Damage assessments begin in Clay County

Door-to-door damage assessment efforts will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday  in Clay County to take a look at the damage left from Tropical Storm Debby.

Teams will take to the streets in areas where flood waters have subsided. Assessment efforts will be concentrated in these areas:

• Knightboxx Road area
  
• Tanglewood and Greenwood subdivisions, southern Orange Park
• Aquarius Concourse and Arora Boulevard., off Blanding Bouleavard in northern Orange Park
• Bellair area, north of Kingsley Avenue
  

Continued assessment efforts will also be conducted in other areas as water recedes.

Many roadways remain closed or impassable in Clay County. The Sheriff's Office will continue to provide assistance for residents in stricken areas.

Many people in the Clay County area have been asking about the status of County Road 218. CR-218 westbound at Country Estates remains impassable, but CR-218 westbound at Jacaranda Avenue is open.

County Public Works employees are working to improve additional roadways, and these will be opened as conditions warrant

The Clay County Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue teams, and Fish and Wildlife Commission continue to help with providing personnel and watercraft availability to assist residents. Approximately 90 people and several animals have been assisted from flooding homes.

Damage reports are being received from all areas of the county. Nearly 200 damage reports have been received so far. More than 300 homes are believed to have sustained some type of damage, which may not have been yet reported.

All damage should be reported to the Clay County hotline at (904) 284-7703. Clay County said this is a declared emergency, so it is imperative that all reports of damage are recorded through the EOC.

Storm-related debris (structural and vegetative), should be placed curbside for collection. Debris pieces should be no longer than 4' long, and weigh no more than 50 lbs per piece.

Regular household garbage and weekly yard debris pickups will be conducted on existing pickup schedules.

The EOC Call Center will be back open at 8 a.m. Thursday.