TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott met with emergency management officials in Tallahassee and Stuart and St. Augustine as the state prepares for Hurricane Matthew, a life-threatening category four storm. Florida remains under both tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings. Governor Scott has remained in constant communication with state and local leaders, utility companies, sheriffs, and volunteer organizations who are working to ensure the state is prepared for the storm.
EVACUATIONS
More than 1.5 million Floridians are currently in evacuation zones.
Brevard County: Mandatory Evacuations of Merritt Island, barrier island, low-lying areas and mobile homes.
Broward County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes and low lying areas.
Citrus County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Clay County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
DeSoto County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for manufactured homes, RVs and low lying areas.
Duval County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Flagler County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
Glades County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Hendry County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Indian River: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas.
Lake County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Manatee County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Martin County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
Miami-Dade County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes, low-lying, and unstable structures.
Nassau County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Okeechobee County: Voluntary evacuation orders have begun for mobile homes and low lying areas.
Orange County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Palm Beach County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
Pasco County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Putnam County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Seminole County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Johns County: Mandatory evacuation orders have begun.
Lucie County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
Sumter County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
Volusia County: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.
Floridians and visitors can go to FloridaEvacuates.com or download the Florida-Evacuates app to enter their location and see shelters available in their area.
SHELTERS
As of 6:00 PM, 130 shelters were open throughout Florida. There are not any capacity issues at shelters at this time. Shelters are open in the following counties:
Baker County: 1 general, 1 special needs (2 total)
Bradford County: 1 general
Brevard County: 8 general, 3 special needs, 4 pet friendly (16 total)
Broward County: 7 general, 2 special needs, 1 pet (10 total)
Clay County: 3 general
Duval County: 1 special needs (3 total)
Flagler County: 1 general, 1 special needs, 1 pet friendly (3 total)
Glades County: 2 general, 1 special needs (3 total)
Hendry County: 1 general, 1 special needs (2 total)
Highlands County: 2 general
Indian River County: 5 general
Lake County: 5 general, 4 special needs (9 total)
Marion County: 1 general
Martin County: 5 general, 1 special needs (5 total)
Miami-Dade County: 3 general, 1 pet friendly (3 total)
Nassau County: 3 general, 1 special needs, 1 pet friendly (5 total)
Okeechobee County: 1 general, 1 special needs (2 total)
Orange County: 3 general, 2 special needs, 1 pet friendly (6 total)
Osceola County: 1 general, 1 special needs, 3 pet friendly (5 total)
Palm Beach County: 8 general, 1 special needs, 1 pet friendly (10 total)
Putnam County: 5 general
Seminole County: 1 general, 1 special needs, 1 pet friendly (3 total)
Johns County: 4 general
Lucie County: 4 general, 1 special needs (5 total)
Sumter County: 5 general, 1 special needs (6 total)
Volusia County: 11 general
Coastal counties are working on opening additional shelters this morning, including shelters for people with special needs, pets and general populations. To find available shelters by county, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/shelters/
The state continues to work with the American Red Cross to identify shelter capacity both during and following the storm.
POWER
The following counties are currently experiencing power outages:
Miami – around 6,800 people without power. (1%)
Brevard County – 2,200 people are without power. (1%)
Broward County – 5,600 people are without power. (1%)
Palm Beach County – 4,800 are without power. (1%)
Outage reporting will continue this evening.
Power companies have pre-positioned personnel such as linemen, transmission, substation and vegetation staff to assist with potential power outages. This includes staff members from Duke Energy, Florida Public Utilities, TECO Energy Company, electric co-ops, and municipal utilities.
Utilities are contacting their mutual aid partners to determine availability if external resources are needed to restore services.
The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state and the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.
Governor Scott has spoken with utilities across the state to ensure utilities are pre-positioned and there are no unmet needs.
FUEL
The state is monitoring for supply, distribution or retail fuel shortages or issues, specifically for isolated incidents of individual retailers experiencing temporary fuel shortages. These individual retailers are being quickly refueled and fuel is readily available across Florida.
The state will continue to monitor and assist with state and local government fuel assistance requests.
The current fuel supply in the state will last for nearly 6 days, even if all ports are temporarily closed.
The state is working with fuel partners and suppliers to increase the number trucks moving fuel from the ports to retail locations.
The state has contacted emergency fuel and equipment providers for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) activated its emergency contact system for the east coast Florida school districts and colleges, and is monitoring closures made at the district and college levels.
District school closures include:
Alachua County – Closed Friday.
Baker County – Closed Friday.
Brevard County – Closed Friday.
Broward County – Closed Friday.
Bradford County Schools – Closed Friday.
Citrus County – Closed Friday.
Clay County – Closed Friday.
Columbia County – Closed Friday.
Dade County – Closed Friday.
Desoto County – Closed Friday.
Dixie County – Closed Friday.
Duval County – Closed Friday.
Lake County Schools – Closed Friday.
Flagler County – Closed Friday.
Gilchrist County – Closed Friday.
Glades County – Closed Friday.
Hamilton County – Closed Friday.
Hardee County – Closed Friday.
Hendry County – Closed Friday.
Highlands County – Closed Friday.
Hillsborough County – Closed Friday.
Indian River County – Closed Friday.
Lafayette County – Closed Friday.
Lake County – Closed Friday.
Levy County – Closed Friday.
Madison County – Closed early Friday.
Manatee County – Closed Friday.
Martin County – Closed Friday.
Marion County – Closed Friday.
Nassau County – Closed Friday.
Okeechobee County – Closed Friday.
Orange County – Closed Friday.
Osceola County – Closed Friday.
Palm Beach County – Closed Friday.
Pasco County – Closed Friday.
Pinellas County – Closed Friday.
Polk County – Closed Friday.
Putnam County – Closed Friday.
Seminole County – Closed Friday.
Johns County – Closed Friday.
Lucie County – Closed Friday.
Sumter County – Closed Friday.
Suwannee County – Closed Friday.
Union County – Closed Friday.
Volusia County – Closed Friday.
FAU Lab school – Closed Friday.
Florida School for Deaf and Blind – Closed Friday.
UF Lab School – Closed Friday.
Universities/ college closures include:
University of North Florida: Closed Thursday through Saturday.
Embry Riddle University: Closed Thursday and Friday.
Florida Atlantic University: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Florida International University: Closed Thursday through Friday.
Florida A&M University satellite campuses (in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa): Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Nova Southeastern University: Closed Thursday and Friday.
University of Central Florida: Closed Thursday through Saturday.
Broward College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Daytona State College: Closed Thursday and Friday.
Eastern Florida State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Florida State College at Jacksonville: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Florida Gulf Coast University: Closed Thursday and Friday.
Florida Polytechnic University: Closed Thursday and Friday.
Lake-Sumter State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Indian River State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Miami Dade College: Closed Thursday through Friday.
Palm Beach State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Seminole State College of Florida: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Johns River State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Valencia College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Broward College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
South Florida State College: Closed Thursday and Friday.
University of Florida: Closed Friday.
Florida Keys Community College Middle Keys and Upper Keys Center: Closed Thursday.
College of Central Florida: Closed Friday through Sunday.
Florida Gateway College: Closed Friday through Sunday.
Florida Southwestern State College: Hendry Glades Curtis Center closed Thursday and Friday.
North Florida Community College: Closed Friday starting at 2:00pm.
Polk State College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
Santa Fe College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
GOVERNMENT CLOSURES
County and state offices are closed Friday in the following counties:
Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia
MILITARY SUPPORT
As of this afternoon, Governor Scott has directed the Florida National Guard to activate a total of 3,500 National Guard members to support hurricane preparedness and response, especially to assist with staffing shelters. This is over half of the available troops that may be activated.
In addition to this, Florida has over 3,000 National Guard members ready to be deployed if needed.
The National Guard is moving helicopters from Duval County to Hernando County and receiving additional aircraft, including heavy lift Boeing CH-47 Chinooks, through the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE FIGHTING AND SEARCH & RESCUE
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and other partnering agencies have identified resources for deployment to respond to the storm and are preparing to assist with evacuations.
FWC has 164 personnel ready to deploy. In addition, there are 96 vessels staged for search and rescue and pre/post storm rec. FWC also has nine aircrafts available for public safety patrol.
FHP has 49 personnel assisting with evacuations in affected areas. FHP also has more than 300 troopers on standby for deployment if needed. FHP is also using aircraft monitoring for public safety patrol and road condition assessments.
State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) Coordinator and Regional Coordinators have been notified so staffers and resources can be prepared for deployment.
30 Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations (Department of Financial Services), Florida Fish and Wildlife Special Operations Group boat teams, and members of the Florida National Guard are staging outside of affected areas for deployment to perform search and rescue missions.
Three Urban Search and Rescue Task Force teams will be immediately available to assist with search and rescue based on the current track of the storm. More have been requested. Multiple specialized support teams with equipment are being staged to assist efforts.
State firefighting representative have worked with DOH to assist with tracking and patient movement if needed.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL
DOH is working with healthcare facilities on potential evacuations and preparing for storm impacts.
DOH is also standing monitoring and supporting special needs shelter activations.
DOH has established daily calls with County Health Departments to ensure all needs are met.
DOH is preparing to assist with the activation of “Rx Open,” an online interactive map that provides information on the status of pharmacies for citizens and first responders.
The state is preparing personnel for deployment, such as State Medical Response Teams and Special Needs Sheltering Teams, to provide assistance to counties affected by the storm.
AHCA is supporting the emergency preparedness efforts for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other health care facilities by monitoring evacuation efforts and needs, as well as working with providers to ensure patients are receiving any necessary care and medication.
The following hospitals have evacuated patients:
Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Jacksonville Beach
Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach
Florida Hospital Oceanside, Ormond Beach
Florida Hospital New Symrna, New Symrna Beach
Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Fernandina Beach
Wuesthoff Medical Center, Rockledge
Indian River Medical Center, Sebastian
Florida Hospital Flagler, Bunnell
DOH will be updating hospital evacuation information at FLHealth.gov
TOLLS
Governor Scott directed DOT to suspend all tolls in the affected areas of the state, which includes the entire Florida Turnpike, Alligator Alley, Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.
AIRPORTS
The state is monitoring conditions at the following airports:
Tampa International Airport – Open
Orlando Sanford Airport – All Flights Cancelled
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport – All Flights Cancelled
Orlando International Airport – All Flights Cancelled Beginning at 8:00PM
Jacksonville International Airport – Open with limited service
Daytona Beach International Airport – Open with limited service
Miami International – all flights cancelled
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS
The state has held teleconferences with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) districts and agency partners – Army Corps of Engineers, Water Management Districts, Civil Air Patrol and Federal Highway Administration to ensure all infrastructure needs are met.
FDOT halted construction work on all FDOT projects on Interstates, Limited Access facilities, coastal and evacuation route roadways effective immediately in preparation for the approaching Hurricane Matthew. Contractors are being instructed to secure all equipment and open travel lanes by removing all unnecessary barricades, signs and drums.
FDOT District offices have placed emergency crews on standby, and are continuing to test and inventory equipment and monitor flood prone areas. FDOT will continue to reach out to county emergency operations centers directly to coordinate any necessary response actions including activating traffic counters, providing local evacuation support and providing maintenance of traffic and other assistance.
FDOT is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to lock down Intracoastal Waterway bridges along the eastern Florida coast prior to sustained winds of 40 mph.
Tri-Rail is suspending service in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
Experiencing heavy congestion on the following roads:
I-10 WB pockets of congestion West of Jacksonville, West of Macclenny, and both sides of I-75 in Lake City (several mile long gaps of no congestion in that area). Motorists appear to be using US-90 from I-75 heading west and then getting back on I-10 at Exit 275 (US-90). 131 minute drive for that 45 mile stretch (I-10 WB: US-441 to SR-53).
Intermittent Congestion on I-10 WB from US-301 back to I-295 is much improved with a 21 minute travel time from I-295 out to US 301.
US 17 SB from NAS JAX headed towards I-295
I-75 NB and SB south of Ocala from CR 484 to US 27. A SB crash at MP 350 is contributing to the delays.
I-4 WB from the Celebration area into Polk County.
SR 44 WB in Deland.
SR 40 WB East of Ocala at CR 314
SR 417 (Central FL Greeneway) SB from MP 3 to I-4 – related to the I-4 WB congestion
SR 429 (Western Beltway) SB from MP 1 to I-4 – related to the I-4 WB congestion
SR 589 (Veterans Expy) NB from I-275/SR 60 to Hillsborough Ave (MP 0 to 3). This is similar to typical PM peak hour recurring conditions.
Additional Major Road Closures/Updates
The Miami Tunnel remains closed.
Intracoastal bridges in Palm Beach County have been locked down. Drawbridges along the Miami River and the Intracoastal Waterway in Miami-Dade County have locked down. Lock-down of bridges on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) began this morning. During lockdowns which the bridge spans are locked in the down position and will not open for marine traffic. This will not affect vehicular traffic crossing the bridges.
To ensure the safety of plaza workers, Florida’s Turnpike will begin the phased closure of at least seven Turnpike service plazas, beginning with the southernmost facilities Snapper Creek (Milepost 19) and Pompano Beach (Milepost 65). Others will close in succession moving north in advance of Hurricane Matthew. For a schedule of closures, click HERE.
More information on road and bridge closures can be found at fl511.com.
Florida Highway Patrol traffic incidents by region can be found here.
HUMAN SERVICES
Resources and Supplies
150 truckloads of water are being prepositioned around the state and 63 truckloads of water are holding in the in State Logistics Response Center (SLRC). In total, this includes more than 302,000 gallons of water. The SLRC also has a trailer of meals, which includes more than 10,000 meal kits.
Food Safety Assessment teams on standby to monitor power outages and flooding to ensure safety at food establishments.
The Division of Real Estate Development and Management continues to provide office space for FEMA in Tallahassee and space in Orlando to assist in response efforts.
The Division of Real Estate Development and Management EOC has transferred to Orlando to coordinate the logistics staging area for equipment in response to the storm.
Volunteer Organizations
The state is establishing local points of contact with mass care organizations and volunteer agencies for potentially impacted counties.
The state is working with Volunteer Florida and other volunteers and donation agencies to identify available volunteers through Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and AmeriCorps to staff shelters if needed. Thirty-nine AmeriCorps teams statewide are on call for anticipated response to Hurricane Matthew. Volunteer Florida grantee Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach deployed AmeriCorps to the Palm Beach County EOC and Special Needs Shelter. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are also available.
The state is assessing available housing for responders and volunteers.
Volunteer Florida is identifying fixed kitchens from potentially impacted counties in anticipation of feeding needs.
Volunteer Florida is working with Community Emergency Response Teams that are on standby for possible deployment to impacted areas, with the Florida Baptist Convention to identify an in-kind warehouse space for multi-agency warehouse, and with Salvation Army and Red Cross for food distribution.
Volunteer Florida has established a volunteer registration link for those who are interested in volunteering following Hurricane Matthew. Please visit volunteerflorida.org/hurricane-matthew to register.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
APD is communicating regularly with staff, providers, waiver support coordinators, and stakeholders about the hurricane and preparedness measures.
All group homes and individuals in Supported Living have their own disaster plans.
Regional Residential Planning Coordinators are assessing all available open beds in group homes statewide in case they are needed during or after the storm. Supported Living Coaches are checking on their customers in independent living to ensure they are safe and prepared. If someone needs to go to a group home during the storm, APD will authorize Respite and pay for the service.
Mutual Aid support from non-affected Regional Offices have been identified to support Regional Offices that may be impacted by the hurricane.
Group Home Provider Evacuations Include:
Southern Region: None at this time
Southeast Region: Morning Star Community Home Inc. (Palm Beach Gardens), Seagull Place ALF (Riviera Beach), MacTown 1st Avenue Group Home (Boyton Beach), MacTown Edmor Group Home (West Palm Beach), MacTown Redding Rd. (Boyton Beach)
Central Region: Albion (Palm Bay), Pediatric Pavilion (Orlando, FL), Highland Terrace (Titusville)
Northeast Region: Hibiscus Group Home (Jacksonville)
Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)
DOEA is coordinating with Area Agencies on Aging across the state to communicate with clients, including elders and individuals with disabilities, and assist with evacuation coordination or transportation to local special needs shelters.
Meals continue to be served to homebound clients, and in preparation for the storm, extra frozen and shelf-stable meals have also been provided.
Staff from DOEA’s CARES program is ready and available to serve at Special Needs Shelters in affected areas.
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA)
Three of the state veterans’ nursing homes operated by the FDVA are on the east coast of Florida: Alexander “Sandy” Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home (Broward County), Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home (Volusia County), Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home (St. Johns County)
All of these facilities have permanent generators and administrators are working to ensure staff and supplies are available for residents.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates a number of Florida-based medical centers and outpatient clinics in the watch and warning areas. The following VA clinics will be closed during the listed days:
All Miami VA Medical Center primary care and community based clinics, with the exception of Key West – Thursday and Friday
Miami Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Fort Lauderdale Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
All West Palm Beach VA Medical Center primary care and community based clinics – Thursday and Friday
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center elective surgeries or procedures – Thursday Friday
Palm Beach (Freenacres) Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Melbourne Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Jupiter Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Pompano Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Viera Outpatient Clinic – Thursday – Saturday
Daytona Beach Outpatient Clinic – Thursday – Saturday
Port Orange Psychosocial Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (PRRC) – Thursday – Saturday
Orange City VA Clinic – Noon Thursday and Friday
Orlando VM Medical Center elective surgeries or procedures – Thursday and Friday
Lake Baldwin Clinic – Noon Thursday and Friday
Clermont Clinic – Noon Thursday and Friday
Tavares Clinic – Noon Thursday and Friday
Kissimmee Clinic – Noon Thursday and Friday
Daytona Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Augustine Clinic – Thursday – Friday
Jacksonville (all locations) – Thursday – Friday
Mary’s (GA) Clinic – Thursday – Friday
Palatka Clinic – Thursday – Friday
The Villages Clinic – Friday
Ocala Clinic – Friday
Lecanto Clinic – Friday
Jacksonville Vet Center – Thursday and Friday
Lake City VAMC and Gainesville VAMC Outpatient Clinic- Appointments cancelled Friday
BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, & ECONOMIC STABILIZATION
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and DEM have activated the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (FLVBEOC) to help identify and alleviate unmet needs between businesses and response partners. They are also working with businesses to make sure they have what they need to prepare for the storm.
The FLVBEOC is available at www.flvbeoc.org
The state has activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-410-1403. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the storm, preparedness information and post-impact information from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.
The state is planning for post-impact outreach to major retailers to identify open status of stores, major challenges to reopening and potential timelines.
If you need help finding your Florida’s property insurance company’s website and contact information, click HERE. For a list of licensed insurance agents in Florida, click HERE.
If you have questions about insurance coverage, you can call the Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services’ Insurance Helpline at 1-877-693-5236. You can find other hurricane season resources from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation HERE.
OIR will continue to communicate with DFS regarding the establishment of an insurance village, a mobile location for individuals to file insurance claims, if needed following the hurricane. OIR and DFS will also closely track insurance complaints to help protect Floridians.
HOTELS/ LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS
VISIT FLORIDA has activated the Emergency Accommodations Module to keep visitors informed and is working with local tourism partners to collect and share information regarding the open status for major retailers and hotels. More information can be found HERE.
VISIT FLORIDA has also compiled a list of available hotel accommodations for visitors who may be need to evacuate. To view available accommodations, click HERE.
VISIT FLORIDA and Expedia have partnered to identify cities and hotels which are further away from the projected storm path and have availability. Please visit expedia.com/florida to find available lodging.
Airbnb is expanding activation of the Disaster Response Tool beyond coastal South Carolina to include portions of Florida. Please visit https://www.airbnb.com/disaster/florida to find available lodging.
Airbnb is asking hosts to aid in this effort by listing their available rooms or homes on the platform to help house the growing number of evacuees.
Local residents impacted by Hurricane Matthew will be able to secure emergency accommodations through the tool free of charge from now through October 12th
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Department of Management Services’ Division of Telecommunications is currently monitoring telecommunication services to ensure first responders, residents and visitors are able to communicate response and recovery needs.
The division is working with telecommunications partners on proactive and protective measures to prepare equipment, facilities and response personnel for Hurricane Matthew, as well as encouraging partners to report any communications outages or affects.
The state is coordinating with state, federal and industry partners, and is prepared to help assess impacts to telecommunications facilities and infrastructure following the storm. The state is also monitoring fuel assistance requests; currently there are no requests for assistance.
The division is coordinating staging areas for telecommunications mobile vehicles and additional wireless equipment for emergency response efforts.
The division is coordinating communications status reports of outages, affects or unmet needs with telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications partners are reviewing fuel contracts, topping off generators and assuring back-up power assets are ready.
SEAPORTS
The state is monitoring conditions at the following seaports:
Duval – JAXPORT (*Seaport Access Closed)
Nassau – Port of Fernandina (*Seaport Access Closed)
Broward – Port Everglades (*Seaport Access Closed)
Palm Beach – Port of Palm Beach (*Seaport Access Closed)
Saint Lucie – Port of Ft. Pierce (*Seaport Access Closed)
Brevard – Port Canaveral (*Seaport Access Closed)
Miami-Dade – Port Miami (*Seaport Access Closed)
Monroe – Port of Key West (*Seaport Access Restricted: Closed North of Seven Mile Bridge)
Pinellas – Port St. Petersburg (*Seaport Access Restricted)
Hillsborough – Port Tampa (*Seaport Access Restricted)
Manatee – Port Manatee (*Seaport Access Restricted)
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE)
Brigadier General David Turner, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is currently at the State EOC.
A pre-storm inspection of the Herbert Hoover Dike has been completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A post storm inspection will occur as soon as the Dike is accessible. Additional routine inspections will begin once the lake exceeds 17 feet. The lake level is currently at 15.90 feet.
Discharges to the east of the Lake are currently ceased to provide area flood protection for residents of Martin and St. Lucie counties. Discharges will resume at 4,000 cubic feet per second to the west and 1,800 cubic feet per second to the east after the storm when it can be done safely.
Working with Water Management Districts to monitor waterways; prepared to adjust flows as necessary.
Jacksonville District staff also began the drawdown of water levels in the St. Lucie Canal in accordance with standard pre-storm procedures.
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
SFWMD is gradually lowering canals.
Inspecting key parts of the flood control system and critical flood control structures.
Inspecting canals and levees for any obstructions.
Inspecting heavy equipment.
Ensuring adequate fuel supplies for pump stations and other equipment.
Securing items vulnerable to high wind at pump stations and laydown yards in Homestead, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection completed all pre-storm beach erosion surveys.
DEP is ready to deploy generators to water treatment plants if needed.
Household Hazardous Waste debris and drop off sites have been established in all 67 counties
DEP’s Florida Park Service hosting U.S. Coast Guard vessels at select facilities along the East Coast of Florida, to allow them to respond quickly to the areas most affected by the storm, relocating displaced campers and evacuees to non-impacted parks in Northwest Florida, preparing overnight accommodations for volunteer support workers, preparing strike teams to move into affected areas once the storm is passed, and have fully executed emergency action plans are currently active in all parks.
More than 90 state parks and campgrounds are closed. To view the full list, click HERE.
CONTACTS:
The Florida Emergency Information Line (FEIL) has activated and can be reached at 1 (800) 342-3557.
State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Matthew.
Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/info to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.
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