Nassau County Emergency Management lifted an evacuation order and rescinded the closure for beaches within unincorporated areas of the county Thursday evening as the high tide began to recede.
After Hurricane Milton battered and left Florida, the remnants were still forecast to be an issue throughout Thursday with the high tide bringing a “significant threat” of flooding.
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At 9:21 a.m., the National Weather Service updated its forecast, with new totals suggesting that select Nassau County areas would be further impacted by increased storm surge.
The new forecast called for a storm surge around 5 feet, 1 inch. That’s an increase from 3 feet, 7 inches, a significant jump for areas that have been soaked by heavy rains. That storm surge is expected to peak at high tide at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.
For that reason, the county issued an evacuation order and also ordered the closure of beaches within the incorporated areas of the county.
“The projected storm surge may cause water intrusion into homes during high tide,” Nassau Emergency Management said.
On Thursday at 5 p.m., the county lifted the evacuation order and said it will continue to conduct emergency operations and damage assessments throughout the county.
At the same time, the order on beach closures was rescinded.
Officials asked residents returning home to be cautious.
Residents who encounter damage, are asked to self-report damage at www.onenassau.com or by calling the Emergency Operations Center at 904-548-0900.