From the Fernandina Beach Fire Department

🚨🚨🚨 Calling all Seamstresses! 🚨🚨🚨

With the impending opening of the beaches, we are looking for cotton masks for our Ocean Rescue lifeguards - to help protect them, as well as our residents & visitors.

As our guards respond to emergencies, assist with first aid, relay public information, & enact other prevention methods in the interest of beach safety, we ask that beach-goers keep at least six feet between themselves & our guards as able. We continue to encourage the public to follow CDC guidelines & personal health practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Instructions for making masks from the CDC are in the comments, below, if needed. We are looking to accomplish this ASAP! Mask donations can be delivered to Fire HQ at 516 S 10th St. in Fernandina Beach. Please call us at (904)310-3153 with any questions, or to have us meet you outside. We know we serve an incredible community that will help us accomplish this task. Thank you all!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Opening of County Beaches
 
Nassau County, Florida, April 30, 2020- At yesterday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Board voted to reopen County beaches (Peters Point south to State Park) effective beginning Friday, May 1, 2020. Beaches will be open each day from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Beaches, parking lots, and beach walkovers will close at 9:01 p.m. and remain closed until 5:59 a.m.
 
Most normal uses such as walking, sitting, laying out, swimming, fishing, surfing, and playing in the sand will be allowed subject to following CDC guidelines for social distancing. Please note that beach driving (except for official vehicles used by the Sheriff, Fire Department, turtle patrol, and State agencies), camping and commercial activities such as horseback riding is not allowed at this time.
It’s also important to note that lifeguards will not be on duty until Monday, May 4th.
 
There had been previous discussion to limit parking to Nassau County residents, however that specific provision was not approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Parking areas will be open on a first come, first served basis.
 
Emergency Management Director, Greg Foster, participated in the meeting and while he didn’t have concerns about reopening the beaches, he did state, “COVID-19 is still a danger. Residents need to remain vigilant and continue to maintain social distancing guidelines as recommended by the Center for Disease Control”.
 
The Board echoed his comments. Chairman Leeper added, “We are confident that residents will do the right thing and follow those CDC guidelines by remaining six feet apart and limiting groups to 10 or less”.
 
The Board’s first priority is still the health and safety of Nassau County residents. Governor DeSantis provided an update yesterday indicating that the pandemic has not affected Florida as badly as originally expected and introduced phase one of his Florida recovery plan. This was a major factor in the Board’s decision to go ahead and reopen the beaches.
Should it be determined that individuals are not following CDC guidelines, the Board may be forced to reevaluate beach use again in the future. Individuals who have concerns and those who are considered to be most vulnerable should continue to shelter in place to the extent possible.  
 
Note: The City of Fernandina Beach made a decision yesterday to open their beaches (the area between Ft. Clinch State Park and Peters Point) beginning at 6am on Monday, May 4, 2020.
 
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Should you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010.

4/30/20 @ 5:35 p.m. - Below is a video from today's Press Conference. Topics of discussion included beaches, restaurants and information about two recovery information fairs that will be held next week. These events will feature elected officials and individuals from County departments offering limited services. CDC guidelines will be enforced for both events. More information to follow. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2020
 
Contact: Dave Richardson
Public Information Officer
Nassau County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
(904) 583-5543
EOC.PUBLICINFO@nassauflem.com
 
Nassau County Officials to Hold News Conference Today at 3pm
 
Nassau County Manager Mike Mullin, Sheriff Bill Leeper and Director of Emergency Management, Greg Foster will hold a News Conference today at 3pm outside the Nassau County Emergency Operations Center to outline the county’s Phase I recovery plans, including the Board of County Commissioners vote to reopen county beaches beginning tomorrow morning at 6am.
 
Mullin will discuss how the county intends to plan for other openings within in the county under Phase I guidelines outlined by Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday.  
 
Sheriff Leeper will be available to discuss how the sheriff’s office will enforce the limited guidelines established by the BOCC vote to reopen beach access and Phase I plans to open other businesses in Nassau County.
 
Foster will detail additional efforts the Emergency Operations Center will provide that include handing out masks to residents tomorrow morning at Peter’s Point beach access and a “Recovery Information Fair” to be held next week to allow residents to obtain information and help from representatives of Nassau County elected government offices.
 

4/29/20 @ 7:30 p.m.

The Board of County Commissioners now has a Twitter page. Follow us at https://mobile.twitter.com/FlNassau.

New Information: Governor DeSantis has announced a phased recovery plan for the state of Florida amid the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis. Phase one is outlined below.

4/29/20 @ 5:15 p.m. - First Port City Bank created this video in honor of all first responders in Nassau County. We truly appreciate the community's support.

From First Port City Bank:
"Your friends and family at First Port City Bank would like to thank all the first responders in Nassau County for their support during the COVID 19 Pandemic. Thank you for selflessly giving of yourselves day after day to keep us safe. Thank you for your strength, courage and service to our communities. Partnering Together We Are Building Stronger Communities"!
 

UPDATED AT 3:30 P.M. - The Governor just announced that he will be holding a press conference at 5pm, so the meeting has been pushed back again to 6pm.


4/29/20 @ 10:00 a.m.
Please note that the special meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today has been moved to 4:30 p.m.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager’s Office

4/28/20 @ 7:00 p.m.

​We invite you to participate in an interactive webinar
to discuss the development of Nassau County’s first Conservation Plan on May 5 at 1:00 P.M.

Nassau County is in the process of creating a Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program, wherein the county will seek to acquire conservation lands on its own or with partners. We are reaching out to residents on conservation topics in order to develop the priorities for our conservation plan.

To do so effectively, we need to first decide what kinds of lands will best serve the county going forward to ensure sustainability of its environments, maintenance of its rural character, and outdoor recreational opportunities.

We are looking to you to share your thoughts on the criteria that will help us identify those lands.

Nassau County partnered with North Florida Land Trust, who will be running the webinar and creating the plan.
We would like to reach as many residents as possible. Please share this link with your family, friends and neighbors.

We thank you for your time!

To register please visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5269486848478516236

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Opening of County Beaches
 
Nassau County, Florida, April 28, 2020- We have received information that Governor DeSantis may not extend the stay-at-home order which expires at midnight on Thursday, April 30th. In anticipation of this, County staff is developing a new procedure to re-open County beaches for normal activities (excluding beach driving, camping, horseback riding and commercial activities) while following CDC guidelines and other restrictions. This would include requirements to maintain social distancing and to limit groups to no more than 10 individuals, and any other restrictions deemed necessary to protect the health of the residents.
 
In an effort to prevent overcrowding, the County Manager will also be recommending that only individuals with Nassau County registered vehicles be allowed to use the beach access parking areas. Vehicles not registered in Nassau County would be subject to a $500 fine.
 
Please note that this plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their Special Meeting taking place on Wednesday, April 29th at 11:30 a.m. A separate Press Release will be issued containing additional details should the Board vote tomorrow to proceed with a complete re-opening on Friday, May 1st.
 
The meeting is open to the public with limited seating, however you are encouraged to watch the meeting remotely from the Clerk’s website: www.nassauclerk.com.
 
If you have comments you would like included in the record, please email them to comments@nassaucountyfl.com no later than 10:30 a.m. the morning of the meeting. Include your name, address and the message you are trying to relay. You may also leave a voicemail at (904) 530-6009.
 
Please note that if numerous emails or messages are regarding the same topic, all may not be read out loud during the meeting, however all will be submitted and retained as part of the permanent record.
 
If you would like an opportunity to speak at the meeting, please email or call as directed above. Include your name, address, phone number and the topic you are calling about. You will be contacted during the meeting.
 
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Should you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010.