Mold Remediation in Palm Coast, FL

Palm Coast, FL - The City of Palm Coast is actively recovering from Hurricane Milton, and Florida Power & Light is working to restore power. Here are today's updates:

Downed Power Lines: If you see downed powerlines, immediately contact Florida Power & Light (FPL) at 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) to report the hazard. Any downed powerlines should be considered live and dangerous.

Tree Removal:Crews from the Palm Coast Fire Department, Public Works, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Power & Light are clearing downed trees from public roads. Some residential roads remain impassable due to downed trees and powerlines. Please avoid these areas. If a tree from a public right-of-way has damaged your private property, contact Customer Service at 386-986-2360 to report it.

Traffic Signals:If you encounter a non-working traffic light, treat the intersection as a four-way stop. Slow down, look both ways, and take turns with other drivers.

Trash Pickup:Regular trash pickup will resume on Friday, October 11. However, there will be no recycling collection on that day. Be sure to keep swales clear and do not include yard debris.

Debris Removal:We understand many residents are dealing with storm debris. The City is working with an emergency debris contractor to assess the damage. Please do not place debris near the road, as it could block the stormwater system, which will prevent water from flowing out of neighborhoods. We will notify residents when debris collection is scheduled.

When debris collection begins, please help by separating items at the curb into these categories:

Wastewater System:The City’s wastewater system is significantly stressed. Even if you have power, please limit water usage—avoid doing laundry, and limit flushing toilets and taking showers as much as possible.

If you have a PEP tank and power is restored, your alarm may go off. Silence it by pressing the reset button on the bottom of the control panel. If the alarm continues to sound, submit a case through Palm Coast Connect or call Customer Service at 386-986-2360 for maintenance. The City has tanker trucks in the field pumping down the sewer system, but if it reaches capacity, backups could occur. Please limit water use as much as possible.

City Facilities Reopening:All city facilities will remain closed through Sunday, October 13, to allow staff to focus on cleanup efforts. City Hall, the Palm Coast Community Center, and the Southern Recreation Center will reopen to the public on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Parks and Playgrounds:Palm Harbor Golf Club, the Palm Coast Aquatics Center, and all parks, trails, and playgrounds will remain closed until cleanup is completed.

Hiring Licensed Contractors:If you have property damage, ensure any contractor you hire is licensed. To ensure you find a licensed and reliable provider, you can use our Local Business Search tool at Local Business Search.

Post-Storm Safety Tips:

Questions?For any hurricane recovery questions, contact Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360 or submit a case through Palm Coast Connect.

Stay informed with the latest news and information from the City of Palm Coast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. You can sign up for weekly updates by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/government/city-manager/week-in-review.

The effects of Hurricane Milton continue to impact our community, leaving many roads throughout Palm Coast impassable due to significant water over the crown of the road downed trees, and downed power lines. Do not attempt to drive on any road covered in water—it is extremely dangerous.

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The effects of Hurricane Milton continue to impact our community, leaving many roads throughout Palm Coast impassable due to significant water over the crown of the road downed trees, and downed power lines. Several major roads, including Seminole Woods Blvd, Belle Terre Pkwy, Old Kings Road, and US1 in the southern part of the county, have high water levels. Do not attempt to drive on any road covered in water—it is extremely dangerous, and the depth or condition beneath the water can be misleading.

Over 50,000 residences across Flagler County are currently without power, and power restoration efforts are ongoing. We strongly urge residents to stay home for their safety. If you drive in these dangerous conditions and need to be rescued, it diverts emergency responders away from critical hurricane recovery efforts.

Palm Coast has deployed all essential city departments—Fire, Public Works, Utility, Stormwater, and Parks—to conduct a first push to clear debris and begin restoration work.

Additionally, there are numerous downed trees and power lines throughout the city and county, making travel even more hazardous. Please avoid any unnecessary travel, and refrain from going out to inspect damage or go sightseeing. The safest decision for you and your family is to continue to shelter in place.

Conserve Water

Along with the challenges of road conditions and power outages, we are asking all residents to conserve water as much as possible. The City’s wastewater system is under significant strain due to the heavy rainfall and limiting non-essential water use—such as laundry, showers, and excessive flushing—will help prevent further issues. Every bit of water you save helps ensure the system can continue to function effectively during this emergency.

Many homes in Palm Coast utilize a Pretreatment Effluent Pumping (PEP) tank for wastewater. Residents with PEP tanks should especially limit water usage if their power goes out. Water usage during these times could risk waste backing up into homes. PEP systems use electricity to pump the waste out to the sewer system.

The City of Palm Coast is fully mobilized and working diligently to address the impacts of Hurricane Milton, but we need the cooperation of all residents to help us recover quickly and safely.

For any questions or to report issues, our Customer Service Call Center is open 24/7 at 386-986-2360, or you can submit a case through Palm Coast Connect.

Stay home, stay safe, and let’s work together as we recover from Hurricane Milton.

Stay informed with the latest news and information from the City of Palm Coast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. You can sign up for weekly updates by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/government/city-manager/week-in-review.

Milton’s quadruple-whammy of deadly tornadoes, heavy rain, hurricane-force wind and storm surge left damage from coast to coast, but the Tampa Bay area escaped the monster inundation meteorologists had feared.

Hours after Milton’s outer bands spawned the first of many tornadoes in the southern half of the state, the Category 3 storm’s eye made landfall at 8:30 p.m. in Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota.

The storm carved an unusual path for a gulf hurricane, slamming directly into Florida from the west and crossing the state rather than veering north. Around midmorning Thursday, Milton lumbered northeast of Cape Canaveral into the Atlantic, still a Category 1 hurricane.

Florida hurricane history

2009-2024

Tropical storm

Category 1

2

3

4

5

Wind speed

75 mph

95

110

130

>157 mph

IDALIA 2023

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

SALLY 2020

Pensacola

Tallahassee

Jacksonville

HELENE 2024

DEBBY 2024

MICHAEL 2018

HERMINE 2016

Gainesville

MATTHEW 2016

Orlando

Tampa

NICOLE 2022

MILTON 2024

IAN 2022

Fort

Myers

Miami

IRMA 2017

100 MILES

Key West

It was the fifth hurricane to strike the Gulf Coast this year, after Beryl, Debby, Francine and Helene, tying 2024 with 2005 and 2020 for second-most ever behind 1886, which had six.

The storm dropped nearly two feet of rain in some areas along its north side, causing flooding inland and piling additional water on top of the storm surge on both coasts. In St. Petersburg, over 9 inches of rain fell in three hours on Wednesday evening.

Milton had taken just 24 hours to intensify from a ho-hum tropical storm on Sunday to a Category 5 hurricane in the warmer-than-usual gulf waters, with sustained winds of 180 mph. As it churned toward Florida for two days as a Category 4 and 5 hurricane, it had plenty of time to explode in size and accumulate water.

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Several towns and cities on both coasts experienced flooding, but preliminary estimates indicate storm surges of 5 to 6 feet in places such as Naples and Fort Myers, much less than the 10 to 15 feet that had been predicted if Milton had directly hit Tampa.

Milton carried sustained winds of 120 mph when it entered Florida and still had 85 mph winds when it left.

Along the way, it tossed around boats and cars, toppled trees, yanked down power lines and shredded the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where the Tampa Bay Rays play.

More than 3 million people lost electricity.

Milton spawned outbreaks of strong, long-lasting tornadoes beginning hours before it made landfall on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service tallied 45 reports of tornadoes across the southern half of Florida, from Cocoa Beach to Broward County, with a cluster around the Port St. Lucie area on the Atlantic Coast.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday night that Milton spawned at least 19 tornadoes, but a total number won’t be known until damage surveys are completed.

About this story

Design by Emily Wright. Graphics editing by Tim Meko. Photo editing by Dominique Hildebrand. Video editing by Luis Velarde. Design editing by Joe Moore. Additional contributions by Alyssa Fowers. Additional editing by Chiqui Esteban.

TAMPA, Fla. − Hurricane Milton howled across the Florida Panhandle on Thursday, tearing a path of destruction from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic as it flooded neighborhoods, destroyed homes, tore the roof off a major sports venue and toppled a massive crane into an office building.

In downtown Tampa early Thursday, fierce winds tore down traffic lights, ripped signs out of the ground, and sent construction barricades scudding across the wet pavement. Milton’s winds also ripped off plywood meant to keep the storm out, and a portion of a downtown building’s brick facade collapsed, partially blocking a road.

But Tampa Bay apparently was spared a massive storm surge, instead experienced a reverse storm surge that drove water away from the shoreline.

Milton made landfall late Wednesday on the state's western coast as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph sustained winds amid a flurry of tornadoes it spawned. The system was exiting the state early Thursday near Cape Canaveral, still at Category 1 hurricane strength driving winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. update.

At least two deaths were reported at a retirement community following a suspected tornado in Fort Pierce on the state's east coast, NBC News reported, citing St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson. More than 3 million homes and businesses were dark by early Thursday, according to USA TODAY power outage data.

A flash flood emergency was in effect for Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, the hurricane center said, after parts of the area were blasted with more than 16 inches of rain Wednesday.

The eye of the storm made landfall in Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota about 60 miles south of the Tampa. Milton's powerful assault comes two weeks after Hurricane Helene slammed into the Florida coast on its way to devastating communities across seven states.

Developments

∎ Oil prices rose Thursday on a spike in fuel demand, the impact of Milton in Florida and concerns about potential supply disruptions in the Middle East amid heightened tensions between Israel and major oil producer Iran. The storm has already driven up demand for gasoline in the state, with about a quarter of fuel stations selling out of supplies, which has helped to support crude prices.

∎ Taylor Swift has donated $5 million to hurricane relief efforts for victims of Helene and Milton, the non-profit organization Feeding America announced.

Crane collapsed into Tampa Bay Times' office building

Officials reported late Wednesday that a crane collapsed near a building construction site in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the crane left a gaping hole in an office building that houses several businesses, including the newspaper. No injuries were immediately reported.

“The public is urged to continue to shelter in place” but avoid the area, the city of St. Petersburg said in a statement.

"We can confirm one crane cab in the upper section of the mast has fallen," said John Catsimatidis, the CEO of Red Apple Group, which is developing the skyscraper the Times reported. "We are working with city officials and others to assess the situation."

MLB stadium Tropicana Field damaged

Milton battered the Tampa Bay area with high winds and heavy rains after making landfall late Wednesday. St. Petersburg, Florida, officials confirmed that destructive winds damaged the roof at Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. The ballpark was repurposed as a base camp for thousands of emergency responders as Florida braced for Milton. Footage from local television stations and photos shared on social media showed part of the stadium’s roof torn off amid high winds.

The domed stadium has been home to the Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, though plans are in the works to replace it by 2028. It's among the smallest MLB stadiums by seating capacity, but Tropicana Field features a slanted roof designed at an angle in part to better protect it from hurricanes.

− Thao Nguyen, Eric Lagatta

Tornadoes rip through southwest Florida

Reported tornadoes tore through parts of southwest Florida on Wednesday, including in Collier County and Lee County, causing extensive damage across Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

North Fort Myers resident Scott Fincher was sitting on the lanai of his Pine Lakes community home with his family, waiting for Milton. As they waited, they passed the time watching the local news, which was reporting on the "tornado outbreak.”

Reporters then announced a tornado was headed into sister community Lake Fairways, which shares a boundary with Pine Lakes. That’s when Fincher knew: they had to hide.

Fincher immediately began moving everyone into the home: his wife, his sister-in-law and his dog. “Just as we were moving everybody in, that’s when it came through,” Fincher said, “and when I heard the rumbling.”

“It was a wall of black,” Fincher said. “It was just as black as could be . . . I felt fear. You could feel the ground shaking a little bit, the house and everything.”

− Kate Cimini, Fort Myers News-Press

Analysts: Hurricane Milton could cost insurers up to $100 billion

Hurricane Milton could result in losses of up to $100 billion for the global insurance industry, creating a surge in 2025 reinsurance prices that could boost some insurance companies' shares, analysts said Wednesday.

Milton, which slammed into Florida's already storm-blasted west coast Wednesday night, spawned at least 19 tornadoes and caused damage in numerous counties, destroying around 125 homes, most of them mobile homes, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"At this point, it's too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down," DeSantis said upon announcing the landfall.

Insured losses from Milton could range from $60 billion to $100 billion if the hurricane makes direct landfall in the densely populated area of Tampa, analysts at Morningstar DBRS said. A loss of $100 billion would put Milton on par with Katrina in 2005, they added, adding that insured losses would likely be "substantial but not catastrophic."

Contributing: Reuters

The City’s Wastewater Collection system has been managing significantly higher water volumes due to recent heavy rainfall, and with the impending storm, it is possible the system could become overwhelmed, potentially resulting in overflows. The system is currently processing two times the amount of wastewater, with the vast majority of the water being rainfall.

The City of Palm Coast is currently experiencing heavy rainfall from Hurricane Milton, with an additional 10 to 15 inches of rain expected over the next few days. Combined with the 6 inches of rainfall already received in the past five days, this ongoing weather event is likely to cause significant water accumulation in canals, ditches, swales, and roads throughout the city.

In response to these conditions, the Flagler County Sheriff and Flagler County Emergency Management have implemented a countywide curfew from 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening through 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning. It is critical for residents to comply with this order and stay off the roads. Even after the storm has passed, fallen trees and power lines can present significant hazards, and the period following the storm can be the most dangerous for such incidents.

Wastewater System Performance & Resident Precautions

The City’s Wastewater Collection system has been managing significantly higher water volumes due to recent heavy rainfall, and with the impending storm, it is possible the system could become overwhelmed, potentially resulting in overflows. The system is currently processing two times the amount of wastewater, with the vast majority of the water being rainfall.

The City is currently activated in emergency mode, with city staff working 24 hours a day to serve the residents of Palm Coast. The Utility Department has deployed additional crews working around the clock with tanker trucks in high-risk areas to remove excess water. Residents’ participation is essential to avoid straining the system further. We ask everyone to limit non-essential water use during the storm and immediately afterward. This includes refraining from doing laundry, limiting shower times, and reducing toilet flushing.

If you experience water backing up into your home, submit a report through Palm Coast Connect or call Customer Service at 386-986-2360 for immediate assistance.

PEP Tank Residents: Special Instructions

If you live in the L, Z, E, LL, B, W, R, P, or S sections of Palm Coast and have a PEP (Pretreatment Effluent Pumping) tank, it’s important to monitor your system carefully during the storm. If your power goes out, your PEP tank will not function, and you may experience wastewater backups. If this happens, immediately stop all water use, including flushing toilets and using sinks or showers.

If your PEP tank alarm goes off after power is restored, you can silence it by pressing the reset button located at the bottom of the control panel on the side of your home. If the alarm reactivates within 24 hours, please submit a case through Palm Coast Connect or call Customer Service.

Citywide Efforts

The City of Palm Coast is working tirelessly to prevent wastewater overflows and maintain essential services. Additional tanker trucks have been brought in to assist in pumping down lift stations to remove excess water. However, we strongly urge all residents to help by conserving water as much as possible to prevent the system from reaching capacity.

The City of Palm Coast remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents throughout Hurricane Milton. Please stay tuned for further updates, and remember to stay off the roads during and after the storm to avoid unnecessary risks.

For more information, contact Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360 or visit Palm Coast Connect.

Stay informed with the latest news and information from the City of Palm Coast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. You can sign up for weekly updates by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/government/city-manager/week-in-review.