Meeting/Event Cancellations:
· City Hall will be closed to the public on Thursday, 9/7 and Friday, 9/8.
· The September 11th Memorial scheduled for Monday, 9/11 at 10am has been cancelled.
· The Conference Agenda meeting scheduled for Monday, 9/11 is rescheduled for Thursday, September 21st at 9:00 AM.
· The Budget Hearing scheduled for Monday, 9/11 is being rescheduled.
· The FPRA Budget Hearing meeting scheduled for Monday, 9/11 is being rescheduled.
Solid Waste Collection on Thursday and Friday:
· Trash Collection will remain as regularly scheduled on Thursday and Friday.
· The City of Fort Pierce is exhausting all efforts to remove all debris from city right of ways. For example, there are six grapple trucks running today that were not regularly scheduled.
· Solid Waste has added 3 additional sanitation trucks per day until wind conditions force us to stop. There are usually only 4 trucks running total on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Additional Info on Solid Waste and Storm Prep Information:
You can never be too prepared for a hurricane of any size. Our employees are working around the clock to ensure that our residents are safe and that the streets are cleared of debris. Stormwater maintenance will be continuous until wind conditions force trucks to stop.
Now is not the time to do major yard work and we are asking residents to please refrain from cutting down whole trees or doing major projects until the storm passes. Residents should not place any debris at the curb after a Hurricane Watch or Warning is issued.
The City of Fort Pierce is working with the St. Lucie County Emergency Operations Center to monitor the storm’s potential path. We need the help of every resident for the efficient removal of debris leading up to and after the storm.
Residents are also urged to secure their garbage and recycling carts before the storm.
Communication:
· Residents are encouraged to keep their phones charged and stay tuned to advisories on the City of Fort Pierce website, city social media pages and Fort Pierce TV Channel 27. There is an “Emergency Alert” feed dedicated to sharing information regarding Hurricane Irma on the city’s website: http://cityoffortpierce.com/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Hurricane-Irma-Updates-17
· Residents should stay alert to forecast changes by reliable sources and have hurricane plans in place.
Here’s a message from Mayor Linda Hudson regarding Hurricane Irma: https://youtu.be/6lWb9tRP_6c
St. Lucie County:
St. Lucie County's Information Hotlines are open if you have questions about Hurricane Irma - 772-460-HELP (4357)
St. Lucie County Public Safety officials will provide a live update at 5 p.m. from the Emergency Operations Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StLucieGOV?_rdr
St. Lucie County offices, libraries and facilities will be closed Thursday, Sept. 7, Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9.
Shelters:
St. Lucie County EOC has shelters available, we will distribute the specifics once we receive that information. Here’s the map of Emergency Shelters and Evacuation Routes: http://www.stlucieco.gov/home/showdocument?id=5549
Residents will special needs must pre-register, here: http://bit.ly/2j166Dg
Fort Pierce City Marina:
The Fort Pierce City Marina is advising tenants to relocate their vessels. Fort Pierce City Marina may disconnect electricity and water supply as deemed necessary prior to the storm. Questions related to the marina can be directed to 772-464-1245 or the evening phone 772-979-4019.
St. Lucie Public Schools:
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) will be closed on Thursday, September 7th and Friday, September 8th. All after-school activities and athletic events with the exception of Boys and Girls Clubs and 21st Century are cancelled on Wednesday, September 6th. Students in these two afterschool programs must be picked up by 5:30 pm. Please monitor postings as SLPS will continue to publish updates via our web page, social media outlets, and School Messenger to help you stay informed about local conditions and plans for school operations.
Tolls Suspended:
Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to suspend tolls across the entire State of Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma. By suspending all tolls, Floridians and visitors will more easily be able to prepare for any potential storm impacts, access important hurricane supplies, and quickly and safely evacuate when necessary. Governor Scott said, “In preparation for the potential impacts of Hurricane Irma, I have directed the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend all tolls across the State of Florida to keep traffic flowing. They will be suspended for the duration of the storm’s impacts to Florida. Ensuring the safety of Florida families and visitors is our top priority and suspending tolls statewide will help people quickly evacuate and make it easier for all Floridians to access important hurricane supplies to ensure they are fully prepared. FDOT has been in constant contact with local districts and stands ready to provide traffic assistance alongside the Florida Highway Patrol and their law enforcement partners. We are continuing to closely monitor the developments of Hurricane Irma and will continue to take aggressive action to keep our state safe.”
19th Judicial Circuit Courts:
Due to the threat of Hurricane Irma, Chief Judge Metzger has closed the 19th Judicial Circuit Courts on Thursday, September 7th and Friday September 8th. Please check their website: www.circuit19.org, our emergency telephone line: 772-742-9229, FB page and Twitter account for updates.
Comcast Opens Xfinity Wifi Service across Florida to Aid Residents and Emergency Personnel:
To help residents and emergency personnel stay connected if Hurricane Irma makes its anticipated landfall in Florida, Comcast is opening its more than 137,000 Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout the state to anyone who needs them, including non-Xfinity customers, for free. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, which are located both indoors and outdoors in places such as shopping districts, parks and businesses, please visit Xfinity.com/wifi.
TCPalm:
To provide our community with important public-safety information about Hurricane Irma, TCPalm has temporarily suspended its paywall.
Readers can access an unlimited number of stories on our site, regardless of subscription status.
For updated information about this storm, go to TCPalm's Hurricane Irma page: http://www.tcpalm.com/weather/hurricanes/
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority:
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority will be closed to the public on Friday, August 8, 2017.
Inspections:
The City of Fort Pierce will not be conducting any regular inspections on Thursday, August 7 nor Friday, August 8.
We will continue to provide information as it becomes available.