Tropical Storm Idalia Community Brief
For Monday, August 28
As our community monitors Tropical Storm Idalia, Leon County Emergency Management continues to execute our emergency plans for this storm. County residents are encouraged to review their disaster plans now.
IMPORTANT: As described below, Idalia's track has shifted to the west, exposing Leon County to possible hurricane-force winds. Idalia will strengthen into a major hurricane in the days ahead before making landfall. To be clear, Idalia is a significant threat to Leon County residents, though a lot of uncertainty remains in the forecast. We must prepare now for the worst case scenario and watch the forecast closely.
A hurricane watch is now in effect for Leon County. Idalia is still projected to bring Leon County four to six inches of rain and a chance for tropical-storm-force and hurricane winds. Significant storm surge is expected in Florida coastal areas.
As our state continues to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia, Leon County and our local public safety partners are in coordination with communities across the region.
The following includes a list of resources for disaster planning in Florida:
- FloridaDisaster.org contains a summary of currently open general and special needs shelters within the State of Florida.
- The Visit Florida website contains current travel safety information as well as resources for hotel and lodging availability across the state of Florida.
- The American Red Cross shelter directory contains a list of currently open American Red Cross shelters across the country.
Leon County teams continue the following operations:
- Partially activate the County Emergency Operations Center with essential agency personnel and continue to monitor the storm forecast.
- Commenced regular coordination with County and City work areas, law enforcement, and disaster-related community partners.
- Leon County Community and Media Relations launched preparedness and resilience messaging on social media, on the Leon County Emergency Information Portal, the Citizens Connect mobile app, and other public information methods.
- Public Works teams began preparing equipment to clear roads of downed trees and maintained deployed sandbags.
- Staffed the Citizens Information Line in the Emergency Operations Center on Monday morning to answer citizen questions and needs throughout the storm.
Important Updates
Sandbag Locations
The County and City made sandbags available to the public at the locations listed below.
- Leon County's Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road (County)
- Apalachee Regional Park (Solid Waste Management Facility), 7550 Apalachee Parkway (County)
- Fred George Park, 3043 Capital Circle NW (County)
- At the intersection of Oak Ridge at Ranchero roads (County)
- Fort Braden Community Park, 15000 Blountstown Hwy (County)
- Mike Blankenship Skate Park, 2909 Jackson Bluff Road (City)
- Former Northwood Centre site off Tharpe Street (City)
- Springsax Park, 1000 Springsax Road (City)
- Jack McClean Park, 700 Paul Russel Road (City)
County locations will be staffed to assist citizens. Sand, bags and ties will be available for public use. Residents are asked to take no more than 15 (25 City) bags to allow others to prepare. County sites will be staffed.
Emergency Shelters
In partnership with Leon County Schools, the following four emergency shelters will open on Tuesday, August 29 at 5 p.m.:
- Fort Braden Elementary, 15100 Blountstown Hwy
- Chiles High School, 7200 Lawton Chiles Lane
- Rickards High School, 3013 Jim Lee Road
- Lincoln High School, 3838 Trojan Trail
Please note, Chiles will be pet accessible.
Office, School, and University/College Closures
County offices will be closed Wednesday, August 30. For the City, City Hall and the Renaissance Building will be closed to the public on Wednesday, August 30.
Florida State University's Tallahassee campus will be closed and classes will be canceled on Wednesday, August 30.
Florida A&M University's Tallahassee main campus, the Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, and Gadsden County facilities will be closed on Wednesday, August 30.
Tallahassee Community College's Main Campus, Center for Innovation, Gadsden Center, and Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education will be closed starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 30.
Stay Informed
As Tropical Storm Idalia approaches Florida, Leon County Emergency Management is actively monitoring and executing our emergency plans for this storm. To stay up-to-date on Leon County preparedness actions, such as sandbag locations and preparedness tips, you have the following resources:
- LeonReady.com – The Leon Ready website is a hub of resources to help you, your family and your neighborhood prepare for disasters. There are a variety of resources available, like the County’s 2023 Disaster Survival Guide, a full list of disaster supplies for your disaster bucket, and so much more, to increase your readiness.
- Download the Leon County Citizens Connect Mobile App - 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 www.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.
- Additionally, iHeartRadio will also provide updates on the following stations: WFLA-FM 100.7, WFLF-FM 94.5, WTNT 94.9, KISS-FM 107.1, X-FM101.5, and The Beat-FM 105.3.
- Call 2-1-1 Big Bend - 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 about how 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.
- If you are looking for gas, use GasBuddy.com to report fuel prices and availability.
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. Visit LeonReady.com to view the 2023 Disaster Survival Guide for disaster preparedness resources and a full list of preparedness items.
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.
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 hurricane winds. A warning indicates 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 reducing 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.
Please prepare now. If you have any questions about how best to prepare, please call the Leon County Citizens Information Line at (850) 606-3700.
For current information about local preparedness and response, please visit www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei .
|
|