Check Here For Hurricane Matthew Recovery Updates

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Matthew update 10-14-16 VETERANS SERVICES Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities in Volusia County were closed for several days due to the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Veterans who incurred charges for emergent healthcare given by outside providers are encouraged to seek reimbursement of these charges. Volusia County Veterans Services offices are prepared to assist in filing claims for reimbursement to the Veterans Affairs medical center. Homeless veterans who may have lost essential living items, such as sleeping gear, may seek replacement of these items through Volusia County Veterans Services offices. Veterans who may have been rendered homeless due to a temporary or permanent loss of structure are also encouraged to seek assistance through Volusia County Veterans Services or any Veterans Affairs healthcare facility. For more information, please call 386-254-4646 or 386-740-5102 or visit www.volusia.org/veterans. COUNTY PARK CLOSURES The following county-maintained parks remain closed: ● Barkley Square dog park, DeLand ● Lake George Park, Pierson ● Seville Village Park, Seville ● Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, Port Orange ● Spruce Creek Park camping area, Port Orange ● Sugar Mill Gardens, Port Orange ● Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet LILLIAN PLACE Lillian Place Heritage Center suffered extensive damage from the hurricane. This Saturday, Oct. 15, they are asking the community to join them for emergency clean up and repairs of the historic property. With 2.3 acres of riverfront and three of the oldest buildings on beachside (dating back to 1886), volunteers are needed to clean up tons of trash, broken trees, glass, downed fencing, etc. Volunteers are asked to bring rakes and gloves, and to use the 1000 S. Peninsula entrance in Daytona Beach. Free hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided starting at noon on Saturday for all volunteers. For more information, please call 386-299-4974. Lillian Place is managed by the all-volunteer nonprofit Heritage Preservation Trust and is funded in part by the County of Volusia ECHO grant program. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT / FEMA ASSISTANCE Volusia County Emergency Management is working with the state and FEMA to determine if assistance for residents in Volusia County will be available. At this time, Volusia County has not been declared for Individual Assistance from FEMA. In addition, Disaster Recovery Centers have NOT been opened. Volusia County Emergency Management is coordinating with FEMA and the state for joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) to begin in the county Saturday according to Volusia County Emergency Management Director Jim Judge. ● The Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) is an information-gathering process. Teams comprised of representatives from local emergency management, the State of Florida, Small Business Administration and FEMA will work together to gather damage information. It does not guarantee federal assistance. ● Teams will not visit every home or business. ● If a county is declared eligible for further assistance, individuals and households in the county may apply for that assistance, which could include grants for hurricane-related needs such as home repairs not covered by insurance. Many residents have already begun cleanup and repair work to prevent additional damage to their homes. This is encouraged. Residents and businesses do not have to wait to find out if federal assistance will be available for individuals before beginning their clean up – but they should keep repair receipts and document damages whenever possible, including with photos. CITIZENS INFORMATION CENTER Volusia County’s Citizens Information Center is open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, as well as next week. The phone number is 866-345-0345. RED CROSS Red Cross volunteers are providing meals today in the following areas: ● Daytona Beach: Berkshire, Baywood, 8th Street, Unabella, Cherokee Lane, Mason Avenue, S. Atlantic Ave., San Jose Drive ● DeLand: Spring Garden Drive ● Ormond Beach: State Road A1A ● Port Orange: 5986 S. Ridgewood Ave., 6147 S. Ridgewood Ave., 5277 S. Ridgewood Ave. ● Oak Hill: Clinton Cemetery Road/Volco Road, Brevard County line, I-95/State Road 9, Indian River North ● Edgewater/New Smyrna Beach: Whistle Stop Park Area, Canal Street/Lytle Avenue/State Road A1A South/State Road A1A North, Cemetery Road/Volco Road, I-95/State Road 9, Indian River North ● New Smyrna Beach: Turnbull Bay Road/North Causeway, Canal Street/Lytle Avenue/State Road A1A South/State Road A1A North, I-95/State Road 9, Indian River North/S. Peninsula Avenue TIPS FOR CLEANING UP AFTER THE STORM ● Take photos of any floodwater and damaged items in your home, and keep receipts. ● Call your insurance agent and file a claim. ● Wear protective gear when using mold-cleaning chemicals or cleaning up. ● Make sure contractors hired to make repairs are licensed and carry general liability insurance, workers’ compensation and are bonded. ● FEMA does not recommend or endorse any contractors. ● Anyone who suspects fraud should call FEMA’s Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or the Florida Attorney General’s fraud and price gouging hotline at 866-966-7226. State and federal recovery officials encourage Florida residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, and identity thieves and other criminals who may try to prey on residents vulnerable due to the recent hurricanes. Residents should also be on the lookout for price gouging by gas stations, hotels and other businesses serving disaster survivors in Florida. Residents are reminded to be especially vigilant for these common post-disaster fraud practices: Fraudulent building contractors ● Use only licensed local contractors backed by reliable references. ● Demand that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. ● Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront. Bogus pleas for post-disaster donations ● Verify legitimate solicitations by asking for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and web address. ● Phone the charity and confirm that the person asking for funds is a genuine employee or volunteer. ● Don’t pay donations with cash. ● Request a receipt with the charity’s name, street address, and phone number. Fake offers of state or federal aid ● Beware of visits, telephone calls or e-mails — claiming to be from FEMA or the State of Florida — asking for your Social Security number, bank account number or other sensitive information. ● Avoid scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full. ● Federal and state workers never solicit or accept money or charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam artist, call the Sheriff’s Office at 386-248-1777. To find out if a contractor is locally licensed or state certified – or to report unlicensed contracting in unincorporated areas of the county – call Volusia County’s Contractor Licensing Office at 386-736-5957, option 2. You can also visit the county’s Connect Live site at connectlivepermits.org and click the contractor tab; or search for state-certified or registered contractors by clicking on the “Verify a license tab” at www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr. You can also report unlicensed activity at that link. The most up-to-date storm information can be found on Volusia County’s Emergency Management Facebook page. We also encourage residents to follow us on Twitter at VCEmergencyInfo and check Volusia.org/PIN for updates. SAFETY Residents are reminded to continue to use caution when cleaning up around their homes and businesses. POWER FPL has more than 300 restoration workers in the Volusia County area working to restore service to the remaining customers who do not have power. They have one major staging site and two support sites in the Volusia County area. They will remain open until all customers who can receive power are restored today. SHELTER A shelter has been opened at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, there were 24 evacuees. SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army is sending food boxes to locations they served earlier this week to include the Community Center in Pierson, 124 W. Washington Ave. and the Grocery Box in Oak Hill Oak Hill Mobile Home Park, the Sha-De-Land Mobile Home Park and the Apple Gate Mobile Home Park. RED CROSS The American Red Cross is providing meals in the areas of Ormond Beach near A1A, Nova Road in Port Orange, Providence Road in Deltona and in Edgewater. HOLLY HILL All boil water notices in Holly Hill have been rescinded. CITIZENS INFORMATION CENTER Volusia County’s Citizens Information Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday until further notice. The phone number is 866-345-0345. The most up-to-date storm information can be found on Volusia County’s Emergency Management Facebook page. We also encourage residents to follow us on Twitter at VCEmergencyInfo and check Volusia.org/PIN for updates. FIRE RESCUE OPEN HOUSES CANCELED Due to Hurricane Matthew and its impact to the community, Volusia County Fire Rescue has canceled its open houses planned for Oct. 14-16. A1A DETOUR IN NORTH VOLUSIA COUNTY According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there is a detour in the Ormond by the Sea area due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. ● Area affected is State Road A1A between San Jose and Sunny Beach, for a little more than a block. ● Traffic is being detoured to a local road, John Anderson Drive, and then back State Road A1A. ● Efforts are underway to have the repairs finished and State Road A1A re-opened to traffic in this section, in less than a month. North of Volusia County: Flagler Beach, south of State Road 100 ● Roughly 1.3 miles of State Road A1A from 9th Street South to 22nd Street South in Flagler Beach was compromised/damaged by Hurricane Mathew. ● Current cost estimates, which are subject to change as the scope of the project is developed, are $35 million dollars, which includes design-related costs and construction-related costs. DeLand-Debris removal will begin this week on city-maintained roads in response to Hurricane Matthew. For more information on debris, call the city's debris pickup hotline at 866-721-4372. For hurricane-related questions, call the city hotline at 386-626-7000. The City of DeLand is waiving all permitting fees associated with repairs due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. Emergency repair work may begin prior to the issuance of a building permit as long as it is obtained within 48 hours of initiating the work. Additionally, make sure to take photographs of damage for insurance claim purposes. The Building Division may be contacted at 386-626-7006, 626-7007, 626-7008 or 626-7009. Additionally, tree removal and replacement will be temporarily suspended due to the state of emergency. The removal of severely wind-damaged trees may be completed without the need for a permit or replacement. For all other removals, contact Forestry Superintendent Mariellen Calabro at 386-626-7178 or the Building Division at 386-626-7006. The public is cautioned to hire only Florida-licensed contractors to undertake any repair of damaged homes. The City of DeLand anticipates unlicensed contractors may attempt to perform work in our area, which may result in work being done that does not meet Florida Business Code standards. Edgewater-The city has set up a Resident Assistance Center at Whistle Stop Park, 651 Roberts Road. The Red Cross will provide a hot meal beginning at 5 p.m. today, Oct. 12, for residents in need. Tarps will be given out at this location (near the FPL tent) while supplies last. FPL will provide updates on power restoration, Wi-Fi access and a phone charging station. FPL will also distribute bottled water. Publix has donated ice, which will be distributed from the FPL tent. The first shipment of ice is available now and the second shipment will arrive at approximately 5 p.m. To eliminate traffic hazards, residents must enter from 30th Street/Roberts Road and exit on to 28th Street (one-way traffic only). Resident assistance resource numbers: Salvation Army: 800-725-2769 Red Cross: 863-294-5941 FPL: 800-468-8243 Holly Hill-The boil water notice for Center Lane has been rescinded. The only outstanding boil water notice is on Peacock Drive. New Smyrna Beach-New Smyrna Beach employees are answering calls locally on their hotline, 386-424-2113. City officials share cautionary information when working with contractors: ●       Information about assignment of benefits from the State CFO, Jeff Atwater: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/ICA/AssignmentofBenefits.htm An assignment of benefits (AOB) is a legal tool that allows a third party to be paid for services performed for an insured homeowner who would normally be reimbursed by the insurance company directly after making a claim. AOB is commonly used when a homeowner experiences a water loss – such as a leaky pipe, an overflow from a sink, or a damaged appliance – and contacts a contractor or water remediation company for assistance. Most AOB agreements presented to the homeowner allow the contractor to stand in the shoes of the homeowner for insurance collection purposes. Some argue that this legal arrangement allows unscrupulous contractors to inflate or submit improper claims, causing legal battles between the contractor and the insurance company, with the consumer left out of the picture. ● Contractors are required to dispose of materials from work performed.  Do not leave materials from contractor work at the curb, have the contractor remove it. From the Utilities Commission: Fewer than 1 percent of customers are without power. Crews are out today restoring individual locations. The goal is to have everyone back on by the end of today. The Meter Division staff is escorting out-of-town crews to addresses they may not be familiar with. Let the commission know when your home's weather head and/or meter can are repaired, so crews can be dispatched to reconnect your electric service as soon as possible. There may be sporadic outages even after restoration is completed because of equipment issues (fuses, etc.) and dangling tree limbs that fall on lines. Call the commission if this is the case with your electric service, and it will dispatch a truck to repair it as soon as possible. The Sports Complex opening is delayed due to hurricane damage; the opening date is pending. The New Smyrna Beach Golf Course is now open. Palm Coast-The City of Palm Coast's wastewater collection system made good progress Tuesday as power was restored to more homes in Palm Coast and utility teams worked to pump out PEP tanks (Pretreatment Effluent Pumping System). Additionally, power was restored to all but one of the city's wastewater system pump stations. Many homes in the L, Z, E, LL, B, W, R, P and S sections of Palm Coast have PEP tanks, and Florida Power & Light restored power to many of those areas Tuesday. Weir operation All weirs (also knowan as dams) in the city have had electricity restored and have returned to normal operation and water levels. The city’s telephones are back up. Citizens can call customer service at 386-986-2360 for issues related to water and sewer, streets, drainage and trash pickup. Citizens can call the Building Division at 386-986-3780 for questions about permitting or to ensure the contractor they're hiring has the right license. The Palm Coast Tennis Center and Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool will open today, as well as Indian Trails Sports Complex and Ralph Carter Park for team practices. All programs at the Palm Coast Community Center are up and running. Palm Harbor Golf Club and all other City of Palm Coast parks and trails will be closed until cleanup can be completed. Cleanup is under way by Public Works crews. If you have property damage, hire a licensed contractor. All contractors other than for debris removal and landscaping/tree removal are required to have a license. Ask to see the license. Call the Palm Coast Building Division at 386-986-3780 to make sure they have the right license. Also, get a written contract before the work starts. If you have any questions related to the hurricane recovery, call the Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360. Port Orange-More than 15 AshBritt trucks will begin collecting storm debris in the city today. The debris removal trucks will collect all over the city with a concentration in the harder hit areas, such as east of Nova Road, south of Taylor Road, and east of I-95.  Waste Pro is running a normal schedule for household garbage, recyclables and yard waste. The City Council has issued a temporary permit fee waiver for the following activities requiring a permit due to damage caused by Hurricane Matthew: tree removal, roof repairs and replacement, sheds, carports, fences, pool enclosures, screen rooms, sign repair and replacement, and other repairs requiring a permit caused by Hurricane Matthew. To qualify, permit applications must be complete and each property owner shall be required to sign a sworn affidavit that the permit application is needed as a result of damage sustained by Hurricane Matthew. The Hurricane Matthew permit fee waiver affidavit can be found at www.port-orange.org/hurricane_matthew. South Daytona-South Daytona's City Council voted to waive permit fees for hurricane-damaged roofs, fences and tree removal for residential homesteaded properties through Dec. 31. Permit applications and inspections are still required, but there will be no fee. Temporary sign permit fees and tree removal permit fees will be waived for businesses for the same period, with the same requirements. Sporadic power outages remain in the city. FPL has representatives at the Piggotte Center, 504 Big Tree Road, for inquiries or if you have trouble getting through on FPL's phone or online system. Hurricane Matthew damaged or destroyed the barriers around many pools. The city understands that it will take time to restore permanent fences, screens and other mandated barriers for pool safety, but urges you to put up a temporary barrier or cover for the safety of children. Debris removal has begun in the city. Separate vegetative debris from other construction debris and do not use plastic bags. Call the debris hotline at 386-322-3080, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All roadways are passable and all street lights are fully operational. All parks remain closed. The Blaine O'Neal Memorial Golf Tournament will be rescheduled. The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Piggotte Center. Movie Night in the Park will be held at dusk Oct. 14 at Reed Canal Park. Astor Wake Zone-Temporary no-wake zones have been established along portions of the St.Johns River in Astor due to the high water levels caused by Hurricane Matthew. The two sections of the river that are affected by the idle speed/no-wake zones are: ●       South Moon Canal to Jungle Den Canal ●       Jungle Den Canal to S.R. 40 bridge The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office urges all boaters to use caution to help prevent flooding and avoid collisions with debris and other navigational hazards in the water from last week’s storm. Beach-Beach safety staff has made a lot of head way with cleaning of the beaches. Contractors started clearing the beach approaches of debris and sand today. Forty percent of the conservation poles have been installed and the majority of them are in core areas. Beach Safety is still flying the double red flag. The surf is large, and debris continues to wash up. FLORIDA RECOVERY INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES: Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program Gov. Rick Scott has activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm and recovery efforts. Applications are due by Nov. 11, 2016. ● Businesses with two to 100 employees that seek to complete an application by the Nov. 11 deadline, or desire more information on the program, should visit floridadisasterloan.org. For questions regarding the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network state office at 850-898-3489. ● The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is surveying businesses in the affected counties through the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center. Learn more about the center at flvbeoc.org Office and warehouse space There are office and warehouse space offerings for displaced and damaged businesses. For availability, click on this link,http://flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=content_item&cid=105, which is from the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center. For the latest updates, like the Volusia County Emergency Management Facebook page or visit www.volusia.org/pin.

State provides insurance, fraud tip lines:

Representatives with the state of Florida met with local administrators and insurance companies Wednesday to ensure a response for Flagler County residents.

“Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier hosted the meeting to foster a discussion about Hurricane Matthew and its effect on our local community,” Deputy County Administrator Sally Sherman said. “The state is asking individuals to reach out to their insurance companies for assistance.”

Concerns about insurance representatives should be directed to one of the following numbers:     

                        Florida Department of Financial Services, 877-693-5336

                        Fraud Tip Hotline, 800-378-0445

                        Arson Tip Hotline, 877-662-7766

                        Public Assistance Fraud, 866-762-2237

                        Unclaimed Property, 888-258-2253

 Additionally, Flagler officials caution residents that use caution when hiring for services and contractors.

Contractors must be registered with Contractor Licensing to work in Flagler County. Proof of License and Liability Insurance is required. For information, call Flagler County’s Contractor Licensing Department at 386-313-4076.

JUDGE EXTENDS FLORIDA VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: A federal judge agreed today, Oct. 12, to extend voting registration in the state until Oct. 18 because of the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Judge Mark E. Walker, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, granted a preliminary injunction to the Florida Democratic Party and other groups who had argued that voter registration needed to be moved because of the effects of the storm, which raked along the eastern coastline for several days. The original deadline was Tuesday, but the judge had temporarily moved it to Wednesday so he could hold a hearing on the matter. PROPERTIES ON THE BEACH – DEBRIS REMOVAL: Residents on the beach are reminded that all debris from private property that is on the beach is the responsibility of the private landowner to collect and properly remove. This means that all displaced deck boards and railings, metal pieces, broken glass and other debris must be picked up by the landowner. Also, please do not dump or push trash on the beach as you are cleaning deck areas, parking lots and building sites. Additionally, there should be no pumping of pool water or sump pump discharge onto the beach. DEBRIS REMOVAL INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS IN UNINCORPORATED VOLUSIA COUNTY: Residents are reminded that when cleaning up storm-related debris, debris should not be placed in bags.  Bagged debris will not be collected. Debris must be sorted among vegetative and construction and household goods. This requirement also applies in many of the municipalities. Residents are reminded to check with their municipality or the county for specific details. Volusia County haulers will not pick up hurricane debris that is mixed with normal household garbage. For household garbage, normal procedures will apply. If you have a small amount of yard debris, normal collection rules will apply. Non storm-related items such as appliances, tires, obsolete electronics, and furniture will not be collected with storm debris. Normal residential bulky item collection guidelines will be followed. Residential household hazardous waste (paint cans, aerosol sprays, pesticides, etc.) should not be placed curbside and comingled with the storm debris. Household hazardous waste and obsolete electronics can be dropped off at the Tomoka Landfill or West Volusia Transfer Station free of charge. Volusia County expects to make the first of two storm debris passes as early as Thursday, in coordination with the cities. The county provides pickup in unincorporated areas and county roads located in cities. For the latest updates, like the Volusia County Emergency Management Facebook page or visit www.volusia.org/pin. Flagler County Clean Up:
In our efforts to assist our residents with the removal of yard waste created by Hurricane Matthew, the City has contracted Crowder Gulf: Disaster Recovery & Relief Management to pick up yard waste debris. The coordinated efforts will begin Thursday October 13, 2016 and removal will begin on the west side of the City. Crowder Gulf crews will work their efforts eastward and multiple passes will be made in the coming week to assist with yard waste debris removal. Citizens can put un-bagged yard waste to the side of the road for removal. Yard waste consists of the following; branches, leaves, trees limbs, underbrush, etc. The importance of separating yard waste debris associated with the storm from normal household waste/garbage (Class 1) and construction debris (treated wood, metal, aluminum siding, etc.) cannot be understated. At this time, Crowder Gulf will make multiple passes for yard waste only. Our City Sanitation crews will be picking up household garage (Class 1) as normal and our crews along with Crowder Gulf may pick up construction debris in the very near future. “We’re asking our citizens to separate waste into three (3) categories; yard waste debris, house waste/garbage (Class 1) and construction debris. Our goal is to remove debris created by Hurricane Matthew as quickly as possible and the assistance of our residents is paramount to these efforts”. If there are any questions regarding the removal or yard waste debris (or any other trash removal questions), please feel free to contact City Hall at (386) 517-2000.
Palm Coast – Many City of Palm Coast parks and recreational facilities opened Wednesday, including the Palm Harbor Golf Club driving range, practice facilities, clubhouse and Canfield’s restaurant; the Palm Coast Tennis Center; Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool; and athletic fields and playgrounds at Indian Trails Sports Complex, Belle Terre Park, and Ralph Carter Park. All programs at the Palm Coast Community Center are up and running. Movies in the Park will be held as planned at 7:15 p.m. Friday, featuring “Hotel Transylvania 2” (PG) on the giant outdoor movie screen at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. More than 20 food trucks plan to participate in Food Truck Tuesdays on Tuesday, along Park Street next to Central Park. The Pumpkin Shootout Lacrosse Tournament will be played this weekend at Indian Trails Sports Complex. Spectators are invited to come out for this fall family classic hosted by Team Florida Lacrosse. Cleanup has been under way all week at City parks and trails. Some pathways remain inaccessible due to safety concerns from fallen trees and debris. Other updates from Wednesday: Debris removal ongoing – To expedite debris removal from residences, the City asks residents to help by separating everything at the curb into the following categories:
  • Vegetative Debris – leaves, logs, plants, tree branches, etc.
  • Construction & Demolition Debris – building materials, asphalt shingles, drywall, lumber, metal, plastics, etc.
  • Normal Household Trash – Normal household trash and bagged debris of any kind will not be picked up with debris as part of this program. You should continue to follow your normal garbage and yard trash schedule for normal garbage and bagged storm debris.
Because of the volume, Waste Pro did not anticipate being able to pick up all bagged debris on Wednesday. Simply leave the bags at curbside, and they will be picked up in the next cycle next Wednesday. Likewise, the contractor picking up loose debris will have to make several passes through Palm Coast to pick up all debris. This process is expected to take several weeks. Wastewater System recovery – The City of Palm Coast’s wastewater collection system is finally almost back to normal! By Wednesday morning, all pump stations had power and were pumped down. Tank trunks are still pumping out the remaining PEP (Pretreatment Effluent Pumping System) tanks without power. Any remaining issues will be fully resolved once power is fully restored. If you have a PEP tank and still don’t have power, limit your use of water. If you begin to experience sewage not going down from your toilets or sink or showing up in your shower or tub, immediately stop all use of water. Call Customer Service at 386-986-2360 to report that you have a sewer backup. A City crew will respond to empty your PEP tank. Due to the volume of calls, the City can only pump down each PEP tank once a day, so remember to limit your use of water going down the drain. If you have a PEP tank, when your power comes back on, the pep tank alarm may go off. To silence the ring, there's a re-set button on the side panel located on the side of your house. Continue to limit the use of water for the next 24 or so hours to give your PEP tank time to pump down and return to normal operation. If the alarm did ring, the City recommends you report that to Customer Service at 386-986-2360. Questions? – Citizens can call Customer Service at 386-986-2360 for issues related to water and sewer, streets, drainage and trash pickup. Citizens can call the Building Division at 386-986-3780 for questions about permitting or to ensure the contractor they’re hiring has the right license. The City website – www.palmcoastgov.com – has valuable information about resources available to the public, as well as safety tips to help our community remain safe during the cleanup process. VOLUSIA & FLAGLER COUNTIES– As of today, October 12, at 1 p.m., Florida Hospital New Smyrna has reopened to the community and all hospital services are open to patients. Florida Hospital New Smyrna has been diligently working on cleaning up from Hurricane Matthew, and we appreciate the community’s patience. All other Florida Hospital locations in Volusia and Flagler counties are open and operating as normal. In addition to Florida Hospital New Smyrna, this includes Florida Hospital DeLand in DeLand, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City, Florida Hospital Flagler in Palm Coast, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, and Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach. Additional updates will be communicated as information is available. To receive instant updates, follow the Florida Hospital East Florida Region facilities on Twitter at twitter.com/FlHospVF.

October 12, 2016 Volusia County Update:

Florida Power and Light has Customer Services Sites at the following locations:

City of Deltona Fire Department 2176 Howland Blvd. Deltona Piggott Community Center 504 Big Tree Road South Daytona Whistle Stop Park 651 Roberts Road Edgewater Publix at Ormond Beach Mall 1258 Ocean Shore Blvd. Ormond By The Sea Oak Hill Sunoco 262 S. U.S. Hwy 1 Oak Hill Florida Power & Light Customer Service Sites offer water and charging stations, and have customer service representatives available to answer questions. For the latest updates, like the Volusia County Emergency Management Facebook page or visit www.volusia.org/pin.

SAFETY

Residents are reminded to continue to use caution when cleaning up around their homes and businesses.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Teams from the Volusia County Property Appraiser’s Office continue to work throughout the county to complete initial damage assessment. Volusia County Emergency Management is working with the state and FEMA to determine if assistance for residents in Volusia County will be available. At this time, Volusia County has not been declared for Individual Assistance from FEMA. In addition, Disaster Recovery Centers have NOT been opened. CITIZENS INFORMATION CENTER – RESIDENTS WITH DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES Volusia County’s Citizens Information Center is open today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The CIC will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday until further notice. The phone number is 866-345-0345. SHELTER A shelter has been opened at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, there were 21 evacuees. The shelter at First United Methodist Church in DeLand has been closed. SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army is providing meals at two locations until 6 p.m. Wednesday: ● Emergency EVAC Center, 112 Carswell Ave., Holly Hill ● Pierson Community Center, 124 W. Washington Ave., Pierson The Salvation Army also has mobile canteens providing meals in the Oak Hill Mobile Home Park, the Sha-De-Land Mobile Home Park and the Apple Gate Mobile Home Park. RED CROSS The American Red Cross is providing meals in the areas of Ormond Beach near A1A, Nova Road in Port Orange, Providence Road in Deltona and in Edgewater. LIBRARY UPDATE All Volusia County Public Library branches are open regular hours, except the John H. Dickerson Heritage Library in Daytona Beach. All public access computers are running, and Wi-Fi is available.

NO-WAKE ZONES ON ST. JOHNS RIVER IN ASTOR DUE TO WATER LEVEL

 Temporary no-wake zones have been established along portions of the St. Johns River in Astor due to the high water levels caused by Hurricane Matthew. The two sections of the river that are affected by the idle speed/no-wake zones are as follows:

 -From the South Moon Canal to the Jungle Den Canal

-From the Jungle Den Canal to the S.R. 40 bridge

 The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office urges all boaters to use caution to help prevent flooding and avoid collisions with debris and other navigational hazards in the water from last week’s storm.

Meal centers remain open on Wednesday in Flagler Co.

October 12, 2016 – There are several spots throughout Flagler County where residents can get a meal on Wednesday, and the American Red Cross has three roving vehicles distributing meals.

 

Meals are being distributed in the following locations:

 

·         The Salvation Army is in Beverly Beach providing meals at 2814 N. Oceanshore Blvd., near Surfside Estates at noon to 6 p.m.

·         Red Cross is providing meals at the Adult Education Center parking lot, 5633 N. Highway A1A, Hammock, at noon and 5 p.m.

·         Red Cross is at Flagler County Main Branch Library parking lot, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, providing meals at noon and 5 p.m.

·         Red Cross is at Town Center in Palm Coast (where the food trucks stage), 975 Central Avenue, at noon and 5 p.m.

·         Red Cross is providing meals at Hidden Trails Community Center parking lot, 6108 Mahogany Blvd., at noon and 5 p.m.

·         Three roving vehicles are circulating throughout Flagler County.

 

Flagler County Continues to operate a call center at 386-586-5111.

 

The Red Cross has established a Hurricane Matthew hotline at 800-768-8048 to provide information about the resources available in every county.

October 11, 2016 Countywide update-Here's a comprehensive list of information for Volusia County.

Of 240,000-plus outages in Volusia County at the height of the storm, power companies have restored more than 225,700 of those outages as of this morning, Oct. 11.

Florida Power & Light has issued the following information: If the power is on next door, but yours is not, make sure your home or business is ready to receive power by checking the connection to FPL: ●       Look at the meter, the box that holds it, and the connected pipes and wires on the wall of the building. ●       If the meter box, pipes or wires are bent or broken, repairs may be needed before FPL can restore power. If it looks damaged, contact a licensed electrician. Do not touch damaged equipment. ●       If the meter is damaged, restoration workers will replace it. BOIL WATER NOTICES The City of Ormond Beach has lifted its boil water notice. About 145 homes in Holly Hill remain under a boil water notice. The homes are on Narcissus Avenue, North and South Flamingo drives, and Center Lane. Repairs are in progress on Peacock Road, and water service has not been restored to 40 customers. Those customers will be placed on a boil water notice when water is restored. SALVATION ARMY Salvation Army volunteers are providing food and water to the public at these locations: ●       Pierson Community Center, 124 W. Washington Ave., Pierson ●       Dollar General Store, 107 N. U.S. 1, Oak Hill ●       Publix, 1850 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill ●       EVAC building, 112 Carswell Ave., Holly Hill Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner is served from 4 to 6 p.m. Mobile canteens are roaming among HUD homes in Port Orange and mobile home parks in west Volusia. HALIFAX HUMANE SOCIETY The Halifax Humane Society asks residents to serve as “storm troopers” by hosting adoptable pets through Friday, Oct. 14. Employees and volunteers hope this will allow animals to stay in homes instead of the kennels while they continue to repair the shelter. Families are asked to stop by the shelter between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to temporarily foster a dog, cat or other adoptable pet. Animals should be returned by Friday, Oct. 14, with flexibility. If families fall in love with their new friend, they are welcome to adopt it from the humane society. If you have a lost or missing pet, contact the Halifax Humane Society at info@halifaxhumanesociety.org or on its Facebook page. Include a photo of the pet. Residents can also call 386-274-4703. If you find an animal, send a photo with complete information by email or Facebook private message. If you drop an animal off at the shelter, let staff know. The Halifax Humane Society’s shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2364 W. LPGA Blvd., Daytona Beach. The society’s dog park and Redinger Clinic are closed. DEBRIS PICKUP Residents should not place yard debris in bags. Debris should be pushed to the right of way without blocking the road. Debris removal information can be found at www.volusia.org/pin. HOSPITALS All hospitals in Volusia County are fully operational. Patients are being returned to Florida Hospital Oceanside and Florida Hospital New Smyrna today. BEACHES Volusia County beaches remain closed to vehicular traffic. Staff plans to reopen beaches incrementally in high-usage areas first and then work outward to the remaining areas. Numerous ramps and walkovers are compromised; it will take time to re-establish the traffic areas and replace signs, lifeguard towers and other equipment. The beaches are open to pedestrians. However, pedestrians should use caution and watch where they are walking. The debris on the beach consists of jagged metal and boards with nails in them. Lifeguards are flying a double red flag and urge people to not go into the ocean as there may be debris. Trees, metal roof pieces, and other large construction materials floating in the water could cause severe injuries. Additionally, there will be a high threat for rip currents. RESIDENTS WITH DAMAGED HOMES Residents with damage to their home should file a claim with their insurance company. Those who received significant damage from Hurricane Matthew are advised to call Volusia County’s Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345, which will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Wednesday. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS (COAD) COAD is coordinating volunteers and donations through the Emergency Operations Center. For more information, call the Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345. COAD is a multi-agency group that assists local governments in organizing and deploying volunteers and resources in response to the unmet needs of local disaster survivors. Membership is open to individuals, faith-based groups, government agencies, civic clubs, volunteer organizations, social service agencies, business people and emergency management personnel. SAFETY TIPS Generators: ●       Never place a generator in a house or garage or near windows, vents or air intakes that could allow carbon monoxide to come inside. ●       Get fresh air immediately if you feel dizzy or sick. ●       Keep your generator dry. Short circuits may occur in wet conditions, which can cause a generator fire. Power lines: ●       Never touch a fallen power line, and do not drive through standing water if power lines are in the water. ●       If a power line falls on your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. ●       Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup. Food safety: ●       Get rid of food if it has a strange smell, color or texture. ●       Dispose of cans that are open, damaged or bulging. ●       Toss food that requires refrigeration but has been warmer than 40 degrees for two hours or longer. This includes meat, eggs, fish, poultry and leftovers.

Daytona Beach

Construction permit fees are being waived for emergency storm-related repairs caused by Hurricane Matthew.  Types of repair include roofing, exterior doors and windows, siding, mechanical, plumbing and electrical. Although the fees are waived, completed permit applications are still required, including licensing requirements. Permit fees will be waived through Friday, Oct. 21. To expedite the process, applications will be reviewed by counter personnel and, in most cases, can be approved onsite. To be eligible for the waiver, the person performing the work must be the homeowner, who meets Florida Statute 481.103, or a licensed contractor. When using a contractor, make sure the contractor is licensed by the State of Florida. The licensing process protects property owners from incompetent, dishonest and predatory workers. To see if a contractor is properly licensed and bonded, visit www.myfloridalicense.com. The application and permit fees to remove hazardous, storm-damaged trees will also be waived. The city's Permits and Licensing Department, located in City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 386-671-8140. DeBary All roads are now open. DeLand All roads should be open by close of business today, Oct. 10. Deltona Hurricane Matthew debris removal day is Thursday. Residents should place separated piles of yard debris (limbs, branches etc.) and construction debris (shingles and fencing) on the curb by Wednesday night. There are no boil water notices for Deltona Water customers. Residents who see downed trees blocking the roads or sidewalks, street signage that's down, or other public works related issues can call 386-878-8950. Edgewater The City has set up a Disaster Recovery Center at Whistle Stop Park (651 Roberts Road).  For residents in need of food and water, hot meals and bottled water (organized by the Red Cross) will be provided today (October 11th) at 1:30 PM.  FPL is also set up at that location to provide updates on power restoration and they will provide WI-FI access and a phone charging station. The Edgewater Citizens Information Line is staffed with personnel from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to field questions and concerns from residents. The number is 386-424-2400. The city’s water system remained at pressure during the entire event and no boil water notices have been issued. The City Council held a special meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 10 to discuss Hurricane Matthew recovery. All debris must be placed curbside and separated by type (vegetative, construction, electronic and household refuse). Do not bag vegetative debris, including leaves. Leaves can be placed on top of piles of branches. A private debris management company is assisting with vegetative (wooden fence debris as well) debris removal to expedite the cleanup. Normal refuse and recycling schedules resumed today. All city offices opened for normal hours beginning today. Florida Hospital New Smyrna is expected to resume normal operations on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Winn-Dixie and Publix in Edgewater are open for business. Both have supplies of ice and water for purchase. Resident assistance resource numbers: Salvation Army: 800-SAL-ARMY Red Cross: 863-294-5941 New Smyrna Beach The New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex is in clean-up recovery, preparing for Thursday night leagues and tournament play this weekend. The city’s golf course manager, Gary Wintz, and his staff are working with the city's Operations and Maintenance Department to complete debris and tree removal at the course, located at 1000 Wayne Ave, New Smyrna Beach. The plan is to open the golf course for business on Wednesday, Oct. 12. In the interim, Tiano's Italian Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; call 386-428-0330 for takeout. Tee time hours are 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and the range closes at 4.30 p.m. Thursday range hours are 8 a.m. to dusk. Orange City The remaining road closures are: ●       A portion of South Boundary Avenue ●       On North Amelia Avenue, north of Minnesota Avenue (power lines) ●       On West Voorhis Avenue, west Stone Street (debris and power lines) Ormond Beach Water distribution has ended at 101 E. Granada Blvd. It will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, until 6 p.m. or while supplies last. All of the city's leisure services facilities, including parks, will be closed until further notice Palm Coast The city’s telephones went down this morning, Monday, Oct. 10, due to a problem with the city's phone carrier. For assistance with city services – such as utility service, pep tank alarms, and questions about debris pickup – call the Emergency Operations Center at 386-586-5111 or email customer service at customer-service@palmcoastgov.com. Customer service representatives from the City of Palm Coast are set up at the EOC to answer these calls. Because of ongoing power outages, the City of Palm Coast is experiencing many issues with its wastewater system and needs residents' immediate assistance. If you are on a PEP System (Pre-treatment Effluent Pumping System) and don't have power and begin to experience sewage not going down from your toilets or sink or showing up in your shower or tub, immediately stop all use of water. Call Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360 or the EOC at 386-586-5111 to report that you have a sewer backup. You will be the highest priority for a city crew to respond to empty your PEP tank. If you are on a PEP System or the gravity sewer system and don't have power, please limit your use of water. Do not do laundry. Flush as infrequently as possible. Put as little water down your sinks and showers as possible. Wash up with your hose in the yard, if possible. If you have a PEP tank and have no power, your PEP System isn't working because the pump requires power. If your tank fills, your wastewater will not go down and you will begin to experience backups. For the gravity sewer system, there are currently no sewer backups. However, some lift stations in Palm Coast are still without power and are at risk of causing backups if the system becomes overloaded. The city is working around the clock on these wastewater issues. There are a dozen tank trucks operating, with more on the way. In addition, there are numerous generator crews addressing full PEP tanks. As power is restored street by street, the wastewater problems are being resolved street by street. Until power is fully restored, residents are urged to follow the above guidelines. Port Orange Roadways The city’s roadways are 90 percent cleared. All traffic lights on Dunlawton are back on commercial power, and generators are being removed or used on non-operational traffic lights. Volusia County is making repairs to the traffic light on Clyde Morris and Herbert Street. Most roadways are drivable, although there is still debris on the shoulder, and most intersection traffic lights are operational. Four lights are still running on generator, but are being worked on to return to their own power. Dunlawton Bridge continues to be open and traffic continues to flow smoothly. Law enforcement There have been reports of unlicensed contractors in neighborhoods. Parks and Recreation The Riverwalk Kayak launch and playground remains closed. The pontoon attached to the pier will need to be removed. All Parks and Recreation outdoor activities for Tuesday have been canceled. Community Development Damage assessment was completed Saturday, and field crews found that about 2,500 private structures sustained some damage. Over 90 percent of the damage was classified as “affected” or “minor.” The majority of the approximately 150 structures that had major damage were mobile homes. Building and Code Enforcement staff is posting the “unsafe” and Limited Entry structures today. Public utilities There are no boil water notices for the City of Port Orange. The water plant is operational. The Central Wellfield is without commercial power and operating under generator power. The Peninsula Pump Station is still operating under generator power. The Wastewater Plant is operational and operating on commercial power except for one area on generator. A total of 7.840 MG were pumped out of the Dunlawton drainage ponds, and the pond level is currently at sea level. Lift stations Ten stations are out of power and using pumper trucks to maintain their levels. Six stations are operating with portable pumps, and five stations are operating under generator power. Four or five tank trucks are pumping out the sewer system to reduce levels. South Daytona Power has not been restored to the entire city yet. All roads are now passable. Parks remain closed. The street lights at Reed Canal and U.S. 1 and Venture and U.S. 1 are out. Seventh Judicial Circuit All courthouses in Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 11. The Putnam County Courthouse reopened today, Oct. 10. During this emergency, all court deadlines will be extended and all scheduled court hearings will be rescheduled when court resumes. Daytona State College Daytona State College classes will resume Tuesday, Oct. 11, except for the DeLand Campus, which is still experiencing a power outage. Instructors will continue to work with any students having difficulties. In the event of emergencies, contact DSC's Campus Safety Office, 386-506-4444. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle will resume classes on Tuesday, Oct. 11.  As of midday today, minor safety issues continue to be discovered and quickly addressed by grounds and facilities crews. A room-by-room sweep of buildings is in process and minor repairs are being performed. Power outages still affect some athletics facilities and a downed power line persists near the alumni/print shop/marketing buildings on the corner of Clyde Morris and Richard Petty Boulevards (it is well marked, but continue to use caution).

October 10, 2016 – Two fatalities were reported in Volusia County today. An 89-year old DeLeon Springs man was killed after apparently touching a downed power line. A 9-year-old Daytona Beach child died, apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning in connection with the use of a generator.

GENERATOR SAFETY TIPS ●       Never place a generator in a house or garage or near windows, vents or air intakes that could allow carbon monoxide to come inside. ●       Get fresh air immediately if you feel dizzy or sick. ●       Keep your generator dry. Short circuits may occur in wet conditions, which can cause a generator fire. POWER LINE SAFETY TIPS ●       Never touch a fallen power line, and do not drive through standing water if power lines are in the water. ●       If a power line falls on your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. ●       Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup. FOOD SAFETY ●       Get rid of food if it has a strange smell, color or texture. ●       Dispose of cans that are open, damaged or bulging. ●       Toss food that requires refrigeration but has been warmer than 40 degrees for two hours or longer. This includes meat, eggs, fish, poultry and leftovers. TRAFFIC SIGNALS More than 60 traffic signals across the county remain inoperational. Motorists are reminded to treat intersections without traffic signals as four-way stops. POWER The debris from Hurricane Matthew is immense. There are pockets of heavily damaged areas with trees down, entangled in power lines and lying across the roads. This makes the power restoration extremely challenging. Power companies have been working around the clock to restore electricity throughout Volusia County as soon as possible. Officials expect the vast majority of the remaining outages to be restored by tomorrow, with the understanding that there may be some areas that will take longer due to the damage in the area. Of the initial 240,000 outages, fewer than 50,000 who are still without power. Power companies have announced the numbers of Volusia County customers who are awaiting power restoration: ●       Florida Power & Light: 23,070 ●       Duke Energy: 5,225 ●       Clay Electric: 397 By the end of the day, New Smyrna Beach Utilities officials expect 80 percent of customers will have power. Officials expect the vast majority of the remaining outages to be restored by tomorrow, with the understanding that there may be some areas that will take longer due to the damage in the area. DEBRIS PICKUP Residents should not place yard debris in bags. Debris should be pushed to the right of way without blocking the road. Debris removal information can be found at www.volusia.org/pin. HOSPITALS All hospitals in the county are fully operational with the exceptions of Florida Hospital Oceanside and Florida Hospital New Smyrna. Both of them should be fully operational by Wednesday. RESIDENTS WITH DAMAGED HOMES Residents with damage to their home should file a claim with their insurance company. If you received significant damage from Hurricane Matthew and are unable to stay in your home, call Volusia County’s Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345, which will be open daily from