Orange County readies for active hurricane season; emergency manager previews readiness and chief Avery announces retirement

Orange County emergency planners told the Board on June 16 they expect an active 2026 hurricane season shaped by El Niño‑related weather patterns and rapid storm intensification, and outlined steps the county has taken to prepare residents and critical infrastructure.

Carlos Duran, deputy director of Emergency Management, briefed commissioners on the national outlook (8–14 named storms anticipated, three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes) and emphasized that rapid intensification — storms that strengthen quickly near landfall — leaves residents little time to act. “When you’ve got a storm that may rapidly intensify, you need to take actions immediately,” Duran said, urging residents to sign up for OCFL emergency alerts, keep weather radios on, and assemble supplies for three to seven days.

County officials said shelters and special‑needs facilities are being staged: Orange County Schools confirmed 44 sites available for emergency shelters, including three planned special‑needs shelters and six pet‑friendly shelters. Public Works and Utilities highlighted investments in pump‑station upgrades, a permanent O‑Vista pump station, additional temporary pump manifolds and new real‑time flood forecasting models to give earlier, site‑specific inundation forecasts. Officials also noted contracts for debris removal will be re‑advertised and that Tiger Dam assets and extra generator capacity are available to respond to sudden flood threats.

Deputy Public Works director Brett Lacadar and Orange County Utilities deputy director Mark Canada described maintenance, contingency generators and SCADA/GIS monitoring the county uses to detect and respond to pump‑station and road impacts in real time. Lacadar said recent investments in storm‑water modeling and a completed real‑time forecasting grant will help prioritize high‑risk basins during heavy rain.

Chief Laura Avery, who has served the county for decades, announced her retirement and thanked commissioners and staff for support through her career. “I would not have been successful without your support and the partnerships across departments,” Avery said. The board and county leadership acknowledged her service and said an interim approach will be announced.

County officials stressed public steps residents can take now: sign up for OCFL alerts, keep weather radios on, prepare a family kit, trim dangerous tree limbs, and bring materials for home resilience. The county also publicized a free Hurricane Expo for residents set for June 20 at Oakridge High School.

What’s next: Emergency Management will continue to refine and test response plans, complete flood‑forecast system rollouts, re‑advertise debris contracts and brief commissioners on interim legal or operational appointments associated with retirements.