- April 18, 2024
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Homes with PEP tanks have panels like this one on the side of the house. The button to turn off the alarm is located underneath the panel. (Photo courtesy of the city of Palm Coast.)
Areas that have PEP tanks are shaded purple. (Photo courtesy of the city of Palm Coast.)
As Palm Coast residents dragged downed trees and damaged fences out of their yards after Hurricane Matthew, local government agencies and volunteers scrambled to help clean up debris.
Within the limits of the city of Palm Coast, there was no major storm damage — at least, according to FEMA standards — and damage to private property totaled about $3,585,412. But countywide, the damage was much more serious, totaling an estimated $72,820,117 in damage to private property, with residential damage accounting for $66,124,679 of the total.
A total of 11 homes in Flagler County were destroyed, according to a Flagler County government news release, and 164 had “major damage” according to FEMA standards, meaning that repairs would not be possible within 30 days. Another 294 had “minor damage” expected to be repairable within 30 days, and total of 1,276 properties were affected.
In Palm Coast, “We realized immediately that we were very fortunate, that it was not as devastating as everybody was predicting,” Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon said at an Oct. 11 City Council workshop. “Zero structures had major damage according to FEMA standards. … very little damage, relatively speaking, from a hurricane standpoint.”
There were 195 Palm Coast single family homes affected by the storm, and seven multifamily structures affected. “Affected,” in FEMA parlance, could mean something like a tree falling against a house but not penetrating it, according to the county news release.
Palm Coast has fielded damage assessment teams to create reports on damage to private and public property. Those reports will be turned over to FEMA.
Most of the damage Hurricane Matthew caused to private property occurred in unincorporated areas and in Flagler Beach. In unincorporated Flagler County, the storm caused $49,659,830 in estimated total damages, and $48,033,938 in estimated residential damages. Six homes in the unincorporated areas were destroyed. In Flagler Beach, estimated total damages were $15,178,829, of which $13,166,109 was to residential properties. Five Flagler Beach homes were destroyed.
The storm also caused an estimated $4,001,517 in damage in Beverly Beach, an estimated $135,515 in damage in Marineland and an estimated $259,014 in damage in Bunnell.
Power outages within the city caused problems other than spoiling food, stifling hot homes and lukewarm showers. Without electricity to run sewage pumps and PEP tank pumps, the sewage systems backed up, causing manholes to bubble and sewage to back into swales and overflow at pump stations.
The city sent out numerous news releases imploring residents who were still without power to limit water usage. Even water used in sinks and showers drains to the same overfilled tanks as toilet water, contributing to the potential for backups.
Still, as the length of power outages dragged into the fourth day — PEP tanks are usually designed to hold about three days’ worth of wastewater — the city scrambled about 20 tanker trucks and about a dozen generators to pump out overfilled and overflowing tanks Oct. 9-10.
“That has been our highest priority,” Landon said. “We still have areas without power right now that are on PEP. … I’ve spent numerous conversations and hours worth trying to get FPL to understand … we’re really trying hard to get them to focus on PEP systems.”
None of the sewage has contaminated bodies of water, Landon said, and the city’s wastewater and water plants continued operating, on generators, throughout the storm.
City staff and contractors’ efforts to remove all of the debris left by the storm began the day after it passed, and will likely continue for weeks, Landon said.
The city has contracts with national companies that have been called in to help with the cleanup effort, which has so far focused on public property such as streets, parks and trails.
The city expects reimbursement by FEMA for some of that work. FEMA sent out staff to view the debris removal process and calculate cost estimates.
“FEMA will reimburse us for that, but only if they can verify it’s storm related, so there are monitors.” Landon said.
City buildings and facilities all survived the storm. The Indian Trails Sports Complex and Ralph Carter park were scheduled to open Oct. 12 for team sports practices, and a lacrosse tournament planned for the weekend will go on as scheduled, city spokeswoman Cindi Lane said.
The Palm Coast Community Center was open as of Oct. 11, with youth programs scheduled to resume Oct. 12, and the Palm Coast Tennis Center was scheduled to open Oct. 12.
The city has asked residents to separate trash at the curb into three categories: 1) Household trash and bagged storm debris; 2) Construction and demolition debris, such as roofing shingles and damaged gutters; and 3) Vegetative debris, such as logs, tree branches and plants. That debris will be chipped into mulch.
Waste Pro won’t be able to pick up all household trash on Wednesday, because Waste Pro staff are busy collecting storm debris, Landon said.
But the trash should be left at the curb, so staff can pick it up during the next cycle. Waste Pro will make multiple passes through the city to pick up debris as residents collect it.
”We will do at least two sweeps, possibly three,” Landon said. “If people get it to the curb, we will pick it up.”
City officials warned residents to make sure any contractor they hire to repair storm damage is properly licensed.
Unlicensed contractors often swoop into areas after disasters, demanding up-front payment for work they never undertake, doing shoddy work if they do it at all, and subjecting residents to liability if they’re injured in the course of a job.
“As our residents start to try to make repairs .. Please, please, please use licensed contractors,” Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts said.
He listed three tipoffs that a contractor isn’t licensed: 1)They show up at the door soliciting work; 2)They ask residents to get permits for them, often saying that it will be easier of cheaper if the resident does so rather than the contractor — which is not true; 3)They say that if the resident doesn’t hire them immediately, it will be months before they can get back to them.
Unlicensed contractors also often demand large down payments before they’ll start working. That’s illegal: State law allows them to take only 10% up front, Netts said.
Residents should ask to see the license of any contractor they hire, and call the the Palm Coast Building Division at 386-986-3780 to make sure they have the right license, according to a city news release. Residents should have a written contract with any contractor before any work begins.
