YULEE, Fla. – Nassau County's emergency management said Thursday the county can assist homeowners who still have trees on or threatening their homes. Call the emergency management office 904-548-4980 for assistance.
Contractors will begin picking up debris left behind on Monday and continue seven days a week until completed, the county commissioners decided Wednesday evening. Homeowners are responsible for making sure all yard and construction debris is placed curbside. Household hazardous waste, such as paint cans, batteries and electronics, will not be picked up.
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The county also established three sites where residents can bring yard debris only:
- Bailey Road Maintenance Yard in Fernandina Beach, 3163 Bailey Road
- Hilliard Maintenance Yark, 37356 Pea Farm Road
- Woods Lane in Callahan, about 0.6 miles south of Crawford Road
Additional information is available at TheCountyInsider.com, the county's Facebook page, or by calling Nassau County Engineering Services at 904-530-6225.
Damage reports
Earlier this week, the county had received 700 reports of damaged homes or businesses and sustained some storm surge and beach erosion, but county officials considered themselves "very lucky" there was not more damage from Hurricane Matthew.
Most damage reports to structures were to private homes on the Island as a result of trees falling on houses. Three inspectors were going through the county checking the structural integrity of damaged properties.
Power was 100 percent restored to customers in the county by Tuesday, all roads and bridges are clear and the beaches are open. Nassau County schools reopened Tuesday.
Director of Emergency Management Billy Estep estimates the county spent $10 million dealing with and in the initial recovery from the storm, and that amount will likely climb as more detailed information is compiled throughout the county.
President Barack Obama named Nassau County as one of eight counties in Florida to be eligible for federal funds in his major disaster declaration. Federal assistance to the county is for “protective action," which includes the costs of a mandatory evacuation of Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island, and the costs of debris collection.
Nassau County plans to establish a disaster recovery center in coordination with FEMA and will announce the location when a location and opening time are announced. The DRC will provide a central location for Nassau citizens to receive help filing for uninsured individual federal assistance and other grant programs in place to assist individuals.
Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Matthew was activated earlier this week by Gov. Rick Scott. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm and recovery efforts. The application period is from today through Nov. 11.
DEO is currently surveying businesses in Nassau and other affected counties. To access the business survey, select Hurricane Matthew from the drop-down menu on its website.