TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Over 30,000 Big Bend homes are without power according to updates released by Governor Rick Scott on Monday.
Governor Scott released an update from the State Emergency Operations Center on recovery efforts following Hurricane Hermine. The updates included areas outside the Big Bend as well.
Since Friday, Governor Scott said Florida Department of Transportation has been working non-stop to clear debris like downed trees, install generators for traffic signals, and assess damage to roads and bridges.
The City of Tallahassee accepted the Governor's offer for additional contractors Sunday to help speed up the process of cleaning debris and getting citizens back online.
More updates for the Big Bend area and the State of Florida are below.
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE GREATER THAN 2% POWER OUTAGE:
STATEWIDE: 33,778 HOMES WITHOUT POWER
· Leon – 19% (26,438 homes without power).
· Wakulla – 18% (2,648 homes without power)
· Taylor – 10% (1,193 homes without power)
· Gadsden – 6% (1,394 homes without power)
· Madison – 5% (542 homes without power)
· Hamilton – 5% (342 homes without power)
· Jefferson – 4% (302 homes without power)
· 28 State Facilities reported without power
COUNTY BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED IN FOUR COUNTIES:
· Jefferson
· Taylor
· Wakulla
· Leon (partial)
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
Law Enforcement
(FDHSMV, FWC, FDLE)
· 17 out of 25 assigned missions are complete
· One death confirmed in Florida by a medical examiner as a result of hurricane
Transportation and Public Works & Engineering
(FDOT)
· Continuing to work missions for pumps, bridge inspection and generators for signalized intersections without power, debris management and public information support
· Providing fueling for the 200 generators deployed in the Tallahassee area for the operation of traffic signals
· Coordinating ‘cut and toss’ activities associated with utility restoration in Leon County and the City of Tallahassee
· SR 72 in Sarasota is closed with emergency repairs planned
· SR 54 in Pasco remains operational with one lane open in each direction
· Continuing to monitor office and school closures
· Providing maintenance and inspections of traffic signals
Business, Industry & Economic Stabilization
(DEO, OIR)
· Business Damage Assessment surveys from the following counties have been submitted to the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (VBEOC)
o Alachua
o Charlotte
o Hillsborough
o Leon
o Pasco
o Wakulla
· Most major retailers open within the affected areas
· The state continues to support impacted businesses and will report major closures on a case by case basis
· Activating the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support recovery
· Developed a hotel availability reporting tool for hotels to regularly notify the state of their lodging capabilities
o Currently 53 hotels reporting
· Continue to assist the Human Services branch by filling unmet needs with private sector assistance
Food & Water
(FDACS)
· Continue to support mass feeding partners
· Food Safety Rapid Response Team is in the process of deploying assessment teams in affected regions and will assess food establishments permitted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
· Assessing ice needs for feeding agencies
· Bottled water shipped to impacted areas from state warehouse:
o Leon County – 6 Trailers
o Gadsden County – 2 Trailers
o Dixie County – 1 ½ Trailers
o Pasco County – 1 Trailers
o Wakulla County – 6 Pallets
Health & Medical Services
(DOH, AHCA, APD, DCF, DEA)
· Monitoring and supporting special needs operations as requested by local Emergency Operation Centers
· Monitoring post-impact Health Care Facilities to fulfill needs as requested
· Assisting Leon County Health & Medical Services with prioritizing power restoration
o Providing generators as needed
Human Services Branch
(DBPR, DCF, FDACS, Volunteer Florida)
· Supporting county transition of shelter occupants to alternative housing
· Performing mass feedings in impacted areas
· Supporting mass care with food and water
· Distributing bulk mass care items as needed, including cleanup kits
· Food Safety Teams will conduct inspection today in 29 counties
· Baker County opened a shelter due to flooding on the St. Mary’s River due to a precautionary voluntary evacuation order along the river
· Tarps shipped to impacted areas from state warehouse:
o Levy County – 350
· ADA cots loaned from state warehouse:
o FSU – 250 Each for students displaced by power outage in a dorm
o AmeriCorps – 50 Each for volunteers coming in to support
· Comfort Bath Wipe Packs shipped to impacted areas from state warehouse:
o Leon County – 56,000 Units
· The Salvation Army is in seven counties with 23 Canteens providing feeding support at Comfort Stations and feeding locations, as well as, providing distribution of other relief supplies:
o Prepared meals (hot and cold) – 6,671
o Drinks (coffee, soda, juice, water) – 6,342
o Snacks (donuts, cakes, chips) – 4,312
o Water (per gallon or case) – 50
o Cleanup kits (per kit) – 278
· Florida Baptist Disaster Relief are providing shower trailers to Wakulla County and have a field kitchen in Leon County – serving surrounding counties
Environmental Protection
(DEP, Water Management Districts)
· Monitoring Florida’s Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network System and following up on wastewater releases
EMAC/Mutual Aid
· Coordinating with counties for in-state resources
· Continue ongoing Mutual Aid Planning and coordination
Resource Management and Communications
(DMS)
· Charging Stations have been placed at the following locations in Leon County for individuals to utilize:
o CenturyLink Locations
§ 1544 Governors Square Blvd. Tallahassee
o T-Mobile/Metro PCS Locations
§ 3813 N. Monroe Street Tallahassee FL 32303
§ 1424 Capital Circle NW Tallahassee FL 32303
§ 3111 Manah Dr Tallahassee FL 32308
§ N Monroe St Suite B Tallahassee FL 32303
§ 2450 Spring Hill Dr #2 Tallahassee FL 32305
§ 1918 W. Tennessee Tallahassee FL 32304
o Verizon Locations
§ Governor's Square, 2014 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301
§ 1889 N M L King Jr Blvd, # 1, Tallahassee, FL 32303
§ Bradfordville Center, 6721 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32312
o AT&T Locations
§ 1706 W Tennessee St, Tallahassee, FL 32304
§ 3521 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32309
§ 100 N Magnolia Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32301
o Sprint Locations
§ 1584 Governors Square Blvd #14, Tallahassee, FL 32301
§ 2264 N Monroe St #2, Tallahassee, FL 32303
· Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) currently has all towers operational
o 8 towers on back-up generators
o 11 towers restored to normal operations
Military Support
(Florida National Guard)
· The Florida National Guard continues to provide logistical support at the State Logistical Response Center in Orlando and at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee
Volunteer and Donations
(Volunteer Florida)
· Partner teams continue to remove debris, establish crews for tarping and muckouts
· Continue to partner with organizations for local assessments of damage impacted areas
· Coordinating Big Bend Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) response and recovery efforts
· Deploying AmeriCorps and Citizen Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to disaster areas – particularly sending above resources to the Salvation Army
· Volunteer Leon established a Leon Volunteer Reception Center
· Providing ice to residents
Recovery
· Collecting data from Initial Damage Assessments, Public Assistance, Small Businesses
· The Recovery Coordination Center is now activated
· Scheduling additional Joint Damage Assessments with FEMA
o Levy County currently scheduled for Friday, September 9
o Dixie County currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 6
· Individual Assistance:
o Taylor County has requested: Joint Individual Assistance/Preliminary Damage Assessment Team Scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th to begin
o Dixie County has requested: Joint Individual Assistance/Preliminary Damage Assessment Team Scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th to begin
o Levy County has requested: Joint Individual Assistance/Preliminary Damage Assessment Team Scheduled for Thursday, September 8th to begin
o Franklin, Wakulla and Hernando Counties have requested Individual Assistance and will be scheduled
· Public Assistance:
o Taylor, Franklin and Levy County have requested Joint Public Assistance/Preliminary Damage Assessment. State is on standby working with FEMA to schedule the Joint PDA’s
· Vector Control:
o Governor Scott and State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip held a call with all 51 mosquito control districts on Sunday, September 4th, to stress the importance of mosquito control and response following Hurricane Hermine
