Flood Watch begins Wednesday night for Flagler County as Hurricane Helene sweeps toward Florida

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler County Emergency Management advises residents to be diligent about emergency preparations as the National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for Flagler County, effective now, and a Flood Watch beginning Wednesday evening.

“We are expected to get a couple of inches of rain between now and Saturday with some isolated areas receiving more. Winds for Thursday are expected to range between 25 and 35 mph, and gusts of about 40 mph inland and 50 mph at the coast,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “We do not anticipate that we will need to order evacuations or open shelters, but we do have a plan in place in case that needs to change.”

There is a probability of tornados, particularly after midnight on Friday. The flood watch remains in effect through Friday.

“The Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway may see elevated tides of between 1 and 3 feet above normal,” Lord said. “If you live in a flood-prone area, you may want to take extra protective measures. Flagler County has made sand available for residents (self-service: bring bags and a shovel) at the following: Bay Drive Park, 30 Bay Drive, near the retention pond; and at Hidden Trails Community Center, 6108 Mahogany Boulevard. Presently, sandbags are readily available at local hardware stores.”

Build a Kit

• Gather supplies – now before store shelves are emptied – that will last for a week after a disaster for everyone in the home.
• Don’t forget to consider the unique needs that each person or pet may have.
• The kit should include nonperishable food, water, medications, clothing, cash (as credit card/ATM machines may not work), radios, and batteries.
• Portability is key should evacuation be required.

Make a Plan

• Talk to friends and family about how communicating before, during, and after a disaster will work.
• Have a primary, secondary, and possibly even a tertiary plan for where to go in the event of an evacuation.
• Consider staying with family or friends outside of the evacuation area in addition to hotels or motels. (NOTE: Flagler County always opens public shelters at the time evacuations are ordered.)

“We recommend staying aware of the weather and the tropics throughout the Hurricane Season as things can rapidly change,” Lord said. “Preparation is the key, and we’re here to help.”

For more guidance on how to prepare for and deal with disasters, download the countywide Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Guide at www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency, or pick-up a copy at any local library, the Flagler Beach Historical Museum, city halls, and the County Administration Building. The latest version of this guide includes the new Potential Hurricane Evacuation Zones map, which can also be viewed by clicking on “Hurricane Evacuation Zones” at www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency.

To receive emergency alerts, such as evacuation orders, sign up for the ALERTFlagler notification system at www.FlaglerCounty.gov/AlertFlagler.

Get involved – register for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and other volunteering and training opportunities by going to www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency and selecting “Volunteering & Training.”