St. Johns County issues local state of emergency ahead of Milton

St. Johns County issued a local state of emergency Monday morning in advance of potential storm conditions due to Hurricane Milton. This mirrors the declaration of a state of emergency issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

A declaration of a state of emergency aids in the response, recovery and operations necessary to cope with the emergency. The St. Johns County Emergency Management Citizen Information Hotline (904-824-5550) is now open to help answer the public’s questions about Hurricane Helene.

As of 5 a.m., Milton was located at 22.3 N 88.9 W and moving east-northeast at 12 mph. It was a Category 4 storm with a maximum sustained wind of 155 mph.

Residents can find tips and resources such as supply kits, pets, and other emergency response information at www.sjcfl.us/hurricane.

• St. Johns County Emergency Management encourages the public to stay informed through these options:

• Follow St. Johns County Emergency Management on Facebook (facebook.com/StJohnsEOC) and X/Twitter (x.com/StJohnsEOC).

• Sign up for the Alert St. Johns emergency notification system at SJCEmergencyManagement.com. Ensure the notification settings selected allow you to be alerted at all times for your safety.

• Register for Nixle Alerts by texting StJohnsEOC to 888777.

PREPARE NOW

In light of Milton's forecasted impacts, St. Johns County officials are urging residents to take immediate action to prepare for possible tropical storm conditions.

Residents are encouraged to get storm-ready by knowing their evacuation zone, making a plan, and preparing a disaster kit using the St. Johns County Emergency Management Hurricane Preparedness Guide. The guide is available at SJCEmergencyManagement.com and at any St. Johns County Public Library branch.

Residents should confirm their evacuation zones. Use the St. Johns County My Evacuation Zone tool by entering your address to determine your zone: www.sjcfl.us/evacuation-information.

Now is an excellent time to ensure your disaster supply kit is fully stocked. Key items to include are:

• Food and water for your family and pets

• First aid supplies: medicine and prescriptions

• Emergency equipment: radio, batteries, phone chargers and flashlights

• Cash and important documents

For a complete list of supplies needed for your disaster supply kit, go to SJCEmergencyManagement.com.

When preparing for storms, it’s essential to include pets in your plans. If ordered to evacuate, don’t leave your pets behind. If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for them. Ensure your pet’s kit includes:

• Food and water
• Medication

• Vaccination records

• Collars with identification

• Leashes and carriers if evacuating

For more information, go to SJCEmergencyManagement.com.

Additionally, every household should have a disaster plan that addresses the unique needs of all family members, including children, pets and seniors. Engage everyone in the planning process to ensure they know what to do in an emergency.

For additional guidance on creating your plan, go to FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.

SANDBAGS AVAILABLE

St. Johns County will provide free sandbags today, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as long as weather permits and supplies last at the following six locations ahead of impacts from Milton:

• Windswept Acres Park – 5335 S.R. A1A South, St. Augustine

• Solomon Calhoun Center – 1300 Duval St., 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

In coordination, the City of St. Augustine will provide free sandbags today, 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 Drive, St. Augustine

The sand and bags will be provided free of charge. The public must provide their own transportation and shovels and will be responsible for filling their own bags. There is a maximum allocation of 20 bags per person. A sandbag typically weighs about 30 to 40 pounds.

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION

In response to the impending weather conditions, resources typically dedicated to recycling will be redirected to enhance yard waste collection services during the storm. FCC Environmental will deploy additional personnel and equipment, including external contractors using grapple trucks to facilitate yard waste collection. County road and bridge crews will also assist in the collection efforts to improve efficiency. Household garbage collection will remain on its regular schedule.

To facilitate the resources dedicated to enhanced yard waste and household garbage collection, recycling collection will be suspended from today, Oct. 8, through Friday, Oct. 11. Recycling collection is expected to resume on Monday, Oct. 14, following the storm.

Residents are encouraged to drop off yard waste at the County’s Tillman Ridge or Stratton Road Transfer Stations at no charge. Both facilities will remain open during normal operating hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Transfer Station Locations are Tillman Ridge Transfer Station, 3005 Allen Nease Road, Elkton, and Stratton Road Transfer Station, 250 N. Stratton Road, St. Augustine.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All St. Johns County School District public schools will conduct a normal school day on today, Oct. 8. All extracurricular activities, athletic events and after-school extended day programs are canceled or closed. All district offices will also operate as normal tomorrow.

All district schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 9, Thursday, Oct. 10 and Friday, Oct. 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.

OTHER CLOSURES

• Sunshine Bus public transportation and Paratransit transportation services will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, due to expected hurricane storm conditions. COA Transportation headquarters will also be closed. For information and updates on Sunshine Bus and Paratransit transportation services, go to https://sunshinebus.net/alerts-updates or call 904-209-3716 during operating hours.
• St. Johns County Council on Aging (COA) has announced that all COA senior centers and facilities, including River House, COA administrative offices and COA transportation headquarters will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, due to expected hurricane storm conditions. For more information and for updates, go to http://www.coasjc.org/news, or call 904-209-3700.
• All courthouses in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, serving Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties, will close on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct.  9 and 10, due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Milton. First appearances, detention hearings, and shelter hearings are included in the closure. Weather and circumstances permitting, regular court operations may resume on Friday, Oct. 11. As conditions allow, information will be made available at circuit7.org, social media platforms and at 904-827-5670.
• In line with the University of North Florida, MOCA Jacksonville will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, due to the impending severe weather. This includes Setlan Coffee Co. and SoulFULL Eats. The museum will reopen after staff completes a post-storm evaluation of potential damage, which will take place once the storm has passed and local authorities lift any restrictions on the downtown area. All programs and events during this time are canceled until the storm has passed and assessments can be completed.