ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Augustine was among the hardest-hit areas of Northeast Florida as Hurricane Matthew arrived Friday.
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Video from Action News Jax reporter Russell Colburn showed water rising in downtown streets. People were seen trapped at the Casablanca Inn on Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
St. Johns County officials quickly moved to close all bridges in St. Johns County earlier in the day.
Flagler College in downtown St. Augustine was especially hard-hit, with video showing water rushing through one of the buildings' walkways.
Photos: Worst of Hurricane Matthew damage in Northeast Florida
Restaurants along the water were also damaged by floodwaters. Photos from Caps on the Water, just north of St. Augustine, showed rising flood waters Friday afternoon.
City officials said they believed around half of the city's population chose not to evacuate ahead of the storm.
The First Alert Weather Team is monitoring Hurricane Matthew. Stay updated with the First Alert Hurricane Center, Talking the Tropics with Mike, follow us on Twitter @ActionNewsJax and watch Action News Jax.
Related: Interactive Map of Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia shelters
#StAugustine drains can't keep up with this. Will only get worse. @ActionNewsJax #HurricaneMatthew #firstalertwx @WOKVNews @NixonFirstAlert pic.twitter.com/RtWSz9zc2N
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
#StAugustine sea wall getting pounded. Seeing flooding due to storm surge. @ActionNewsJax #HurricaneMatthew #firstalertwx @NixonFirstAlert pic.twitter.com/b0VN8llWoj
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
VIDEO: You can barely tell where the ground begins & ocean ends at Castillo de San Marcos. Sea wall completely compromised. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/AAMtzKGic3
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
20 people, including children, stuck in #StAugustine bed & breakfast. They say they're getting worried, as the surge is about to come in. pic.twitter.com/EMgX2UqBwb
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
Massive tree blocking West Castillo Dr. Only east lane passable as #StAugustine is flooding FAST. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/C6ni5TfYlj
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
St. Johns County officials rescued a man from floodwaters at the base of the Vilano Bridge when he fell out of and was separated from his wheelchair, according to the St. Johns County Fire Rescue.
The man was found clutching a garbage can that was floating at the east end of the Vilano Causeway at about noon.
The man was taken to Flagler Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Authorities in #StAugustine responding to a POSSIBLE DROWNING. Wouldn't give any other info. @ActionNewsJax #HurricaneMatthew #firstalertwx
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) October 7, 2016
Emergency links, evacuation zone information for Hurricane Matthew
People trapped in St. AugustineThese people are trapped at the Casablanca Inn On The Bay in St. Augustine: More videos of the flooding in St. Augustine: http://bit.ly/2dQdFpu
Posted by Action News Jax on Friday, October 7, 2016
VIDEO: The water is already very high in flood-prone St. Augustine, and getting worse by the minute:
Posted by Action News Jax on Friday, October 7, 2016
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