You might know the Herons Glen SSEP (Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness) Committee as the volunteer group responsible for the Firewise Event, or the folks who help direct traffic for the Christmas Cart Parade. But the SSEP is also always on point to help before, during, and after a hurricane.
Once a hurricane has been forecasted but before it arrives, members of the SSEP Committee check around the community to be sure any objects that are potential projectiles are secured. This includes anything left on a lanai or in a yard (furniture, pots, grills, decorative items, lawn ornaments, etc.). Any of these items can be picked up by hurricane winds and cause damage to people and property.
SSEP members may also notify residents who have neglected to install or close their hurricane shutters that it’s time to make arrangements to do so. And if you have a generator and are having trouble starting it, a member of SSEP may be able to help.
In advance of a hurricane, the members of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Subcommittee are activated. These members have received specialized training and are deployed around Herons Glen with radios to help communicate the situation in different areas and coordinate any necessary interventions. These folks can also sometimes help start generators and notify residents of any unsafe conditions they observe, such as damaged trees, electrical problems, unsafe use of extension cords, etc.
SSEP and CERT volunteers also make sure that debris is cleared from storm drains to aid in efficient drainage around Herons Glen. After a recent hurricane when the guard station was vacant because employees were unable to get to Herons Glen, members of SSEP stepped in.
As their name states, the SSEP Committee is concerned with safety, security, and appropriate conduct when emergencies occur. If you have any questions about SSEP or their assistance during hurricanes, feel free to contact Committee Chair Craig Woolley at [email protected] or (610) 703-3955.
Herons Glen is fortunate to have this dedicated group of volunteers who can assist during hurricane season.
