ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The Matanzas River poured over the seawall into downtown St. Augustine early Thursday morning as Hurricane Milton powered its way across Florida, and again after the storm left.
As the sun came up, streets were flooded near the Bridge of Lions and traffic was unable to go over the bridge eastbound toward Anastasia Island. It was reopened in both directions by 8:30 a.m. and by noon most of the streets downtown were dry with some scattered debris.
But as high tide came around 2:30 p.m., water started to creep onto Avenida Menendez near the bridge again and the Bridge of Lions was closed to traffic. Officials told News4JAX the bridge was closed because of flooding in the street on Anastasia Island by the bridge and they didn’t want cars to stall out.
The bridge reopened around 5:20 p.m.
Meanwhile, a mandatory evacuation order was lifted at 5 p.m.
The order was for all of Evacuation Zone A, all of Evacuation Zone B, and the portion of Evacuation Zone F located south of State Road 206.
While the evacuation order has been lifted, officials urge residents in flood-prone and low-lying areas to proceed with caution. Due to lingering floodwaters, some roads and locations within the community remain impassable.
Storm shelters will close at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. Residents who utilized storm shelter services are encouraged to safely return home and assess their property.
For more information, please contact the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550.
Police were seen in the area directing traffic and News4JAX crews were not allowed to cross the bridge from Anastasia Island starting around 2 p.m.
The county reported more than 20 roads were impassable around high tide.
People who live downtown told News4JAX their homes weren’t affected by the morning flooding. Overall, people in the area are feeling relief.
Before sunrise, News4JAX crews registered wind gusts up to 35 mph, whipping palm trees, and watched as water from the river rushed into town, at least half a mile inland.
As the streets gradually flooded, cars worked to find alternate routes.
Waters started to recede slightly after high tide around 3 a.m., but officials warned the water could rise again Thursday afternoon.
hoped
It was a sleepless night for residents in St. Augustine as they anticipated the impact of Milton.
“Last night the wind was incredible,” said St. Augustine resident Phil Castillo.
“I was nervous all night, checking walking out here, looking around,” said Ben Marion, who lives in Davis Shores.
Despite street flooding overnight in downtown St. Augustine and Davis Shores, people were prepared, and many were relieved to find their property OK on Thursday morning.
Castillo lives and owns a business downtown.
“And we checked on the business this morning. Everything was great. And I have a lot of other friends that have business downtown also, so I checked on their businesses also,” Castillo said.
In Davis Shores, Ben and Angela Marion also made it through the night without significant damage, even though water creeping high into their driveway made them nervous.
“We just prepared for the worst and hopedgot for the best, and it turned out pretty lucky,” Angela Marion said.
About 20 minutes south of downtown St. Augustine, Crescent Beach was lashed by strong surf, wind, and high water.
“We have some of the dune erosion out there. And we just got that renourishment about 9 months ago. But hey, that’s what it was there for, and it saved us. We lost probably 30%," said Malcolm Fabrey.
Fabrey is the condo association president at the beachfront Summerhouse Condos, where wind peeled the roofs off two buildings.
He said after learning everyone was OK, his first thought was insurance.
“We want to try and get somebody here as quick as we can, because as long as that roof is exposed, there’s going to be more damage inside," he said.
St. Johns County was feeling the effects of Hurricane Milton hours before the Category 3 storm made landfall on Florida’s west coast.
The Sheriff’s Office reported major flooding in Flagler Estates and Hastings at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and planned to asses the damage Thursday morning.
According to St. Johns County officials, there were 5-plus feet of water south of SR 206 in Hastings and Flagler Estates.
No injuries were reported Thursday afternoon but assessments were ongoing.
Deputies urged residents not to walk or drive through floodwaters.
