Businesses chugging along despite hurricane

Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront is about as close to the St. Johns River as a business can get.

And it’s staying open as Hurricane Dorian skirts along the coast of Florida and brings tropical storm warnings to Putnam County.

A mandatory evacuation was issued Monday for residents near the river and in low-lying areas because of Dorian-related flooding concerns. Tropical storm-force winds are expected to persist today.

“As far as we know, we plan to stay open,” said Damali Kelly, front desk manager at the hotel, 201 N. First St. in Palatka. “We’ve never even flooded even though we’re right on the banks of the river. We lost our dock two years ago.

“We stayed open during (hurricanes) Irma and Matthew. We lost power for one day during Irma, but when it came back on, we had a full breakfast and everything. We stay open.”

The hotel is also staying busy. Kelly said the hotel was sold out for today and has been near capacity since Dorian became a concern late last week.

“A large block of our rooms is for Clay Electric, so they can be here for downed trees and power outages,” Kelly said. “That has a lot to do with us being sold out.

“We’ve also had a lot of elderly residents check in before the hurricane got close so they can get settled.”

Kelly said some rooms at the hotel are available for residents with pets. “Sometimes we’ll make more room available (for guests with pets) in emergencies,” she said.

While Quality Inn is remaining open, other downtown businesses will be closed today.

Stephen Feibelman, owner of Young Outfitters, 108 S. Second St., in Palatka, said the business would be closed at least until Thursday.

“We’ll wait and see what happens,” Feibelman said. “We’ve moved stuff away from the windows and doors, and covered up some items with tarps in case the roof leaks. We’ve also placed sandbags around the front door.”

Feibelman opened the outdoor-equipment store in January.

“They had some issues with the building with Irma, but it’s been repaired and should be pretty sturdy,” Feibelman said. “We’ll see.

“We’re definitely a little nervous, but that’s why we have insurance. There’s a little bit of anxiety for sure, but it will pass as all things do.”

Feibelman expects the business will reopen Thursday.

Sam Deputy, owner of Graphics II, 623 St. Johns Ave., said the business “will be open as much as we can.

“We’ll play Wednesday by ear and Thursday we plan on being open if we have power,” Deputy said. “We’re anticipating we’re going to have power and be fine. At least that’s my goal.”

Deputy, who is president of Downtown Palatka Inc., said most business owners he’s talked to are taking the same approach.

“Most people don’t want to lose a whole week of work,” he said. “With the holiday on Monday, if we’re closed on Wednesday and the power is out Thursday, it amounts to a whole week of work.

“We’re ready for the drainage going down to the river and as ready as we can be. I’m feeling fortunate it’s not coming straight over us like it did in the Bahamas. It just stayed right there. My heart goes out to them.”

Winston Fletcher, Palatka’s cultural resource coordinator who is based out of the St. Johns River Center, said the center would be closed at least until Thursday.

Other cultural resource locations in Palatka include the Bronson-Mulholland House and Water Works Environmental Education Center.

“The city is closed until Thursday and with the city closed, we want people to be prepared and take any precautions necessary to stay safe,” said Fletcher.