Storm update #1 – Hurricane Milton

Published on October 07, 2024

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Hurricane Milton has rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane as it makes its way toward Florida’s west coast. Neighbors should prepare themselves, their families and their property as this storm is expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain to our area.

  • Sign up for email, phone and text notifications at www.alertgnv.org.
  • Refill needed prescriptions. All health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities must comply with the state statute which allows for early prescription refills under the Governor’s executive order.
  • Review your family emergency plan and stock your emergency preparedness kit, including nonperishable foods for your family and pets, flashlight batteries, etc. Visit ready.gov for helpful emergency supply lists.
  • Now is the time to secure your property in areas that are prone to flooding, and bring inside any loose objects in your yard that could be picked up by strong winds.

Helene yard debris management

  • Alachua County is allowing residents to dispose of vegetative waste free of charge at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park (5115 NE 63rd Ave., Gainesville), and is lifting the volume limit on yard debris accepted at its five Rural Collection Centers. (The opportunities to drop off yard debris are only for the time leading up to the impact of Hurricane Milton and will not extend beyond its arrival.)
  • Please make sure your current debris piles do not block storm drains, streets, driveways, sidewalks, drainage ditches, storm inlets or other water runoff infrastructure.
  • The city’s disaster debris contractor continues to collect debris left by Hurricane Helene and has collected 3,300 cubic yards of yard waste to date (more than 150 standard truckloads). It is expected to take several weeks to collect all the debris and the contractor will make several sweeps through neighborhoods.

Sandbag operations

  • Pre-made sandbags will be available until 5 p.m. today, Oct. 7, and 8 a.m.-5p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8 at the Public Works Center, 405 NW 39th Ave. A limit of 10 filled sandbags per vehicle can be picked up at this location. To ease traffic flow, arrive at this location via northbound NW Sixth Street and then turn east (right) onto NW 39th Ave.
  • Bags and sand to make self-serve sandbags will be available until 5 p.m. today, Oct. 7, and 8 a.m.-5p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8 at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Rd. Please bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags at this location. Assistance is available for those in need. A limit of 10 bags for filling will be provided per vehicle. To ease traffic flow, access the site from NE 12th Ave. via Waldo Road, or travel south on NE 15th Street via NE 16th Ave.
  • For information about sandbags outside Gainesville city limits, contact your local municipality or visit the Alachua County Ready website.

Facilities

  • Colclough Pond Nature Park; San Felasco Nature Park; and Split Rock Conservation Area remain closed. Evergreen cemetery remains closed.
  • All other active parks and nature parks remain open at this time. Visitors to city parks are asked to remain vigilant and storm-aware as weakened limbs or trees may still fall
  • Report downed trees and limbs at the myGNV app or on myGNV.org.
  • The city is working to secure all municipal facilities in advance of H. Milton, including protecting the roof of the Thelma Boltin Center from the heavy rain expected in the coming days.

Special Needs Registry

  • Alachua County Emergency Management encourages individuals with special needs to register online for the Special Needs Registry Program. The Alachua County Special Needs Registry is intended for those who have certain physical or medical conditions and no options to shelter at home, with friends, family, or elsewhere during a disaster.

Refuse Collection

  • Residential trash and recycling pickup continues normal operations at this time. Service is suspended once area winds reach 35 mph.

Regional Transit System (RTS)

  • Bus service continues normal operations at this time. Service will be suspended once area winds reach 35 mph. Visit www.go-rts.com for additional information. 

Public Meetings

Additional resources

  • Visit GRU.com/StormCentral for a list of important phone numbers in the event of service emergencies, as well as a link to the Gainesville Regional Utilities outage map with estimated time of restoration.
  • Visit www.safeGNV.org for all emergency management updates and additional preparedness tips.

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