St. Johns County extends state of emergency

Hard-hit Vilano Beach residents begin long recovery process

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Johns County will remain under a state of emergency through at least next Tuesday.

That status should help people who are trying to repair damage to their homes and businesses.

Once the state of emergency expires, residents have to go through a lot of red tape to get certain things accomplished. For example, those living in Vilano Beach whose homes are teetering on the edge of collapse can now immediately take steps to protect what they own.

No matter where you look in St. Johns County, it's obvious the cleanup is going to take a while. That's why the St. Johns County Commission voted Tuesday to extend the state of emergency so that county officials and people living here can react immediately.

“For example, opening up shelters, getting supplies, taking construction projects that would normally have to go through for certain approvals, this gives a very broad approval for the county to protect the public and at this point start the recovery from this disaster,” said County Attorney Patrick McCormack.

While the extension helps people throughout the area, it is especially important for those in Vilano Beach. That's the section Commissioner Rachel Bennett serves.

“What my residents are wondering is how do we stabilize our shore. How can we get permission to put up a bulkhead?” Bennett said. “And the emergency proclamation will give them the ability to put up a 4-foot bulkhead and no more. And it has to be a temporary bulkhead.”

The county is also giving those people information on how to maneuver through the process to get something permanent done.

County officials said their jurisdiction only goes so far before they are superseded by the feds and the state.

Vilano Beach begins recovery

Hurricane Matthew washed sand ashore, destroyed dunes built over decades, and damaged homes and businesses in St. Johns County. Officials estimate property damage could reach $2 billion.

Vilano Beach was hit hard, with a few oceanfront homes destroyed and others teetering on the edge of a cliff of sand. Debris lines the roads and some residents are still without power or water.

VIDEO: Vilano Beach homeowners picking up the pieces

Urban search and rescue crews went door-to-door Saturday marking beachfront homes in the most-damaged areas with neon paint to indicate whether they were safe to enter. 

A square means the home has minor damage and is inhabitable. If the square has a slash through it indicates structural damage. Enter at your own risk, but call a structural engineer as soon as possible. If the square has an X inside, damage is significant and it is not safe to enter the house.

Some houses also got a red notice saying the home is unsafe and warning that it's unlawful to occupy or use the structure, or a yellow "Unsafe" sticker, that also is put on structures deemed to be unsafe.

The county said it's going to take weeks, if not months for the damage to be cleaned up and repairs completed.

Sean McMullen's deck was ripped off, the sand near his home is gone, but the foundation of his house remained intact thanks to a rock barrier he built.

“As long as I've got my family, that's all that I care about. Everything else you can replace,” McMullen said. “If you look at this, it looks like Hiroshima hit. And for this house to survive.... This is a miracle really, when I look around.”

McMullen said he's praying for his neighbors who weren't so lucky. Many lost their homes, which have been deemed unsafe by the county.

The most damaged homes are along A1A in Vilano Beach and South Ponte Vedra. They’re off-limits until engineers can find out what to do to save them.

“We've got a strong community here. We will get better. We help each other,” McMullen said.

Other significant damage was in southern St. Johns County, where the hurricane tossed around heavy boulders put in place a few years ago to reinforce an old road in the area. Some ended up in residents’ yards.

The path of destruction ran right through Tamara Wilhelm's property, as over 4 feet of water flooded her Vilano Beach home.

“It is devastating, absolutely devastating,” Wilhelm said. “But, I have a house to come back to, got a neighborhood to come back to. It's a blessing. It is.”

The State Road 206 bridge to Crescent Bridge reopened Tuesday afternoon after Florida Department of Transportation engineers found some structural damage Saturday and decided to keep the bridge closed until it was deemed safe.

WATCH: Coverage of historic storm | Sky 4 surveys Matthew damage

The State Road 16 Shands Bridge, which spans the St. Johns River, reopened late Sunday after part of the road on the St. Johns County side that washed away during the hurricane was rebuilt.

Docks demolished along St. Johns River 

Hurricane Matthew left a trail of damage along the Florida coast and well inland.

People living on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean saw incredible destruction, as well as residents along the St. Johns River in St. Johns County, where docks are now destroyed or missing altogether. 

Chris and Dolores Munoz, who have lived on the river in the Tocoi area of St. Augustine for decades, said they have never seen damage like this. 

Along the stretch of the St. Johns River, dock after dock is destroyed and house boats are either partially submerged or gone completely. Strong gusts even knocked down large trees across the area.

The Monozes said the sight is "heartbreaking."

"As you could see, I'm sure as you came in the area, it was the trees -- unbelievable. And then all of the debris from the yards. The docks came up and the debris from that came up in the yards all over," Chris and Dolores Munoz said. 

They said the water came all the way up to the back porch of their house, but not enough to damage the home itself. They said they feel incredibly lucky and hope they never see the water get that high again. 

County provides office space

St. Johns County is making public space available this week at the Main Branch Library, 1960 North Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, to assist businesses in need of a temporary virtual office location. 

The large meeting room will provide tables, chairs, and public Wi-Fi for business representatives on a first-come, first-serve basis to conduct general business activities. 

The normal bank of computers are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Business representatives needing space this week to conduct private meetings may contact Main Library Assistant Branch Manager Amy Ackerman at 904-827-6940. 

For additional information about post-Hurricane Matthew business relief, please visit www.sjcfl.us, follow the county on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SJCFL, or call the Citizen Information Line at 904-824-5550.

Business owners who have experienced damages as a result of Hurricane Matthew are encouraged to fill out the Business Damage Assessment Survey at http://flvbeoc.org. The survey is utilized to determine the needs of businesses impacted by the hurricane to activate federal financial assistance and the Emergency Bridge Program.

St. Johns County has activated a hotline for residents and business owners with concerns regarding property and structural damage due to Hurricane Matthew. If you are concerned that your home or business has sustained structural damage due to Hurricane Matthew, or if you have storm-related permitting questions, please call the St. Johns County Building Services Structural Hotline at 904-827-6800.

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce also shared several resources for business owners:
Member directory | Business damage Assessment survey | Florida disaster resources, info

Salvation Army offers meals, cleanup kits

The Salvation Army will once again focus disaster recovery support efforts in St Johns County on Tuesday.

Canteens will be in the following locations for lunch and dinner:

  • Vilano Beach (near Publix)
  • Crescent Beach Fire Department at 5867 A1A
  • Bridge St and Granada St in St Augustine
  • 109 N Main St in Hastings.
  • Roving canteen starting at  CR 28 and going to CR 13

Cleanup kits are available at The Salvation Army's staging area in the parking lot of Destiny Church at 1485 US 1.

The Vilano Beach and Crescent Beach canteen locations will also be giving out cleanup kits.

“People are very happy to receive anything they can,” said Salvation Army Maj. Ronald Mott. “A lot of people lost everything. They have nothing to go back to.”

The Salvation Army served 810 meals, 1,169 drinks and 1,042 snacks in St Johns County on Monday.

“Waiting for the power to come back on. I'm still without power. That's why the food is so important. This is great,” Cindy Thompson said of the Salvation Army's efforts.

Boil water advisory

During re-entry, everyone, both evacuees and those who remained during the storm, were urged to be careful
of standing water hazards, debris obstructions, and domestic or wild animals that may be stranded from their owners or habitats.

In addition, people were urged to use extreme caution if operating generators. They must be kept outside and well ventilated.

Water and sewer service was restored to the islands on Saturday evening and all curfews have been lifted.

St. Johns County Utilities lifted the boil water notice for customers on Anastasia Island and Ponte Vedra Beach at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. A portion of Ponte Vedra Boulevard, south of Mickler Road to 1279 Ponte Vedra Blvd., remains under a boil water advisory, including the following neighborhoods:

  • 1129 to 1279 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
  • Gnarled Oaks Drive
  • Broken Pottery Drive
  • Sea Hammock Way
  • Old Ponte Vedra Drive

Residents should bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute and then let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling water kills bacteria and other organisms in water.

To report water or sewer outages, please call 904-209-2700.

Schools, county offices

St. Johns County public schools resumed classes Tuesday.

Flagler College said it will reopen its campus for students at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Classes will not resume until Friday.

Public transportation services in St. Johns County, which includes the Sunshine Bus and the Para-Transit systems, returned to standard operations Monday. All Sunshine Bus routes will be running on their normal schedules.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine will reopen Wednesday, 

The St. Johns County Courthouse and St. Augustine city office will also remain closed Monday. Monday night's City Commission meeting was canceled. 

Solid waste collection resumed Monday, with the initial pickup of vegetative storm debris scheduled for Thursday.

Storm debris must be piled at the curb. Do not bag, barrel, or mix with household waste. Household trash, and bagged debris of any kind, will not be picked up with storm debris. Debris contractors will make multiple passes until cleanup is complete.

Recycling collection begins on Wednesday.

St. Johns County residents can receive text messages regarding instant updates on Hurricane Matthew relief and recovery efforts by texting STJOHNSFL to the number 888777. 

For the latest conditions in the city of St. Augustine and all of St. Johns County, residents should continue to call St. Johns County Emergency Management at 904-824-5550.


About the Authors:

Lifetime Jacksonville resident anchors the 8 and 9 a.m. weekday newscasts and is part of the News4Jax I-Team.