What’s open, closed as St. Johns County assesses damage from Hurricane Milton

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County has experienced significant impacts from Hurricane Milton.

While the storm has moved out of the area, officials advise residents to be aware of potentially hazardous conditions caused by downed trees and power lines, as well as flooding.

Damage assessments are underway, and crews are working to remove debris as quickly as possible. However, this process will take time.

St. Johns County

For St. Johns County residents or business owners with storm-related structural damage or permitting questions, please contact the St. Johns County Building Services Structural Hotline at 904-827-6836. To have storm-related permits prioritized, call 904-827-6819 for expedited review.

City of St. Augustine

Residents and business owners within the City of St. Augustine limits should call 904-825-1065 for assistance.

RELATED: St. Augustine prepares for more high tide flooding in wake of Hurricane Milton

City of St. Augustine Beach

Residents and business owners within the City of St. Augustine Beach limits should submit the following web form for assistance: https://broker.edmundsassoc.com/RSS/?municipalId=SAUGFL#MAKE_A_REQUEST.

The City’s Public Works department began damage and drainage assessments, clearing roadways and sidewalks on Thursday.

On Monday, the city’s Public Works staff will begin a city-wide clean-up of yard debris from Hurricane Milton.

Residents are asked to put their debris in containers, including cans, bags or bundled on a tarp. Loose materials can be hazardous to workers and difficult to pick up.

For additional assistance, please use our resident self service portal: Resident Self-Service (edmundsassoc.com). Or call 904-471-1119 or 904-471-2122.

For general city information, please visit The City of St Augustine Beach website www.staugbch.com, Facebook and Instagram page and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter by texting CITYOFSAB to 22828.

Hurricane Milton Damage Assessment Survey

Additionally, St. Johns County Emergency Management is seeking assistance from the public to document damage within St. Johns County resulting from Milton. The survey can be found at www.sjcfl.us/hurricane and will remain open until Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

This information will be used to assist the County in collecting isolated impacts that may have occurred as a result of Milton and may be provided to other State and Federal agencies as they assess the damage.

This damage assessment survey is NOT an application for local, state, or federal disaster assistance or to make a claim on insurance.

Water distribution

St. Johns County crews will distribute water at two different locations on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to significant impacts from Hurricane Milton.

• Flagler Estates Community Center, 9960 Oliver Ave., Hastings, FL
• W.E. Harris Community Center, 400 East Harris St., Hastings

The Flagler Estates and Hastings communities were severely affected by Hurricane Milton, experiencing extensive flooding and damages from the storm. These points of distribution are intended for residents of these communities.

Government offices

Some St. Johns County government offices will reopen on Friday.

• This includes all departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, the Supervisor of Elections’ Office, and the Tax Collector’s Office.
• Please note that services may be limited or delayed due to potential damages to County facilities and reduced staffing due to the significant impacts from Milton.
• The Property Appraiser’s Office will remain closed on Friday.
• The Clerk of Courts and County Comptroller’s Office will remain closed on Friday.
• The Seventh Judicial Circuit will remain closed on Friday.
• All City of St. Augustine government offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday and close at 1 p.m. due to localized flooding during the afternoon high tide.
• All City of St. Augustine Beach government offices will reopen on Friday.

Residential waste collection services

• St. Johns County residents who would have had household solid waste collected on Thursday will have it collected on Friday. Residents who would have had household solid waste collected on Friday will have it collected on Saturday.
• St. Johns County recycling collection will be suspended through Friday and resume normal operations next week.
• The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road Transfer Stations will reopen on Friday. Residents may bring household solid waste, yard waste, and storm debris to these two transfer stations free of charge.
• The City of St. Augustine will collect only yard and storm debris on Friday and Saturday. Regular solid waste curbside pickup will resume on Monday
• The City of St. Augustine will not collect recycling on Friday.
• The City of St. Augustine Beach will resume solid waste collection services on Friday.

Public library system

• All St. Johns County libraries will resume normal operations on Friday, though services may be limited or delayed because of potential damages or reduced staffing due to the significant impacts from Milton.
• Due dates will be extended and fines will not be incurred until Monday, Oct. 14.
• All library programs have been canceled for Friday.
• The bookmobile stop that was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday has been canceled. All due dates and holds have been extended to the next scheduled stop at this location.

Parks and beach services

• Community Centers will reopen on Monday.
• Solomon Calhoun Pool will reopen on Friday at noon.
• Programming will resume on Monday, and the Hastings Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Walk previously scheduled for Saturday is rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 26.
• St. Johns County Pier will reopen after inspection and the and Pier Gift Shop will remain closed until repairs can be completed due to damage from Hurricane Milton.
• St. Johns Golf Club will reopen on Friday after assessments are completed. Call 904-209-0350 to confirm your tee time.
• Beach Driving and Boat Ramps will remain closed until conditions allow, due to storm surge and flooding. Beach walkovers will reopen after assessments are completed.
• Parks and Athletic Fields will reopen on Friday after assessments are completed. Please be cautious of downed limbs, standing water, and other hazards related to the storm.
• The St. Augustine Municipal Marina is staying closed until services there can be restored.

Schools

• All St. Johns County School District schools and district offices will remain closed on Friday.
• Extracurricular activities and athletic events taking place through the weekend are canceled.
• The St. Johns County School District is monitoring the storm and will make further announcements regarding additional closures at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us.

Parking

To help with hurricane relief, the city of St. Augustine said it will suspend fees charged for parking in the Historic Downtown Parking Facility and all city-metered areas, including on-street spaces and parking lots through the weekend.

On Monday, Oct. 14, due to Columbus Day, which is an observed national holiday, parking will remain free in all city-metered areas including on-street spaces and parking lots.

Another exception this year, due to the impacts of Hurricane Milton, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will not charge for parking on Monday.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, all city-metered on-street spaces and parking lots and the Castillo de San Marcos, will resume parking enforcement.

Drivers are urged to confirm if a lot is owned by the City of St. Augustine and not a private operator as many of those lots have strict towing policies. Parking will be enforced for all vehicles parked illegally, including in areas reserved for delivery, franchised sightseeing vehicles and taxis, or vehicles on sidewalks or against yellow curbs.

The city hopes this suspension of parking fees will encourage residents to support the many businesses throughout the downtown Historic District during this recovery period following Hurricane Milton.

Council on Aging and Sunshine Bus Service

• St. Johns County Council on Aging (COA) has announced that all COA senior centers and facilities, including River House and COA administrative offices, will remain closed on Frida in continued response to Hurricane Milton.
• For more information and for updates, please visit www.coasjc.org/news, or call 904-209-3700 during operating hours.
• Sunshine Bus public transportation will resume regular services starting Friday with the exception of the Flagler Estates area, which will not have service on that day.
• The Hastings Circulator will be limited to running through the Buzz Mart on Friday.
• Paratransit transportation services will resume for life-sustaining trips, including dialysis, on Friday.
• For information and updates on Sunshine Bus and Paratransit transportation services, visit https://sunshinebus.net/alerts-updates.

For more information, please contact the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550.