From Staff Reports
The City of Apopka, Orange County Public Schools, St. Johns River Water Management District, and many other agencies and organizations have announced multiple closings and event postponements for Thursday because of Hurricane Helene. Here is a list, which will be updated as new cancellations and closings are announced:
City of Apopka: Storm Update for Helene
The City of Apopka continues to monitor Hurricane Helene. Residents should prepare their disaster kits, stock up on supplies, review their disaster plans, and have essential items ready.
CITY CLOSURES:
• As of 5 PM on September 25, 2024 all City Parks & Recreation facilities will be closed.
• Apopka City Hall, City offices, & City Parks & Recreation facilities will be closed on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
• Apopka City Hall, City offices, & City Parks & Recreation facilities will reopen on Friday, September 27, 2024.
NO TRASH COLLECTION
• There will be no solid waste collection on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
• Garbage pickups will NOT be made up. Customers that are collected on Thursday will get their next usual pickup on Monday.
• For yard waste and bulky pickups, we will resume Thursday pickups on Friday and work into the weekend to try to catch up, however all yard waste and bulky pickups may be on a delayed schedule for several days.
• Residents are strongly advised to store garbage and yard waste carts inside, as well as any other loose outdoor items that could become projectiles.
Please continue to visit our Alert Center for City updates and storm news. Visit our Hurricane Page for additional storm information.
Meads Bottom mural unveiling rescheduled
Due to the severe weather warnings in effect for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the dedication ceremony for Mead's Bottom mural in Apopka. The event has been rescheduled for Friday, October 4th at 4 pm. Please take the necessary precautions to stay safe during the storm.
We look forward to seeing you there on Friday, October 4th, at 4 p.m. Thank you for your understanding, Maribel Brinkley, President of the Apopka Historical Society.
Orange County Public Schools closed
Based on the forecast, Orange County Public schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26 and all after-school activities must end by 6 p.m. tomorrow, September 25. This is due to the projected sustained wind speeds that will exceed 35 mph and wind gusts over 50 mph in Orange County.
The impact on Orange County and timing of the storm will determine whether schools are closed on Friday, September 27.
The primary decision point for any potential closure is based on sustained wind speeds that are projected to exceed 35 mph. That is the threshold for our buses to be safely on the roads. The district’s Safety and Emergency Management team works closely with the Orange County Office of Emergency Management and other local officials to ensure the school district’s decision-making is aligned with our partners.
OCPS will communicate all additional updates with families and employees through Connect Orange phone calls/emails/text messages, posts to OCPS social media pages and on ocps.net.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyPublicSchools
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OCPSnews
Website: www.ocps.net
Orange County Clerk of Courts Close Offices Due to Hurricane Helene
Due to Hurricane Helene, all Orange County Clerk of Courts offices will be closed tomorrow Thursday, September 26th to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. This follows the 9th judicial circuit’s decision to cancel all court proceedings for Thursday, September 26th as well.
While offices are closed, we remind customers that they can always view public court documents online for free from our website at www.myorangeclerk.com. In addition to viewing public court documents, users can also pay a traffic ticket online by entering a citation or case number.
The Clerk of Courts will make a decision on Thursday about when offices and operations will resume.
For more information, go to www.myorangeclerk.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OrangeClerk, X (Twitter) at www.twitter.com/OrangeClerk, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/orangecountyclerk.
St. Johns River Water Management District closes Apopka Wildlife Drive
With Hurricane Helene approaching Florida’s coast, the St. Johns River Water Management District's Emergency Operations Center is actively monitoring the storm and taking necessary precautions to protect public safety.
To prepare for potential impacts, all District offices will temporarily close starting Thursday, Sept. 26.
Operational updates from the District include:
- Lock closures: Navigation through the Burrell Lock, Moss Bluff Lock, and the Apopka Lock and Dam will be suspended starting at sunset on Wednesday, Sept. 25, until further notice.
- Land closures: All District-managed lands, including the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, will close at sunset on Wednesday, Sept. 25. These areas will remain closed until safety assessments can be conducted.
- Camping cancellations: All camping reservations through Monday, Sept. 30, have been canceled.
Additionally, the District’s pump strike teams are on standby to assist communities impacted by flooding.
For the latest updates, including flood warnings, river stages, and emergency contacts for local governments, residents are encouraged to visit the District’s storm information page at www.sjrwmd.com/storm.
For the most up-to-date information visit our District website at www.sjrwmd.com or follow us on social media.
DOH-Orange Offices Close in Response to Severe Weather Impacts
All Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) offices will be closed on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in response to severe weather impacts. Offices will remain closed until further notice.
Additional Resources
The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is a toll-free hotline activated at the time of an emergency to provide an additional resource for those in Florida to receive accurate and up-to-date information regarding an emergency or disaster situation impacting the State of Florida. SAIL hotline: 800-342-3557
For further assistance and information regarding severe weather impacts, including shelter information and disaster preparedness tips, visit the Division of Emergency Management website or Orange County’s local emergency management website.
For medical emergencies that need immediate assistance, call 911.
Apopka Fire Department and 2650 Foundation postpones scholarship ceremony
Due to Hurricane Helene, the Apopka Fire Department and the 2650 Foundation will postpone the award ceremony for VMR Scholarships scheduled for tomorrow, 9/26/2024. We will keep you updated once a new date and time have been determined for this event. Thank you all again for your continued support of the Apopka Fire Department and our members.
