Volusia County Shares Updates, Tips & Resources Post-Irma

Volusia County Residents Curfews

• The daytime curfew has ended. A countywide curfew has been implemented from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. due to the power outages, flooding and damages to homes and businesses until further notice.
• Law enforcement will use discretion when encountering people out at night.
• Residents should stay inside and not venture out today. Many businesses remain closed.
• Public Works and electric company workers will be able to get out later today as the winds and rain subside, so the more people stay off the road, the more these crews can do their important work.

Bridge closures

• All bridges in Volusia County to the beachside are open.

Power outages As of 9 a.m.

• FP&L: 124,000 customers out of 178,00 customers
• Duke Energy: 66,000 customers
• New Smyrna Beach Utilities: 26,000 customers
• Clay Electric: 1,893 customers out of 2,101 customers

Power outages should be reported to the appropriate provider:

• FP&L: www.fpl.com, 800-468-8243
• Duke Energy: www.duke-energy.com, 800-228-8485
• New Smyrna Beach Utilities: www.ucnsb.org, 386-427-1366
• Clay Electric: www.clayelectric.com, 888-434-9844

County Government and Volusia County Schools Update: All Volusia district public schools will remain closed through Wednesday, September 13, due to Hurricane Irma. Future closings will be determined on a day to day basis.  It is imperative that we ensure our facilities are functional and safe before students and staff return. Over the next few days, there are many issues that will be addressed and/or considered prior to reopening schools, including:

1. Many areas throughout Volusia County are without power.
2. Accessing all schools and district facilities to inspect for damage.
3. Closing the shelters which were housed in 24 of our schools. More than 4,000 people were sheltered and fed during the storm. While many of our guests have left, a large number remain. These schools need to be sanitized and restocked with food.
4. The shelters were operated around the clock for three days by our school- and district-based administrators. They left their homes and families to take care of our residents who evacuated their homes.  These administrators need time to recuperate and make any necessary repairs to their homes.
5. Restocking freezers in our beachside schools, which were emptied prior to the storm to ensure no food spoilage. This cannot happen until power is restored.

A Connect-ED message will be sent to notify all families and employees of the closure.  A recorded message on the district’s main phone lines at (386) 734-7190, 255-6475, 427-5223 and 860-3322 will have updated information, as well as the district’s website at www.volusia.k12.fl.us.  Follow Volusia County Schools on Facebook and Twitter for the latest school-related updates. Earlier Reporting:

• County government offices and facilities will be closed Tuesday.
• Schools are closed Tuesday.
• County parks and beaches remain closed. There is debris on the beach and in the water. Beach officials are flying the double-red flag and there should be no water activity. People should not walk on the beach due to potential hazards. There also is a high rip current risk.

Weather update

• According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Irma continues to become disorganized.
• The storm is moving 18 miles per hour north, northwest
• The wind fields remain expansive. It will take some time for winds to subside today. Volusia County is still projected to receive strong wind gusts through the day.
• Rainfall we’ve received is 8-12 inches, with some areas seeing higher amounts.
• There is a chance for additional rainfall today from scattered showers and storms
• Flood stage is forecast or has been reached along the St Johns River. Astor has reached moderate flood level. River levels are forecast to fall to or remain steady at minor flood stage through the rest of the week.
• Due to power outages and excessive storm water from the hurricane, residents who are connected to city sewer systems should try to refrain from adding wastewater into the sewer system.
• Residents should help conserve and minimize water use – hold off on showering/bathing, doing laundry and flushing toilets.

Assistance

• For fire rescue or emergency medical assistance, call 911.
• To report damage to your home, people can submit information through the Volusia County Emergency Management app.
• For assistance or if you have been impacted by Hurricane Irma, people can call the Citizen Information Center at 866-345-0345.

Reporting damage

• If you see damage to public facilities building/structure, please report it to the Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345.

Safety after the storm

• People should stay home today and let the winds and rain subside.
• If using a generator, use it safely.
• If you have to be out, be aware the ground is saturated and there are many downed trees.
• Traffic signals are out at many intersections. Motorists who come to an intersection with no signals should treat it as a 4-way stop.

Boil water notices There is a boil water notice for the Town of Pierson. Residents should:

1. Boil water before drinking by holding it at a rolling boil for one minute; and

2. Disinfect it by adding 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. It the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure.
3. Use only bottled water for mixing baby formula.

Electrical hazards after a disaster After a hurricane, flood or other natural disaster, avoid electrical hazards in your home and elsewhere.

• Never touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.
• Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water.
• If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911.
• Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup and other activities.
• If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call 911. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.
• If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not enter standing water to access the main power switch. Call an electrician to turn it off.
• Never turn power on or off yourself or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. Do not turn the power back on until electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician. All electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service. Have a certified electrician check these items if there is any question.
• If you see frayed wiring or sparks when you restore power, or if there is an odor of something burning but no visible fire, you should immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker.
• Consult your utility company about using electrical equipment, including power generators. Do not connect generators to your home's electrical circuits without the approved, automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is online when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard and it may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.

If you believe someone has been electrocuted take the following steps:

1. Look first. Don't touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. Touching the person may pass the current through you.
2. Call 911 for emergency medical help.
3. Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the affected person using a non-conducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.
4. Once the person is free of the source of electricity, check the person's breathing and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
5. If the person is faint or pale or shows other signs of shock, lay him or her down with the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body and the legs elevated.
6. Don't touch burns, break blisters, or remove burned clothing.
7. Electrical shock may cause burns inside the body, so be sure the person is taken to a doctor.

Steps to take after a hurricane

• Protect yourself. Always be careful when entering a damaged building. If there is serious structural damage, contact local officials before entering. Report downed power lines and gas leaks. Keep electricity turned off if the building has been flooded.
• Protect your property. Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. This could mean boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items. Your insurance company can tell you what it will pay for regarding protection.
• Report the loss as soon as possible. Contact your insurance agent or insurer as soon as you can. Provide a general description of the damage and have your policy number handy if possible. Write down the adjuster’s name, phone number and work schedule.
• Prepare a list. Keep damaged items or portions of them until the claim adjuster has visited, and consider photographing or videotaping the damage to document your claim. Prepare a list of damaged or lost items for your adjuster.
• Keep receipts. If you need to relocate, keep records and receipts for all additional expenses. Most insurance policies cover emergency living arrangements.
• Return claim forms. After your insurance company has been notified of your claim, the company must send you the necessary claim forms within a certain number of days (time period varies by state). Fill out and return the forms as soon as possible. If you do not understand the process, ask questions and write down the explanation.
• Cleanup. When starting the cleanup process, be careful and use protective eyewear and gloves if available. Adjusters may tell business owners to hire a professional cleaning service.
• Build stronger next time. When you’re ready to start repairs or rebuild, work with your contractor to make the new structure disaster-resistant.
• SOURCE

DeLand Residents Curfew The City of DeLand will lift its curfew at noon Monday and follow Volusia County’s night time curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, we want people to stay off the roads. It is still dangerous for people to be on the street as there are many downed power lines, hanging limbs and flooded streets. Also, the DeLand Police Department has had to respond to several accidents this morning. Damage assessment An initial assessment has found that the northwest and southwest quadrants of the city got hit the hardest with many trees and power lines down, though it appears residential structures suffered only minor damage. Assessments are still ongoing and we are working to clear debris near critical structures including Florida Hospital DeLand. The city has also experienced localized flooding on several roads that are impassable. Wastewater system Residents are urged to keep water usage to a minimum as we work to restore power to critical facilities. The city’s water is safe to drink. New Smyrna Beach Residents The City of New Smyrna Beach announced building and program updates: Community Information Center (lines open 8am-5pm)

• (386) 424-2113
• (386) 424-2114

City facilities open:

• Free parking at beach parking lots all this week
• City parks- there is ongoing clean-up but with school out, we would like to invite families to enjoy our parks as available.
• Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement, and Building and Inspections - 2650 N. Dixie Freeway
• Alonzo “Babe” James Community Center - 201 N. Myrtle Avenue

City facilities closed until further notice:

• City Gym - 1000 Live Oak Street
• Brannon Civic Center - 105 S. Riverside Drive
• City Golf Course - 1000 Wayne Ave.
• City Sports Complex - 1800 Turnbull Bay Road

City facilities closed Tuesday 9/12/17

• City Hall - 210 Sams Ave.
• CRA/Economic Development - Connor Library

Stay tuned:

• www.cityofnsb.com
• https://www.facebook.com/cityofnsb/