County leaders: ‘prepare yourself’ for Ian 

Putnam County officials offered advice Tuesday on how residents should be preparing for Hurricane Ian as weather experts called for between 1 and 2 feet of rainfall in the area through Thursday night.

The National Weather Service stated in an update at 5 p.m. Tuesday that most of Central and Northeast Florida will receive 12 to 18 inches of rain. Isolated areas may see up to 24 inches of rainfall as the storm is projected to cut northeast across the state Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after making landfall near Fort Myers.

The Weather Service’s projection Tuesday evening showed the hurricane passing south of Putnam County, though the county remained within the storm’s cone of uncertainty.

Storm surge and tropical storm warnings in Putnam County went into effect Tuesday morning. 

A storm surge warning, according to the National Weather Service, means there is danger of rising water moving inland to cause “life threatening inundation” within 36 hours. And a tropical storm warning means “tropical storm-force winds” are expected in the area within 36 hours.

Emergency officials have sent out automated calls to residents who are in potential flood zones, Bill Pickens, the chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, said during the Commission’s 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday. Evacuation is not mandatory for all areas but is recommended for people who live in areas prone to flooding.

While emergency management officials do not like to compare past storms to current ones, Pickens advised people this storm could be similar to Hurricane Irma. 

“If you flooded in Irma, then you’re probably going to flood with Ian,” he said.

Putnam schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday, county officials said, and local shelters opened Tuesday evening. 

The following shelters are open:

• Robert H. Jenkins Elementary School, 251 S. State Road 315 in Interlachen 
• Ochwilla Elementary School, 299 N. State Road 21 in Hawthorne. Pets are allowed here. 
• Q.I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School, 901 State Road 100 in Florahome. 
• Browning-Pearce Elementary School, 100 Bear Blvd. in San Mateo. 
• Kelley Smith Elementary School, 141 Kelley Smith School Road in Palatka. This is a shelter for people with special needs. 
• Middleton-Burney Elementary School, 1020 Huntington Road in Crescent City.

In an interview, Emergency Management Specialist Danelle Choate advised residents to bring clothing, medication and other essentials when going to a shelter. However, she encouraged people to pack light.

“There’s not gonna be a lot of room, so don’t bring everything,” she said. 

Choate said the shelters will provide food and water. 

The specialist encouraged residents staying in their own homes to pack enough food and beverages to last for at least 72 hours, but said that purchasing bottled water is not always necessary.

“If you have drinkable water at your house, just get containers,” she said.

Choate advised residents to prepare for falling trees, downed power lines and possible tornadoes, especially near lakes, fields or other large stretches of flat terrain. 

“Take precautions. Take things seriously,” she said. “It’s better to be prepared than to repair. It’s better to (prepare for) a worst-case scenario than not be prepared enough.”

County Administrator Terry Suggs said the county’s emergency hotline is now staffed 24 hours and people can call if they have questions at 386-329-1904. 

He also added that emergency officials will keep updating residents on county social media pages, such as Facebook and Twitter. 

Putnam Alert messages started coming Monday evening and continued Tuesday morning. These automated calls warn residents of the latest updates, such as a tropical storm warning that went into effect Tuesday morning. The calls ask for residents to confirm that they have received the messages. 

To sign up for these alerts, go to https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613768#/login and follow the instructions to get updates from the county.

Commissioner Jeff Rawls advised residents to make preparations during the storm for their pets and reminded residents that animals are allowed at the Ochwilla Elementary School shelter.

Residents need not be scared, rather gather their resources and make plans to handle the flooding or damage that could come from Hurricane Ian, Commissioner Terry Turner said Tuesday. 

If people live in an area that is prone to flooding, he added, once the storm comes county officials cannot come out to help people stuck in flooded areas. They are not the Coast Guard, he said. 

“If you live in a 1949 mobile home, get the hell out of it and go to a shelter,” Turner said. “Go somewhere that’s safe because I’m just telling you, that’s not safe.”

The Florida National Guard has deployed 5,000 troops following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ authorization, the military group announced in a press release Tuesday. Nearly 2,000 National Guard troops from other states are also being activated to assist.

“The Florida National Guard is well-equipped, with assets including high-wheeled vehicles, helicopters, boats, generators and more,” the release states.

Numerous government offices in Putnam County have announced closures in advance of the coming storm:

• Putnam County government offices closed Tuesday evening
• City of Palatka governmental offices will be closed starting Wednesday
• Putnam County Courthouse operations will be closed starting Wednesday
• Pomona Park Town Hall, Crescent City Town Hall and Welaka Town Hall will close Wednesday at noon. All Welaka town parks will also close Wednesday at 8 a.m., but the Welaka Boat Ramp will remain open.
• Interlachen Town Hall will be closed starting Thursday

Putnam County trash pickup and landfill operations will also be suspended starting Thursday, Choate said in an email.
 

St. Johns River State College also announced Tuesday afternoon that it will be closed Wednesday through Sunday. This includes all online classes.

All events at the Thrasher-Horne Center are canceled, the college said in the announcement. Volleyball games will be rescheduled.

Copyright Palatka Daily News 2022 - all rights reserved.