10/27/16 at 8:45 a.m. -  Nassau County will continue to pick up debris on County maintained roads from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, seven days per week.  Debris pickup will begin on the West side of the County on Saturday, October 29th. 
 
In an effort to be the most effective the debris contractor is working as efficiently as possible, and focusing on major debris removal, therefore, it is important to note that there may be some sticks and/or leaves left behind.  Some lawn maintenance may be required by the property owner. 
 
To assist with cleanup efforts citizens are reminded of the following:
 

• Paper or plastic bags left at the curb will not be picked up, and may prevent the contractor from picking up any debris left at the site.
• Bagged debris will not be emptied by the contractor.
• Large limbs and logs may require additional equipment, therefore, this type of debris may be left behind on the first pass through a neighborhood.
• Separate the yard debris such as limbs, leaves and logs from construction/demolition debris.  Failure to separate the debris will prevent the contractor from picking up any debris at the site.
• Appliances and furniture will not be picked up.
• Household hazardous waste such as paint cans, batteries and electronics will not be picked up.

 
Two locations are available to residents to drop off vegetative debris:
 

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

 
Proof of Nassau County residency is required to use these sites.  Proof of residency may include a government issued ID, a utility bill, etc.  These sites will accept vegetative debris only and will not be able to accept construction/demolition debris.
 
Updates concerning debris pickup will be communicated through the County’s news website, www.thecountyinsider.com, and the County’s FaceBook page, https://www.facebook.com/nassaucountyfl.
 
For additional information, please contact Nassau County Engineering Services at 904 530-6225 or Road and Bridge at 904 530-6175.

-Shelley Caldwell
 Engineering Services

10/26/16 at 3:00 p.m. - The State Emergency Response Team and FEMA has provided the attached Fact Sheet containing information on how disasters affect children and warning signs that may indicate your child is suffering from stress caused by a disastrous event. The Fact Sheet also contains information on ways to reduce their anxiety and tips on how to protect them during future disastrous events.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

10/26/16 at 2:50 p.m. - Please see the below Press Release issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration regarding disaster assistance loans for private non-profit organizations in the State of Florida.

 
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that certain Private NonProfit organizations (PNP)s in Florida that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans.  These loans are available following a Presidential disaster declaration for Public Assistance resulting from damages caused by Hurricane Matthew on
Oct. 3 through 19, 2016.
 
PNPs located in the following Florida counties are eligible to apply:  Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, Putnam, Saint Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.
 
PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.  The interest rate is 2.625 percent with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes.  Eligible mitigation improvements may now include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
 
The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses to PNP organizations.  Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.
 
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
 
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster.  Completed applications should be mailed to:  U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
 
The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Dec. 23, 2016.   The deadline to submit economic injury applications is July 24, 2017.
 
For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

10/24/16 at 5:45 p.m. - CSX has sent notification that the Brooks Road Railroad Crossing in Bryceville will be closed the following dates/times from repairs:

• Tuesday, October 25th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 26th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  
• Thursday, October 27th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Haddix with CSX at (678) 672-8093.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

10/24/16 at 11:30 a.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Effective Tuesday, October 25th at Noon the debris drop off site located on Woods Lane in Callahan will be closed.  Nassau County will continue to keep the two sites listed below open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, seven days per week until further notice.
 

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

 
Proof of Nassau County residency is required to use these sites.  Proof of residency may include a government issued ID, a utility bill, etc.  These sites will accept vegetative debris only and will not be able to accept construction/demolition debris.
 
Debris pick up resulting from Hurricane Matthew will continue on County maintained roads.  Residents are advised to leave their debris close to the edge of the road without jeopardizing public safety.  Only yard debris and construction/demolition debris will be picked up.  This includes items such as leaves, plants, logs and tree limbs, as well as shingles, fencing, drywall, lumber and carpet.  Items should be taken to the curb and separated by categories.  Household hazardous waste (paint cans, batteries, appliances) will not be picked up. 
 
Residents are advised that garbage bags will not be picked up, and any yard debris in bags will not be picked up.
 
Updates concerning debris pickup will be communicated through the County’s news website, www.thecountyinsider.com, and the County’s FaceBook page, https://www.facebook.com/nassaucountyfl.
 
For additional information, please contact Nassau County Engineering Services at 904 530-6225 or Road and Bridge at 904 530-6175. 

-Shelley Caldwell
 Engineering Services
 
 
 
 
 

10/21/16 at 2:00 p.m. - On October 12th, we shared the attached Press Release regarding the Emergency Bridge Loan Program being available for small business owners to held them rebuild following Hurricane Matthew. The County has received additional information regarding this program including loan terms and the period for which applications will be accepted. Please click here for more information on the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, or contact Representative Janet Adkins' Office at (904) 491-3664.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has also provided the attached Fact Sheet containing other types of loans that are available to provide financial assistance to small businesses. If you have any questions about any of the loans referenced in the fact sheet, please contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, via e-mail at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit their website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office
  

10/20/16 at 3:35 p.m. - Please see the following notice from FDOT regarding lane closures for the week of October 22-October 28, 2016:

SUBJECT: LANE CLOSURE INFORMATION 
Job Description:  :  SR-200 Reconstruction (W of Rubin Rd. to E of CR 107 Scott Rd.)
Financial Project Number:  210712-4-52-01 & 210712-4-56-01
Federal Aid Project Number:  4881064P
Contract Number:  T2579
County - Section Number:  Nassau - 74060

SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE CLOSURE:

Daytime    

·  SR 200 WB Right Lane; from Chester Rd to Gene Lassere Blvd; Saturday, 10/22/16; 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Nighttime:    
·  Arrigo Blvd SB Right Lane at SR 200; Sunday; 10/23/16; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM

·  SR 200 EB Right Lane/WB Right Lane at Arrigo Blvd; Monday, 10/24/16; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM

·  SR 200 EB Left Lane/WB Left Lane at Arrigo Blvd; Tuesday, 10/25/16; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM

·  SR 200 EB Right Lane/WB Right Lane at Arrigo Blvd; Wednesday & Thursday, 10/26/16 & 10/27/16; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM

REASON FOR THE CLOSURE (Type of Construction Maintenance Activity):
Installation of Low Profile Barrier Wall 10/22/16
12” Water Main Crossing 10/23/16
Installation of Temporary Signal Wire/Cable/Heads 10/24/16 – 10/27/16
 
NOTE: Scheduled lane closures subject to change due to weather.
 
PROJECT ENGINEER OR CONTACT PERSON AND TELEPHONE NUMBER:
ETM                                        
Carrie Smithheart, PA              
Office: (904) 265-3170          
Cell:   (904) 509-9007          

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

10/19/16 at 5:05 p.m. - At today's meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved a temporary ban on motor vehicle driving on County beaches until further notice due to the amount of debris from Hurricane Matthew. This ban includes cars, ATV's, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and dirt bikes. The public will be notified when this ban is lifted.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

10/19/16 at 10:15 a.m.  - Executive Order Number 16-230 was issued by Governor Rick Scott on October 3, 2016, due to threats related to Hurricane Matthew. 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)).

Nassau County citizens in need of emergency assistance for damages related to Hurricane Matthews 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                    $36,350
2                    $41,550
3                    $46,750
4                    $51,900
5                    $56.100
6                    $60,250
7                    $64,400
8                    $68,550

Nassau County citizens meeting the above requirements or needing 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. 

-Carol Gilchrist
 Office of Management & Budget/Grants/SHIP
                       
 

10/18/16 at 4:45 p.m. - The following information was copied from the Emergency Management FaceBook page and is related to the attached Press Release issued by FEMA today:  

FEMA granted an Individual Assistance (IA) declaration for residents of Volusia, Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties who sustained damage from Hurricane Matthew to their primary residence and have losses not covered by insurance.

A joint PDA Team (local/state/federal) is in Nassau County today evaluating documentation to support our Public Assistance (PA) claims for the county and municipalities. A PA declaration will help us defray some of the expenses incurred ...for protective actions in advance of Matthew, debris cleanup, and repairs to infrastructure and public buildings. We expect an evaluation and determination for our IA claims later this week. (losses have to meet a certain dollar-threshold to qualify)

If you have insurance and sustained damages, call your insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA cannot duplicate assistance for losses that are covered by insurance. However, you may still be eligible for assistance from FEMA for losses not covered by insurance. This Wind Damage vs Flood Damage and the NFIP fact sheet will help explain more.

For more information, see the Florida Division of Emergency Management's page devoted to H. Matthew recovery:http://floridadisaster.org/info/index.htm#counties or contact the Emergency Operations Center at (904) 548-0900.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office