9/25/17 @ 11:20 a.m. - There is a long list of residents affected by Hurricane Irma right here in Nassau County who have reached out to Emergency Management requesting assistance for a variety of things including cleaning out flooded homes, cutting up fallen trees, and helping them get debris to the right-of-way or drop off sites. These residents are elderly or unfortunate and are not able to do this themselves. Is there anyone in the community interested in volunteering their time to help a neighbor in need? Even a few hours of your time would be a tremendous help for these individuals.

Please contact Volunteer Coordinate, Mike Efferson, at (904) 548-0900 and let him know when you are available so we can get these people the assistance they need as soon as possible.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/21/17 @ 3:15 p.m. - Please see the below Press Release from the Nassau County Grants Office:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAROL GILCHRIST
(904) 530-6020
 
SHIP Funds Available to Aid in Disaster Relief for Low-Income Families
 
Executive Order Number 17-235 was issued by Governor Rick Scott on September 4, 2017, due to threats related to Hurricane Irma. The Executive Order allows local government to use unencumbered State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds to carry out activities related to disaster relief. (Florida Administrative Code, 67-37.005(9)) This State of Emergency shall expire 6 months from the date of this order.
 
Nassau County citizens in need of emergency assistance for damages related to Hurricane Irma could qualify for up to $5,000 in grant funds to be used to protect their home from further damage. Examples include tree removal from home, hiring of a cleaning service to extract water, roof repairs, boarding of broken windows, and payment of insurance deductible. Mobile homes and rental properties are not eligible.
 
Assistance is only for very-low and low income families. This applies to those with household income equal to or less than 80% of the area median income as shown on the chart below.
                                          
Household Size                     Annual Income Limit                         
1                                  $36,050
2                                  $41,200
3                                  $46,350
4                                  $51,500
5                                  $55,650
6                                  $59,750
7                                  $63,900
8                                  $68,000
 
Nassau County citizens meeting the above requirements and in need of assistance should contact the Nassau County SHIP Office at (904) 530-6020. Applicants will be required to fill out a Disaster Self Certification Form and a SHIP Application, and must provide income documentation.
 
 ******************************************************************************************************
-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office
 
 
 

9/21/17 @ 9:15 a.m. - The Small Business Development Council has provided the attached information on two types of disaster loan programs to assist small businesses that need financial assistance as a result of Hurricane Irma.

The Small Business Development Council will have representatives available to assist business owners next Tuesday, September 26th from 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville. If you have any questions, please contact Jodi Henson,  Consultant for the Small Business Development Council, at (904) 530-6027 or via e-mail at Jodi.henson@unfl.edu.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/20/17 @ 5:45 p.m. - Dumping of debris into County and State right-of-ways is prohibited. Drop-off locations were established to provide citizens residing on private roads with options to dispose of yard debris. There are two locations are both are FREE for Nassau County residents:

• Bailey Road Maintenance Yard in Fernandina Beach located at 3163 Bailey Road
  
• Hilliard Maintenance Yard in Hilliard located at 37356 Pea Farm Road
  

Both locations are open seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. until further notice. Please note that these sites will only accept vegetative debris and will not be able to accept construction/demolition debris.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/19/17 @ 8:40 p.m.

APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE HERE:

Register online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
If you do not have access to the internet, register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If using 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

PLEASE HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOU TO MAKE APPLYING EASIER:

Social Security info of each person needing assistance

**If you do not have your SSN card, you can show a Medicare/Medicaid card, W2 form, or filed tax return.***

· Current and pre-disaster address with zip code

· Directions to property

· A working telephone number where FEMA can contact you

· Address where you can receive mail

· Insurance information if available

· Total household annual income

· A routing and account number from your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account)

· A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster

Info provided by Nassau County Emergency Management.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office

9/19/17 @ 7:20 p.m. - Nassau County Emergency Management shared this update today regarding opening of all rods except Crawford Road at County Road 121. See below:

"There is only 1 road currently closed in Nassau County as of 9/19/2017 . Crawford Rd at CR121. ( SEE MAP) All other roads in Nassau County are OPEN. This road will be closed until it can be repaired. Updates will be posted as soon as they come available."

-Sabrina Robertson
County Managers Office

9/19/17 @ 6:05 p.m. - Farm Share will be distributing food to help Irma victims this Friday, September 22nd from 9am-2pm at the Callahan Fairgrounds. This event is free and open to all Nassau County residents. Please bring a bag to carry your grocery bags in!

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office

9/18/17 @ 9:50 p.m. - From State Representative Cord Byrd:

Most standard homeowners policies include a little known coverage for spoiled food due to a power outage. The coverage is typically $500. Does yours?

Please SHARE so your friends and neighbors can check their policies!

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/things-your-home-insurance-covers.aspx

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

9/18/17 @ 8:55 p.m. - From Nassau County Emergency Management:

***DSAT TEAMS ARE ARRIVING SOON***
Disaster Survival Assistance Teams (DSAT) will be arriving in Nassau County soon. These teams will be doing door to door canvassing of areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

The Disaster Survivor Assistance Team (DSAT) is utilized once there is a presidential declaration. After a disaster, survivors require knowledge on how best to begin the recovery process and ways to obtain assistance. DSAT provides information directly to survivors by canvassing the community door-to-door. DSAT brings information to locations where citizens frequent, so that everyone in the community has equal access and understanding of the assistance process. Along with providing survivors with information, FEMA and FDEM DSAT Counterparts register survivors for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and conduct individual case status visits door-to-door. The number of DSAT workers assigned to any given territory will vary depending on such factors as the extent of damage, population density, and other demographics such as special needs populations.

While DSAT’s primary goal is to inform survivors about the recovery process, DSAT teams also collect information that can aid the community. DSAT will often identify unmet needs and areas of concern in the community because they are in the field with the people everyday. This information assists other areas of Recovery to ensure that all of the needs of the community are met.

DSAT circulates information on how to register with FEMA for disaster aid, the location and operation hours of Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), and mitigation options. All other information is dependent on the event that has taken place. For example, during a flooding event, DSAT may hand out information on water damage and mold prevention.

If you have any questions, please contact the EOC at 904-548-0900.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office
​
​

9/18/17 @ 8:45 p.m. - Below is a Press Release from Emergency Management regarding initial damage assessments related to Hurricane Irma.

Initial Damage Estimates Reach $9 million in Nassau County from Irma

Nassau County Director of Emergency Management Billy Estep says preliminary damage assessments to residential and business structures, including public facilities in the county, have topped $9 million dollars.

Estep says these estimates do NOT include all flooded structures. Estep says there are still some areas within the county that are not accessible. Estep says as a result, damage estimates will likely be significantly higher.

While these numbers are preliminary, Estep says 132 structures are included in the damage assessments. Ten (10) structures are affected (light damage), 92 minor (need repairs) and 30 major (greater than 50% damage
Estep says the Red Cross will conduct a canvass of homes in the coming days that will eventually be verified by FEMA. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams will also canvass door-to-door and verify Nassau County preliminary estimates. DSAT helps survivors sign up for individual assistance and other federal programs. Estep says those FEMA teams are in route to Nassau County. Once FEMA has verified the county’s numbers, Disaster Recovery Centers will be set-up in the coming days. Estep says the Nassau Emergency Management will keep residents informed to when and where those centers will be established.

Additional updates:

• There are two roads that remained closed in Nassau County: 1) Crawford Rd. dirt portion between Thomas Creek and highway 301, 2) Stokes Road bridge awaiting inspection
• One shelter remains open; Hilliard First Baptist Church with 8 occupants
• Power outages: Florida Public Utility has restored power to 100% of its customers on Amelia Island, FPL reports, as of 2pm, 94% of its customers have had service restored, leaving 1,920 customers without power and OREMC says it has restored power to all of its customers on the west side of the county

• Individual Assistance Designation: Nassau County received a disaster declaration for Individual Assistance resulting from Irma’s impacts on Thursday September 14th at 6pm. Residents who suffered damages can apply for Individual Assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If you do not have access to the internet, you may register by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). Disaster Recovery Centers will be established to assist residents but you do not have to wait until then to apply.

• Debris removal began this morning in the county and will continue until all debris has been picked up. Residents can find the more information here.

* Any media outlet that would like to schedule an interview with Director Estep tomorrow, contact me by phone or email and I will get it arranged for you.

Nassau County Emergency Management
Contact: Dave Richardson
(904) 548-0945 or (904) 654-5858
email: tridentdave@gmail.com
Facebook: NassauEM
twitter: @NassauEM