Tropical Storm Nicole, Advisory 3
City of Fort Pierce
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Contact: Joe Sweat, Communications Specialist
772.467.3031 | jsweat@cityoffortpierce.com
Website: www.cityoffortpierce.com
Tropical Storm Nicole was located 270 miles E of West Palm Beach and moving WSW at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph. Nicole is still forecasted to strengthen to hurricane strength before making landfall in our area later today. St. Lucie County remains under a Hurricane Warning, Storm Surge Warning, and Flood Warning. Winds are expected to build today to a maximum of sustained of 45-55 mph winds with gusts to 75 mph. Winds will begin to subside tomorrow morning. We can expect 3-5” of rain with 5-8” in some areas. Storm search may reach 3-5 feet.
State of Emergency Declared
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for 34 counties, Executive Order (EO) 22-253, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022.
The City of Fort Pierce declared a State of Emergency at 9:30 AM. St. Lucie County declared a Local State of Emergency at 6:44 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Updates from the County:
The St. Lucie County Public Safety officials strongly recommend residents in Zones A and B to evacuate before 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. These areas include the barrier island, low-lying areas long the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, and those living in manufactured/mobile homes and RVs. St. Lucie County’s evacuation zones can be found online at: https://www.stlucieco.gov/.../pub.../shelter-evacuation-info
Also, St. Lucie County beaches and residents are advised to stay off the beaches for the next few days due to the expected storm surge.
Closures Updates:
Bridges are anticipated to be closed when sustained winds reach 45mph.
The Jetty, the Jetty Park, and Jetty Linear Park are all closed to the public due to hazardous concerns and safety precautions.
Public restrooms will be closed for the duration. FPUA Customer Service Lobby will be closed today, Tuesday, November 8th through Thursday, Nov. 10th, due to Tropical Storm Nicole. The lobby will also be closed on Friday in observance of Veterans Day.
City of Fort Pierce offices will be closed to the public, Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10, and will remain closed on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in observance of Veterans Day.
St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners’ offices, including libraries and attractions, will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 9 and Thursday, Nov. 10. Additionally, county offices are closed Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. All public schools and other government offices will also be closed Wednesday, Nov. 9 and Thursday, Nov. 10.
Shelter Updates:
The following shelters will open in St. Lucie County starting today, November 9 at 10:00 a.m.
- General Population Shelter: Ft. Pierce Central High School, 4101 S. 25th Street, Fort Pierce, Fl 34981
- General Population Shelter: Lakewood Park Elementary, 7800 Indrio Rd, Fort Pierce, Fl - 34951
- Special Needs Shelter: Havert L. Fenn, 2000 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, Fla. 34982
- Pet-Friendly Shelter / General Population Shelter: Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, 1801 Panther Lane, Fort Pierce, Fla. 34947
- General Population Shelter: Treasure Coast High School, 1000 SW Darwin Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
If residents have questions or concerns, they should call the St. Lucie County Public Information Lines at 772-460-4357 or 772-460-HELP, which are open today until 7 p.m. and the rest of the week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (These hours are subject to change depending on the storm’s path).
Sand Distribution
The City of Fort Pierce is offering free self-serve sandbag stations for residents at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreamland Park (S. 25th St.), Pioneer Park (Ave M and N. 29th St.), and Jaycee Park (South Hutchinson Island). Residents should bring their own bags and a shovel. Parks are open daily from dawn to dusk. For more info regarding sand distribution, please call the Public Works Department at 772-467-3794.
Solid Waste Collection
The Solid Waste Division is running additional trucks to pick up existing debris throughout the city in preparation for the storm, but PLEASE refrain from cutting down vegetation or doing major projects until the system passes. Residents should not place any additional debris at the curb as it may block surface stormwater flow.
Street and Drainage Efforts
The Streets and Drainage Division are working hard to ensure the stormwater systems are free of obstructions and operating at full capacity. Emergency Response Teams from Public Works are on standby and ready to act when needed.
Communication
We are committed to keeping our residents safe and informed - all public notices will be provided on the city’s website at www.cityoffortpierce.com, social media channels, and Fort Pierce TV Channel 27.
Residents are also encouraged to sign up for St. Lucie County's Alert St. Lucie program to get emergency notifications sent directly to their phone, email, or text: www.stlucieco.gov/Alert
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