JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Less than two weeks after impacts from Hurricane Helene destroyed some of the remaining concrete balustrades in Memorial Park, neighbors are once again preparing for more impacts. The balustrades are lined against the bank, separating the park from the St. Johns River.
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On Wednesday morning, News4JAX observed some areas of the park are still off-limits. Plastic barricades remain in place to serve as a makeshift barrier. People in the Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods were still preparing.
Michael Smith did some last-minute shopping at the Riverside Publix.
“I’m from California where we have earthquakes, and we don’t get this one-week warning to prepare for it,“ Smith said. ”My wife and I had this conversation, that we’ve had these before and they’ve sort of been a nothing burger. But she’s concerned about this one, so we’re trying to not take it lightly.”
As Jacksonville neighbors finish up their prep work, local first responders are also getting ready for the storm.
They will work in Jacksonville and assist in other areas of the state as needed. Jacksonville Sheriff’s officers will patrol around the clock with dozens of additional officers. Members of the Emergency Road Access Team, also called ERAT, will be work to keep roads clear, so they can stay open. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told News4JAX his officers are ready for out-of-town deployments.
“We’re going to wait for the storm to go by Jacksonville,“ Waters said. ”We are prepared, sending up 24 officers to go down south to assist our brothers and sisters down there.”
Waters explained when duty calls, his men and women are quick to help. No matter where that need is.
“We’ve deployed to the panhandle, we deployed to South Florida when that building fell,“ Waters said. ”It’s just whatever the emergency arises if they call, we’ll go running.”
During Mayor Donna Deegan’s Wednesday afternoon briefing, Fire Chief Keith Powers echoed the sentiment.
“The mayor talks all the time about how fortunate we are and how we should help our neighbors,” Powers said. “Because it may be one day, where we’re going to be the ones who need help. So, I just ask that you pray for our men and women."
As the storm gets closer, the city of Jacksonville advises everyone to remain in their homes overnight Wednesday into Thursday. If you do not need to be driving, you are asked to stay off the roads for that duration.
