Essential information for St. Johns County residents to prepare for Hurricane Milton

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By William Clayton

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — As Hurricane Milton approaches, St. Johns County officials urge residents to take immediate steps to prepare for potential tropical storm conditions.

Effective 8:00 a.m. Monday, in advance of potential storm conditions due to Hurricane Milton, St. Johns County is under a state of Emergency. This follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’s declaration of a state of emergency.

Residents are advised to get storm-ready by knowing their evacuation zones, making an emergency plan, and assembling a disaster supply kit using the St. Johns County Emergency Management Hurricane Preparedness Guide. The guide can be accessed online HERE or any St. Johns County Public Library branch.

St. Johns County should prepare to experience tropical-storm-force winds, gusting to hurricane-force winds, a storm surge, 6-8 inches of rain, and power outages.

To determine their evacuation zone, residents are encouraged to use the St. Johns County My Evacuation Zone tool by entering their address at www.sjcfl.us/evacuation-information.

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Key Items for Your Disaster Supply Kit:

  • Food and water for family and pets
  • First aid supplies, including medications and prescriptions
  • Emergency equipment such as radios, batteries, phone chargers, and flashlights
  • Cash and important documents

For a full list of items needed for your disaster supply kit, visit SJCEmergencyManagement.com.

READ: Hurricane Milton: Closings, cancellations, and resources for Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia

Stay Informed:

To stay updated on storm developments and emergency information, St. Johns County Emergency Management recommends the following:

“The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is working hand in hand with St. Johns County Fire Rescue, St. Augustine Fire, St. Augustine Police Department, the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, and, of course, our National Park Service as well. Your safety and the safety of our entire public are paramount, and what you have to do is pay attention as we continue to put these updates out. You should be tracking this at all times,” Sheriff Rob Hardwick said.

Create a Disaster Plan:

Every household should develop a disaster plan that addresses the unique needs of all family members, including children, pets, and seniors. Involve everyone in the planning process to ensure they are aware of what to do in an emergency. Additional guidance on creating a plan can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.

Free Sandbags:

  • St. Johns County will provide free sandbags on Monday, Oct. 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits at the following locations
    • Windswept Acres Park – 5335 SR A1A South, St. Augustine
    • Solomon Calhoun Center – 1300 Duval Street, St. Augustine
    • St. Johns County Equestrian Center – 8200 Smith Road, Hastings
    • Mills Field – 1805 Racetrack Road, St. Augustine
    • North Beach Park – 3721 Coastal Highway, Vilano Beach
    • Palm Valley Bridge – East Side of Intracoastal Waterway
  • The City of St. Augustine will provide free sandbags on Monday, Oct. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits and supplies last at the following location:
    • Francis Field – 25 W. Castillo Dr, St. Augustine
  • There is a maximum allocation of 20 bags per person. You must bring shovels. They are self-serve.

Residents are encouraged to act now to protect themselves, their families, and their property as Hurricane Milton approaches.

READ: AAA provides critical instructions on how you can protect your property ahead of Hurricane Milton

Closures:

  • All SJCSD schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, October 9, Thursday, October 10, and Friday, October 11. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, and extended day programs are also canceled or closed Wednesday-Friday. Extracurricular activities and athletic events taking place after school hours and into the weekend are canceled.
  • Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas to close starting Monday, Oct. 7 ahead of Hurricane Milton

Shelters:

At this time, no announcement has been made about St. Johns County shelters opening due to Hurricane Milton. We should expect announcements on Monday evening.

Pet Preparedness:

Residents are reminded not to leave pets behind if evacuation orders are issued. It is important to ensure their safety as part of your storm preparations. Items to include in a pet disaster kit:

  • Food and water
  • Medications
  • Vaccination records
  • Collars with identification
  • Leashes and carriers for evacuation

For more details, visit SJCEmergencyManagement.com.

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