City deploys employees and equipment to Tallahassee

City of St. Augustine Public Works Department has deployed a team to assist with disaster recovery efforts in Tallahassee Thursday where the city suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Hermine.

Five employees from the Water Division, including pump station operators, utility operators, and mechanics led by Utility Field Operations Manager, Wade Giddens, departed the Public Works compound at 3:00 pm today.

The team carried with them two portable bypass pumps, two utility trucks, and a box van complete with tools, materials, and supplies, including water, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and a portable generator.

One of the highest priorities during disaster recovery is preventing water-borne disease, second only to maintaining clean drinking water according to Martha Graham, Director of Public Works.

Much of the city’s effort in Tallahassee will be to expedite restoration of centralized water and waste-water service, a critical life service, while power is being restored to the area.

Well over 100 of Tallahassee’s pump stations were without power following the storm. To put that in perspective, the City of St. Augustine alone has 70 pump stations.