Update No. 2 (5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24)
The City of Atlantic Beach is working in collaboration with Duval County emergency preparedness officials and our Beaches partner cities to prepare for Tropical Storm Helene. High winds, including potential tornadoes, are anticipated. Further updates will be provided as necessary. Please review your emergency plans.
Tropical Storm Watch. The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Duval County. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. This is a heads-up. Finalize preparations, review your emergency plan, and stay tuned for updates. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours. This is when action is necessary— be ready to shelter in place or evacuate if instructed. Key takeaway: WATCH = Be Prepared. WARNING = Act.
Stay informed. For up-to-date local information, we recommend visiting www.coab.us/helene and, on Facebook, following the City of Atlantic Beach at www.facebook.com/CityOfAtlanticBeach; JaxReady at www.Facebook.com/JaxReady; and U.S. National Weather Service Jacksonville at www.Facebook.com/NWSJacksonville). Being informed will help you make timely and safe decisions for you and your family. JEA encourages customers to visit www.JEA.com/storm to ensure your contact information is up to date and to register for power restoration alerts. Questions related to Tropical Storm Helene’s impact on Atlantic Beach? Email info@coab.us or leave a message at (904) 247-5804.
State of emergency. The State of Florida and City of Jacksonville have declared a state of emergency in Duval County. A State of Emergency Declaration allows local governments to more easily allocate resources to best protect lives and property. Also, Duval County residents can now get a 30-day emergency refill on prescriptions.
Assess your property, remove loose debris, and plan. Walk around your property, clean up any limbs or debris that may clog storm drainage systems, and secure loose outdoor items including signs, garbage cans/lids, toys, etc., that could become projectiles. Put them inside your home, if possible. This helps prevent damage to your property and neighboring properties. Be mindful of trees that could become uprooted from heavy winds and the already saturated ground from the previous weeks of rain. Ensure your supply kits are stocked and that you have an emergency plan for your family.
Clean drains and gutters. Ensure that all drains and gutters are clear of debris so that water can drain properly. Blocked gutters can lead to water overflow, which might cause water damage to your home. Cleaning them out now can help mitigate potential flooding issues.
Builders and contractors. High winds are predicted. Please secure all materials and debris; remove or securely cover Dumpsters; secure portable restrooms; and do not work on new framing and sheathing.
Stay off the beach and out of the water. Storms always produce unsafe ocean environments with higher tides, rough surf, and an increase in rip currents. If you spot someone in trouble, call 911. Lifeguards are not on duty. Stay out of the Intracoastal Waterway, too.
Steer clear of flooded roads. Never drive on flooded roads; almost half of flood deaths happen in vehicles. If you encounter high water on a roadway, “turn around, don’t drown.” If you must drive during heavy rain … take your time, turn your lights on, and give other vehicles more space.
Avoid walking through deep or rushing water. You can’t see where the solid ground is or isn’t under your feet, and running water can be very powerful especially if you lose your footing. Water conducts electricity; don’t go out to sightsee; downed power lines are particularly perilous.
Government services and activities.
- Garbage collection. It has not been determined whether City of Atlantic Beach garbage collection services will be impacted by the storm.
- Recreation and Boys and Girls Club programming. City of Atlantic Beach recreation activities are canceled Thursday, and Boys and Girls Clubs are closed Thursday and Friday. The Fall Festival this Saturday is expected to continue, as planned, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Donner Park.
- School closures. Duval County public schools (www.dcps.duvalschools.org) are closed Thursday and Friday; Wednesday is early release day.
- Government offices. It has not been determined whether City of Atlantic Beach offices will close Thursday. City of Jacksonville offices are closed Thursday.
- JEA outage alerts. Sign up at www.jea.com/alerts.
- Bridge closures. It has not been determined whether bridges will be closed.
- Emergency shelters. Five shelters will open Wednesday in Jacksonville.
- About evacuations. While no evacuations are expected, you should know your evacuation zone and route. Residents in manufactured homes, older homes, and low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding and sustained winds.
- People with special medical needs should contact 630-CITY for more information for assistance, including shelter information. Please note, a caregiver should accompany citizens with special medical needs to shelters.
What the City of Atlantic Beach is doing to prepare for the storm.
- The Atlantic Beach Police Department Incident Management Team (IMT) is coordinating the City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division to carry out the Community Safety and Storm Response plan. The IMT attends all National Weather Service briefings and provides information to the City of Atlantic Beach public information officer. Additionally, Atlantic Beach police officers are standing by on-call, ready to respond, if needed.
- Atlantic Beach public works crews are clearing storm drains; pumping down public retention ponds (i.e. Aquatic Gardens); cleaning and mowing ditch lines; and otherwise taking action to protect against flooding and wind damage. The City has pumped millions of gallons of water from the Aquatic Gardens pond to make room for flood water. Chain saws have been serviced and blades have been sharpened in preparation for tree removal. Work crews are standing by on-call, ready to respond, if needed.
When it’s time to clean up.
- Be particularly mindful of safety when clearing trees and yard debris.
- Contractors that you hire to do work, such as tree-cutting and fence work, are responsible for debris removal.
- Don’t bag your yard/storm debris. Please bag your leaves.
- Cut limbs and trees so that they are no longer than 5 feet in length, 6 inches or less in diameter, and weigh less than 40 pounds.
- Place your debris near the street, but not on the street. Don’t place debris over water/gas meters, cable/phone boxes, under low-hanging tree limbs, under utility wires, or near mailboxes.
- Removing or trimming trees? We love trees in Atlantic Beach. If you are considering removing a tree, please visit www.coab.us/trees to determine whether a permit and mitigation are needed. Email info@coab.us with questions. Make sure a qualified line-clearance arborist treats big trees, especially if they are near electrical wires. Major pruning to alter the tree’s structure should not be done at this time. Trees use energy stored in the wood to recover from damage and produce new growth, so the least amount of live wood possible should be removed. Info: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/treesandhurricanes.
- Know your contractor. Disasters bring out the best in people and the worst in people. Please be wary of who you are doing business with. We strongly recommend that you vet and do business with a licensed contractor.