JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville officials said Monday afternoon that the latest track on Tropical Storm Debby shows a favorable outlook for Duval County, but the worst of the storm is not over yet.
Officials also stressed the importance of staying off the roads as the storm’s worst local impact is expected to continue over the next 12 to 18 hours.
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Hurricane Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm at 11 a.m., and it is expected to continue to weaken as it moves inland.
City officials said during the news conference that the Emergency Preparedness Division is closely monitoring the storm, which as of the last National Hurricane Center update, is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph and is expected to slow and turn northeast, meandering across North Florida and Southeast Georgia later Monday and Tuesday.
Press play below to re-watch noon’s news conference.
Scott Cordero with the National Weather Service said Duval County will receive the “bulk” of the thunderstorm activity from noon to sunset, when winds can reach speeds between 45 and 55 mph.
“We still have some concerns, but our concerns, our conditions will be diminishing to favorable conditions across here in Duval County,” Cordero said.
On Sunday morning, Mayor Donna Deegan declared a local state of emergency — allowing the city to allocate money and resources more easily for preparation and response efforts.
Deegan said on Monday that if the favorable forecast continues, she expects to lift the state of emergency Tuesday.
Deegan also said all city personnel are expected to come back to work Tuesday, and all activities will resume as normal, including trash pickup.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Deegan said.
Deegan also announced that Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach have canceled their Monday city council meetings.
Evacuations
There are no mandatory evacuation orders in place for Duval County. However, residents in manufactured homes, older homes, or low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding and sustained winds. For that reason, the city recommended that they consider evacuating to a safer location or a designated shelter.
Emergency Shelters
The city opened three shelters for residents in need.
- The Legends Center: Located at 5130 Soutel Drive. Open for general population, special medical needs, and pet-friendly.
- Landmark Middle: Located at 101 Kernan Blvd. Open for general population, special medical needs, and pet-friendly.
- LaVilla School of the Arts: Located at 501 N. Davis Street. Open for general population
List of animals allowed in pet-friendly shelters:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Ferrets
- Pocket pets (hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs)
- Rabbits
- Birds
*Please note that all pets must have proof of vaccination and registration, and be properly crated or caged and maintained by the owner.
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) Services
Officials said bus and ferry service will proceed on Monday, Aug. 5 as long as it is safe to do so. JTA will make decisions regarding any service disruptions based on real-time storm conditions.
Other important things to note:
- The Skyway is closed on Monday.
- Paratransit services to provide life-sustaining trips only on Monday
- Those with special medical needs must register with the City of Jacksonville if evacuations are ordered, or if in need of transportation to a shelter. Please call (904) 255-3172 for more info. Registration does not carry over year-to-year.
- JTA will communicate any service disruptions through their website and social media channels, along with established City of Jacksonville and JaxReady communications.
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Report Power Outages
JEA officials said power outages are li kely with this storm, and they will work to restore power when it’s safe to do so. Electrical outages and service issues can be reported to JEA at (904) 665-6000 or online at JEA.com.
The 630-CITY (2489) information line will be open to the public 24 hours a day throughout the duration of the storm.