FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Residential reentry will begin in stages after preliminary Hurricane Matthew damage assessments have been done to ensure the conditions are safe, Flagler County officials announced late Friday afternoon.
“Law enforcement is not going to let anyone into the evacuated areas until they have been confirmed safe,” said Steve Garten, Flagler County public safety emergency manager. “Just because people see our road crews, FP&L, first responders, law enforcement officers -- all of us who are trying to ensure your safety -- that doesn’t mean that it is safe for you to be driving around.”
Initially reentry is limited by law to essential staff of the critical municipal agencies for the purposes of clean up and damage assessment, Flagler County emergency officials said.
“It’s going to be a little while before residents will be allowed back in,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said. “We know people are anxious to see their homes for themselves, but we cannot let anyone back in to the evacuated areas until we know for sure it will be safe for you to do so. Seeing government vehicles or our contractors on the roads does not mean that the area is safe for you to reenter.”
Flagler County will let residents know through its websites, social media and public service announcements when it is safe to go back into areas that had been evacuated.
For general questions, please use the citizen information call-in line at 386-586-5111. People are answering calls 24 hours a day to help keep the 911 lines free for emergencies.
Flagler County cuts off all access to beachside areas
Effective Friday afternoon, Flagler County cut off all access to beachside portions of the county.
“This is not a curfew. No one will be permitted to enter the barrier island,” Garten said. “This will be enforced by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.”
Emergency personnel will begin entering the area to rescue those who did not leave the coastal area. A portion of State Road A1A washed out south of the pier in Flagler Beach near the Topaz.
“We don’t want anyone on the beachside who doesn’t need to be there,”Coffey said. “We need to be able to get an assist those people who are in the most need.”
A curfew will be imposed on the mainland portions of Flagler County at 7 p.m. Friday. Residents are asked to stay inside where they are and off of the roadways.
Crews have begun clearing trees in the affected areas.
“We are trying to get everything stabilized and safe as quickly as possible,” Coffey said.
Evacuations ordered
Flagler County officials called for a mandatory evacuation of zones A, B and C beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday. Officials called for the mandatory evacuation of Zone F, which is on the western side of Flagler County, at 11 a.m. Thursday.
All alcohol sales in Flagler County will be suspended effective immediately and the suspension will remain in place until the emergency declaration is lifted.
Evacuation Zone A includes everything east of the Intracoastal including Marineland, Hammock, Flagler Beach along A1A.
Evacuation Zone B includes the neighborhoods along Colbert Lane to the south, all of the C section and the F section east of Florida Park Drive and the F section east of Palm Harbor Parkway. This zone also includes the area east of Old Kings Road, south of State Road 100 including Bulow and its adjacent neighborhood, Grand Haven and western Flagler Beach.
Zone C includes The Woodlands neighborhood off Old Kings Road.
Evacuation Zone F is on the western side of the county, which includes the St. Johns Park area. This zone also includes the area east of Old Kings Road, south of State Road 100 including Bulow and its adjacent neighborhood, Grand Haven and western Flagler Beach.
Residents urged to head to shelters
In preparation for the impacts of Hurricane Matthew, the Flagler County Emergency Operation Center opened several shelters Thursday.
Rymfire Elementary, located at 1425 Rymfire Drive, Palm Coast, will accommodate those with special needs -- people who require assistance with daily living or who have medical conditions that prevent or hinder their ability to care for themselves, as well as those who require electricity for oxygen. A family member or caregiver should stay at the shelter with the individual.
MORE: What to bring to a shelter
Bunnell Elementary, 305 N. Palmetto Street, Bunnell, will accommodate other residents who have no other place to go. Pets -- dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents and turtles -- are allowed. There is a four-pet maximum. Pet owners should bring current vaccination records and supplies, including crates and medications.
Buddy Taylor Middle School, 4500 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, is also open but pets are not welcome at this shelter. It had the most available space, as of 7 a.m Friday.
“There are no more cots or crates available,” Garten said. “That said, we still want residents to come to one of the shelters, especially those on the barrier island. Please do not try ride out this storm.”
County-wide closures, event cancelations
After consulting with the National Weather Service and Flagler County Emergency Managers, Flagler County Public Schools Superintendent Jacob Oliva has canceled all classes and school activities for Thursday and Friday because of Hurricane Matthew.
- The Flagler County Courthouse will be closed Thursday and Friday.
- All libraries in Flagler County closed at 5 p.m. Thursday and will remain closed through Saturday.
- Flagler County Citizens Academy scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday will be canceled. All participants have been notified by phone.
- Access Flagler First, scheduled for on the first Friday every other month, has been canceled this Friday.
- National Night Out at Veterans Park, which was scheduled for Friday, has been canceled
- Soda with a Cop at the Chick-fil-A in Palm Coast, which was scheduled for Friday, has been canceled
- The K-9 fundraiser at the Beachfront Grille, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled.
- Palm Coast City Hall, the Palm Coast Community Center and the Palm Coast Utility Office will be closed Friday.
- For Thursday, garbage collection in the City of Palm Coast will remain on the normal schedule. Residents who are evacuating should not leave their trash cans out. For Friday, garbage collection throughout the City of Palm Coast is being canceled. Residents who normally receive Friday collection should plan to put out their trash on the next regularly scheduled pickup day.
- All City of Palm Coast parks, including the Palm Harbor Golf Club, Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool and the Palm Coast Tennis Center, will be closed Thursday through Sunday. All team practices and games at City parks, as well as the PDA Fall Classic soccer tournament, are canceled for Thursday through Sunday.
- The Flagler County Public Library will close at 5 p.m. Thursday and will reopen Monday morning.
- The Tax Collector's Office walk-up window will be open Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon with limited services offered.
- The Property Appraiser's Office will be open and fully staffed until noon.
- Waste Pro will have regular garbage collection on Thursday, but will not make pick-ups again until Monday.
- The Flagler County Clerk of Courts offices will be closed Thursday and Friday with the exception of first appearances. Regular courthouse operations will resume on Monday.