On Sept. 1, Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on the Bahamas making landfall as a Category 5 storm. According to the National Hurricane Center, it was the strongest in more than 80 years with sustained winds of up to 185 mph. At least 50 people in the Bahamas lost their lives, according to later reports.
Dorian was an unpredictable storm. It formed as a tropical depression Aug. 24 off the lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. Hours later it was a tropical storm. Four days later, the storm struck the U.S. Virgin Islands as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of up to 130 mph.
On Aug. 28, Dorian’s track seemed to be headed for Puerto Rico and was anticipated to continue to Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency. By declaring a state of emergency, Governor DeSantis ensured state and local governments would have ample time, resources and flexibility to prepare.
With hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Michael still fresh in Floridians’ minds, preparations got underway. St. Johns County residents could fill up to 20 sandbags without charge at several locations. Businesses and homeowners boarded up windows, big box home stores sold out of generators, some gas stations ran out of fuel and water flew off grocery store shelves. Sunday, Sept. 1, the City of St. Augustine opened the downtown garage for free parking during the storm and the St. Johns County Fairgrounds was opened for RV and boat storage and overnight stays without charge.
St. Johns County issued mandatory evacuation orders effective at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2 for Evacuation Zones A and B as Hurricane Dorian continued to churn over the Bahamas moving just 30 miles northwest in 24 hours.
By 2 p.m. Tuesday, the storm seemed to be headed toward the Carolinas, skipping landfall in Florida. But coastal residents were still nervous. Hurricane Matthew never made landfall in Florida and still caused flooding and beach erosion in St. Johns County. Hurricane Dorian did indeed remain offshore and passed by St. Johns County as a Category 2 storm Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The ocean breached recently replaced dunes in Summer Haven within weeks of the multi-million-dollar project’s completion. In South Ponte Vedra, State Road A1A was closed briefly because waves broke through sand barriers and flooded the right of way. Public works crews pumped water from Porpoise Point Drive and it was dry by Friday. Assessment of beach erosion will continue through Sept. 20.
For now, Florida can breathe a sigh of relief and contribute to efforts to supply aid to the Bahamas and neighbors farther up the coast. Like the Jimmy Buffett song goes, we’ll be “tryin’ to reason with hurricane season” until it ends Nov. 30. So, keep supplies left over from Dorian on hand — just in case.
