9/20/17 @ 8:15 p.m.-

Due to the increased needs of our citizens, Nassau County Emergency Management has compiled a list of Food Pantries for Nassau County residents.

West side locations
Barnabas Pantry 904-261-7000 - North Florida Fairgrounds
543378 US Hwy 1, Callahan
Distribution: September 25th, October 2nd, 9th and 23rd
Times: 12:30 pm until 2:30 pm or until food is depleted

Gray Gables Baptist Church - 904-879-2986 (CUP Ministry)
54031 Church Rd, Callahan
Distribution: Every Monday from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm

Hilliard First Assembly of God - 904-845-2642
550920 US Hwy 1, Hilliard
Distribution: Every Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm
Distribution: Every Friday from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm
Special Note: Call 24 hours in advance, they will prepare pick-up for the following day

East side locations
Barnabas Pantry - 904-261-7000
1303 Jasmine Street #101, Fernandina Beach
Distribution: Every Monday from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm,
Distribution: Every Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm
Distribution: Every Friday from 10:00 am until Noon

Journey Church - 904-261-8310
95707 Amelia Concourse, Yulee/Fernandina Area
Distribution: Every Tuesday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm
Distribution: Every Tuesday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm
Distribution: Every Thursday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm

Yulee Baptist Church - 904-225-5128
85971 North Harts Rd, Yulee
Distribution: Every Monday from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm
Special Note: Call for immediate needs

-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

9/16/17 @ 6:45 p.m. - A big thank you to Petco for their generous donation to Nassau County Animal Services!

Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office

9/15/17 @ 7:40 p.m. - Below is a Press Release From Washington D.C. Regarding Sheltering and Immediate Assistance following Hurricane Irma.

Sheltering and Immediate Assistance Available after Hurricane Irma

Release date:
September 14, 2017
Release Number:
HQ-17-116
WASHINGTON – In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, life, personal safety, and access to safe shelter remains a priority of local officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the entire federal family.

More than 120 government and Red Cross shelters are currently open across the affected and surrounding areas. Download the FEMA mobile app (available in English and Spanish) for directions to open shelters, to register for assistance, for a customizable checklist of emergency supplies and disaster survival tips, and to register to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.

While immediate lifesaving and life sustaining operations are the priority for FEMA and our partners, residents and business owners in designated areas who sustained damage due to Hurricane Irma, and are able to do so, should apply for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Insurance is the first line of defense against damage to your home or business after a disaster. Contact your insurance agent immediately to learn about your insurance policies and their coverage. If survivors also have National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance and suffered damage during the recent floods, they can contact their agent or call 1-800-621-3362 – select option 2 – to learn more about their policy.

Multiple immediate assistance and short-term housing options are available to support survivors in building a bridge to recovery:

FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA). Focused on sheltering as an immediate priority, FEMA is making Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) available to eligible survivors in the state of Florida, who are unable to return to their pre-disaster primary residence because their home is either uninhabitable or inaccessible. TSA provides disaster survivors with a short-term stay in a hotel or motel.

Through direct payments to lodging providers, TSA is intended to reduce the number of disaster survivors in shelters by transitioning survivors into short-term accommodations.

Eligible survivors can find the list of TSA-approved hotels on www.DisasterAssistance.gov, and click on the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Program – Participating Hotel List link. If internet access is unavailable, the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362) can assist with locating a participating property. Survivors should contact the hotel directly to secure a hotel room prior to traveling to the hotel.

Rental Assistance. Assistance through FEMA’s Individual and Households Program may be available to eligible applicants to secure temporary housing while repairs are being made to the pre-disaster primary residence, or while transitioning to permanent housing while applicant survivor is displaced from their primary residence.

Temporary Blue Roofs. The recent hurricane has left many homeowners with damaged roofs, which can take time to repair. In order to mitigate additional damage that could result from rain, homeowners can have plastic sheeting installed over the damaged area by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Currently the USACE, FEMA, and local officials in disaster designated areas are conducting assessments for this program. Additional information will be available in the coming days on how to access this type of assistance, but the first step is registering with FEMA for federal assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for Florida residents whose jobs were affected by Hurricane Irma, specifically those who live or work in the counties included in the major disaster declaration. This may include people not normally eligible for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed persons and farm-workers. They can apply for unemployment benefits online at Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

Disaster Distress Helpline. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) remains open 24/7 for free help coping with the stress of the storm. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster.

Loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) may be available to help repair flood-related damage to your home or business and replace personal property. The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans of up to $200,000 to repair a primary residence, up to $40,000 for homeowners and renters to replace personal property, and up to $2 million to businesses and most private non-profits for physical damage and economic injury needs as a result of the disaster. Survivors need to register with FEMA first to determine their eligibility for any federal assistance that may be available.

Immediate Foreclosure Relief from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may be available for Florida and Puerto Rico residents in disaster-designated areas. HUD is granting a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages. HUD is also offering longer-term recovery assistance to survivors and impacted communities. For more information, visit HUD’s website.

There may be additional forms of immediate assistance available to survivors in declared areas to address critical needs such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items, and fuel for transportation. When survivors register for assistance they will receive referrals for the programs that may be available to them.

Survivors should register online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If they do not have access to the internet, they may register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). If they use 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.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSAT) are on the ground in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Florida to help affected communities during the critical days and weeks ahead. DSATs will address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments, requests for accommodations for those with disabilities or access and functional needs, and referrals to partners offering additional survivor services.