 Hurricane Season is right around the corner

May 7, 2007

The 2007 hurricane season is right around the corner. The Emergency Management Division of the County's Public Safety Department has been working all year to do its part to ensure your safety. The Alliance, COBWRA and the West Boca Community Council have been working on their hurricane plans, particularly in the area of communication, to insure that their communities can stay in contact, share information and be of assistance to each other. For the next couple of months, I want to focus on what you can do to insure the safety of you and your family.

This month, the focus is the exterior of your home. You may be thinking of hiring a contractor to replace or repair your roof, to install shutters, to seal around windows and doors or to install bracing for your garage door. I recently had a call from a resident who had a contractor install shutters on her condo. She discovered that the contractor had not obtained a permit from the County. She contacted my office and we have our Building Division working with her contractor to get a permit, have the work inspected and have any necessary modifications done to make sure the work complies with County standards. To avoid a problem like this one, the County's Consumer Affairs Division offers some tips for hiring a contractor. Unless you are doing the work yourself, do not pull your own permit. Your contractor should do this. Ask to see the permit before the work begins. Get references from friends. Get at least three bids. Verify county or state license. Do not get confused with an "Occupational License" which is only a tax and not a permit to operate.

As of January 2007, it is now called a "Local Business Tax" not an "Occupational License." Verify insurance, especially workers' comp. Ask for proof of actual insurance documents. Check with Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau. Read and make sure you understand the contract. Remember, contracts are primarily written to protect the contractor, not the customer. Finally, pay required deposits with a check or credit card - never pay cash.

Landscaping is another exterior area that needs hurricane preparation. Pruning is particularly important. Palm Beach County partners with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The result is our Cooperative Extension Department. There are Master Gardeners available to assist residents with landscape and gardening questions. Cooperative Extension has a branch office at the County's Administrative Complex at 345 S. Congress Ave., Room 104, Delray Beach. You can call the office at 276-1260 or visit but call first to insure that a Master Gardener will be available when you go. In addition, Christine Rainbolt, Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program advises that the University of Florida has an excellent website you might wish to visit: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/.

Before I end, I want to assure all of you that I am closely working with staff on the current drought situation and how it is affecting the new golf course and amphitheater at South County Regional Park. I will be reporting back to you within the next couple of months.