SHELTERS
As of this evening, more than 180 shelters were open throughout Florida with a total population of more than 23,800 individuals. This number will be updated at midnight. Shelters are open in the following counties:
Baker: 1 shelter (special needs)
Bradford: 2 shelters (1 special needs)
Brevard: 17 shelters (7 special needs)
Broward: 11 shelters (2 special needs)
Clay: 4 shelters (1 special needs)
Columbia: 3 shelters
Duval: 11 shelters (4 special needs)
Flagler: 2 shelters (1 special needs)
Glades: 2 shelters (special needs)
Hardee: 1 shelter (1 special needs)
Hendry: 2 shelters
Highlands: 1 shelter
Hillsborough: 4 shelters (1 special needs)
Indian River: 6 shelters (1 special needs)
Lake: 5 shelters (3 special needs)
Lee: 2 shelters
Leon: 1 shelter
Madison: 1 shelter
Manatee: 1 shelter (1 special needs)
Martin: 7 shelters (2 special needs)
Miami-Dade: 5 shelters (1 special needs)
Nassau: 5 shelters (1 special needs)
Okeechobee: 3 shelters (1 special needs)
Orange: 2 shelters
Osceola: 5 shelters
Palm Beach: 15 shelters (1 special needs)
Pinellas: 1 shelter
Polk: 7 shelters (2 special needs)
Putnam: 1 shelter (1 special needs)
Lucie: 7 shelters (1 special needs)
Seminole: 6 shelters (2 special needs)
Sumter: 1 shelter
Volusia: 4 (4 special needs)
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:
Alachua County – 3,559 customers, 3% outage
Baker County – 2,084 customers, 19% outage
Bradford County – 1,190 customers, 12% outage
Brevard County – 195,054 customers, 64% outage
Citrus County – 961 customers, 1% outage
Clay County – 26,792 customers, 19% outage
Columbia County – 578 customers, 2% outage
Dixie County – 290 customers, 3% outage
Duval County – 131,521 customers, 32% outage
Franklin County – 143 customers, 1% outage
Flagler County – 58,566 customers, 100% outage
Gilchrist County – 590 customers, 7% outage
Gulf County, 69 customers, 1% outage
Hamilton County, 255 customers, 4% outage
Indian River County – 45,230 customers, 51% outage
Jefferson County – 89 customers, 1% outage
Lake County – 16,173 customers, 10% outage
Levy County- 221 customers, 1% outage
Madison County – 58 customers, 1% outage
Marion County – 27, 389 customers, 15% outage
Martin County – 32,580 customers, 35% outage
Nassau County – 10,538 customers, 38% outage
Okeechobee County – 1,200 customers, 5% outage
Orange County – 60,923 customers, 11% outage
Osceola County – 1,100 customers, 1% outage
Palm Beach County – 31,166 customers, 4% outage
Putnam County – 25,461 customers, 62% outage
Seminole County – 68,597 customers, 33% outage
Johns County – 63,470 customers, 72% outage
Lucie County – 49,240 customers, 33% outage
Sumter County – 1,307 customers, 2% outage
Suwannee County – 145 customers, 1% outage
Taylor County – 101 customers, 1% outage
Volusia County – 257,718 customers, 92% outage
Wakulla County – 127 customers, 1% outage
Total without power: 1,118,275 customers, 11% outage
Governor Scott directed the state to begin setting up housing for utility crews in strategic areas across the state. Camp Blanding in Northeast Florida is now able to house over 1,000 utility workers and their trucks. There are two other locations that are currently being prepared if needed.
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 5 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.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
The east coast is still actively receiving impacts from Hurricane Matthew.
After conditions have improved, individual counties will start their initial damage assessment process.
The state supports this initial impact assessment process through the State Emergency Response Team by providing personnel and resources towards “First 72 Hour” priorities of law enforcement security, search and rescue, and incident stabilization of Florida’s impacted communities.
EVACUATIONS
More than 500,000 Floridians are currently in evacuation zones.
Brevard County: Mandatory Evacuations of Merritt Island, barrier island, low-lying areas and mobile homes.
Clay County: Voluntary evacuations.
Duval County: Voluntary evacuations.
Flagler County: Mandatory evacuations.
Indian River: Mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas.
Martin County: Mandatory evacuations.
Nassau County: Voluntary evacuations.
St. Johns County: Mandatory evacuation orders.
Volusia County: Mandatory evacuations 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.
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.
Ongoing district, university and college school closures will be updated this weekend.
GOVERNMENT CLOSURES
Ongoing county and state offices closures will be updated this weekend.
MILITARY SUPPORT
The National Guard has troops in West Palm Beach, Sanford, Camp Blanding, Brevard and St. Lucie.
There are also around 450 Guardsmen spread out over 72 shelters.
Governor Scott has directed the Florida National Guard to activate a total of 3,500 National Guard members to support hurricane preparedness and response. 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.
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 search and rescue efforts.
FWC has advanced reconnaissance teams to perform search and rescue operations in Northeast Florida as soon as conditions allow. These teams, made up of a total of 90 members, have partnered with fire and rescue members. FWC also has more than 70 personnel, more than 90 water vessels and nine aircrafts placed strategically throughout affected areas for public safety patrol and search and rescue efforts.
FHP has 150 Quick Action Force members deployed for public safety patrol across affected areas. FHP also has more than 100 personnel on standby. FHP is also continuing to use aircraft to monitor road conditions when weather permits.
State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) Coordinator and Regional Coordinators have been notified so staffers and resources can be prepared for deployment.
An Urban Search and Rescue team has been deployed to Flagler County’s barrier islands to assist with rescue operations.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL
There are currently four boil water notices in effect:
South Hutchinson Island (Martin County)
Holly Hill (Volusia County)
Cocoa (Brevard County)
Melbourne (Brevard County)
DOH is monitoring and supporting special needs shelter activations.
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.
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
Sebastian River Medical Center, Sebastian
Florida Hospital Flagler, Bunnell
DOH will be updating hospital evacuation information at gov
AHCA will continue to communicate with healthcare facilities over the weekend for updates and support. After hours contact information has been provided to over 8,000 nursing home and assisted living providers, and hospitals in the affected areas. Post impact reporting instructions have been shared including providing power status, generator status, and re-entry post evacuation.
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. All toll suspensions remain in effect and will remain suspended for at least 24 hours. After the storm passes, county DOT officials will review this on a case by case basis.
AIRPORTS
The following airports are closed:
Daytona Beach International Airport: EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ONLY
DeLand Municipal – Sidney H Taylor Field: CLOSED
Flagler Executive Airport: CLOSED
Hilliard Airpark: EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ONLY
Jacksonville International Airport: CLOSED
Kissimmee Gateway Airport: EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ONLY
Lake City Gateway Airport : CLOSED
Massey Ranch Airpark: CLOSED
New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport: CLOSED
Northeast Florida Regional Airport: CLOSED
Orlando Sanford International Airport: CLOSED
Ormond Beach Municipal Airport: CLOSED
River Ranch Resort Airport: CLOSED
Sebastian Municipal Airport: CLOSED
Tallahassee Commercial Airport: CLOSED
Tavares Seaplane Base: CLOSED
Valkaria Airport: CLOSED
Vero Beach Municipal Airport: CLOSED
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS
Due to high winds from Hurricane Matthew, all the bridges in St. Johns County are closed. Dames Point Bridge is also closed. The State Road 200 Bridge to Amelia Island is closed due to high winds. Other areas in Northeast Florida are experiencing some bridge and road closures. More information on road and bridge closures can be found at http://www.fl511.com.
All interstates in Florida are currently open.
FDOT is conducting damage assessments of roadways and inspections of bridges in Central and South Florida as conditions improve. There are no issues to report at this time.
FDOT will continue to halt construction work on all FDOT projects on Interstates, Limited Access facilities, coastal and evacuation route roadways. Contractors are have been instructed to open all travel lanes by removing unnecessary barricades, signs and drums.
FDOT District offices have emergency crews on standby. FDOT will continue to reach out to county emergency operations centers directly to coordinate any necessary response actions.
Tri-Rail service remains suspended in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Anticipate service restoration late Friday/early Saturday.
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. This will be distributed throughout the affected counties once weather permits.
The SLRC also has currently have a trailer of meals, which includes more than 10,000 meal kits. In addition, more than 178,000 kits are expected to be delivered throughout the weekend.
Anheuser-Busch is donating nine truckloads, more than 450,000 cans, of emergency drinking water in preparation for Hurricane Matthew. Several truckloads are headed to Florida communities including Deerfield Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Orlando, Melbourne and Daytona Beach.
Coca-Cola is donating 10 truckloads, more than 360,000 bottles of Dasani water to the Jacksonville area.
Youfit Health Clubs will be opening their doors to the public today through Sunday to help those who lost power from the storm. Visit their Facebook page for a list of all open locations.
Food Safety Assessment teams remain on standby to monitor power outages and flooding to ensure safety at food establishments once weather conditions improve.
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
Volunteer Florida has established a volunteer registration link for those who are interested in volunteering following Hurricane Matthew. Please visit www.volunteerflorida.org/hurricane-matthew to register. So far, more than 850 volunteers have registered within 24 hours.
Individuals can also volunteer through the Red Cross by visiting RedCross.org
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.
Volunteer Florida is working with Community Emergency Response Teams that are on standby for possible deployment to impacted areas and is coordinating operations at the Leon County shelter.
Blood Donations
Bloodbanks have an urgent need for platelets and O- red cells and type AB plasma.
After temporarily suspending some operations due to Hurricane Matthew, OneBlood, the local blood center, is resuming operations in select locations effective Friday, October 7th and is urging donors to donate as soon as possible to replenish the blood supply.
For a list of OneBlood Donor Centers and Big Red Bus blood drive locations visit www.oneblood.org.
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
APD is communicating regularly with staff, providers, waiver support coordinators, and stakeholders about preparedness and response measures.
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:
Southeast Region: Morning Star Community Home Inc. (Palm Beach Gardens), Poseidon Group Home (Lake Worth), Seagull Place ALF (Riviera Beach), MacTown 1st Avenue Group Home (Boyton Beach), MacTown Edmor Group Home (West Palm Beach), MacTown Redding Rd. (Boyton Beach), one individual from Angel Manor (Ft. Lauderdale)
Central Region: Albion (Palm Bay), Pediatric Pavilion (Orlando), Highland Terrace (Titusville), CFG/Tiwa Lane (Titusville), Gillespie (Melbourne and Palm Bay)
Northeast Region: Hibiscus Group Home (Jacksonville)
Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)
The Department of Elder Affairs continues to coordinate with Area Agencies on Aging across the state to ensure that services are meeting the needs of elders and adults with disabilities across the state without disruption.
Meals continue to be served to homebound clients, and extra frozen and shelf-stable meals have also been provided.
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:
Viera Outpatient Clinic – Today – Saturday
Daytona Beach Outpatient Clinic – Today – Saturday
Port Orange Psychosocial Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (PRRC) – Thursday – Saturday
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
Click HERE for Office and Warehouse space offerings for displaced or damaged businesses
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.
INSURANCE
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Floridians affected by the storm must now begin the process of surveying damages to their property and belongings. 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.
It is important to document all damaged property and belongings. A free smartphone app developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners called “MyHome Scr.APP.book” is available to assist with photo documentation.
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 www.expedia.com/florida to find available lodging.
Airbnb expanded activation of the Disaster Response Tool beyond coastal South Carolina to include portions of Florida. Please visit 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 once weather conditions allow.
The division is coordinating communications status reports of outages, affects or unmet needs with telecommunications industry.
The division worked with telecommunications partners to pre-staged resources (personnel and equipment) to prepare for deployment, restoration and recovery efforts post-storm.
SEAPORTS
The state is monitoring conditions at the following seaports:
Miami – OPEN
Everglades – OPEN
Fort Pierce – CLOSED
Palm Beach – OPEN
Canaveral – CLOSED
Jacksonville – CLOSED
Fernandina – CLOSED
Saint Petersburg – OPEN
Tampa Bay – OPEN
Manatee – OPEN
Key West – OPEN
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 post storm inspection of the Herbert Hoover Dike 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 15.93 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.
ST JOHNS WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Nine water pumps have been identified and readied for mobilization. No requests have been made at this time.
All district lands have been closed to public recreation. People with reservations have been notified.
All hunting areas on district lands have been closed.
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
SFWMD is gradually lowering canals.
Inspecting key parts of the flood control system, critical flood control structures, and canals and levees for any obstructions.
Ensuring adequate fuel supplies for pump stations and other equipment.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
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 is 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 and is preparing strike teams to move into affected areas once the storm is passed.
DEP is mobilizing responders to Jacksonville and Orlando areas for Hazardous Waste Assessment teams with EPA.
Some parks are beginning to reopen but more than 60 state parks and campgrounds remain 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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