County Increases Emergency Readiness Level and Closes Offices

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Posted On: September 25, 2024

Upgraded from a tropical storm earlier today, Hurricane Helene is forecast to intensify before making landfall in Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend area tomorrow. Volusia County is under a Tropical Storm Warning and Flood Watch. In preparation for the storm, the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center will move to a Level I activation tomorrow and will be fully staffed with relevant emergency support functions engaged to coordinate the response.

Expected Weather Conditions:

According to the National Weather Service, Volusia County is expected to experience tropical storm-force winds beginning around noon, with sporadic gusts up to 60 mph. Rainfall will range from 1 to 4 inches, and possible flooding in low-lying and urban areas. There is the possibility of overnight tornados that will increase into tomorrow. Marine conditions will continue to deteriorate.

County Closures:

All Volusia County offices will be closed on Thursday, including all library branches and County events. The ECHO workshop scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until Oct. 2. Beach driving, beach restrooms, and coastal parks will be closed tomorrow, with the inlet parks closing at 11 a.m.

Transportation and Services Updates:

The Florida Department of Transportation has announced that SunRail will not operate tomorrow, with service expected to resume on Friday pending inspections. Votran plans to operate tomorrow morning, but service may be suspended. The landfill and trash collection in unincorporated areas will operate on a regular schedule tomorrow. Florida Department of Health-Volusia offices will be closed on Thursday.

Final Preparations:

Most sandbag distribution locations have closed. Residents can check the Volusia Emergency Management app for information on tomorrow's open sandbag distribution sites. Residents are urged to complete any last-minute home and property preparations as soon as possible, exercise caution while driving, and never attempt to drive on roads with standing water.

The Volusia County Citizens Information Center will be open tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents can call 866-345-0345 for storm-related information. Additionally, residents are encouraged to download the Volusia Emergency Management app, follow Volusia County on social media, subscribe to the county newsletter, and visit www.volusia.orgfor the latest updates.