Year: 2016

St. Johns County Communications Specialist, Sarah Hand, forwarded a final warning to residents who choose to remain within the evacuation zones during Hurricane Matthew. Residents living on the barrier islands have no guarantee of water or sewer services beyond Thursday evening.

Tonight’s situation report at 6:00 p.m. for Historic City News readers from Kelly Wilson in the office of St. Johns County Emergency Management. Conditions are expected to deteriorate considerably overnight. The next Situation Report will be issued tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. unless conditions dictate an earlier report.

Historic City News has learned that, although he is not an elected public official, St Johns County Administrator Michael Wanchick has signed an “executive order” establishing a curfew that will be enforced by deputies and municipal police in St Johns County lying east of the Intracoastal Waterway on the barrier islands.

St Johns County Emergency Management has informed Historic City News that they have opened four additional shelters and are continuing to monitor shelter capacity. The Pedro Menendez High School shelter is currently at capacity.

Historic City News has received the 11:00 a.m. update from the National Weather Service on Hurricane Matthew; currently the eye of the storm is passing over Nassau in the Bahamas where coconuts have been seen propelled by 140 mph wind gusts like cannonballs, damaging vehicles and buildings.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal, Jeff Atwater, announced to Historic City News that over the next few days the Florida Department of Financial Services will begin sharing information of importance to the public as we brace for and recover from the effects of Hurricane Matthew.