Editorial: City keeps residents informed before hurricane

By Eagle staff
October 26, 2005

Information from the city before Hurricane Wilma was precise and effective. The city's Code Red automated telephone system reached most listed home phone numbers well before plans to evacuate the island. The message offered helpful suggestions about securing dwellings, departing with necessary documents and contacting the city for more information.

In addition, the city's e-mail messaging system passed on critical information to those requesting it via the Internet. These "press releases" kept local businesses and residents informed. Releases also took the additional step of offering connections to pertinent Web sites for warnings and updates, including the emergency hot line for shelters and other services.

It is unfortunate that some fraudulent copies of the city's preparedness information were disseminated as a hoax. A facsimile of a warning was altered to say the bridges would be closed by the city. That was never the truth. The hoax was sent to many anxious Islanders as a joke, or perhaps something more sinister.

The city scrambled to give residents the proper information and refute the erroneous posting by setting up lighted signs at the bridges for departing evacuees to see. All future publications by the city clarified its intentions not to close the bridges to and from Marco Island.

At a time fraught with looming danger, it is inconceivable that someone would want to play such a prank. Emotion and fear run high when a hurricane approaches, and city attention should be focused on helping others. The fraudulent communication drew that attention away from a clear objective to the need to correct the misinformation and let the public know the truth.

Whoever did such a thing should be ashamed, and, if caught, should be prosecuted.