TAMPA (970 WFLA) -- Employees of several of Florida's seaports are getting training on a new emergency platform in Tampa this week.
The system will connect all of the ports with each other and with state emergency managers. Port Tampa Bay security vice president Mark Dubina says putting people on the same system would allow a quick and coordinated response when one or more ports are shut down by a hurricane. That response could be crucial if gasoline supplies are disrupted.
"If we are going to be down for awhile, ... (port and emergency managers) know they are going to have to started hard work... on bringing motor fuel and diesel back into a community with supplies other than the port... affected," Dubina said.
The system is expected to come on line this summer. It's paid for with a half million dollars assigned by the Legislature last year (2017).