TROPICAL STORM DEBBY UPDATE 6-27-12

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management geared down from full Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation to a partial activation Wednesday, June 27 as calls for rescues dwindled following Tropical Storm Debby. T.S. Debby began dropping rain on Wakulla County on Sunday, June 24 and the rains finally ceased during the day on Tuesday, June 26. The rainfall was estimated at 30 inches.

Flood waters are beginning to appear on county roadways in new places where sinkholes are full or wooded areas can no longer contain the water. Sinkhole “ponding” is forcing flood water to run backwards and waters from Lost Creek, Swirl Sink and Lost Creek Sink south of Crawfordville have pushed water back toward Gulf Coast Lumber which is now threatened with flooding.

Flatwoods draining has created a new hazard on Rehwinkel Road where overnight a section of the road that was completely dry Tuesday night flooded early Wednesday. Residents should be prepared for the potential of water overflowing sinkholes if they have sinks near or on their property as well as draining of saturated wooded areas.

WCSO Emergency Management is asking residents who have experienced flooding on their property to contact the sheriff’s office at 745-7100 so that the flooding can be documented. Residents should contact their insurance company as well. There is no public assistance available yet but the WCSO wants to document the damage in the event that public assistance becomes available.

The Army National Guard was released from duty today along with the FWC. The FWC conducted more than 20 rescues and the National Guard ran one mission to check on residents of the upper St. Marks River area and Old Magnolia Road.

Law enforcement, the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation representatives are still working in the EOC until further notice.
The Sopchoppy River is beginning to go down although not at as quick a pace as it has after other flood events. U.S. Highway 319 from Medart to Sopchoppy has reopened to traffic although there are still spots where water is on the highway. Flood waters did not reach the top the Sopchoppy River Bridge. But lateral water pressure on the bridge will require inspections to be completed as soon as possible.

The St. Marks River is at a moderate flood level. Residents in the area declined assistance from the National Guard when the assistance team came through the area.
One Wakulla Firefighter received medical treatment for dehydration, but no other injuries have been reported.

St. Marks businesses reported water inside structures as did the Stop N Save at U.S. Highway 98 and Spring Creek Highway. Mike’s Paint and Body in Medart suffered structural damage from being hit by a tree during the early stages of the storm.

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received 2,642 calls from noon Sunday to 5 a.m. today. A normal week call load for the dispatch unit averages 1,730 calls.
 
The primary ongoing concern is flooding along waterways (creeks and rivers). However, all of the major waterways (Sopchoppy and St. Marks Rivers) have crested and will begin to fall slowly through the weekend. Lost Creek appears to be slowly rising on the south end. Swirl Sink and Lost Creek Sinks appear to be overflowing.

Road Closures:
Current road closures due to flooding, damage, and/or bridge damage:
 
 
- Smith Creek Rd @Syfrette Creek Bridge
- Harms Road
- U.S. Highway 98 in Panacea (1 lane only)
- Harvey Mill Road / Lawhon Mill Road
- Whiddon Lake Road @ Jump Creek
- J.K. Moore Road @ end of pavement
- Donaldson Williams Road
- Surf Road @ Buckhorn Creek
- Bostic Pelt Road
- Edgar Poole Road near Jack Crum Rd
- Lonesome Road
- Forest Road 13 @ end of pavement

- (NOW OPEN) U.S. Highway 319 between Medart and Sopchoppy (partially covered with water but open)
 

- The transition to recovery activities, including human services and damage assessment begins today. 

- There are no current mandatory evacuations or restricted travel orders in effect.  As long as the roadway is clear, it is open for public access.

- Approximately 75 residences have been impacted to some degree to date:  2 due to trees falling on the structure, the remainder due to flooding. 

- Residents are encouraged to contact the Wakulla County Emergency Management to report any damages, regardless if they require assistance.  This information will be utilized in determining the needs for federal disaster and/or non-profit organization assistance.

Agencies involved in Tropical Storm Debby emergency response:

A. Wakulla County Administration:
 Emergency Declaration has been signed.
 Assisting with Damage Assessment in Sopchoppy.

B. Wakulla County Schools:
 Summer school reopened Wednesday after two days of closures.

C. Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Division of Emergency Management:
 Right-sizing emergency response assets
 Distribution of state-provided bottled water and shelf-stable meals.
 Participating in coordination conference calls with the State Division of Emergency Management county agencies, city agencies, and supporting non-governmental entities
 Assessing damage countywide
 EOC is online and currently activated to a level 1
 Coordinating resources
 Coordinating Damage Assessment
 Developing recovery objectives and priorities, including potential requests for federal/state damage assessment and human services.

D. Wakulla Public Works Office:
 Tree removal
 Road repairs
 Sinkholes

E. Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office:
 Filling additional sand bags
 Assisting with rescue and maintaining traffic control points
 Providing saw crews

F. Wakulla Agricultural Extension Service:
 On standby

G. Wakulla County Department of Health:
 Monitoring special needs
 Monitoring environmental health needs (disease control, mosquitoes)

H. Wakulla County Fire Department
 Back to normal operations
 Staffing EOC

I. Wakulla EMS
 Planning and right-sizing for road closures (e.g. alternate response routes)

J. Florida Highway Patrol
 Maintaining traffic control points.
 Right-sizing staffing today.

K. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
 Providing swift water rescue.
 Right-sizing staffing today.

L. Florida Department of Law Enforcement
 Liaison in EOC

M. Red Cross
 Managing Shelter Operations at Crawfordville Elementary (Current population: 5)
 Begin bulk distribution of meals and clean-up kits
 Conducting client needs assessment

N. Florida Division of Emergency Management
 SERT Liaison (FDEM Region 2 Coordinator) in EOC.
 22 pallets of bottled water received.
 22 pallets of meals received.

O. Florida Department of Transportation
 Liaison in EOC
 Monitoring state road conditions.
 Standing by to conduct structural inspections on two bridges over the Sopchoppy River (Smith Creek Road, CR-22).
 Standing by to develop a temporary bridge plan for Sopchoppy should inspections deem aforementioned bridges damaged.

P. Florida National Guard
 High-wheeled vehicle support for damage assessment and rescue

Q. Progress Energy
 Current Outages: 524
 Crews conducting repairs where possible. Some flooded properties cannot be repaired until water recedes

R. Talquin Electric Cooperative
 Current Outages: 0 members
 Response operations complete

S. Florida State University
 Emergency Manager assisting with EOC operations

Response Statistics (storm total to date):

- Impacted residences:  Approximately 75, of varying degrees. 
- Impacted businesses: 1 major damage.
- Shelter population: Current 5, Peak 21.
- 17 water rescues, 67 people rescued.
- 126 responses for trees down.
- 86 responses for power lines down.
- 42 traffic control points for flooded roadways.

State of Florida Status:
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is currently at a level 1 full activation. Governor’s Executive Order #12-140 declaring a State of Emergency is in effect.