GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – The mandatory evacuation order for Zones A and B -- as well as any low-lying properties or mobile homes and other vulnerable housing -- due to Hurricane Dorian was lifted at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
"This evacuation order is being canceled as Hurricane Dorian has moved from our area and no longer poses any direct threats from wind or flooding," Emergency Management said.
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As of Wednesday, there were reports of one tree down on a house on a house in the county and flooding on Williams Park Road, south of Green Cove Springs. Fewer than 50 power outages had been reported by late Wednesday morning.
Water levels were being monitored at the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake with the high tide Wednesday in the late afternoon/early evening hours.
Clay County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2 Activation. The Clay County Citizens Call Center will be open until midnight. Anyone with questions can call the Citizens Call Center at 904-284-7703 or 877-252-9362, or visit Alert.ClayCountyGov.com.
Shelters to close
Five shelters opened Tuesday afternoon as the evacuation order went into effect:
- Noon: Lake Asbury Junior High School at 2851 Sandridge Road in Green Cove Springs (Special needs)
- 3 p.m.: Clay High School at 2025 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs (General population)
- 3 p.m.: Orange Park High School at 2300 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park (General population/pet friendly)
- 3 p.m.: Keystone Heights Junior Senior High at 900 Orchid Ave. in Keystone Heights (General population/pet friendly)
- 3 p.m.: Wilkinson Elementary School at 4965 County Road 218 in Middleburg (General population)
All Clay County general population and special needs shelters will close Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m., since the evacuation order has been lifted.
School & government office openings and closures
The following Clay County Government Offices will be open for business Thursday, Sept. 5:
- Clay County Administrative Offices
- Clay County Tax Collector
- Clay County Property Appraiser
- Clay County Supervisor of Elections
- Clay County Sheriff’s Office
- Clay County Public Libraries
The Clay County Courthouse and the Clerk’s Offices will remain closed Thursday, Sept. 5, with plans to reopen Friday, Sept. 6. Those with court dates Sept. 3-5 will be contacted via mail about reset dates and times.
The Clay County Animal Shelter will reopen to the public Saturday, Sept. 7. If you want to pick up your pet, you may come to the shelter Thursday, Sept. 5, or Friday, Sept. 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Clay County District Schools will remain closed Thursday, Sept. 5.
Garbage pickup
Clay County’s Environmental Convenience Centers and Rosemary Hill Waste Management Facility will be open Thursday, Sept. 5, for normal business hours 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Curbside garbage, recycling and yard pick-up will run on a holiday schedule:
- Wednesday routes will run Thursday
- Thursday routes will run Friday
- Friday routes will run Saturday
All routes will return to normal on Monday, Sept. 9.
Please keep yard debris limited to a normal quantity at this time.
Residents concerned about flooding in Black Creek
Black Creek saw significant flooding during Hurricane Irma, which is why residents and businesses in the area were worried about flooding ahead of Hurricane Dorian.
The Royal Moose Coffee Company, which is near the river, said it was hoping for the best.
"As long as we have electricity or our generators will hold the power we're going to be serving Middleburg coffee," said Sarah Murray, the owner of Royal Moose Coffee Company.
WATCH: Clay County business owners worried about shops located near Black Creek |
Boaters near Black Creek prepare for Dorian
John Henderson has lived in Middleburg for 45 years and has seen how high Black Creek can get.
"It covered from the other side of the bridge all the way through Middleburg. It flooded out quite a few businesses," Henderson said.
Black Creek was not included in the mandatory evacuation zones.
"I’m ready for it. I’ve got everything set up -- my generators, knocked down a big canopy thing I had," Max Keltner, who lives on Black Creek, said Tuesday.