COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Columbia County officials held a meeting Sunday at the Emergency Operations Center, to talk about the recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.
Officials told News4JAX after the meeting, starting Monday, the Red Cross will be giving away hot meals at four locations:
- Deep Creek Community Center
- Richardson Community Center
- Fort White Community Center
- Winfield Community Center
However, after looking at the county’s Facebook page they also had another location listed.
- Shands Lake Shore HRIM
People at the Winfield Community Center said they were excited about the Red Cross giving out food.
Residents who also visit the Winfield Community Center are able to take a shower, do laundry and use restrooms.
It’s one of a few locations in town that offer those services following the hurricane.
Clarence Jett and others with no power were taking advantage of the free laundry setup at Winfield.
He said he didn’t have clean work clothes before going to this laundry set up, but thanks to it he’ll be able to go to work tomorrow.
Maenell Bailey said it feels great that she can have a hot shower while the power is out.
“I should be able to get me a good nights sleep,” Bailey said.
Also, during the meeting Sunday afternoon at the EOC, electric companies gave updates to power outages in the area.
Clay Electric said they are hopeful by Tuesday 98% of their customers will have power.
This excludes the Three Rivers area. They think 98% of residents in that area should have power returned by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
FPL is hoping to restore power to 95% of their customers in the area, by the end of the day Monday.
Suwannee Valley Electric said 50% of customers have power. There’s no exact time for when all power to their customers should be restored, they but estimated it’d be a similar timeline of Clay Electric.
Duke Energy said 95% of their customers will be restored by midnight tonight.
A state rapid assessment team was in the area Sunday and a local team will be out on Monday.
The director of the emergency operations center said it was an important step in the recovery efforts.
“Hopefully, we can get a PA declaration and also an IA declaration and then get to the point of being included in that FEMA declaration so then residents can ask about Hurricane Helene reimbursements,” Shayne Morgan said.
Morgan said it’s important for all damage in the area to be reported. You can do so by calling their hotline at 386-719-7530.