What a long, strange month it has been. It seems as though our entire state is covered with a large bull's eye. I hope this finds all of you and yours safe, but as I write this, Ivan is bearing down on the panhandle. Has anyone not been affected by this summer's weather? These storms have given us all a chance to implement the policies and procedures written on sunny days.

There is a lot of evaluating to be done, policies to be rewritten, and procedures to be revised. Too many of us got to find out the answer to "What if . . For many, Charley, Frances and Ivan have pushed our departments to their limits in so many ways. It is comforting to know, however, that before the dust settled and the power was restored, there was help on the way. Many of our people left their homes and families so they could assist other agencies in need. I think the FPCA grew even stronger as the phone calls went out asking one another, "Are you okay? How can I help?" We all spent countless hours watching the Weather Channel, praying for whoever was in the most recent path of the most recent storm. Port Orange, Satellite Beach and Fort Meade have faces - they are Gerry Monahan, Lee Cote and Midge Heathcote. These storms are not hitting dots on a map, they are hitting people we know.

This summer has made us all reevaluate what is important in life. I am more honored than ever to protect and serve in this great state with so many admirable colleagues. So as Ivan the Terrible makes way for Jeanne the Mean, I hope this finds you all safe. Hurricane season can't last forever, can it?

May God bless you and yours.

Chief Jay Romine