September 14, 2017
Kristen Lessig
Executive Director
September 8, 2017
This has been a week full of anticipation for all of us as we follow the projected path of Hurricane Irma; determining the best personal plans for ourselves, our families, our community, our members, and our staff.
As much as we would love to be able to serve our community at all times, we must put the safety of everyone as our first priority. The Center is located in an evacuation zone and is not equipped to act as a shelter during a storm. FEMA and Red Cross decide what locations can be shelters and have said that The Center could be used as a post hurricane shelter but not as a shelter during storms. We also have stayed in contact with the City of Anna Maria in an effort to assist in anyway that we can. At this point there is still a lot of uncertainty with the storm. As everyone should, we prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
It is The Center’s goal to provide our community with ways to help in collaboration with others who all want the same outcome–support for the people in our community who may need us. Currently the plan is to reopen on Tuesday for business, but being available before then if The Center is needed as a post hurricane shelter. We plan to continue to communicate by email and on social media.
You can always reach me on my cell phone, (941) 417-0748, if you have questions or ways we can assist you.
From all of our board and staff, we wish you safety and calmness as we get through this together. You are important to us, and we look forward to talking with you when Irma has moved on.
Kristen Lessig
Executive Director
September 7, 2017
As Hurricane Irma continues to head toward Florida, I wanted to give you a quick up-date about what is going on at The Center.
The Center leadership is continuing to discuss and base decisions related to Hurricane Irma on information provided by the EOC of Manatee County with putting the safety of our community (including our members, visitors, and staff) as our number one concern.
As of 12pm on Thursday, Sept 7- we have been informed the county has issued a voluntary evacuation for zone A (the location of The Center of Anna Maria Island at 407 Magnolia Ave). The Center will be closing at 5p today in order to prepare for the predicted 9ft water surges and heavy winds expected to hit the island this weekend.
Parents of children in our Beyond the Classroom after school program have been personally contacted and are asked to come and pick up their children at their earliest convenience today, preferably by 5pm.
In our meeting with Anna Maria City Mayor Murphy this morning, The Center has agreed to be in communication during the storm and to coordinate with the city our plans to re-open as a “post” hurricane shelter once it is deemed safe by both the county and the city to do so. We will keep our facebook and website pages up to date with information as the storm progresses to the best of our ability and further will update our phone recording at (941)778-1908. Please check local news for the most up to date information.
Please everyone stay safe!
Best,
Kristen Lessig
September 6, 2017
The Center of Anna Maria wants to make sure all of our members, guests, volunteers, and staff are prepared and safe as Hurricane Irma moves towards Florida.
The Center will be closed on Friday, September 8th & Saturday, September 9th.
The Center’s weather policy is that we follow the School Board of Manatee County decisions. If the schools are closed for weather then The Center will be closed.
We are however still in communication with the City of Anna Maria, following The Center leadership’s attendance at their Emergency Commission Meeting today at 1:30pm and ongoing communication with the city’s mayor. I will continue to provide updates on any services deemed necessary by the city to or our residents and for the community as whole. The Center’s Operations Director has also been in communication with the Red Cross who acknowledges us as a post hurricane shelters and will be in contact on an as needed basis.
You can stay up to date with the School Board news by: Clicking here for the Manatee County School Web-site
We will also post up-dates on The Center’s web-site at centerami.org and on The Center’s Social Media sites.
Stay safe,
Kristen Lessig
September 5, 2017
The Center of Anna Maria wants to make sure all of our members, guests, volunteers, and staff are prepared and safe as Hurricane Irma moves towards Florida. At this time The Center’s leadership team has met and we are moving forward with implementing our hurricane preparedness plan. The Center’s leadership team will continue to meet frequently and will adjust course based on weather updates. We are in communications with Mayor Murphy of Anna Maria on any needs he may have and he is working to help coordinate needs and the needs of our entire island community. The Center has a partnership with American Red Cross to be a The Center Post Disaster Shelter. Please contact me directly at kristenl@centerami.org with any questions – we plan to update you regularly as the forecast is updated.
Please be safe and prepared,
Kristen Lessig
