You can never be too prepared. That was the message emergency personnel were sending as the Beaches braced last week for Tropical Storm Fay.

"We did good actually," said Jacksonville Beach Fire Chief Gary Frazier, who heads emergency operations for the Beaches. "This was a troublesome storm. There were some uncertainties."

City officials were briefed on every aspect of the emergency preparedness plans from power outages and debris removal to trash collection schedules and potential flooding.

"This storm was a real rainmaker," Frazier said, noting that a total rainfall of 7.1-inches was recorded in Jacksonville Beach. "We had areas of flooding as expected."

Sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph registered throughout the Beaches. Frazier said a 90 mph gust was measured in Atlantic Beach.

"We were as prepared as possible," he said."One thing we couldn't predict is what that darn storm was going to do."

Frazier said the unpredictable nature of the tropical storm made it difficult to track.

"We were not getting great weather forecasts. It was not their fault," he said. "We've gotten spoiled with the fast-moving storms. On Tuesday night, the National Weather Service indicated that it could make landfall as a category one hurricane. That made us scramble a bit."

Jacksonville Beach City Manager George Forbes said all three Beaches cities were able to stay in contact using a multi-agency communication system.

An unanticipated problem occurred Thursday morning when one of the radio communication systems failed because of a problem with a generator. Frazier said emergency crews switched to backup system "just in case."

Police and fire personnel, Public Works and Beaches Energy crews worked 24-hours shifts for three days until it was clear that the Beaches were out of harm's way.

"Public Works pumped down all the basins and kept debris out of the drains," Frazier said. "We were able to stay ahead of it for the most part. I am real pleased at how well we did."

City staff also focused early on post-storm recovery with a debris removal company and additional utility crews from outside areas in place.

"We'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them," Forbes said.

Crews worked around the clock to clear away any fallen trees or vegetation blocking roadways. Planning and Development Director Steve Lindorff Monday said no serious damage was reported in the city.

"Just anecdotal stuff — downed trees, some roofs peeled back," he said.

Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach officials also reported minimal damages. Two homes flooded in Neptune Beach and Police Chief David Sembach said that approximately 10 to 12 trees toppled during the storm.

Atlantic Beach Public Safety Director David Thompson said minor street flooding was reported and the beach was closed to the public on Friday.

Minor beach erosion was expected, particularly with such high seas for so many days, Frazier said.

Jacksonville Beach Police Sgt. Thomas Bingham Monday said there was little in the way of criminal activity save for two men who scaled the pier gate and jumped into the surf. The men were not arrested but Bingham said they were "persuaded very strongly" to exit the water. On Friday, police responded to a report of a home invasion around 2 a.m. in the 800 block of 6th Avenue North. (See the Aug. 27, 2008, print edition of The Beaches Leader for this story.)

"This was a good practice run," Frazier said, noting hurricane season ends Nov. 1.