Shellfish growers are already hard at work recovering gear and assessing damages in the Panhandle and Big Bend areas. To view Hurricane Michael Imagery of the lease areas from NOAA’s database visit: https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/michael/index.html#.
For any growers affected by Michael, you may want to join the Oyster South Growers Exchange group. People are posting pics of recovered gear, offering assistance, and coordinating hardware store runs. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/oystersouthgrowersexchange/ to join the group.
We will be sharing posts from Wakulla and Franklin County Emergency Operations Center’s Facebook pages on our UF/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Facebook Page. For up-to-date resources and information on the federal response to Hurricane Michael from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), please visit https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-michael.
Information for Franklin County Florida Emergency Management (10/14/2018):
- Precautionary boil water notice remains in effect for Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, Lanark Village, St. James Bay, and Alligator Point. Please DO NOT DRINK THE WATER.
- BuyRite Pharmacy in Apalachicola will be open on Monday, October 15, 2018 – Tuesday, October 16, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Currently, they are only accepting cash and checks.
- CVS Pharmacy will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. They accept cash, check, and debit/credit cards.
- Curry has set up a number for her established patients in Gulf and Franklin Counties, 850-739-1608.
- Pharr’s Sacred Heart Office in Apalachicola will be open daily from 9 am. to noon.
- Weems Medical Center East and West will be open today (Sunday, Oct. 14) until 4 p.m.
- WIC services are available in Franklin County for both Franklin and Gulf County residents beginning at 9 am:
Tuesday, 10/16, 106 NE 5th Street, Carrabelle.
Thursday, 10/18, 139 12th Street, Apalachicola. - Water and other supplies are available at the following distributions throughout the county: Apalachicola City Complex, Eastpoint Church of God, Carrabelle Firehouse, and Lanark Village’s Chillas Hall.
- Please utilize FEMA as a resource at disasterassistance.govor 800-621-3362.
- There is still a curfew in place from sunset to sunrise.
Tune into 92.5 WPAP for information as well as Channel 7 WJHG. - Follow the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Facebook page for information on generator safety, food and water health guidelines, debris removal, and other healthy safety tips.
Information for Wakulla County Florida Emergency Management (10/15/2018):
- Wakulla County Emergency Management has created a call-in line to report damages to your home or property. Please call (850) 745-7115 to report damage to your house. If you receive a recording please leave your Name, Address, Phone Number and the type of damage you incurred.
- Due to the extent of damages and debris, entry into the affected areas will be restricted to residents, property owners, invited guests, emergency personnel and recovery crews.
- Wakulla Emergency Management along with the Red Cross has opened a post-disaster shelter at the One-Stop Community center located at 318 Shadeville Highway in Crawfordville on October 12, 2018.
- A Salvation Army mobile canteen is scheduled to provide a hot meal in Saint Marks, Shell Point, Panacea, and Ochlockonee Bay started October 12, 2018, with the following time schedule.
- Saint Marks 850 Port Leon Drive 12:00 pm (Noon) 5:00 pm
- Shell Point Fire Department 2:00 pm 7:00 pm
- Panacea 1360 Coastal Highway 12:00 pm (Noon) 5:00 pm
- Spring Creek At the end of Spring Creek Highway 2:00 pm 7:00 pm
- Crawfordville Hudson Park 1:00 pm 5:00 pm
- The Lake Ellen Baptist church has a kitchen providing hot meals from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm daily operating at their facility which is located at 4495 Crawfordville Highway. These meals are for all the citizens of Wakulla County free of charge.
- A Point of Distribution for Disaster Relief, which includes Food and Water, is in operation at the Wakulla County Recreation Park which is located at 79 Recreation Drive in Medart. Wakulla County Emergency Management is working to provide future Points of Distribution in the coastal areas. Please check social media and other media outlets for times and any other updates.
- Debris from the storm should be placed on the side of the county roadway. The debris should be separated, so that white goods (refrigerators, washers, other large metal objects, etc.) is separate from the organic and wood debris. All this debris should be placed beside the public roadway, but not closer than 3 feet of the roadway. Debris will NOT be picked up from private roadways. Residents on Federal Highways and State roadways must have their debris out as soon as possible, as the state will only be making one pass to pick it up. Spoiled food should be taken to the County landfill on Martin Luther King Memorial Blvd, where it can be placed in a dumpster for free or placed in your garbage can. Trees, Limbs and yard debris can also be taken to the landfill and dumped for free.
