City of Fort Pierce, FL

10/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 08:42

Hurricane Milton Storm Advisory 5

Hurricane Milton Storm Advisory 5
City of Fort Pierce
Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 10:00 AM
Website: www.cityoffortpierce.com

NEW INFORMATION

As Hurricane Milton moves through the Atlantic, St. Lucie County Emergency Management officials strongly urge residents to remain indoors and avoid traveling until it is declared safe. Unnecessary traffic and bystanders may impede response and recovery efforts. Residents should also treat intersections with non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops.

Last night, a Weatherstem station on South Hutchinson Island recorded sustained winds of 61 mph, with gusts up to 76 mph. The City of Fort Pierce remains under a Hurricane Warning and Flood Watch. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue throughout the morning but should subside by this afternoon.

Impacts on Fort Pierce:

First responders and public works/utility crews are actively addressing damage caused by two confirmed tornadoes that touched down on Wednesday, October 9, around 4:30 PM, just before the arrival of Hurricane Milton.

Numerous homes and structures in St. Lucie County sustained significant damage, particularly in the following areas:

  • Spanish Lakes Country Club Village
  • Portofino Shores
  • Holiday Pines
  • Lakewood Park
  • South Florida Logistics Center 95
  • Sunnier Palms Park and Campground
  • St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Garage

Public Works Department Updates:

  • Solid Waste Collection:Trash and recycling services are suspended today, October 10. Residents will be serviced on their next regularly scheduled pick-up day.
  • Streets and Drainage:Crews are clearing roadways and storm drains, maintaining parks, and inspecting city facilities in the aftermath of the storm.

Communication:

The City of Fort Pierce will provide ongoing updates through the city's website, social media platforms, and Fort Pierce TV Channel 27. Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications via St. Lucie County's Alert St. Lucie program at www.stlucieco.gov/Alert.

Shelter Operations:

St. Lucie County opened the following shelters on Tuesday, October 10, at 2:00 PM:

  • Fort Pierce Westwood Academy (General Population/Pet-Friendly): 1801 Panther Ln., Fort Pierce
  • Treasure Coast High School (General Population/Pet-Friendly): 1000 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie
  • Havert L. Fenn Center (Special Needs): 2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce

Due to the increasing need for shelter, an additional shelter has been opened at Fort Pierce Central High School (4101 S 25th St) for residents displaced by the tornadoes. Nurses and crisis counselors are on-site to assist those in need.

Power Outages / FPUA Updates:

FPUA has reported widespread power outages caused by last night's severe weather, affecting about 55% of customers. Between 12:15 AM and 5:30 AM, high winds disrupted services. This morning, FPUA substation crews and field supervisors began assessing damage. Field crews will be dispatched as soon as wind speeds drop below 35 mph, around 8:00 AM. Restoring power to homes and businesses as quickly and safely as possible is the top priority.

To report a power outage, please call (772) 466-1600.

You can also view the FPUA Outage Map here: https://arcg.is/04f1ry.

FPUA thanks you for your patience as restoration efforts progress.

City of Fort Pierce Updates:

  • City Hall and all City facilities will reopen on Friday, October 11, at 8:00 AM.
  • A Local State of Emergency was declared on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 5:00 PM.
  • Freebee services will resume normal operations on Friday, October 11.

St. Lucie County Updates:

  • St. Lucie County officials will provide a live update from the Douglas M. Anderson Emergency Operations Center today, October 10, at Noon on the county's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/StLucieGov.
  • The bridges to North and South Hutchinson Island reopened at 9:00 AM today. Only residents living on the islands should use the bridges at this time. Unnecessary traffic will hinder response and recovery efforts.
  • St. Lucie County's public transit, ART (Area Regional Transit), is closed today, October 10, and plans to reopen on Friday, October 11. For more information, visit www.slcart.orgor call 772-462-1778.
  • Residents with questions about the storm can call the county's public information line at 772-460-HELP (4357).