JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With Isaac hurdling its way toward Hispaniola, folks right here in the River City are standing by. City agencies are ready to ramp up at a moments notice if necessary.
"We are in constant communication with our emergency preparedness office and we stand ready to respond whenever the need arrives,” said Marcy Cook, Administration Manager for the Department of Public Works.
With Jacksonville still soggy from recent soaking rains, the biggest concern for Public Works right now is drainage.
"If we get heavy rain our ground is going to pretty much act like an impervious area. So, if you're in a situation where you typically flood, be prepared for your own property,” Cook said.
Crews are working throughout the week to clear out the drains. Cook advises taking in any belongings that could potentially get blown into the drainage system and cause a clog.
Local firefighters are also preparing for floods and the potential of downed trees.
"We'll put together what we call cut teams with chain saws. We’ll also have boats to take people out of flooded areas,” said Randy Wyse, President of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters.
JEA is also stepping up to help. Trucks are fueled and loaded up with equipment. JEA spokeswoman Gerri Boyce said crews are prepared to go help other cities if necessary.
Everyone is heading into the weekend monitoring the radar and using now as the prime time to prepare.
"We're doing our job. We want people to take a look at their property and if there's anything they need to do to be prepared, we want them to do that,” said Cook.
