Log in

Apopka steps up preparations for Hurricane Irma

Posted

From the City of Apopka

The City of Apopka is continuing preparations for Hurricane Irma while monitoring the changing track of the enormous storm.

Several truckloads of sand and bags were provided to the public Wednesday at Edwards Field, 11 Forest Ave. Service is resuming from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Drivers should enter the site from the east, along North Highland Avenue, and exit south onto East First Street. Residents can make up to 10 bags of sand. City representatives will be available for assistance.


On his Facebook page yesterday, Mayor Joe Kilsheimer posted this information in regards to the amount of sandbags distributed yesterday:

Hurricane sandbags by the numbers:

- 180 tons of sand distributed.

- 12,000+ sand bags filled.

- A 14-hour day put in by your City of Apopka Streets crew.

- Untold hours of support and traffic control by the Apopka Police Department.

- Pretty much a steady two-hour wait throughout the day by Apopka residents to get sand bags.


City crews are checking backup electric generators to assist municipal utilities, traffic signals and buildings in case of power outages during the storm. Storm drains are checked for debris.

Contractors for several city construction projects are clearing those areas of large items that may blow away in high winds. The city’s Community Development Department requested private builders to minimize the amount of materials that could fly away from construction sites.

The City of Apopka continues to monitor the predicted track of Hurricane Irma, which will begin to impact Florida by Sunday, according to current forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. Local impacts from Hurricane Irma will become clearer in the next day or two as the storm approaches the state. Residents are asked to prepare home emergency kits that include fresh drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, tools and a medical first aid kit.

Decisions regarding the opening of any shelters will be made once there is a better determination of Hurricane Irma’s projected path and its impact, according to Orange County’s Emergency Operations Center. An announcement likely would be closer to Saturday morning. Orange County does not announce shelter locations prior to confirmation of shelter’s opening.

Potential changes to Apopka’s solid waste collection service will be determined later this week pending future forecasts for Hurricane Irma. Certain city offices will close at 2 p.m. Friday to allow public employees to prepare for the storm with their families.

The city will provide information and updates during the week via the municipal website, www.apopka.net , and the city’s Facebook page. Residents are encouraged to be prepared for any severe weather event and to monitor progress of Hurricane Irma at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

City of Apopka, Hurricane Irma, Sandbags

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here