BY ROCCO MAGLIO and LISA MACNEIL
There is still flooding in the Ridge Manor and Mondon Hill areas. The Ridge Manor area is challenging to drain since there are numerous contours, so pumping water could flood a different area.
The county has pumped some of the water back into the river and is using water tanker trucks to remove water from some of the areas. This way, they do not flood other areas as they pump the water around.
Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, which struck the area around September 11, flooding occurred in the Ridge Manor area. This flooding lasted from a little while after the storm into the middle of December in some areas.
This time, there was more water than Irma, but with the pumping efforts, hopefully, the water will be gone by December.
Floodwaters have left many homes, but the challenge now is gutting and mucking out homes that were inundated with water for several weeks.
Mold is a major issue, and donations of N95 masks/respirators and respirator filters are sorely needed. Other needed items include cleaning supplies, bedding, clothing, personal care items, towels, rags, shovels, pressure washers, beds, dishes, silverware, cups, shoes, etc.
National disaster response websites like Crisiscleanup.org have closed the disaster support for the Ridge Manor, so groups are organizing on their own.
This could be contributing to the lack of volunteers in Ridge Manor. Southern Harmony Cafe in Ridge Manor, owned by the Rogers family, recently posted on social media, “I mean no disrespect by saying this. Please know that. I see a lot of churches sending food and donations. These needs are being met abundantly! But, what is lacking….what is conspicuously absent are groups of volunteers from churches. We had only one church represent from a neighboring town. It made up 2/3 of our volunteers that day, just with that one group. So pastors, church leaders, missionaries…Please stir your people to action. Faith without works is dead, Y’all! We got a lot of work over here. Let’s put some legs to that faith and get another family closer to getting their home and lives back! Please pray, as always, then please grab a church friend and join us for the next muck & gut.”
On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to approve three more extensions to the local State of Emergency due to hurricanes Helene and Milton. The fourth through sixth extensions were ratified due to the ongoing relief efforts focused on residents affected by the hurricanes and resulting flooding, primarily in the northeastern and eastern parts of the County. Commissioner Brian Hawkins was not present for the vote.
Hernando County Emergency Management Director David DeCarlo updated the Commission at the regular meeting on November 19, giving valuable information to both the board and the public.
The deadline to apply for individual assistance for Helene is coming up on November 27. The deadline for individual assistance for those affected by Milton is December 11. However, a 90-day extension has been requested by the State of Florida Department of Emergency Management. There has been no response to the request as of this writing.
Those affected by the storm can apply for assistance at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) also has a mobile phone application available. Those affected by the storms should know that the Ridge Manor Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will close on Tuesday, November 26th, reopening after the Thanksgiving weekend.
DeCarlo reported that floodwaters are receding in Ridge Manor, advising, “People are proceeding to muck out their houses, and we’ll have supplies ready for them as well…” Affected residents are assisted by AmeriCorps Volunteers from Denver, Colorado, until Dec. 10. The volunteers are high school upperclassmen and college undergraduate students.
The DRC at the West Hernando Branch Library has changed its hours of operations – it will be closed on Sundays, operating Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.. The County is currently applying to move these operations to the east side of the County. A formal announcement is expected upon FEMA approval.
It’s important to know that affected residents can visit any DRC for assistance, even in other counties.
DeCarlo reported that thousands of area residents have received FEMA assistance. As of the day before the BOCC meeting on November 19, 5,353 individuals applied for assistance following Hurricane Helene. 13,381 registered after Hurricane Milton. FEMA disbursed $4,696,000 in assistance for Helene and $10,470,000 for Milton. As of DeCarlo’s report to the BOCC, 18,733 residents were reported affected by the storms.
DeCarlo reported 97 “blue roof operations,” roof tarps installed throughout the county as of his report.
Twelve individuals have used FEMA’s Non-congregate housing, defined as, “…temporary living locations, away from a hazard area, for individuals whose residences become uninhabitable as the result of a declared disaster…” according to FEMA documents.
DeCarlo reported that FEMA is still providing interim housing to individuals affected by the storms; however, those affected must register for individual assistance through FEMA.
On November 22, 23 and 24, FEMA will be offering food assistance through D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Applications will be accepted at the Hernando County Fairgrounds. These benefits are available to those who are not already recipients of SNAP benefits. Those who have registered for D-SNAP via telephone do not need to apply in person.
DeCarlo reported that the Withlacoochee River at US 301 in Trilby (Pasco County) has reached the “highest level of action stage” and continues to recede. He reports that a request has been submitted to the state for four more pumper-tankers and operators to assist in water removal.
Debris pickup continues throughout the county, with 294,000 cubic yards collected so far. Contracting companies assisting in debris removal will also be taking off for the Thanksgiving holiday, resuming operations on December 2. The week of December 2 will be the last pass west of Commercial Way and all commercial properties.
In response to the massive rain event, mosquito control was dispatched on November 2 and 3 and on November 12 – 14. The County has also requested more mosquito repellent from the State, as well as aerial treatment.
DeCarlo gave a preliminary damage report as of this date: 12 homes were totally destroyed under Helene, 611 sustained major damage, 25 sustained minor damage and 15 were described as “affected.” Fifteen homes were reported as ”unknown” and 5 reported no damage, a total of 683.
Twenty-eight homes were reportedly destroyed as a result of Milton, 376 with major damage, 150 with minor damage, 290 homes were reported “affected” after Milton, 513 of unknown status, and 1580 with no damage. DeCarlo said, “We expect these numbers to come up as the waters are receding, and we’re able to get back to those neighborhoods. These numbers are absolutely fluid, and these absolutely will change.”
Homes that have been assessed so far number 3,677. The county is keeping a close eye on landfills and other disposal sites as debris is collected.
Deputy County Administrator Toni Brady reported that the County has spent $10.9 million so far on storm recovery and has waived approximately $530,000 in tipping fees at the County landfills. Brady also said that FEMA has reported that the county will be reimbursed for $4.8 million in debris collection within the first 90 days. “I feel like FEMA will make us whole on that,” she said. Brady added that the County has about $1 million available to cover the tipping fees.
