With Hurricane Milton on course to lash Northeast Florida with high winds and heavy rain beginning Oct. 9, local officials announced closures of schools and public offices and told residents to brace for widespread power outages.
In an Oct. 7 news conference, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said schools and city offices would be closed Oct. 9 through Oct. 11 due to the storm. Deegan said the hurricane, which has reached Category 5 strength, was expected to dump up to 10 inches of rain in portions of Jacksonville and produce winds of 40-50 mph with gusts of 60-70 mph beginning the afternoon of Oct. 9.
Deegan said tidal flooding of 2-4 feet is expected in Ortega, Riverside, San Marco, Southampton, Downtown and Moncrief neighborhoods.
Office closures from Oct. 9-11 also include the Duval County Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections. The Duval County Courthouse, State Attorney’s Office and Office of the Public Defender will be closed on those days as well.
For more closures, visit www.jaxready.com/milton#accordion.
Deegan said the latest forecasts called for 4-6 inches of rain in Duval County, and as much as 10 inches, “in a very short period of time.”
She said the rainfall was the biggest difference in the local effects of Hurricane Milton compared to Hurricane Helene, which dropped a relatively small amount of rain in Duval County.
The outer bands of the storm are expected to arrive in Northeast Florida during the early afternoon Oct. 9, then peak that evening into the morning of Oct. 10. Officials are forecasting an increase in tidal flooding Oct. 10 and possibly Oct. 11.
Shelters for people
The city has opened six shelters. They are:
• Arlington Middle School, 8141 Lone Star Road, for the general population.
• Atlantic Coast High School, 9735 R.G. Skinner Parkway, for residents with special medical needs, pet friendly.
• Chaffee Trail Elementary, 11400 Sam Caruso Way, for general population.
• Landmark Middle School, 101 Kernan Blvd. N., open for general population, pet friendly.
• LaVilla School of the Arts, 501 N. Davis St., for general population.
• The Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, open for general population and special medical needs, and pet-friendly.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will offer free rides to shelters Oct. 9. It will also provide a shuttle from Ken Knight Drive to The Legends Center starting Oct. 9 at the corner of Ken Knight Drive and Moncrief.
Shelter for cars
In addition, residents wanting to shelter their vehicles can park them for free in public Downtown parking garages beginning the morning of Oct. 8. Open garages are:
• Water Street, 541 Water St.
• Ed Ball Building, 238 W. Monroe St.
• Yates Building, 200 E. Adams St.
• Duval Street, 33 W. Duval St.
• Kings Avenue, 1201 Kings Ave.
Contacted by president
Deegan said a local state of emergency would take effect at 8 a.m. Oct. 8. She said she had been contacted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who offered federal assistance.
“I’m very grateful for that given all the needs they’ve actively had to address in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas,” she said.
JEA crews recalled
Deegan said JEA had recalled crews that had been deployed to the Florida Gulf Coast and North Carolina and was working to bring in extra manpower.
In a news release on the afternoon of Oct. 7, JEA said it was working to bring in as many crews as possible.
“However, thousands of utility restoration crews remain in areas of the Southeast still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and many will be deployed to assist other areas of Florida,” the release said.
“We ask for customers’ patience and understanding as longer-than-normal service restoration times may be possible.”
Ferry to close, buses still running
The St. Johns River ferry will shut down after its 10:45 a.m. crossing Oct. 8 and will reopen Oct. 11, while the Skyway will shut down on the evening of Oct. 8 and remain closed through Oct. 10.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority buses will operate on a normal schedule but with JTA officials prepared to suspend service at any time based on weather conditions.