By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Coral Gables will hold a hurricane preparedness briefing for older residents on Wednesday, July 22, focusing on the emergency programs and practical steps that can help residents with medical, mobility or transportation needs before, during and after a storm.

The Coral Gables Fire Department and the city’s Emergency Management division will lead the 1 p.m. presentation at the Adult Activity Center, 2 Andalusia Ave. The session is aimed at helping residents complete key registrations, understand city alert systems and review what to do as a storm approaches.

The timing matters. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, and the city’s preparedness guide urges residents to be ready to remain self-sustained for at least 72 hours after a storm.

Assistance before and after a storm

A major focus of the briefing will be Miami-Dade County’s Emergency and Evacuation Assistance Program, known as EEAP.

The program is intended for residents who cannot evacuate on their own because of medical needs, limited mobility, specialized transportation needs, homebound status or reliance on electric-powered medical equipment. Registered applicants may be eligible for specialized transportation, shelter placement, medical monitoring and wellness exams.

The same registration form also allows residents to request a wellness check after a storm has passed. Residents can register by calling 311 or visiting miamidade.gov/hurricane.

For older residents, advance registration can make a practical difference. Waiting until a storm is near can leave too little time to arrange transportation, medical support, shelter placement or post-storm follow-up.

Alerts, identification and emergency updates

City officials will also walk residents through Coral Gables’ emergency notification system.

The city uses Everbridge to send emergency alerts directly to residents’ phones. Residents can enroll through the Everbridge app or by texting “CoralGables” to 888-777.

The briefing will also cover G.U.I.D.E., or Gables Unique Identification During Emergencies, a city identification program designed to help emergency responders and city personnel identify and assist residents during crisis conditions.

Together, the programs are intended to make sure residents are not trying to navigate emergency systems for the first time when a hurricane watch or warning has already been issued.

Watches, warnings and storm-surge zones

The presentation is also expected to cover the basic timing that governs hurricane preparation.

A hurricane watch means hurricane-force conditions, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph, are possible in the area within 48 hours. A hurricane warning means those conditions are expected within 36 hours or less.

The city’s guide also urges residents to know their storm-surge zone. Storm surge is described in the guide as the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane, and evacuation decisions are based on projected surge risk.

Coral Gables properties are classified from Zone A, the greatest risk beginning with Category 1 storms, through Zone E, which faces storm-surge risk from Category 5 storms. Residents can look up their specific zone at coralgables.com/hurricane or miamidade.gov/hurricane.

A session aimed at a specific need

The Adult Activity Center setting reflects the audience the city is trying to reach: older residents and those with medical, mobility or transportation concerns who may face the steepest logistical hurdles when a storm approaches.

The session gives attendees time to register for assistance, sign up for alerts, check their evacuation plans and assemble supplies before the historical peak of hurricane season in late August and September.

Residents who cannot attend can find the city’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide at coralgables.com/hurricane. The guide includes information on emergency assistance, storm-surge zones, supply checklists, road safety, flood protection and post-storm debris guidance.

What to know

Complimentary valet parking is available across the street at The Palace. Self-parking with validation is available in the garage above the Adult Activity Center; attendees must bring their parking ticket to the Registration Office for validation.