OPINION: Emergencies reveal cracks—and our responsibilities

A woman uses an umbrella to try and stay dry in a heavy rain squall from Hurricane Debby as she crosses East Silver Spring Boulevard in Ocala on Aug. 5, 2024. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The recent tragic flooding deaths in Texas are stark reminders of why emergency preparedness isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the difference between life and death, when every second counts. Whether the disaster is sudden, like a flash flood, or silent, like an equipment or system failure, the time to plan is long before the catastrophe strikes.

That responsibility largely falls on government agencies, which must imagine the worst-case scenarios and put contingencies in place. But on Tuesday, several Florida counties—including Marion—experienced disruptions to their 911 voice call operations, revealing cracks in not just the primary systems but the backups as well.

Marion County and the city of Ocala each operate their own 911 call center and can switch operations to remote locations that have already been set up if a catastrophe were to hit either of them.

Still, the outage revealed something sobering: Even the best-laid plans have limitations as these agencies must rely on entities and agencies outside our county for essential assistance.

What is unsettling to us is that Florida law allows many emergency management records and planning discussions to remain exempt from public view. A few years ago, the “Gazette” reported that journalists were barred from attending local emergency planning meeting by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office held in advance of a looming hurricane and also were denied access to certain written emergency plans. The only document released at the time was outdated, listing organizations that no longer existed, and an inaccurate chain of command for the city. This problem was fixed only after the “Gazette” raised the issue.

A revised version was eventually made public, but it remains vague and generic.

We will continue to ask for more transparency on emergency infrastructure and planning because we rely on these plans in our worst moments. Without knowing what those plans are—or if they’re even functional—how can we trust they’ll work when we need them most?

At the same time, we all have a role to play. Personal preparedness matters.

With hurricane season already here, those supply checklists aren’t just suggestions. Flashlights, crank radios, medications, water, fuel—every item could make a difference. Taking the time now could save your life or your neighbors later.

That’s another part we don’t talk about enough: Neighbors. In a true emergency, you may have to rely on the people living nearby—and they may have to rely on you. Do you know them? Could you help them—or they you—if disaster strikes?

Technical glitches and tragedies from natural disasters are painful reminders of how fragile life is. Planning—individually and collectively—could mean the difference between survival and loss.

Let’s pause to take that in and plan, seriously.