Displaced boats, water rescues, fires, flooding and down powerlines in Hernando’s coastal communities were courtesy of Hurricane Helene late Thursday evening and early Friday morning.
In the coastal communities of Hernando Beach, there were reports of up to an 8-foot storm surge overnight, said David DeCarlo, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) director for Hernando County.
Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida last night around 11 p.m.
Hernando County Fire Rescue, Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, National Guard and the Ohio Task Force Search and Rescue team are on site in the coastal areas of Hernando today conducting life safety assessments and wind damage assessments.
DeCarlo says to expect long-term power outages as there are 17000 outages between WREC and Duke customers, as of the 9:00 am update.
The shelter at West Hernando Middle School is still open, but they will work with the city of Brooksville and the American Red Cross to open a transition shelter.
Pine Island Dr. and Shoal Line Blvd as well as 50 and 19 are still closed. There are still reports of water flooding Shoal Line. There are also four boats that were displaced to Shoal Line Blvd.
The water level will recede as the day progresses.
Major Phil Lakin said that HCSO, HCFR and National Guard will have teams out going door to door to check on residents who did not evacuate.
All access is currently restricted and they will continue maintaining the evacuation order at this time.
Once they receive an all-clear, residents will be allowed back to the area.
Lakin said that HCSO will maintain an increased presence in the area through the weekend to ensure safety and prevent looting.
Once the evacuation order is lifted, they ask that only property owners enter the area as there are still hazards.
Commissioner Allocco advised that residents should shut off their power at the breaker box if they did not do so before evacuating. He warned that battery-operated equipment that got wet could cause fires if turned on.
Debris Pick up
Republic will not be picking up storm debris and damaged home items, only normal trash.
Debris removal pick up for areas affected by Hurricane Helene begins Saturday, September 28, 2024 and will continue until debris removal has been completed. Areas included in debris removal pick up are between CR 550 (Cortez Blvd) and Osowaw Blvd., west of US 19 (including private roads). Only storm generated debris will be collected. A debris hotline has been established and will open 8am-5pm beginning Saturday, September 28th. For residents with questions regarding the debris removal pick up, please call the debris hotline at 833-307-5580.
Tips for debris removal:
All appliances should be emptied before being placed at the curb for pick up. Food waste can be disposed of with your regular household garbage.
You may see multiple trucks on your street on the same day or trucks on different days, as each truck will be picking up a specific type of debris.
Landfill and Convenience Centers Operations:
The Northwest Solid Waste Facility (Main Landfill: 14450 Landfill Rd.) will open starting Friday, September 27th and can accept storm debris. The Main Landfill will remain open all weekend including Sunday, September 29th.
-Visit www.HernandoCounty.us/SolidWaste to review the fee schedule as standard fees will be charged.
The East Hernando Convenience Center (33070 Cortez Blvd.) will be open Friday, September 27th and Saturday, September 28th for normal operating hours. The East Hernando Convenience Center does not accept storm debris.
The West Hernando Convenience Center (2525 Osowaw Blvd.) is planned to open Saturday, September 28th, pending no damage from storm impacts and can accept storm debris from residents (no contractors). The West Hernando Convenience Center will remain open all weekend including Sunday, September 29th and Monday, September 30th.
Please call (352) 754-4112 for more information.
Property Damage Reporting
Hernando County has launched the Online Hurricane Helene Property Damage Reporting Form, which should be completed by any private property OR business owner who has sustained any property damage.
Hurricane Helene Damage Reporting Form: https://hernandocounty.jotform.com/242174517553962
QUICK TIPS:
Fill out the form as accurate and thorough as possible
Upload pictures to show accurate damage
Have questions? Leave them below
*Help Emergency Management reach 3000 followers by liking and following EM’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HernandoCountyEM
#HernandoPrepares
HOSPITALS
Tampa General Hospital Brooksville, Spring Hill & Crystal River emergency departments or emergency services and Open Access Clinic for non-emergent but urgent needs:
Tampa General Hospital Brooksville
Address: 17240 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601
Tampa General Hospital Spring Hill
Address: 10461 Quality Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34609
TGMG Open Access
Address: 2703 Forest Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34606
Phone: (352) 606-2710
Tampa General Hospital Crystal River
Address: 6201 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River, FL 34428
TGH Crystal River Emergency Center
Address: 907 W Norvell Bryant Hwy, Hernando, FL 34442
Oak Hill Hospital – HCA Florida
Healthcare
11375 Cortez Blvd,
Brooksville, FL 34613
(352) 596-6632
SAIL: State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is a toll-free hotline activated at the time of an emergency to provide an additional resource for those in Florida to receive accurate and up-to-date information regarding an emergency or disaster situation impacting the State of Florida.
SAIL hotline: 800-342-3557
FEMA
FEMA Specialists, called Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) agents, go door to door in impacted neighborhoods. You will easily be able to identify them because they wear FEMA attire and have federal photo ids. They will be able to help residents apply for FEMA assistance, check the status of an application, identify needs and connect people with organizations that can provide resources. They will not ask for compensation and local law enforcement are informed when they are making rounds in an area. Residents can confirm with law enforcement that their presence is legitimate if there are any concerns.
The quickest way to apply for assistance is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
Additionally, FEMA has a Mitigation Helpline: 833-336-2487 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. You may leave a voicemail at any time, or you may email [email protected]
EMPLOYMENT
If your employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Helene, unemployment assistance may become available through FloridaCommerce. Claims may be submitted at FloridaJobs.org. Call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak to a customer service representative for additional information.
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TIPS ON RECOVERY
Document Everything: Thoroughly document any damage to your property and belongings with photos and videos.
Contact Your Insurer: Reach out to your insurance adjuster as soon as possible.
Research Contractors: Verify that any contractors you consider hiring are properly licensed and carry current workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Look for the BBB Seal: Choose businesses that display the BBB Accredited Business Seal; these companies have been vetted for trustworthiness.
The BBB cautions against any contractors who claim to be insurance claim specialists. They advise that you thoroughly check any contractor prior to giving them permission to deal directly with your insurance company. Dishonest companies have persuaded consumers into signing work estimates that commit the customer to contract with the company if the insurance estimate is approved.
Be sure to make temporary repairs to your home as soon as possible after the storm because the property owner could be liable for damage that occurs post-storm. Repairs include tarping a leaky roof or boarding up broken windows. Beware of contractors who want to charge you exorbitant fees for temporary repairs. There are typically volunteer groups who will assist with temporary repairs.
Don’t make permanent repairs until your insurance company has approved them as your insurer may not fully reimburse you if you don’t get prior approval.
Never give a contractor more than one-third of the project price upfront and confirm that your insurance company has approved all repairs before you give the contractor the prior payment.
If insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses, then FEMA may provide additional assistance. Check with FEMA at fema.gov for eligibility.
For any storm recovery related questions call Hernando County Emergency
Management
Phone (352) 754-4083
