PALM COAST, Fla. – Flagler and Putnam counties saw minimal effects as Tropical Storm Hermine swept from the Gulf Coast northeast to Georgia early Friday morning.
The system came on shore as a hurricane about 1:30 a.m. Friday near Apalachicola.
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Flagler County reported a half inch to just over an inch of rainfall with maximum winds of 52 mph about 6 a.m. A weather station lamp at Marineland was damaged.
A few hundred Clay Electric and Florida Power & Light customers experienced power outages.
The Putnam County emergency services and public works departments responded to debris and downed trees caused by Hermine.
To report damage in Putnam County, call 386-329-0379.
Flagler County offices remain open
Many Flagler County offices are open for business Friday.
“We were very fortunate that the impacts to our area weren’t worse,” Flagler County Public Safety Emergency Manager Steve Garten said.
Flagler County administrative offices are open and working a regular schedule Friday, as are the Supervisor of Elections Office, the Property Appraiser’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office.
“Safety is our first priority,” County Administrator Craig Coffey said. “We didn’t know yesterday what the full potential for damage would be, and decisions were made in an abundance of caution. Fortunately, the storm moved passed us.”
Flagler, Putnam closures
Flagler and Putnam County schools are closed Friday.
The Palatka High School football game Friday night against Ponta Vedra will be rescheduled at a future date. Interlachen High School will host Hawthorne High School Saturday at 11 a.m. Crescent City High School's football game is away at The Villages and is still scheduled for Friday night.
All courthouses in Flagler and Putnam counties closed at noon Thursday. Putnam County's courthouse will remain closed Friday. Flagler County's courthouse will reopen Friday, and first appearance hearings for Thursday will be rescheduled to 8:30 a.m. Friday. There will also be a 1:30 p.m. first appearance hearing for all defendants who would normally have had their appearance Friday.
The Tax Collector’s Office in Flagler County, and the Palatka Community Based Outpatient VA Clinic are closed Friday.
Dump standing water
After Hermine passed by Flagler County, officials reminded residents to dump standing water where possible and watch for hazards.
"We want to limit places where mosquitoes can breed, so if you can get rid of standing water on your property please do so," Garten said.
Here are simple things you can do to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites around the home:
- Get rid of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools, or other containers that collect and hold water
- Clean debris from rain gutters, remove standing water from flat roofs, and repair leaks around faucets and air conditioners
- Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week
- Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas
- Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats or pools, and arrange the tarp to drain the water