FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. – Rebuilding and reopening. That’s the name of the game in Flagler County on Monday.
Gov. Rick Scott and Rep. John Mica toured the damage of a one-mile stretch of State Road A1A in Flagler Beach where a large portion of the road was washed away when Hurricane Matthew lashed the area.
They said the next step is starting a restoration project.
Scott and Mica said they can't say for sure when the project will start. They did say it’ll be a project that will take several months. Mica said the damage to A1A caused by Hurricane Matthew is the worst to the state's transportation system.
Looking at the damage, Scott and Mica determined that the cost to fix the road will be very high.
Scott said the state will be working with the federal government for funds, as well as the Army Corp of Engineers. Both men said they will work on preparing contracts to begin the work, then work on a preliminary design.
"We're going to work with the governor and the mayor and others and the county,” Mica said. “This would bankrupt Flagler Beach and the county to restore this."
Another topic that came up at the news conference was the safety of the beaches.
Flagler County's beaches will be closed until further notice because of safety issues.
“The problem is that schools are closed until Wednesday, (and) families and kids are going to want to come to the beach,” Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said. “But the beaches just aren’t safe because there is so much debris in the water and on the beach.”
That debris includes wood from the pier that was partially destroyed, roofing nails, and both metal and wood from the dune walkovers, which have also been left unsafe for use.
“We want people to come to beach and enjoy the restaurants,” Doughney said. “Unfortunately, we have to close the beaches. We haven’t begun the cleanup efforts at the beach and we want people to be safe.”
The Flagler County Supervisor of Elections offices reopened Monday.
“Given that it is so close to the general election, Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart wanted to go ahead and open her office,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said. “It’s important for her to be open to serve the voters.”
The Palm Coast Branch of the Flagler County Public Library will be open from noon until 5 p.m., with limited services available. There will be a limited supply of water and ready-to-eat meals distributed from this location.
For general questions, use the citizen information call-in line at 386-586-5111 or www.flagleremegency.com.
Hours of operation are changing to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Bridges fully reopen at 7 a.m. Monday
The bridges leading from the mainland to the barrier island will fully reopen to everyone at 7 a.m. Monday, after the curfew ends for the morning.
“We ask that anyone going into Flagler Beach or the Hammock be respectful of the cleanup efforts by the residents who live there,” Coffey said. “We don’t want to interfere with their work.”
Officials also ask that beach visitors stay out of the depressions on State Road A1A.
“We are concerned for everyone’s safety,” Coffey said. “We are worried that portions of the roadway may still wash away.”
Food distribution
There are several spots throughout Flagler County where residents can get a meal on Tuesday, and the American Red Cross has four roving vehicles distributing meals.
Meals are being distributed in the following locations:
- The Salvation Army is near the Bunnell Housing Authority, 414 Bacher Street, Bunnell, noon until 6 p.m.
- The Salvation Army is in Beverly Beach providing meals at 2814 N. Oceanshore Blvd., near Surfside Estates at noon to 6 p.m.
- Red Cross is providing meals at the Adult Education Center parking lot, 5633 N. Highway A1A, Hammock, at noon and 5 p.m.
- Red Cross is at Flagler County Main Branch Library parking lot, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, providing meals at noon and 5 p.m.
- Red Cross is at Town Center in Palm Coast (where the food trucks stage), 975 Central Avenue, at noon and 5 p.m.
- Red Cross is providing meals at Hidden Trails Community Center parking lot, 6108 Mahogany Blvd., at noon and 5 p.m.
- Four roving vehicles are circulating throughout Flagler County.
The “Point of Distribution” for food and water at the Flagler County Executive Airport will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Flagler County Continues to operate a call center from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 386-586-5111.
The Red Cross has established a Hurricane Matthew hotline at 800-768-8048 to provide information about the resources available in every county.
Residents return home
Residential re-entry began in stages Saturday after preliminary Hurricane Matthew damage assessments were done, Flagler County officials said. Proof of residency will be required to get to the barrier island.
“We have done assessments and the roads are passable,” Coffey said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t some hazards on some of the roadways, but they are in decent shape. Please remember to use caution and be safe.”
VIDEO: Sky 4 surveys Hurricane Matthew damage | Coverage of historic storm
“As residents return home and they await the restoration of power, we ask that the use of generators be limited to houses that are high and dry,” Flagler County public safety emergency manager Steve Garten said. “Powering up a home that has been under water is extremely dangerous. Please don’t do it.”
Flagler County consolidated all its evacuees to Bunnell Elementary School, which can accommodate residents with special needs, those with pets and the general population. It will remain open as long as it is needed.
“People started leaving the shelter upon hearing they could return home,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said. “It just made sense to condense everything to one building.”
Those still in the shelter were moved Sunday to Church on the Rock, which is now serving as the shelter for Flagler County.
Supervisor Jacob Oliva reported that school staff is working hard to clean all of its facilities so classes for students can be resumed.
Church on the Rock is at 2200 N. State Street, Bunnell. The phone number is 386-437-9915.
Most of State Road A1A in Flagler County is undrivable, with long sections of the highway washed out by the storm surge.
"It's unbelievable what nature can do," storm survivor Cheryl Combee said. "We're blessed. I feel very blessed by God."
Combee said she realized she was lucky after choosing not to evacuate from Beachside because of her cats. She said she wouldn't stay behind again.
"It was very scary," she said. "You don't know what's going to happen. You're risking your life."
The damage was heaviest in the northern section, in Marineland Acres. There was damage to the Flagler Beach Pier, but there's no specific assessment yet.
A husband and wife had to be rescued from their home, but no deaths or injuries were reported.
Inoperable stop lights must be treated as four-way stop signs.
“We cannot have people going through intersections without checking for traffic coming from the opposite directions,” said Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney.
PHOTOS: Hurricane Matthew's aftermath
For general questions, please use the citizen information call-in line at 386-586-5111. People are answering calls 24 hours a day to help keep the 911 lines free for emergencies.
Surfside Estates torn up
The damage in Surfside Estates was overwhelming.
There are a few hundred homes in the neighborhood and large parts of roofs were torn off; the side paneling to homes was found down the street.
About every other home has some sort of damage to it, most of it pretty significant, such as screen porches blown away and awnings ripped off. Many people said it looked like a tornado touched down.
“It was heartbreaking coming through here and seeing some of our neighbors’ homes are gone," Therese Morgan said.
Morgan evacuated to Tampa for the last three days with her family, unsure what she was going to come back to. Dozens of neighbors returned to find only half of their homes intact.
Morgan said it looked as if the winds played hopscotch with the hundreds of houses throughout the neighborhood.
"Driving around today, it would skip a couple of homes and then the next home, the fronts are demolished, the roofs are gone, you can see through the homes," Morgan said.
Robert Hudson's home was left untouched. His next door neighbor's carport was ripped off.
"It could have been a lot worse if that hurricane would have been inland a little more," Hudson said. "If it had been 150 miles an hour, I don't think we would even be here right now."
Street after street, it was the same scenario. Panels and awnings torn off, pieces of glass and metal scattered through yards, the sides of some houses leveled.
Ed Noack said he imagined the hurricane was going to be bad, but seeing the reality of the force of its winds is unbelievable.
“It looked like the whole front had caved in, but it was the roof (that) had come over here and was laying in the ground," he said. “It has the rubberized roofing which is supposed to last forever, but then the wind got hold of it and peeled if off like a banana.”
The neighbors in the 55-and-older community are pulling together to get homes rebuilt now and in the coming days.
City of Palm Coast phone lines restored
City of Palm Coast telephones came back up Tuesday morning. All city departments, including the Customer Service and Building Divisions, are now available at their regular phone numbers.
Customer Service can be reached at 386-986-2360. Representatives can assist with any calls about water and sewer (wastewater) service, pep tank alarms, and questions about debris pickup.
The Building Division can be reached at 386-986-3780 for permitting questions or to discuss whether the contractor you’re hiring has the right license.
Curfew remains for part of Flagler Beach
A curfew remains in effect for the city of Flagler Beach east of the Intracoastal from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Tuesday.
County officials said power was still out in some areas as of 6 p.m. Monday.
There are dark streets and debris and hazards are still problematic, county public information officer Julie Murphy said.
The suspension of alcohol sales was lifted Monday.
The county said it is putting out resources to help families who have lost their homes. That includes food, water and keeping shelters open. The American Red Cross is helping as well
Secure tarps, cover exposed areas
While it appears that Hurricane Matthew will not rear its head again as officials once feared, it does appear that Flagler County will experience breezy conditions beginning Monday.
“Northeast winds are forecast to be between 15 and 20 mph with some higher gusts,” Garten said. “There is also a chance of some scattered showers.”
Conditions are predicted to be worse along the coast than inland.
“Please secure tarps so they don’t blow away,” Garten said. “Also, if your home has any exposed areas, it’s a good idea to cover them to prevent additional water damage.”
Hurricane Matthew 911 calls released
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office on Saturday released several 911 calls received during Hurricane Matthew involving homes on Nantucket Drive in the Sea Colony subdivision, which is located along State Road A1A in the northern end of Flagler County.
Sea Colony is located along State Road A1A in the northern end of Flagler County.
911 Dispatcher: "Flagler County Sheriff's Office, how may I help you?"
Caller: "Hi .. Who is this?"
Dispatcher: "Flagler County Sheriff's Office."
Caller: "OK ... In Sea Colony and they didn't evacuate. And my mother just called me and the ocean water is surrounding their house. I don't know what to do. Can somebody help me?"
Dispatcher: "OK. What's their address?"
Caller: "39 Nantcket Drive"
Dispatcher: "Nantucket Drive?"
Caller: "Yes, my dad is paralyzed and my mother is up on the kitchen counter. I just don't know what to do. They should've evacuated and they didn't."
Rescuers were forced to use jet skis to reach residents in flooded homes.
Flagler County schools remain closed Monday, Tuesday
Because damage assessments and cleanup operations will take time, as well as the continued need of shelter space for residents, all Flagler County schools will remain closed Monday and Tuesday, Superintendent Jacob Oliva said Saturday.
The county is currently developing a timeline for when schools will reopen.
Flagler County schools need to make up five days following hurricanes Hermine ad Matthew. The first of the hurricane make up days will be Friday. It was originally scheduled to be a teacher work day. Additional make up days will be announced at a later date.
Maintenance teams from Flagler Schools are touring all schools and sites Saturday, assessing the damages now that the weather has cleared after Hurricane Matthew. Preliminary checks show some exterior damage at a few sites.
Bunnell Elementary School, Rymfire Elementary School and Buddy Taylor Middle School are still being used as shelters for displaced Flagler County residents. All events will be rescheduled and announced at a later date.
Flagler officials urge storm water safety
Flagler County officials are urging residents to follow safety tips around floodwater.
“Floodwater is its own safety hazard,” Garten said. “Please use caution around standing water.”
Safety tips:
- Clean and dry everything that got wet, as floodwaters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads and commercial buildings.
- Throw out spoiled and cosmetics and medications that have gotten wet. They are a health hazard. Contact the Health Department at 386-437-7358 to dispose of medications.
- Do not let children play in or around high water, storm drains or ditches. Besides drowning risks, the water could be contaminated. Additionally, debris and other hazards may not be visible beneath the surface.
- Look before you step. Floors and stairs may be covered with slippery mud or other hazardous materials.
- Remember that there are animal hazards such as snakes, rodents (and other small animals), fire ants and scorpions. Any or all of these creatures could have entered homes and buildings looking for shelter.
