Volusia County Hurricane Ian Update 36: Shelters, debris, power, airport, beach

Ormond Beach Observer
News

by: Pat Kuehn

Volusia County Community Information

All counties in Florida will be facing a long recovery period. Here’s the latest information from the Emergency Operations Center.

Shelters

The shelters at Galaxy Middle School, DeLand High School, Mainland High School and Atlantic High School have closed. The Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, is the primary shelter for Volusia County.

Debris removal

Clean-up efforts from Hurricane Ian will be different from efforts following previous storms because most of the damage from Hurricane Ian stems from water. Residents must separate yard debris from household debris to facilitate pickup.

Volusia County provides debris and trash pickup only for unincorporated areas. Unincorporated areas are outside city limits. There are 16 municipalities responsible for trash and debris pickup, each with its unique debris collection procedures. Residents should contact their local trash collection provider or city for specific guidance.

As information become available from each debris removal provider, county staff will update information on www.volusia.org/pin.

Power

As of noon today, 120,000 customers in Volusia County are still without power. The utility companies are working diligently to restore power to all residents. Duke Energy’s goal is to have service restored to 90% of customers by early Monday morning, and Florida Power and Light has a goal of 95% by early Wednesday morning.

Daytona Beach International Airport

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines resumed commercial flights at Daytona Beach International Airport at 10 a.m. today.

Beaches and coastal parks

Residents and visitors are urged to stay off pedestrian walkovers, piers and sea walls. Many of these structures are compromised and could collapse without warning, even without visible damage.

All coastal parks remain closed as crews continue to assess the damage. This includes Smyrna Dunes Park and Lighthouse Point Park.

Driving through water

Water levels are slowly receding from the roads. However, even a small amount of water can be dangerous. Drivers are advised to slow down and use extreme caution when approaching water in the road. If you’re not sure your vehicle can negotiate the water, turn around. If you must drive through water, be considerate because wakes can send water into nearby houses.