Cleanup from Hurricane Helene is far from over, but Florida residents are now shifting their focus on Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton is expected to intensify and make landfall as a category 4.
Officials are warning impacts could include significant wind, river flooding, flooding rainfall, and dangerous marine conditions.
In preparedness for Hurricane Milton Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an Executive Order for a state of emergency in the following counties in Florida:
Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union and Volusia.
You can read the entire executive order here.
Governor DeSantis is also warning Floridians to prepare for high winds and significant power outages as Hurricane Milton intensifies.
JEA says they are monitoring Hurricane Milton and urged customers to prepare for possible power and water outages later this week. JEA has also suspended disconnections for nonpayment until further notice as we prepare to support our community.
The Florida Department of Health is working with emergency managers statewide to prepare for any impacts to communities and reminds Floridians to have enough of their prescriptions on hand in the event pharmacies are temporarily unavailable. Early prescription refills have been permitted through the state of Florida under the State of Emergency declaration.
Mayor Donna Deegan has issued a state of emergency for Duval County.
St. Johns County has issued a MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR ZONES A,B, AND F
Sandbag locations
Clay County:
- Sandbags:
- Several sandbag locations open on Monday and Tuesday from 8-6
- Eagle Harbor Sports Complex — 4387 Lakeshore Dr., Fleming Island
- 25 Roderigo Avenue, Green Cove Springs
- Orange Park Sports and Recreational Park — 1086 Fromhart Street, Orange Park
- Omega Park — 4317 Co Rd 218, Middleburg
- Across from City Hall — t 555 S. Lawrence Blvd., Keystone Heights
- Several sandbag locations open on Monday and Tuesday from 8-6
- Sandbags are limited to 10 per person. Bags are first come, first served and have a limited supply. The county will refill the sites as needed. You will have to fill up your own bags.
- Shovels are not provided. Residents should bring their own to fill their bags.
- Will continue to offer bags until they are gone or if it becomes unsafe for our employees to be in the conditions. The county will refill the sites as needed.
Putnam County:
- Sandbags:
- Several sandbag locations are open
- 145 West Washington St, Hawthorne
- 51 Sportsmans Dr, Welaka
- 223 Putnam County Blvd, East Palatka
- 341 Paradise Circle, San Mateo
- Jonas Rd, Crescent City
- 5226 Silver Lake Dr, Palatka
- 107 Johns Rd, Palatka
- 114 South 11th St, Palatka
- Sites are self-service. Bring your own shovel
- Several sandbag locations are open
- Bradford County:
- Sandbags:
- Self-serve sandbags remain available at the waste collection sites.
- Sandbags:
- Flagler County:
- Sandbags:
- Countywide Residents (10 per household, self service – please bring a shovel):
- Hidden Trails Community Center – Monday 10 am to Sunset
- Bay Drive Park – Monday 10 am to Sunset
- City of Flagler Beach Residents – Self service (Please Bring your own shovel)
- Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church – Monday 9:00 am
- Flagler Beach Fire Station – Monday 9:00 am
- Sandbags:
- St. Johns County:
- St. Johns County will provide free sandbags on Monday, Oct. 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits and supplies last at the following six locations ahead of impacts from Milton:
- Windswept Acres Park – 5335 SR A1A South, St. Augustine
- Solomon Calhoun Center – 1300 Duval Street, St. Augustine
- St. Johns County Equestrian Center – 8200 Smith Road, Hastings
- Mills Field – 1805 Racetrack Road, St. Augustine
- North Beach Park – 3721 Coastal Highway, Vilano Beach
- Palm Valley Bridge – East Side of Intracoastal Waterway
- St. Johns County will provide free sandbags on Monday, Oct. 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits and supplies last at the following six locations ahead of impacts from Milton:
- In coordination, the City of St. Augustine will provide free sandbags on Monday, Oct. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits and supplies last at the following location:
- Francis Field – 25 W. Castillo Dr, St. Augustine
- The sand and bags will be provided free of charge. The public must provide their own transportation and shovels and will be responsible for filling their own bags. There is a maximum allocation of 20 bags per person. A sandbag typically weighs about 30 to 40 pounds.
- Francis Field – 25 W. Castillo Dr, St. Augustine
Shelters
Duval:
- The following shelters will be open for those needing refuge from the storm beginning at 8 a.m., Wednesday, October 9.
- Arlington Middle School – (8141 Lone Star Rd), open for general population.
- Atlantic Coast High School (9735 R. G. Skinner Parkway), open for Special Medical Needs, pet friendly.
- Chaffee Trail Elementary (11400 Sam Caruso Way), open General population.
- Landmark Middle School ( 101 Kernan Blvd. N), open for General population, pet friendly.
- LaVilla (501 N. Davis St), open for General population.
- The Legends Center – (5130 Soutel Dr.), open for general population and special medical needs, and pet -friendly.
- City Rescue Mission’s New Life Inn (234 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202) – Will Open on Wednesday, October 9, starting at 11:00 a.m. until the storm subsides or at the latest 4:00 p.m.
- JTA will start supporting sheltering operations starting on Wednesday, October 9, with free rides to residents being transported to the six shelters.
- UBER is also an option!
- Open the Uber app
- Tap Account on the bottom right & tap Wallet
- Add promo code MILTONRELIEF
- If you are medically dependent on electricity and need a safe space to shelter while Hurricane Milton impacts Duval County, two Special Medical Needs Shelters will be open for you to take refuge in.
- To register, arrange transportation, and learn more, call 904-255-3172.
St. John’s County:
- All SJCSD schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, October 9, Thursday, October 10, and Friday, October 11. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and extended day programs are also canceled or closed Wednesday through Friday. Extracurricular activities and athletic events are also canceled after school hours and on the weekend.
Putnam County:
- Shelters for Hurricane Milton will be opening on Tuesday, October 8, at 6 pm.
- Ochwilla Elementary, 299 State Rd 21, Hawthorne (pet-friendly)
- Kelley Smith Elementary, 141 Kelley Smth School Rd, Palatka
- Jenkins Elementary, 251 County Rd 315, Interlachen
- Browning Pearce Elementary, 100 Bear Blvd, San Mateo
- Midddleton Burney Elementary, 1020 Huntington Rd, Crescent City.
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA:
- Camden County:
- Vulnerable Population Sheltering: A shelter of last resort will be available for residents who live in flood-prone areas, regions vulnerable to high wind, and those who are considered vulnerable due to medical conditions, self-care needs, or age.
- PSA Building, 1050 Wildcat Drive, Kingsland
- 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Closures
Alachua County:
- Alachua County Public Schools and School Board: Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10.
Duval County:
- Due to Hurricane Milton the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will be closing October 8 at 4 pm until further notice!
- The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will be closed Tuesday, October 8 through Friday, October 11.
- Duval County Public Schools will be closed from Wednesday, Oct. 9, through Friday, Oct. 11.
- All school activities, including athletics and after school programs, are canceled for those days.
- COJ offices and facilities will be closed Wednesday through Friday
- Solid waste pickup will proceed as scheduled on Tuesday, but all garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections on Wednesday and Thursday will be suspended.
- 5 City and JTA garages will be open to the public for free starting Wednesday morning at 8am
- The St. Johns River Ferry will discontinue service later this morning, Tuesday Oct 8th, making its last trip at 10:45AM departing Fort George.
- Service will resume Friday once determined safe to do so (update to be provided Thursday).
St. Johns County:
- All SJCSD schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, October 9, Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and extended day programs are also canceled or closed Wednesday-Friday.
- The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind will be closed from Tuesday through Thursday.
- St. Johns River State College will close all campuses: Orange Park, Palatka and St. Augustine from Wednesday through Friday. All classes, events and activities have been canceled. The college is closed Monday for a federal holiday and is set to reopen Tuesday.
Clay County:
- Clay County District Schools announced schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.
- Once the storm has passed and recovery efforts begin, the district will provide an update on Friday’s operations.
- Normal operations will remain on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with after-school activities operating until 7 p.m.
Baker County: None listed at this time
Columbia County: None listed at this time
Putnam County:
- All Putnam County schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
- A decision on if schools and offices will be open or closed on Friday will be made later in the week.
- Furthermore, all after school programs/athletic activities are canceled beginning Tuesday through Thursday.
Bradford County:
- Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Milton, all Bradford County Schools will be closed for students Wednesday, October 9th, Thursday, October 10th, and Friday October 11th.
- Friday October 11th will now become the teacher planning day that was previously scheduled for Monday October 14th.
- Monday, October 14th will now be a regular school day for students and staff.
Union County: None listed at this time
Nassau County:
- All schools in the Nassau County School District will be closed on Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10 due to Hurricane Milton.
Important information
Duval:
- The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will continue to run regular operations on JTA’s fixed-bus route, BRT First Coast Flyer routes, Connexion and ReadiRide service, as long as it is safe to do.
- • Flood detours will be activated at 12pm on Wednesday, October 8th, or sooner depending on weather conditions.
- • The last trip for the St. John’s River Ferry will be at 10:45 AM this morning, Wednesday (October
from Fort George and will remain out of service until Friday, October 11 and will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so. - • The Skyway will be closed for service on Wednesday and Thursday and will resume operation on Friday, October 11 as soon as it is safe to do so.
- • Please download the MyJTA app to receive notifications of any detours and service updates, on both the iPhone and Android app stores. https://go.jtafla.com/myjta
- • Kings Avenue Garage will be open Wednesday – Friday to provide safe parking for our residents in flood-prone areas.
St. Johns County:
- MANDATORY EVACUTIONS FOR ZONES A, B, F
- St. Johns County has issued a Local State of Emergency as of 8 a.m. Monday, October 7 in preparation for Milton. A declaration of a state of emergency aids in storm response, recovery, and operations.
- If you have questions, call the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550.
Putnam County:
- CITIZEN INFO CALL CENTER – 386-329-1904
- The Citizen Information Call Center hours:
- October 7: noon – 8 pm
- October 8: 8:30 am through the storm
- If you have any storm-related questions, please call this number. It will be the fastest way to receive information.
Union County:
- Free Sandbags:
- Self-service sandbag operations are currently ongoing at the Union County Road Department (near the RMC West Unit and recreational complex) and at the City of Lake Butler old Wastewater Treatment Plant at 410 SE 11th St.
- Evacuations:
- Union County officials recommend voluntary evacuation of all residents who live in mobile homes, RVs, campers, and low-lying areas.
- Union County officials recommend voluntary evacuation of all residents who live in mobile homes, RVs, campers, and low-lying areas.
Report downed trees, powerlines, debris, etc.
Duval – (904) 630-CITY (2489)
Clay – 877-252-9362
St. Johns – 754-CITY (2489)
Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation
Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation
Yard Waste Reminders:
- Yard waste including bagged debris will be picked up on regular collection days
- Branches, shrubs, stumps each under six feet long and 50 pounds should be stacked neatly parallel to the curb
- Leaves, grass, and small debris must be bagged, bundled.
- Large piles must be neat, and those requiring separation will not be collected.
- Stack palm fronds in piles with the fan facing away from the curb.
Important Links
City of Jacksonville updates – coj.net
Clay County updates – https://www.claycountygov.com/#News
St. John’s County updates – Monitor www.sjcfl.us/hurricane for all storm-related updates
The Disaster Preparation and Recovery website (http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu) is a comprehensive guide in English and Spanish
Visit http://FloridaDisaster.org/Counties to find your local Emergency Management info for county resources.
JEA outage alerts (www.jea.com/alerts). JEA announced temporary suspension of disconnections.
If you have pets, don’t forget about their needs while completing your hurricane supply kit. Check out some great checklists with tips from Jax ACPS and jaxready.org
Important phone numbers for the Jacksonville area.
- City of Jacksonville – 904-630-CITY (2489)
- Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – 904-630-0500
- Florida Department of Transportation – 904-360-5457
- JEA – 904-665-6000
- Northeast Florida Red Cross – 904-358-8091
- Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) – 904-630-3100
- Traffic Information – 511
- United Way of Northeast Florida – 211
- Florida Emergency Information Hotline – 1-800-342-3557
- Salvation Army – 904-356-8641
- National Weather Service Jacksonville – 904-741-4311
- Duval County Public Schools – 904-390-2000
- Jacksonville Public Library – 904- 630-1994
Resources
- If you were affected by Hurricane Helene & need to be connected with resources, fill out the Activate Hope Form here: http://bit.ly/3TL1ShH
- You can also call 833-GET-HOPE. It’s currently open 24/7 to assist residents in need!
- LifeSouth Blood – A nonprofit community blood bank serving more than 125 hospitals in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. LifeSouth Blood is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of hospitals and their patients by providing the highest quality blood components and services.
- If you or someone you know needs help getting emergency food, water, or other supplies, Feeding Northeast Florida is here to help — in times of natural disaster or any personal crisis. While we are not first responders on the scene, we work closely with disaster relief organizations like American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and United Way to distribute food and other essentials in times of crisis. We stand at the ready long before an emergency occurs. Our Disaster Response Plan includes our 160 hunger-relief network partners, putting us in the best possible position to respond in the event of a disaster.
To learn more about what we do and how you can help, visit feedingnefl.org
The Salvation Army meets human needs wherever, whenever, and however we can help.
Storm Prep/Initial Response:
The Salvation Army disaster personnel collaborate with emergency management agencies and partner agencies and organizations, as it will take the efforts of many to meet the needs of disaster survivors impacted by Hurricane Debby.
For more information on The Salvation Army’s continued response, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
To make a financial gift to support Hurricane relief efforts:
- Donate online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org.
- Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
- Text-To-Donate: Text STORM to 51555 to donate to help disaster relief efforts.
- Current media releases, updates, and information – www.disaster.salvationarm.org
