BLACK CREEK

As News4JAX visited multiple areas in Clay County Thursday morning to see the effects of Ian there was good news for Clay County residents in the Black Creek area.

Clay County officials are warning of potential flooding countywide. That includes perpetually flooded areas like Black Creek as well as small street flooding because of concerns that the ground is already heavily saturated.

Evacuations were ordered in Clay County due to Hurricane Ian, effective at noon Wednesday.

Clay County officials are getting prepared for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Ian, which is expected to bring strong winds and intense rain known to cause massive flooding in the Black Creek area.

Clay County is working to eliminate major damage issues during catastrophic storms like what the county dealt with in 2017 following Hurricane Irma.

Loved ones say Heather Anan, 44, died Tuesday morning after she was ejected from a boat that hit a boathouse dock on Black Creek in Clay County.

A day after a deadly boat crash on Black Creek, the water was calm as the investigation continued.

A boat passenger was ejected and killed Tuesday when the vessel hit a dock along Black Creek in the Lake Asbury area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

Clay County Emergency Management has released an updated map with the county’s hurricane evacuation zones.

March rainfall totals are impressive, 9-11″ across much of North Florida and South Georgia. Just since Wednesday, rainfall amounts have been 2-4″, enough such that the North Fork of Black Creek will reach flood stage later Friday.

Mostly backyard flooding, as it typically does, the water levels will flush lower quickly over the next few days.

Black Creek, which is known to flood during major weather events, is expected to reach the minor flooding stage on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Any time there is a significant weather event, residents living near Black Creek in Clay County prepare for the worst.

The search for a 34-year-old man who fell of a boat late Sunday afternoon in Black Creek resumed at 8:30 a.m. Monday as a recovery mission, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said.

A search is ongoing for a missing boater who fell into Black Creek late Sunday afternoon, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Clay County deputies want to speak with anyone who has information about Lynda Robertson and her truck that might help their investigation. Deputies on Tuesday released the identity of a woman whose body was found in Black Creek in hopes that the public can help with the investigation into her death. The woman, identified as Lynda Robertson, was found Feb. 22 by a kayaker in the North Fork of Black Creek, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office wants to know if anyone has information about Robertson or her white Ford pickup truck (pictured below) that could help with its investigation. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Det.

Clay County deputies say a female found dead was wearing a thin, gold chain necklace with a distinctive cross. Clay County deputies on Tuesday asked for the public’s help identifying a body found in the North Fork of Black Creek. According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, a kayaker reported the discovery on Monday. David Vereen at (904) 264-6512 — Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL (@ccsofl) February 23, 2021As of Tuesday, the body was at the medical examiner’s office. The agency also said there are no active missing persons cases involving a woman in Clay County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saturday evening was a wild one for Florida, as mainly south of I-10 saw many rounds of heavy rains, some small hail, and gusty winds to 45 mph. This is good for the lakes out there, but also just a little concerning to those living along both prongs (forks) of Black Creek. It appears the South Fork, near Penney Farms will see water levels reach the “action” stage this today (Sunday) and then crest just shy of minor Flood Stage around 12 noon Monday. Had there been another inch (+4″) we would have seen Black Creek reach minor flood stage. AdShows the heaviest through Duval with radar data indicating the heaviest in the Clay county area.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – With Clay County emergency management officials preparing for the threat of wind damage as a result of Tropical Storm Eta, the school district announced schools will be closed Thursday. Clay District Schools Superintendent David Broskie said at a news conference early Wednesday evening that the decision to close all schools and offices, as well as cancel all after-school activities, on Thursday was made based on information from the National Hurricane Center and Clay County Emergency Management. Orange Park leaders concerned about downed treesTown leaders in Orange Park told News4Jax Wednesday night that they’re mostly concerned about downed trees because there is so much tree coverage in Orange Park. News4Jax also asked about the major drainage operation in certain Orange Park neighborhoods. Orange Park Town Manager Sarah Campbell said they’re still waiting on grant money.

MIDDLEBURG, Fla. A worker was hospitalized Tuesday after a crane working on a bridge project on County Road 218 fell on him. A Clay County Fire Rescue spokesman said the mans leg got trapped under the crane. The victim was a subcontractor of Sacyr Construction, which is working on the bridge over the South Fork of Black Creek. The crane was removed from the road and traffic on CR-218 is flowing again. Work on the bridge project has stopped and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the accident.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. Clay County emergency management officials are watching to see if shelters will need to be opened this weekend. If the shelters open, Director of Emergency Management John Ward said they will be a group setting and they should be a last resort. Regardless of the impacts from Isaias, Clay County emergency management officials have been preparing for the Atlantic hurricane season for months. For general population shelters, distance has increased from 20 square feet apart now to 120 square feet. Shelters for those with special needs have increased from 60 square feet apart to 160 square feet.

High water on Black Creek is finally easing and expected to drop below the 16 foot flood stage by late Sunday afternoon. It cant happen soon enough for residents along Black Creek near Middleburg. 5 inches of rain led to Clay county runoff which pushed Black Creek beyond its banks. After reaching 18' Black Creek will drop below the 8' action stage Tuesday. (wjxt)Tropical Storm Debby in June 2012 set the highest record inundating 587 homes in Clay county as Black Creek overflowed.

Residents on Jacksonvilles Westside are also dealing with flooding in the Whitehouse area. Residents there said a recent drainage project meant to alleviate flooding is actually making the flooding worse. The Old Plank Road Outfall Improvements project was meant to help control water flow in Jacksonvilles Whitehouse area on the Westside. If we find that the design was in error then the city will take steps to correct the situationOne Whitehouse resident told News4Jax flood has been an issue. Yarber said in the 40 years hes lived there he has never experienced flooding like this aside from a hurricane.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. The recent high waters in Clay County have re-exposed an unusually vulnerable neighborhood the Aquarius Concourse neighborhood in western Orange Park. The backs of many homes in the neighborhood of near the Orange Park Mall are close to McGirts Creek which is an offshoot of the Ortega River. It doesnt flood as often as Black Creek, also in Clay County, but it flood during Hurricane Irma. But Ward said the neighborhood hasnt flooded very much. The county said its always working on improving drainage in neighborhoods, but in that case, much of the land is federally protected.

Recent rains have swelled Black Creek as tropical moisture flowed into the state accompanying Tropical Storm Cristobals landfall in Louisiana. A Flood Warning is in effect until Tuesday afternoon for the North Fork Black Creek at Middleburg. Flood stage in Middleburg at North Fork Black Creek is 16 ft. It was just a year ago, June 1st, when the creek hit its second highest historical flood of 25.3 feet. The river is expected to fall below flood stage Monday afternoon however additional heavy rain will likely slow receding water.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla, Clay County Emergency Management Director John Ward will be providing an update on the predicted light flooding along the North Fork of Black Creek as a result of the ongoing rainfall from Tropical Storm Cristobal. The Clay County Division of Emergency Management news conference will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Emergency Operations Center. Residents in the area of the North Fork of Black Creek should take precautions now for the predicted rise of Black Creek after midnight and into the morning hours of Monday.

VIDEO: People living around Black Creek are preparing their homes and boats for Hurricane Dorian.lCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

People living along Black Creek hoping not to have similar experience like Irma. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.