Hurricane Sally update #18

• President Trump has declared that a major disaster exists in Florida from Hurricane Sally. Santa Rosa County has received a declaration for Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct federal assistance. County officials are diligently working with the state and FEMA to receive a declaration for all categories. Individual assistance is still under review. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state as warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
• FEMA's public damage assessment teams surveyed damage throughout the county this week. To further substantiate the need for individual assistance as well as additional declarations, it is critical for residents to complete the Citizen Damage Report form (https://bit.ly/32X3PxM) and provide photos/videos of damage - especially of water in the home or high water marks (lines on walls that show how high the water was inside the structure). Tips for completing the damage report form:
  • If possible, use file names that include the address of the damaged property such as 1234SmithSt_photo1.jpg or 1234SmithSt_video1.mov.
  • For residents with large files that may not be accepted by the damage report form, email the photos/videos to GisTeam@santarosa.fl.gov and include contact information, address of the property or neighborhood and a brief description of the damage sustained. 
• See the county's damage assessment GIS map - https://arcg.is/0bqXWP. If you reported damage in the county's damage assessment app (https://bit.ly/32X3PxM) and do not see your home on this map, email GisTeam@santarosa.fl.gov. Residents can sign up to receive county news and updates at www.santarosa.fl.gov/list.aspx.
• To view the designated areas in this declaration, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564/designated-areas.
• Waste Pro will be picking up both trash and recycling cans on their regular schedules beginning Mon., Sept. 28.
• ECUA will be picking up both trash and recycling cans on their regular schedules.
• Recycling is temporarily halted due to storm damages sustained at the recycling processing facility so items in recycling cans will be taken to the landfill until repairs are made.

• Residential debris removal has begun in unincorporated areas of Santa Rosa County and the Town of Jay. The City of Milton and City of Gulf Breeze are conducting their own debris removal services.
• Debris haulers will be operating in all five districts each day from dawn to dusk targeting areas with more substantial damage first.
• Once crews make a complete pass, two passes will be made to pick up extra debris - total of three passes. Residents will be notified before the final pass. The first pass may take up to five weeks with debris hauling being completed within 90 days.
• The Board of County Commissioners voted at the Thurs., Sept. 24 commission regular meeting to have debris haulers pick up from private roads/subdivisions in Santa Rosa County (this does not include City of Milton or City of Gulf Breeze).
• Separate your debris as follows:
  - normal household trash
  - vegetative debris (do not bag leaves/vegetative debris - if debris is already bagged, it will still be picked up)
  - construction/demolition debris
  - appliances/white goods
  - electronics
  - household hazardous debris (see list)
• Cut logs less than 8 feet long. Vegetative debris cannot be mixed with treated lumber, fencing, construction or demolition debris.
• Do not stack debris under power lines, low-hanging limbs, near mailboxes, fire hydrants, water meters or in ditches
• Crews are not allowed to go on to private property to remove debris - it must be placed along the curb/right-of-way.
• Residents may bring vegetative debris to Central Landfill free until further notice. 
• If you choose to burn your debris rather than take it to the landfill at no charge or wait for the hauler to pick it up from your yard, be aware Florida statutes prohibit burning debris within 25' of your home or wild lands, 50' from paved public roads and 150' from other occupied buildings.

• Residents who still need food, clothing, should contact 211. 
• Residents who need assistance with tree removal, roof tarping, muck-outs or other manpower needs should call the Citizen Information Line, 850-983-INFO (4636).
• Persons and organizations (churches, etc.) who would like to volunteer should also call 850-983-INFO (4636) and a coordinator will match them to the best fit. 

• Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. directed Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) to further extend the toll suspension on the Garcon Point Bridge, until 6 a.m. Friday, October 23.
• In addition, a new, temporary traffic signal is operational at the intersection of State Road (S.R.) 281 (Avalon Boulevard) and I-10. Variable message boards have been placed near the intersection to alert drivers about the temporary signal. The temporary signal was installed to ease traffic flow associated with the utilization of the Garcon Point Bridge on S.R. 281 as a designated detour route due to the closure of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
• For the latest information about the Pensacola Bay Bridge, visit fdot.gov/PensacolaBay. Travelers can also access Florida's 511 service from cell phones, landlines and online at www.FL511.com. 

Santa Rosa County has allocated a total of $2.6 million of CARES Act funding to provide grants of up to $20,000 to eligible small businesses. In partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center, applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. The application period begins on September 28 at 8 a.m. and closes on October 16 at 5 p.m. Applications received before or after the application period will not be reviewed. Visit santarosa.fl.gov for more information, eligibility requirements and a list of required documents.

• For up to date information, visit www.miltonfl.org or www.facebook.com/MiltonFlorida.

• See www.cityofgulfbreeze.us, www.facebook.com/cityhallgb, www.twitter.com/GulfBreezeCity, or Nextdoor for updates.

• Visit www.myescambia.com/stormcenter for all Escambia County, Florida updates.

• The state courts in Santa Rosa County will be closed Friday, Sept.  25.
• Judge Giraud will conduct first appearances at 9 a.m. at the jail Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• All First Judicial Circuit courts are closed on Mon., Sept. 28 in observance of Yom Kippur.