Officials from Northeast Florida’s inland counties are preparing for what will become Hurricane Helene before it hits the Florida Panhandle on Thursday.
RELATED: Storm expected to strengthen to Category 3 Hurricane Helene before hitting Florida Panhandle
Alachua County
Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area) for questions and rumor control. Call 911 for actual emergencies.
In Alachua County, significant impacts are expected. Torrential rains are forecast to bring 3 to 6 inches of precipitation. This will lead to a heightened risk of flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas, particularly around local rivers and streams.
An evacuation order has been issued for those residing in mobile homes, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, and homes that may not survive the storm, along with those living in areas subject to flooding or those in proximity to bodies of water.
The NHC also cautions that strong wind gusts from Helene’s outer bands could down trees and power lines, causing widespread power outages and travel disruptions. In western Alachua County, prepare for sustained winds of 58 to 73 mph with hurricane-strength gusts possible. In eastern Alachua County, prepare for sustained winds of 39 to 57 mph with gusts up to 58 to 73 mph.
County offices will close Wednesday at noon for employees to prepare their families and homes for Helene.
Levada Brown Transfer Station will remain open for regular hours on Wednesday.
All other county offices will be closed on Thursday.
To aid residents as the storm approaches, Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area). This is for questions and rumor control. If you have an actual emergency, call 911.
Animal Resources will be closed Sept. 25 to prepare for the possible need for a pet-friendly shelter.
Alachua County staff will distribute sandbags (10 bags per vehicle).
- Alachua County’s Wayside Park (11855 NW U.S. 441) distribution begins on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will continue Wednesday at 9 a.m., weather permitting, until 3 p.m.
After staffed hours, sand, bags and shovels will be available for self-service.
Directions to Wayside Park
- Northbound on U.S. 441 (from Gainesville): Turn right onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).
- Southbound on U.S. 441 (from Alachua): Turn left onto County Road 237 (at Dollar General), then right onto Northwest 126th Avenue, and right again onto Northwest 59th Terrace to access Wayside Park (located at the Mobile convenience store).
The City of Hawthorne has sand and bags available at the City of Hawthorne Wastewater Treatment Plant, 23016 SE 65th Lane. Be prepared to fill your own bags.
The City of Newberry has sand and bags available at the public works compound (120 NW 260th Street). Bring your own shovel.
Sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay fully informed of any disaster-related information related specifically to Alachua County.
The City of Gainesville has pre-made sandbags available until 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Public Works Center, 405 NW 39th Ave. A limit of 10 filled sandbags per vehicle can be picked up at this location. To ease traffic flow, arrive at this location via northbound NW Sixth Street and then turn east (right) onto NW 39th Ave.
Bags and sand to make self-serve sandbags remain available until 5 p.m. Wednesday at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Rd. Please bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags at this location. Assistance is available for those in need. A limit of 10 bags for filling will be provided per vehicle. To ease traffic flow, access the site from NE 12th Ave. via Waldo Road, or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Ave.
Alachua County opened a special needs shelter, at the Alachua County Senior Recreation Center (5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville). For information about transportation to the special needs shelter, call 352-955-2575.
Special needs shelters provide one cot per patient. Caregivers are asked to bring any needed bedding in case cots are unavailable. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods and any prescription medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts, and identification.
The pet-friendly, general population shelters are:
- The Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center (1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville)
- The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex (24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry)
General population shelters do not provide cots or beds. Bring any needed bedding. When packing to go to a shelter, please bring special dietary foods, baby food, diapers (and other child necessities), prescription medications, and a small cooler of ice if refrigeration is needed, as the shelter cannot be responsible for your medications. Also, bring spare clothing, personal care items (hygiene, toiletries, etc.), spare eyeglasses/contacts and identification.
Residents with pets are encouraged to bring basic pet supplies such as collars, leashes, crates, carriers, towels, blankets, pet medications, pet food, etc. Animal Resources will have supplemental supplies on hand for those in need. We encourage citizens to bring veterinary records indicating their pets are properly vaccinated
Animals, however, without such records will be vaccinated upon intake to minimize the spread of contagious diseases. Please remember that animals must be properly restrained throughout their stay at the emergency shelter for the safety of all involved citizens and pets.
University of Florida offices will close and classes will be canceled beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 and will reopen and resume normal operations at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27. All academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time.
Gainesville
Refuse Collection
- All residential trash and recycling pickup for Thursday is delayed with expected pickup on Friday. Please do not place containers, branches or other items curbside tomorrow.
Facilities
- All parks, pools and recreation centers are closed until the storm passes.
- City offices will be closed Thursday.
Regional Transit System (RTS)
- Bus service continues normal operations at this time. Service will be suspended once area winds reach 35 mph. Visit www.go-rts.com for additional information.
Public Meetings
- Visit the Public Meeting Calendar on the City’s website for the current list of scheduled meetings.
Columbia County
Columbia County was under a hurricane warning Thursday morning, one of the only counties in Northeast Florida with that designation.
Columbia County commissioners held another emergency meeting Thursday to outline their plans for the storm and the aftermath.
They say residents should be ready for rain, strong winds and power outages. They are urging residents to only call 911 if they have a true emergency, so dispatchers don’t become overwhelmed.
For anything that is not an emergency or even if you just have a question, residents should call the Citizens Information Center at 386-719-7530, which will be open 24 hours a day moving forward.
The county is opening five shelters starting at 7 a.m. Thursday:
- Deep Creek Community Center
- Winfield Community Center
- Westside Elementary School -- which will be for those with special needs and their caregivers only
- Fort White High School
- Richardson Community Center
There will also be a pet shelter available, just for pets. The vacant building at the intersection of Leon and Franklin streets is being converted into a pet shelter. Pets will need vaccination/shot records, food and owners are asked to bring their own kennels if possible.
The county got a shipment of 60 kennels to use at the shelter. Owners will NOT be allowed to stay with their pets.
The county said a formal curfew will not be implemented as far as a time, but leaders are asking everyone to stay off the roads after dark and until sunlight Friday.
They warn that if you are out there between those times, first responders may not be able and will not be obligated to help you because of the dangerous conditions.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, sandbags (limited to 15 bags per vehicle) will be available at:
- Columbia County Public Works, 607 NW Quinten Street, Lake City
- Fort White Community Center, 17579 SW State Road 47, Fort White
- Southside Sports Complex, 1963 SW Bascom Norris Drive, Lake City
At last count, the county had distributed 11,190 sandbags.
In Columbia County, Public Works started pumping problematic ponds earlier this week to aid in possible flooding.
All necessary contractors for disaster relief efforts are being reached out to.
Helene is expected to bring half a foot of rain to parts of Columbia County, which is less than what Debby brought when it swept through the state last month forcing nearly 40 streets to close.
Garbage pickup in Columbia County will start at 5:30 a.m. Thursday. The county says crews will continue work until winds reach the 35 mph to 45 mph range.
Putnam County
Putnam County Board of County Commissioners offices will be closing at 3 p.m. Wednesday and will reopen Monday, Sept. 30.
Trash pickup will be closed Thursday. Friday is to be determined, depending on the state of the roads.
The county call center will be opening at noon on Wednesday for any citizen questions or concerns. The number is 386-329-1904.
Putnam County School District announced schools will be closed Thursday and after-school activities are canceled.
School of the Heights announced they will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Baker County
All county and city offices are closed Thursday, Sept. 26 and could reopen Sept. 27.
There are no expected emergency service disruptions at this time. If the constant wind speeds reach 40 miles per hour at any time emergency vehicles will stop running until the winds subdue below 40 miles per hour.
Road & Bridge Closures
- Turner Cemetery Bridge
- Clet Harvey Bridge
Shelters - Opening at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26
- Macclenny Elementary - 1 Wild Kitten Drive, Macclenny, FL 32063
- Dopson Family Medical Center - 159 N. 3rd Street, Macclenny, FL 32063
Sandbags (limited to six bags per household)
- Macclenny Yard - 764 Hartline Drive, Macclenny, FL 32063