Hurricane Ian Mayor's closeout message Friday, October 7, 2022

I am extremely proud of our city. The department heads, the staff, the leadership team, and the residents, as we prepared for the unknown with hurricane Ian, worked together and were ready for whatever came our way. The residents helped their neighbors, bought water, gas, and other necessities that could be needed if we experienced a power outage, cleared their yards, and hunkered down for the ride, wherever it took us. Marina occupants removed their boats as was requested. Residents took heed to the warnings, and stayed in, as the City Administrator, the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, Department Heads, and Leadership Team met at the city’s EOC, developed and implemented a plan of action to keep our residents safe, and then watched and waited. Our EOC was manned with staff volunteers 24 hours a day until the threat had dissipated. Our City Administrator, Chiefs, Department Heads, and staff then surveyed the city, one street at a time to report any debris or damage. Workers were then immediately dispatched to begin clean up and repairs. Some residents experienced a power outage longer than others, but The City of Tavares was safe and back to business as normal within 24 hours after the storm’s passing. 
 
 Our team and residents have joined together and gathered donations and volunteer man hours and headed south to help those devastated by Ian, as there is no better time to be a good neighbor than now. 
 
 Our sense of community is strong. We were blessed to have been spared from the strength and destruction of Ian, as the memories of the wrath of Irma still linger. 
 
 Thank you to all, as true humility is a virtue. 
 
 Mayor Lori Pfister 
 City of Tavares