Mold Remediation in Spring Hill, FL

With 8 to 12 feet of storm surge predicted for coastal areas of Hernando County, area officials are urging residents to get out now.

Mandatory evacuations in zones A, B and C (areas west of US 19, low-lying areas and manufactured homes) began at 8 a.m. this morning.

In Wednesday evening’s Emergency Operation Center update on Hurricane Helene, Commissioner Brian Hawkins emphasized that the forecast of 8-12 feet of storm surge is “the most significant forecast that we’ve come up against and it could continue to go up.”

“I know you guys have seen me out in the beaches, in the coastal communities during the last couple of storms in the last couple of years, this is not one of those storms. This is going to be significant catastrophic damage because of the water, because of the surge and you need to have a plan and you need to get out now.”

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“We’re talking about single-story homes that could be completely covered with water if the predictions are true.”

David DeCarlo, EOC director added, “Twelve feet of storm surge will put water on US 19.”

The public shelter at West Hernando Middle School (14325 Ken Austin Parkway) is open, but space is limited. For those who bring their pets, the Emergency Director urges people to bring all necessary supplies. Citizens are advised to take shelter with family or friends if possible.

The storm is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico this evening, and Hernando County will begin to feel the effects on Thursday morning and into the afternoon. It will most likely make landfall in the Big Bend area on Thursday evening as a category 4.

Hernando County can expect 8-12 feet of storm surge as Helene passes through the Gulf of Mexico along our coastline. The storm surge will begin to come in tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon, depending on the size, strength and speed of the storm.

Sandbag locations will be open tomorrow, weather permitting, starting at 8 am. Sandbags are available at various locations around the county, including Linda Pedersen Park, Anderson Snow Park, Ridge Manor Community Center, and Spring Lake Methodist Church.

David Lambert, general manager of Withlacoochee River Electric, said that there are crews in the area from outside the state of Florida now stationed in Hernando County and throughout their five-county service area to respond to this storm. He said that if you are evacuating, make sure to turn off the breakers in your home beforehand. He added safety reminders to stay away from downed power lines and to not run generators inside the home.

You can report an outage to Withlacoochee Electric here: https://withlacoochee.smarthub.coop/ui/#/login

Duke Energy has assembled 8000 workers and crews from their midwest operations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. They are staging at at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, The Villages and Suwannee Valley Farmer’s Market.

Duke urges residents to follow these safety rules:

To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485 or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips.

Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier said that Fire and EMS services are currently operational and they are handling routine emergencies. They are adding staff tonight and into tomorrow morning to prepare for additional emergency calls throughout the county. He cautioned that if weather conditions get to bad, they will not be able to make it out into certain areas.

Tampa General Hospital is continuing to monitor and prepare for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Helene. The status of TGH North operations is as follows:

HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital will be open with visitor restrictions after 1 pm on Thursday, Sept. 26. They will resume regular hospital operations on Friday, Sept. 27.

The following Publix locations will be closed on Thursday:

For storm-related questions, call 352-754-4083. Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies.

The National Hurricane Center expects Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine to strengthen into a major hurricane before it approaches the Northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday, Sept. 26. Hernando County is within the probable path of the storm. There is the potential for life threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane force winds. Hernando County Government has issued a local state of emergency. Hernando County Public Schools and district offices will be closed Wednesday and Thursday of this week. All afterschool activities for Wednesday and Thursday will be cancelled. Before and aftercare programs (YMCA and Boys & Girls Club) will not operate on those days. The school district will assess the situation after the storm to determine if schools will reopen on Friday.

A limited supply of sand and sandbags will be at the following locations listed below. Please bring your own shovel. These self-serve sandbag sites will be remain open until weather conditions begin to deteriorate.

Linda Pedersen Park 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609 o Tuesday, September 24 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting o Wednesday, September 25 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting

Anderson Snow Park 1360 Anderson Snow Rd., Spring Hill, FL 34609 (Enter through the service road between the park and the gymnastics place, the sand is located at the end) o Monday, September 23 from 2pm-5pm o Tuesday, September 24 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting o Wednesday, September 25 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting

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Ridge Manor Community Center 34240 Cortez Blvd. Ridge Manor, FL 33523 o Tuesday, September 24 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting o Wednesday, September 25 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting

Spring Lake Methodist Church 4191 Spring Lake Hwy., Brooksville, FL 34601 o Tuesday, September 24 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting o Wednesday, September 25 from 8am-5pm, weather permitting

Tips on how to properly fill and stack your sandbags Fill bags one-half to two-thirds of the way full Over-filled bags will result in a leaky sandbag wall Stack sandbags so that the seams between the bags are staggered Tuck the top of each bag under to ensure that that bag is sealed by its own weight

Displaced boats, water rescues, fires, flooding and down powerlines in Hernando’s coastal communities were courtesy of Hurricane Helene late Thursday evening and early Friday morning.

In the coastal communities of Hernando Beach, there were reports of up to an 8-foot storm surge overnight, said David DeCarlo, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) director for Hernando County.

Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida last night around 11 p.m.

Hernando County Fire Rescue, Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, National Guard and the Ohio Task Force Search and Rescue team are on site in the coastal areas of Hernando today conducting life safety assessments and wind damage assessments.

DeCarlo says to expect long-term power outages as there are 17000 outages between WREC and Duke customers, as of the 9:00 am update. The shelter at West Hernando Middle School is still open, but they will work with the city of Brooksville and the American Red Cross to open a transition shelter.

Pine Island Dr. and Shoal Line Blvd as well as 50 and 19 are still closed. There are still reports of water flooding Shoal Line. There are also four boats that were displaced to Shoal Line Blvd.

The water level will recede as the day progresses.

Major Phil Lakin said that HCSO, HCFR and National Guard will have teams out going door to door to check on residents who did not evacuate.

All access is currently restricted and they will continue maintaining the evacuation order at this time. Once they receive an all-clear, residents will be allowed back to the area. Lakin said that HCSO will maintain an increased presence in the area through the weekend to ensure safety and prevent looting. Once the evacuation order is lifted, they ask that only property owners enter the area as there are still hazards. Commissioner Allocco advised that residents should shut off their power at the breaker box if they did not do so before evacuating. He warned that battery-operated equipment that got wet could cause fires if turned on.

Debris Pick up Republic will not be picking up storm debris and damaged home items, only normal trash.

Debris removal pick up for areas affected by Hurricane Helene begins Saturday, September 28, 2024 and will continue until debris removal has been completed. Areas included in debris removal pick up are between CR 550 (Cortez Blvd) and Osowaw Blvd., west of US 19 (including private roads). Only storm generated debris will be collected. A debris hotline has been established and will open 8am-5pm beginning Saturday, September 28th. For residents with questions regarding the debris removal pick up, please call the debris hotline at 833-307-5580.

Tips for debris removal: All appliances should be emptied before being placed at the curb for pick up. Food waste can be disposed of with your regular household garbage. You may see multiple trucks on your street on the same day or trucks on different days, as each truck will be picking up a specific type of debris. Landfill and Convenience Centers Operations: The Northwest Solid Waste Facility (Main Landfill: 14450 Landfill Rd.) will open starting Friday, September 27th and can accept storm debris. The Main Landfill will remain open all weekend including Sunday, September 29th. -Visit www.HernandoCounty.us/SolidWaste to review the fee schedule as standard fees will be charged. The East Hernando Convenience Center (33070 Cortez Blvd.) will be open Friday, September 27th and Saturday, September 28th for normal operating hours. The East Hernando Convenience Center does not accept storm debris. The West Hernando Convenience Center (2525 Osowaw Blvd.) is planned to open Saturday, September 28th, pending no damage from storm impacts and can accept storm debris from residents (no contractors). The West Hernando Convenience Center will remain open all weekend including Sunday, September 29th and Monday, September 30th. Please call (352) 754-4112 for more information.

Property Damage Reporting Hernando County has launched the Online Hurricane Helene Property Damage Reporting Form, which should be completed by any private property OR business owner who has sustained any property damage. Hurricane Helene Damage Reporting Form: https://hernandocounty.jotform.com/242174517553962 QUICK TIPS: Fill out the form as accurate and thorough as possible Upload pictures to show accurate damage Have questions? Leave them below *Help Emergency Management reach 3000 followers by liking and following EM’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HernandoCountyEM #HernandoPrepares

HOSPITALS

Tampa General Hospital Brooksville, Spring Hill & Crystal River emergency departments or emergency services and Open Access Clinic for non-emergent but urgent needs:

Tampa General Hospital Brooksville Address: 17240 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601

Tampa General Hospital Spring Hill Address: 10461 Quality Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34609

TGMG Open Access Address: 2703 Forest Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34606 Phone: (352) 606-2710

Tampa General Hospital Crystal River Address: 6201 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River, FL 34428

TGH Crystal River Emergency Center Closed but expected to reopen at 7:00 p.m., Friday 9/27. Address: 907 W Norvell Bryant Hwy, Hernando, FL 34442

Oak Hill Hospital – HCA Florida Healthcare 11375 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34613 (352) 596-6632

SAIL: State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is a toll-free hotline activated at the time of an emergency to provide an additional resource for those in Florida to receive accurate and up-to-date information regarding an emergency or disaster situation impacting the State of Florida. SAIL hotline: 800-342-3557

FEMA FEMA Specialists, called Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) agents, go door to door in impacted neighborhoods. You will easily be able to identify them because they wear FEMA attire and have federal photo ids. They will be able to help residents apply for FEMA assistance, check the status of an application, identify needs and connect people with organizations that can provide resources. They will not ask for compensation and local law enforcement are informed when they are making rounds in an area. Residents can confirm with law enforcement that their presence is legitimate if there are any concerns. The quickest way to apply for assistance is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. Additionally, FEMA has a Mitigation Helpline: 833-336-2487 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. You may leave a voicemail at any time, or you may email [email protected]

EMPLOYMENT If your employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Helene, unemployment assistance may become available through FloridaCommerce. Claims may be submitted at FloridaJobs.org. Call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak to a customer service representative for additional information.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TIPS ON RECOVERY

Document Everything: Thoroughly document any damage to your property and belongings with photos and videos.

Contact Your Insurer: Reach out to your insurance adjuster as soon as possible.

Research Contractors: Verify that any contractors you consider hiring are properly licensed and carry current workers’ compensation and liability insurance.

Look for the BBB Seal: Choose businesses that display the BBB Accredited Business Seal; these companies have been vetted for trustworthiness. The BBB cautions against any contractors who claim to be insurance claim specialists. They advise that you thoroughly check any contractor prior to giving them permission to deal directly with your insurance company. Dishonest companies have persuaded consumers into signing work estimates that commit the customer to contract with the company if the insurance estimate is approved.

Be sure to make temporary repairs to your home as soon as possible after the storm because the property owner could be liable for damage that occurs post-storm. Repairs include tarping a leaky roof or boarding up broken windows. Beware of contractors who want to charge you exorbitant fees for temporary repairs. There are typically volunteer groups who will assist with temporary repairs.

Don’t make permanent repairs until your insurance company has approved them as your insurer may not fully reimburse you if you don’t get prior approval. Never give a contractor more than one-third of the project price upfront and confirm that your insurance company has approved all repairs before you give the contractor the prior payment.

If insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses, then FEMA may provide additional assistance. Check with FEMA at fema.gov for eligibility.

For any storm recovery related questions call Hernando County Emergency Management Phone (352) 754-4083

Hurricane Milton continued its advance on Florida's Peninsula Tuesday as a very strong Category 4 storm with winds of more than 150 mph. Evacuations have to be completed on Tuesday as shelters across Florida were opening.

"Milton poses a extremely serious threat to Florida," the National Hurricane Center said. Emergency managers say if you are under mandatory evacuation it's a life-or-death situation and you must go.

Devastating impacts are forecast for Florida, including life-threatening storm surge, flooding rain and damaging winds as the storm is forecast to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast, possibly in the Tampa Bay or points south, then sweeping across the state in on a mostly northwest track menacing the Orlando area and the beach communities to the northeast.

Here's what to know about Hurricane Milton today:

➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

➤ Live updates for Lee County:Get the latest for the Fort Myers area here.

➤ Live updates for Collier County:Get the latest for the Naples area here.

➤ Live updates for Sarasota County:Get the latest for the Sarasota-Manatee-Bradenton area here.

Is there school today in Florida?

The answer on whether Hurricane Milton has canceled school depends on the school district you are in. As of Tuesday morning, more than two dozen Florida school districts were closed today and beyond. The Florida Department of Education has a list here, and public colleges and universities are included.

Disney World Hurricane Milton status

Disney World said late Monday that it was operating under normal conditions, but there are some alterations to hours and openings to some resorts coming to Disney. What we know:

On it's website, Disney World has this statement: "We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments."

Where is Hurricane Milton going and how strong could it get?

State of emergency in Florida meaning

A storm slams into the state. There is a massive run on gasoline. A pandemic drives death tolls higher. Some natural disaster strikes and threatens Floridians and then the announcement comes: "Governor declares State of Emergency in Florida."

According to Florida Law, “A state of emergency shall be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor if she or he finds an emergency has occurred or that the occurrence or the threat thereof is imminent."

— C. A. Bridges

Current evacuation zones in Florida. Know your flood zone

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a website to determine whether you live in an evacuation zone and what zone it is.

Go to the website and enter your address. If your home is in one of the colored areas, those are flood zones where you may be asked to evacuate by local officials.

Typically, Zone A is the most vulnerable and the most likely to be asked to evacuate first. Zone F is most likely to evacuate last.

In an evacuation zone? Here are Florida traffic maps and cameras.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says there’s still much uncertainty about Hurricane Milton, but the state is preparing to open highway shoulders for mass evacuations to come.

Individual counties make evacuation calls. “Once those orders come down from all the counties, I think it’s going to be a significant number of people,” DeSantis said.

The Florida Department of Transportation is monitoring traffic, and as soon as travel speeds are down to 40 mph, the state will begin to open shoulders for travel to relieve congestion, according to state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.

— Cheryl McCloud

Which counties in Florida are in a state of emergency?

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 54 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Milton, which could bring Category 3 winds and flooding to already-heavily damaged Gulf Coast communities and beyond. The Florida counties included in the emergency declaration extend across the peninsula. They are:

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.

Hurricane Milton strength increases to Category 3 storm

Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aicraft indicate that Hurricane Milton is now a major hurricane. The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 120 mph. Milton is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Milton's eye shown in satellite images

Embedded content: https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES16/ABI/SECTOR/gm/GEOCOLOR/20242810426-20242810911-GOES16-ABI-GM-GEOCOLOR-1000x1000.gif

Hurricane Milton is shown in this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency video from the GOES-East satellite.

Hurricane Milton tracker: Updating Florida path

Is there school today in Florida? Districts closed ahead of Hurricane Milton

More than a dozen school districts across Florida have announced they'll be closing ahead of and on the days Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida.

Nine schools were closed Monday and more have plans to be closed through Thursday. Here's a list of Florida schools closed today from the state.

Storm radar Florida

Latest spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

(This story has updated to add new information.)

Sandbag Stations Open in Preparation of Potential Tropical Cyclone 9

In preparation for potential storm impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, Hernando County Government will be opening Sandbag Stations from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Linda Pedersen Park and Anderson Snow Park.

These are the hours of operation for sandbag stations throughout the week.

A limited supply of sand and sandbags will be at the following locations listed below. Please bring your own shovel. These self-serve sandbag sites will remain open until weather conditions begin to deteriorate.

6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609

1360 Anderson Snow Rd., Spring Hill, FL 34609 (Enter through the service road between the park and the gymnastics place, the sand is located at the end)

34240 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor, FL 33523

4191 Spring Lake Hwy., Brooksville, FL 34601

The county provides these tips on how to properly fill and stack your sandbags:

Hernando County Government’s Office of Emergency Management says it continues to monitor and inform our community about storm impacts.

For the latest local conditions and a complete list of news alerts go to HernandoCounty.us/em

Sign up to receive weather alerts at AlertHernando.org

Hernando County Executive Policy Group Will Meet to Discuss Potential Tropical Cyclone 9

Hernando County Emergency Management has also anounced that the Executive Policy Group will meet Monday, September 23, 2024 at 2:30pm at the Emergency Operations Center (18900 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601). This is a public meeting that is comprised of county government leaders who will discuss future impacts of the storm and consider a declaration of a local state of emergency.

Pasco County sandbag stations are available; self-serve sandbag sites are open 24 hours

The information below was provided by Pasco County:

Pasco County Emergency Management is closely monitoring the potential development of tropical weather and is encouraging you to be prepared for localized flooding in the next few days as the system makes its way toward Florida:

Due to the potential for coastal and inland flooding, we’re also opening additional locations. These sandbag sites will be open from sunrise to sunset, until further notice:

All sandbag locations are self-serve and open to Pasco County residents. Sand and sandbags will be restocked daily, weather permitting. Please bring a shovel and be prepared to fill your own sandbags.

To watch a Pasco County video explaining how to properly fill and place sandbags, please visit: mypas.co/PascoSandbags