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Aug. 18, 2008
Shelley Szafraniec, APR
Community Information Specialist

Updated at 7 p.m.

VOLUSIA COUNTY PLANS TO OPEN SHELTERS; SCHOOLS CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

Volusia County officials are continuing to monitor the path of Tropical Storm Fay. At this time Volusia County is under a flood watch and a tropical storm warning. This means there is the potential for flooding and tropical storm force conditions within 24 hours.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm has increased in speed and will be affecting Volusia County earlier than anticipated. Based on the storm’s current track, emergency management officials are anticipating the area will receive tropical storm force winds (39-73 mph) beginning as early as 11 a.m. Tuesday, lasting until 1 p.m. Wednesday. It is anticipated Fay also will bring four to six inches of rain.

Volusia County Schools

Schools in Volusia County will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Shelters

There are no evacuations. However, for residents in manufactured homes, low-lying areas or those who feel unsafe in their homes, three shelters will open in Volusia County at 10 a.m. Tuesday:

• Atlantic High School, 1250 Reed Canal Road, Port Orange - for the general public and persons with special needs and is pet friendly (people and pets are housed in separate locations).
• Heritage Middle School, 1001 Parnell Court, Deltona - for the general public and persons with special needs and is pet friendly (people and pets are housed in separate locations).
• Volusia County Fairgrounds, Tommy Lawrence building, 3150 E. State Road 44, DeLand - for the general public who have pets (people and pets are housed in the same location).

Persons needing transportation to a shelter can ride Votran, the county’s public transit system, for free. Residents should contact Votran at (386) 322-5100, (386) 943-7050 or (386) 424-6810 to make arrangements.

Residents seeking shelter should bring:

• Special dietary food, snacks or comfort food.
• Bedding, pillows, blanket, etc.
• Medication and medical supplies.
• Oxygen supplies or arrange with an oxygen company to deliver the oxygen to the special needs shelter.
• Toiletry items, flashlights/batteries, extra clothing.
• Diapers, infant and elderly/disabled necessities.
• Time occupiers such as books, magazines, games or cards.
• Important papers, credit cards, cash and identification.

Due to the projected tropical storm force winds and significant rain, residents who do not need to be on the roads are encouraged to stay home. If needing to travel, motorists are encouraged to use caution. Residents also are reminded to review their personal disaster preparedness plans and take protective steps such as clearing their property of lawn furniture and other items that could potentially become hazards when picked up by wind.

Sandbags

Residents are encouraged to check with their local municipality for the availability of sandbags.

o The City of DeBary has sandbags and sand available for residents at the DeBary Town Hall, 12 Colomba Road. Residents must bring their own shovels.

o The City of Holly Hill has sand and bags available for residents at their public works department, 456 LPGA Blvd., through the evening and all day Tuesday.

o The City of South Daytona has sandbags available for their residents at the city’s public works building, 1770 S. South Segrave St., beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

o The City of Ormond Beach has a sand bag distribution center at 501 N. Orchard St. for Ormond Beach residents. Residents will be required to show proof of residency and can receive a limit of 10 sand bags per vehicle. (Weight restrictions limit the number of sand bags that can be safely placed in a vehicle). The distribution hours are 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18. If needed, the distribution center will re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will remain open as conditions allow. Residents having questions about this service may call the City of Ormond Beach Public Works Department at (386) 676-3220.

o The City of Daytona Beach has materials for sandbags at its public works facility, 950 Bellevue Ave. Bags and sand will be available as needed and residents can fill sandbags with the shovels provided.

o Volusia County’s Public Works Department will provide free sand and empty sandbags to county residents from 7 a.m. to dusk Tuesday. Residents should bring shovels and be prepared to fill and transport the bags. There will be a 25-bag limit per household. Garbage bags can be used to replace sandbags if supplies have been exhausted. Materials will be available at:

• Volusia County Fire Station 23, 1850 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna Beach
• Volusia County Road and Bridge office, 530 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach
• Volusia County Fire Station 22, 213 N. Hwy. U.S. 1, Oak Hill
• Volusia County Public Works office, 455 Walker St., Holly Hill
• Volusia County Fire Station 13, 15 Southland Road, Ormond Beach
• Volusia County Fire Station 11, 1580 Derbyshire Road, Holly Hill
• Volusia County Road and Bridge office, 2560 W. S.R. 44, DeLand
• Volusia County Road and Bridge office, 200 S. S.R. 415, Osteen
• Volusia County Indian Mound Fire Station, 1700 Enterprise/Osteen Road, Osteen
• Volusia County Fire Station 44, 132 N. Fountain Road, Pierson
• DeBary Town Hall, 12 Colomba Road, DeBary
• West Highlands subdivision, east side of Hamilton Avenue between Third and Fourth streets

Other preparedness steps being taken in Volusia County include:

• The Volusia County Emergency Operations Center will be partially activated at noon Tuesday.
• The Citizen Information Center (CIC) telephone hotline will be activated from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday. The number for the public to call is (866) 345-0345.
• There are no plans to close Volusia County Government offices.
• The early voting site at the Deltona Municipal Complex closed at 4 p.m. Monday due to preparations for Tropical Storm Fay. The room used for early voting also is Deltona’s Emergency Operations Center and will be needed for city purposes. This location will be closed until further notice. Voters wanting to vote early in West Volusia are encouraged to visit the Volusia County Historic Courthouse, 125 W. New York Ave., DeLand. The early voting centers in the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, Ormond Beach Regional Library and the Volusia County Library Center - City Island will be closed Wednesday. Early voting sites, when in operation, are open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; early voting for the primary election ends at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

The Volunteer Center at the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, through the Florida Association of Volunteer Centers, has agreements with other volunteer centers and response agencies to help with the coordination of volunteers after a disaster. To find out about volunteering in Volusia County or anywhere throughout Florida in response to Tropical Storm Fay, please contact the United Way at 2-1-1 or (386) 253-0563 or online at www.UnitedWay-vfc.org 

Emergency Management officials are encouraging residents to continue to monitor Tropical Storm Fay very carefully.

Complete storm preparedness information is available in Volusia County’s Disaster Preparedness Guide. The guide is available by  clicking here

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