Florida Construction News staff writer
Governor Ron DeSantis joined the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) Tuesday morning to extend the state of emergency to 61 counties, including Okeechobee County, telling Floridians to “prepare for the worst and hope for the best”.
Sixty-one of Florida’s 67 counties are currently under a state of emergency. Do not get wedded to the “cone,” as hazards such as tornados, flooding, and storm surge can create dangerous conditions far beyond the cone.
Visit floridadisaster.org/Updates for up-to-date resources and information about Hurricane Helene.
DeSantis highlighted that emergency personnel, including the National Guard and State Guard, 18,000 linemen, boat teams, and search and rescue crews, will be on standby. Starlink satellites are ready to get people without service back online.
Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen as it moves toward the Florida Gulf Coast. It became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday and is expected to intensify and become a Category 4 hurricane before it makes landfall in Florida late today.
A storm surge warning has been issued for the Florida Keys and most of Florida’s west coast, signaling a likelihood of life-threatening inundation. Surges could reach up to 20 feet.
At 11 p.m. Wednesday, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It was about 425 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, moving north at 9 mph.
Several counties are under evacuation orders. The National Hurricane Center warned it is “a life-threatening situation.
More than 1,700 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) team members are working directly on storm response, preparing for Hurricane Helene.
Efforts include analyzing flooding vulnerabilities for major roadways and bridges, inspecting and clearing drainage systems, monitoring flood-prone and currently saturated areas, and pre-positioning pumps as appropriate.
Work has been suspended and project sites secured on construction projects with lane closures in the counties listed below that are located on I-10, I-75, Florida Turnpike facilities or major arterials (evacuation routes):
- Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Guld, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Crews are also securing high mast lighting, maintenance yards, active construction projects, rest areas/welcome centers, service plazas, and weigh stations.
The Howard Frankland Bridge barges and cranes have been fully secured, along with Sanibel Isfforland Causeway construction barges
