CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Clay County Emergency Management officials are preparing for the impact of Tropical Storm Erika.
Right now, the county's emergency management is at Level 3, the monitoring stage. It's expected it will remain at that stage through the weekend.
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The deputy director of emergency management expects high waters to be a concern for people who live near Black Creek.
The river flows through the southern tip of Fleming Island to Middleburg.
In 2012, residents along the creek dealt with extensive flood damage after Tropical Storm Debby drenched Northeast Florida.
Emergency officials in Clay County are concerned because the waters in Black Creek are already high because of the recent rains.
Officials said rains from Tropical Storm Erika could make things there a lot worse.
People who live near Black Creek said they will be paying close attention to what Erika does over the next few days.
"If it starts rising, I'm out of here," Black Creek resident Kay McCabe said. "I've been through (Hurricane) Andrew several years ago down south, and I know what to expect, I think."
Emergency management officials will be monitoring Black Creek's levels at Clay County Emergency Management.
"There's large areas that drain into these creeks," Clay County Emergency Management Deputy Director John Ward said. "If we get significant rainfall on saturated ground, it's not going to soak in. It's going to sit there, and it's going to flood those respective areas."
Ward said more than 300 people have been impacted by smaller flooding events along the river.
People are being told to take the storm seriously and sign up for CodeRED, the county's emergency management alert system.
People can get alerts in prerecorded messages over the phone about how the storm will impact their neighborhood.
All they have to do is enter their address and phone number. To sign up, go to claycountygov.com/departments/emergency-management and click the button for CodeRED system.
Meanwhile, some people who live near the creek are making sure they're prepared.
"I just got a truckload of water and all that," McCabe said. "(I'm) picking up everything around my pool."
Emergency management personnel will be working through the weekend to monitor the tropical storm and its impact on Black Creek.