For Thursday, September 7
As Hurricane Irma continues on an unpredictable path, Leon County Emergency Management is actively monitoring and executing our emergency plans for this powerful storm.
Important Updates
- On Friday, the Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross and Leon County will open an evacuee shelter for those moving out of Hurricane Irma's path. The shelter will be open at Northwoods Baptist Church, 3762 Capital Circle NW, Tallahassee, FL 32303. The shelter will open at 8 a.m.
- State of Florida offices will be closed Friday, September 8. Leon County Schools will remain open the rest of the week.
- The Tallahassee Veterans Affairs Health Care Center will be closed on Monday, September 11.
- Saturday’s FSU v. Louisiana-Monroe home football game has been rescheduled to 12 p.m.
Stay Informed
To stay up-to-date on Leon County preparedness actions, such as sand bag locations, shelter openings and preparedness tips, you have the following resources:
- Download the Leon County Citizens Connect mobile application - Completely redesigned, the Citizens Connect mobile app puts timely emergency notifications at your fingertips through push notifications on your smartphone or other device. Be the first to know about shelter locations, road closures and service changes by downloading the application on the Apple and Google Play stores.
- Visit the Leon County Emergency Information Portal - Hosting the same information as the Citizens Connect app, the Emergency Information Portal can be accessed on a desktop or a mobile browser by visiting cms.leoncountyfl.gov/ei/.
- Listen to 88.9 WFSU-FM - Citizens can tune in to 88.9 FM for the most up-to-date information from local public safety officials. Featuring to-the-minute reporting, WFSU, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee remain committed to getting information out on the radio as soon as possible.
- Call Big Bend 2-1-1 - If you need community information, services and support any day of the year, Big Bend 2-1-1 is reachable by dialing either 2-1-1 or (850) 617-6333.
- Call (850) 606-3700 with questions - Leon County Emergency Management staff is available to answer questions from what you should prepare, act and recover.
- For updates on City of Tallahassee Utilities and other City services, visit Talgov.com .
- Insurance Helpline - The Florida Department of Financial Services offers a toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline to assist Florida's insurance consumers. Insurance Specialists are available to answer questions or concerns regarding insurance coverage and advocate on a consumer's behalf to resolve a dispute with an insurance company. To receive assistance, call 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) toll-free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Price Gouging - During a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell or lease certain commodities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price. To report price gouging, call 1-866-966-7226.
Sandbag Locations Leon County and the City of Tallahassee continue sand bag operations at the following locations:
- Tekesta Park, at Tekesta Drive and Deer Lake Road in Killearn Lakes
- Apalachee Regional Park (Landfill), 7550 Apalachee Parkway
- Lee Vause, 6024 Old Bainbridge Road
- At the intersection of Oak Ridge at Ranchero roads
- Jack McLean Community Center, 700 Paul Russell Road
- Winthrop Park, 1601 Mitchell Avenue
- James Messer Sports Complex, 2830 Jackson Bluff Road
- Lawrence-Gregory Community Center, 1115 Dade Street
These locations will be staffed to better assist citizens get the resources they need. Sand, bags and ties will be available for public use. Residents are asked to take no more than 15 bags so as to allow others to prepare. Staff will monitor the sites to replenish as needed.
Be Prepared
Plan now because when disaster strikes it is too late to prepare. Leon County and the City of Tallahassee encourage citizens to put disaster supplies in a waterproof and durable five-gallon bucket. Keep these essential items near an exit door in your home or in your vehicle.
Some important items include a flashlight, medications, nonperishable food and water. You can see a full list of preparedness items at www.HaveAHurricanePlan.com/guide.pdf . The 2017 Disaster Survival Guide can also be picked up at any Leon County public library or City of Tallahassee community center.
Once you and your family have a hurricane preparedness plan in place, check on your neighbors to ensure that they have one, too. Neighborhoods that prepare together create strong support networks that are vital to a speedy recovery. In the event of a major disaster, your neighbors will be your closest resource and support.
Also, while Leon County is not under any watch or warning at this time, it is important to know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. A hurricane watch is an announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher) are possible within a specified area. Watches are generally issued 48 hours in advance of a hurricane winds. A warning is that conditions are expected, and these are issued 36 hours in advance.
Prepare your home for strong winds by visually inspecting trees on your property for poor health and reduce the risk to your home by trimming hanging limbs. If you have any questions about your tree's health, contact a Certified Arborist to assist you.
The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering training this week for citizens interested in volunteering during a shelter activation. Learn more by calling 878-6080. Volunteer applications are available at RedCross.org.
Please prepare now before any watches or warnings are issued for Leon County. If you have any questions about how best to prepare, please call Leon County Emergency Management at (850) 606-3700.
For current information about local preparedness and response, please follow or Twitter.com/LeonCounty.
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