Collaborative Recovery Efforts Yield Significant Progress
This afternoon, officials and Emergency Management staff with Leon County Government and the City of Tallahassee provided an update of the recovery progress following Hurricane Hermine.
Currently, the City of Tallahassee’s Utility department is accepting help from eight mutual aid partners from around the region. These partners include the Kissimmee Utility Authority, Orlando Utility Commission, City of Thomasville Utilities, Lakeland Electric, Lafayette Utility System, Gulf Power Company and the cities of Bartow and Jacksonville Beach.
"We are working in an unprecedented coordinating effort with professionals and experts from around the region who are all working around the clock to restore power to our citizens," Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said. “We are very grateful for the tremendous show of support from these partners, and are encouraged to see the results of these efforts so far."
Since winds receded, crews have been able to restore power to approximately 25,000 City utility customers. Talquin Electric is also working to restore power as quickly as possible to the unincorporated areas of Leon County.
To offer relief to citizens, Leon County Government and the City of Tallahassee opened several comfort stations and water distribution stations throughout the area today. As of 3 p.m., Leon County staff had handed out nearly 80,000 bottles of water at these stations. Additionally, Salvation Army was on hand and provided hot meals at select locations. These stations will continue to be operational tomorrow, Sept. 4:
· Leon County Main Library, 200 W. Park Avenue, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (comfort station)
· Lake Jackson Library, 3480-300 N. Monroe Street, noon to 6 p.m. (water distribution, Salvation Army canteen food service)
· Woodville Library, 8000 Old Woodville Road, noon to 6 p.m. (water distribution, Salvation Army canteen food service
· Ft. Braden Community Center, 16387 Blountstown Hwy, noon to 6 p.m. (water distribution, Salvation Army canteen food service)
· Chaires Community Center, 4768 Chaires Cross Road, noon to 6 p.m. (water distribution, Salvation Army canteen food service)
· Miccosukee Community Center, 13887 Moccasin Gap Roar, noon to 6 p.m. (water distribution)
· Jack McLean Community Center, 700 Paul Russell Road, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (comfort station, pool open 1 to 6 p.m.)
· Sue McCollum Community Center, 501 Ingleside Avenue, noon to 9 p.m. (comfort station)
· Palmer Munroe Teen Center, 1900 Jackson Bluff Road, noon to 9 p.m. (comfort station)
The Salvation Army will continue to offer canteen food service two times, 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., at the water distribution stations indicated above. Water distributions stations provide one case of water per vehicle. At the comfort stations, citizens can cool off and hydrate.
The American Red Cross will continue overnight operations of the shelter located at Florida High. This shelter has the means to accommodate shelterees with special medical needs, if need be.
“I’m pleased with the level of teamwork and togetherness that I have seen over the last few days as we have come together to rebuild,” Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor said. “I believe in the resilience of this community as we move forward.”
To watch this afternoon’s press conference on the recovery progress, please click this link.
For timely weather updates, shelter openings, and emergency notifications, visit Leon County's Emergency Information Portal at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/EIP or the City of Tallahassee’s website at Talgov.com.
You can monitor local weather conditions by following Leon County Government and the City of Tallahassee on Twitter at LeonCounty and COTNews / COTTraffic.
Updates on power outages can be found on Talgov.com. Power outages can be submitted online at Talgov.com/Outages or via DigiTally and e+ Mobile apps. Customers can access a map of current outages on both the website and the apps. Talquin Electric customers can report electric or water outages at www.talquinelectric.com or call 1-888-802-1832.
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