Hurricane Info

Broward: No Free Ice Following Hurricanes

County Says Stores Can Now Supply Ice

Click Here for a map showing supermarkets with generators

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ― Florida disaster officials have long urged people to be prepared to survive on their own for three days following a hurricane, and not depend on government for food, water, and necessities. Now, Broward County is adding Ice to the list of things people should be prepared to supply, saying it will now longer distribute ice to people following a hurricane.

Lines for ice, water, and other staples were common following Hurricane Wilma, mostly because South Florida supermarkets were closed by extensive power outages. Even when they were able to re-open, refrigerated and frozen items like ice were not immediately available.
FEMA and county governments stepped in because Ice was not available from commercial sources.

But now, Publix, Winn-Dixie, and other major chain supermarkets have installed generators to keep their stores operating through a storm, and ready to re-open fully stocked as soon as it's safe.

Because they will be available to sell ice, Broward emergency officials say it's no longer needed for them to distribute ice for free. The county was left stuck with millions of dollars in unused Ice following Wilma, a situation mirrored in communities across the hurricane zone.

FEMA was blasted for destroying an entire warehouse full of ice in Tennessee which was no longer usable after it was unused for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Instead, Broward emergency management officials are promoting a program to identify supermarkets and service stations with generators.

While ice distribution to the general public would no longer be arranged, county officials would still supply ice to people with medical needs and in emergency situations.

The county depended on state and federal agencies to supply ice in the past, but Broward officials have been told that program will not continue this year.

Broward Emergency Management director Chuck Lanza said he's concerned people won't prepare as well as they should this year because of the area has not been hit by a hurricane since Wilma.

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