By Jennifer Blackwell, Product Marketing Manager, Trimble
When a hurricane hits Florida, most residents think about batteries, bottled water and boarding up windows. In St. Johns County, public works crews think about drainage, roadways and real-time data. When the wind dies down, they are the ones restoring calm and helping their neighbors get back to normal.
St. Johns County includes St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, along with coastal communities and growing neighborhoods that depend on reliable infrastructure. Protecting that blend of history and growth requires preparation rooted in strong systems and a culture of accountability.
Trimble Unity software is a cornerstone of that system. The county uses the asset management platform to connect GIS mapping, inspections and work orders into a shared operational view that supports daily activities. With current data always available, teams are not scrambling to gather information when storms threaten. They are utilizing data they already trust.
Over time, the county has refined and mined its GIS-centric solution to support stronger decisions and clearer communication. “We want to make sure that data is as correct as possible," says Rocky Agbunag, information systems officer for St. Johns County. “Then we provide citizens with information such as road closures or certain events that are happening, and also respond to their requests.”
That confidence was shaped by experience. In 2004, four hurricanes hit back-to-back and exposed significant gaps. “We were very unprepared for those storms,” says Ashley Mickler, customer service manager for the Solid Waste Division. “We didn't have prepositioned contracts. We didn't have the technology we have now.”
The difficult season became a catalyst for change, prompting leaders to strengthen contracts, streamline workflows and integrate Trimble Unity software across multiple public works departments.
Before the storm: Preparation in action
Preparation now begins well before a storm hits land. While residents weigh evacuation plans, public works “second responders” activate their response structure. Crews fuel vehicles, stage heavy equipment and verify that critical drainage systems are clear. Inspectors head into the field to conduct pre- and post-storm assessments, loading photos and GPS coordinates directly into the software.
During the storm: Real-time response
Field teams conduct rapid damage assessments across the county’s 601 square miles and record critical information in the software. Residents can also report debris through the county portal, which feeds directly into the same system.
“We're able to efficiently map in real-time and provide directions to our storm debris contractors daily,” Mickler explains.
The shared map becomes a single source of truth. Debris contractors know exactly where to go, and monitoring firms verify progress. Leadership sees the evolving picture hour by hour.
After the storm: Recovery and accountability
After impact, real-time mapping becomes essential for crews to clear blocked roads and address high priority areas quickly.
Documentation continues long after debris removal. “FEMA is documentation, documentation and documentation,” says Public Works director Greg Caldwell. “Maintenance histories and response activities stored in the Trimble system provide the evidence needed to support reimbursement and demonstrate responsible stewardship of public assets.”
The same data informs future capital improvements by highlighting vulnerabilities revealed during past storms.
Everyday heroes, extraordinary impact
The approach in St. Johns County has drawn attention from neighboring and out-of-state municipalities eager to learn from its systems. Rather than guarding its methods, the county shares them openly. As capital improvement manager Doug Tarbox puts it, “We're an open book. Come pick our brain.”
The philosophy is simple: stronger practices anywhere create stronger communities everywhere. A team mindset extends across departments and into partnerships with contractors and monitoring firms.
In a coastal county where hurricane season is a fact of life, resilience is built through preparation, data and people who show up when it matters most. The lessons from St. Johns County demonstrate that disaster preparedness is not a single plan on a shelf but a daily commitment to collaboration and service supported by technology and data.
Trimble Unity helps public- and private-sector organizations optimize asset lifecycle management.
