Strengthening Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency Management

Hurricane risk is not theoretical, it is reality. When Hurricane Ian struck Southwest Florida, it exposed critical gaps. Cape Coral saw widespread flooding, extended power outages, and debris piled curbside for months. Across the region, millions lost power, thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, and recovery stretched far longer than it should have. Response efforts improved over time, but the initial delays in debris removal, utility restoration, and permitting slowed recovery and increased the burden on families. We cannot afford to repeat that.

My Action Plan

We prepare with precision. I will establish an independent oversight review of our Emergency Management operations, top to bottom. Evacuation routes, shelter capacity, debris removal timelines, utility restoration protocols, and post-storm permitting will be evaluated, corrected, and hardened. Weak points will be identified and fixed before the next storm, not after.

We will secure every available state and federal dollar to strengthen readiness; hardening infrastructure, staging equipment, and expanding rapid-response contracts for debris and utilities. Resources will be pre-positioned ahead of storms, not scrambled for afterward.

Execution will be disciplined. Clear command structure. Defined timelines. Measurable benchmarks. Debris clearance and power restoration will operate on aggressive, pre-set schedules with real-time tracking and public reporting.

We will expand resident readiness. Every household will have clear, simple guidance on evacuation zones, shelter options, and post-storm procedures. Communication will be direct, consistent, and reliable before, during, and after the storm.

Permitting for storm recovery will shift to an expedited, mission-driven process. Rebuilding will not be delayed by bureaucracy when families are trying to recover.

End state: a city that is fully prepared, rapidly responsive, and built to recover fast—protecting lives, restoring order, and getting residents back on their feet without delay. Cape Coral will set the standard for hurricane readiness in Florida.