New flooding feared in Nassau County

Nassau County Emergency Management

Contact: Dave Richardson

(904) 548-0945 or (904) 654-5858

E-mail: tridentdave@gmail.com

September 14, 2017 4:28 p.m.

Additional Shelter Will Open, Rescue Boats Being

Staged

Based upon the potential for additional flooding in already flooded areas and the forecast for nor’easter-like rains to begin later today, Nassau County Director of Emergency Management, Billy Estep, has ordered the staging of rescue boats and the opening of the First Baptist Church in Hilliard to supplement the existing host shelter at The Journey Church in Yulee.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office ordered a reconnaissance flight over portions of the county yesterday that revealed extensive flooding on the west side. Estep says residents in flood prone areas need to consider seeking shelter and “leave before you can’t leave” as waters rise. Director Estep says while Hurricane Jose will not make landfall in Florida, it is pushing water toward the First Coast. Estep advises residents to remain keenly aware of conditions over the next several days. Flooding could remain a problem in Nassau County for up to two weeks.

A flood warning was issued earlier today for the lower half of the St.Mary’s River. Residents along the St. Mary’s, Thomas Creek, and Lofton Creek should remain vigilant and watch for rising waters. Many local waterways have not yet crested.

All utility companies that supply power to Nassau County have reported significant increases in power restoration efforts. Florida Power and Light says it has restored service to 68 percent of its customers and should have services restored to the remaining 2,610 ​customers within a few more days. Florida Public Utilities that supplies power to Amelia Island has only seven percent of its customers remaining without power. That leaves a little over a thousand customers without service. OREMC has only 1,335 customers yet

without power.

Schools in Nassau County are closed today. A current list of roads closed in Nassau County is provided in the attachment included with this release.

All 67 counties in Florida have received disaster declarations for emergency protective actions and disaster debris removal. Residents who have sustained losses in declared counties can apply for assistance by registering with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov

.

If residents do not have access to the internet, they can register by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). The State of Florida has activated their 24/7 Emergency Information Line ( 800-342-3557 ) to answer residents’ questions and provide accurate up-to-date disaster assistance information related to Hurricane Irma.

Florida businesses are encouraged to enter their pre-and post-storm information in the Florida Virtual Business EOC at www.FLVBEOC.org

.

Estep has also announced that the local social services organization, Barnabas ( http://barnabasnassau.org ), will be providing meals Monday,

September 18 th , at the Northeast Florida Fair Grounds, located at 543378 US Hwy 1 in Callahan, for returning evacuees or any other residents in need of a free meal. Meals will be distributed between noon and 1pm.

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