7/17/19 @ 9:40 a.m. - The Board of County Commissioners had a very special visitor at their Board Meeting today! Smokey Bear dropped by in celebration of his 75th Birthday which also marks the 75th anniversary of his wildfire prevention campaign, the longest running public service campaign in US history.

They presented Smokey and members of the Florida Forest Service with the following proclamation:

WHEREAS, on August 9, 2019, Smokey Bear will celebrate his 75th birthday, which also marks his wildfire prevention campaign as the longest running public service campaign in U.S. History; and

WHEREAS, Smokey’s message is as relevant today as it was in 1944 as more people are living closer to natural resources – so, no retirement for Smokey!; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Florida Forest Service is to protect Florida and its people from the dangers of wildfire and manage the forest resources through a stewardship ethic to assure they are available for future generations; and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, Florida Forest Service Wildland Firefighters have responded to over 228 wildfires in Nassau County that burned 1,670 acres, and in many instances, threatened communities and adjoining infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Florida Forest Service is actively engaged in promoting and conducting prescribed burns and other wildfire mitigation practices to reduce the size and intensity of a wildfire that may threaten communities and other infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, the Florida Forest Service has mechanically treated 384 acres of forest brush, installed 64 miles of fire lines, and provided 3,133 burn authorizations to local ranchers, tree farmers, and land managers in Nassau County to maintain and restore natural ecosystems and reduce the wildfire hazard.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED this 17th day of July, 2019, by the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County, Florida, that:

1. The Board hereby congratulates Smokey Bear on his 75th birthday celebration.
2. The Board hereby commends Smokey Bear for his continuous efforts in reminding citizens to be careful when using fire in natural areas.
3. The Board hereby expresses their gratitude to the men and women of the Florida Forest Service for their partnership with Nassau County and Smokey Bear in wildfire prevention and mitigation.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office

Pictured: Chairman Justin Taylor, Forest Ranger Tim Steed, Smokey Bear, and Jacksonville District Manager of the Florida Forest Service, Jennifer Hart

7/12/19 @ 1:00 p.m. - The Northeast Florida Regional Council is conducting a Regional Resiliency Survey to allow residents and businesses an opportunity to provide input on sea level rise and emergency preparedness. The results will be used for future resilience planning as they develop tools that will allow communities to recover more quickly from hazardous events such as hurricanes, storms, and flooding.

We urge Nassau County residents to participate in this survey to ensure Nassau County's concerns and ideas are included in the results. To access the survey, please click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Margie Moehring of the NEFRC at (904) 279-0880 ext. 161.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

6/14/19 @ 4:30 p.m. - Please be advised that the Burn Ban is currently still in effect at this time. Fire Chief, Brady Rigdon, spoke with the Florida Forest Service this week regarding current conditions. It was determined that based on the recent rain and rise in humidity levels, the Burn Ban could be lifted.
Unfortunately, several Commissioners were away at a conference this week so they were unable to call a special meeting to lift it due to lack of a quorum.

A Resolution rescinding the Burn Ban is included on the agenda for their regularly scheduled meeting taking place next Wednesday, June 19th. Assuming nothing drastic happens between now and then, the Burn Ban should be lifted at that time. We will be sure to notify everyone right away.

Thank you all for your patience. Should you have any questions. please contact Fire Rescue Headquarters at (904) 530-6600.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/29/19 @ 10:20 a.m. - The 2019 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 on Friday, May 31, 2019 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019. During this time, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Examples include: 

• Candles, lanterns and flashlights
• Radios
• Batteries
• Reusable Ice
• Coolers and ice chests
• Generators

To see a complete list of qualifying items, please click here. 

The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of qualifying items or sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, lodging establishment or airport. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

5/24/19 @ 1:45 p.m. 

At a Special Meeting today, the Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution No. 2019-102, declaring a burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Nassau County, effectively immediately.
 
All outdoor burning shall be prohibited except pursuant to permits issued by the Florida Forest Service. The outdoor burn ban would not pertain to cooking on attended and monitored barbeque equipment.
 
The burn ban will remain in effect until it is lifted by the Board of County Commissioners, upon a recommendation of the Nassau County Fire Chief.
 
If you have any questions related to the burn ban, please contact Fire Rescue Headquarters at (904) 530-6600.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

5/24/19 @ 11:15 a.m. - Emergency Management Director, Greg Foster, just notified us that the north and south bound lanes of I-95 have reopened as smoke conditions on the interstate have cleared. Should the wind shift and smoke begin to affect the visibility of the road, they may have to close them again. We will keep everyone posted. 

-Sabrina Robertson 
 County Manager's Office

5/2/19 @ 3:50 p.m. - June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season and in preparation, your County government is holding various meetings to ensure we have the skills and tools necessary to protect our citizens and property. Examples include identifying essential personnel, assigning their roles during a State of Emergency, reviewing/updating emergency procedures, and inspecting County property such as facilities, roads and bridges to ensure they are structurally sound.

On Tuesday, May 1st, County Manager, Mike Mullin, representatives from the County's Engineering and Road & Bridge Department, and representatives from Ayres & Associates, the State's Architectural, Engineering and Structure Design company, met to discuss bridges. Specifically, the group discussed the national bridge rating system, identifying structural deficiencies, and the required certifications an inspector needs to be qualified to perform an inspection to the State's standards. Overall, the meeting was very informative and provided great insight into bridge inspection standards and the safety of the public.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

3/14/19 @ 4:45 p.m. - IT'S NATIONAL FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK!

Knowing what to do before a flood occurs increases your chances or survival and better protect your property. While sometimes floods develop slowly as rains continue to fall, however sometimes flash floods can occur within minutes. Being prepared can save your life and give you peace of mind.

Create a Communications Plan
It is important to be able to communicate with your family and friends in the event of a disaster. Whether it is having a specific person identified to contact for status updates or a safe location to meet up with family members, having a plan in place will give you peace of mind if disaster does strike.

Assemble an Emergency Kit
It is good practice to have enough food, water and medicine on hand at all times to last you at least 3 days in the case of an emergency. Water service may be interrupted or unsafe to drink and food requiring little cooking and no refrigeration may be needed if electric power is interrupted. You should also have batteries, blankets, flashlights, first aid kit, rubber boots, rubber gloves, and a NOAA Weather Radio or other battery operated radio easily available.

Know Your Risk
Is your home, business or school in a floodplain? Where is water likely to collect on the roadways you most often travel? What is the fastest way to get to higher ground? Knowing the answers to these questions ahead of time can save your life. Check your property using the Property Appraiser's website.
Search for your property, click on the parcel identification number, and then click "Map This Parcel". Once the aerial view opens, go to "Map Layers" and click "Environmental - Flood Zones Effective August 2017" from the drop down menu.

Sign Up for Notifications
Sign up for Emergency Alerts here. You can sign up to receive alerts via call, text, or email.

Prepare Your Home
Sometimes floods develop slowly and forecasters can anticipate where a flood will happen days or weeks before it occurs. Oftentimes flash floods can occur within minutes and sometimes without any sign of rain. Being prepared can save your life and give you peace of mind.

1. If you have access to sandbags or other materials, use them to protect your home from flood waters if you have sufficient time to do so. Filling sandbags can take more time than you may think.
2. Have a professional install check-valves in plumbing to prevent flood waters from backing up into the drains of your home. Make sure your sump pump is working and consider having a backup. Make sure your electric circuit breakers, or fuses, are clearly marked for each area of your home.
3. Since standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, ensure coverage by contacting your insurance company or agent to purchase flood insurance. This must be done before there is even a threat of flooding as insurance companies stop issuing policies if there is a threat of flooding. (i.e. an approaching hurricane). Many flood insurance policies take at least 30 days to go into effect so even if you can buy it as a storm is approaching, it may not protect your investment.

Prepare Your Family/Pets
You may be evacuated, so pack in advance. Don't wait until the last moment to gather the essentials for yourself, your family and/or your pets.

Charge Your Essential Electronics
Make sure your cell phone and portable radios are all charged in case you lose power or need to evacuate. Also make sure you have back-up batteries on hand.

Leave
If it is likely your home will flood, don't wait to be ordered to leave; evacuate yourself! Make alternative plans for a place to stay. If you have pets, take them with you or make arrangements to board them at a facility well away from the flooding danger.

Source: www.weather.gov/safety/flood-before

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

3/13/19 @ 9:00 a.m. - IT'S NATIONAL FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK!

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster and can happen anywhere. While those living in flood-prone areas are required to have flood insurance, those in low to moderate risk areas do not.

Flood damage is not covered by most homeowners insurance policies. If you don't have flood insurance and a natural disaster occurs, the costs can be catastrophic to your family. Just one inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage to your home or apartment.




WHY DO I NEED FLOOD INSURANCE?

FACT: Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year.

FACT: Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage.

FACT: Floods can happen anywhere--More than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside the high risk flood zone. Check out this video The Big Cost of Flooding

FACT: Flood insurance can pay regardless of whether or not there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration

FACT: Most federal disaster assistance comes in the form of low-interest disaster loans from U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and you have to pay them back. FEMA offers disaster grants that don't need to be paid back, but this amount is often much less than what is needed to recover. A claim against your flood insurance policy could and often does, provide more funds for recovery than those you could qualify for from FEMA or the SBA--and you don't have to pay it back.

FACT: Wildfires dramatically change landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to increased risk of flooding due to heavy rains, flash flooding and mudflows.

HOW CAN I BUY FLOOD INSURANCE?

Watch these informative videos: How Can I Buy Flood Insurance; What Do I Need to Know About Flood Insurance Coverage

To learn more about factors that determine the cost of flood insurance, watch this video: What Factors Determine How Much I Pay for Flood Insurance.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

3/12/19 @ 9:30 a.m. - IT'S FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK!

Did you know that almost half of deaths related to floods happens in a vehicle?  A representative from the National Weather Service stated, "People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of these deaths occur in automobiles that are swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded".

The road bed beneath the flood could be severely damaged and it's impossible to tell the exact depth of the water or the condition of the surface beneath. This is why you should NEVER attempt to drive through a flooded road. Remember that it only takes a few feet of water to carry away a vehicle. This includes trucks and SUVs.

The National Weather Service's campaign, "Turn Around, Don't Drown", attempts to educate individuals of just how dangerous a few inches of water can be. Any time you come to a flooded road, walkway or path, remember to "Turn Around, Don't Drown".

Should you find yourself in a scenario where no reasonable alternative exists but to drive through the water, safety officials recommend that you:

• Do your best to estimate the depth of the water.
• Drive slowly and steadily through.
• Watch for items traveling downstream that could trap or crush your vehicle.
• Test your brakes on a clear patch of road at low speeds after driving through water up to the wheel rims or higher to ensure they're dry and working properly.
• Keep in mind that if your vehicle stalls in the deep water and you're forced to restart, irreparable damage could occur to the engine.
• Immediately abandon your vehicle and head for higher ground if you can't restart and become trapped in rising water. Try to open the door or roll down the window to exit, and call 911 or try to get the attention of someone nearby to call for help.
  

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office