- April 26, 2024
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The city of Palm Coast is about 80% complete with its first pass through residential neighborhoods to collect debris from Hurricane Matthew, and expects to finish that first round of cleanup by next week, according to a city of Palm Coast government news release.
There are still portions of the C, B, W, R, S and U sections that have not been finished, and those streets are the highest priority for this week and the week of Monday, Nov. 7.
Once the first pass of public residential streets is complete, a second pass will begin to collect additional hurricane debris that has been placed at curbside by residents. The city and its contractor will continue to pick up debris seven days a week.
The city is tracking the debris removal process to ensure no public streets are missed in the debris collection process. If you live on a private street within a gated community, contact your Homeowners Association to determine its plans for removing the debris out of the private neighborhood. When requested by a homeowners association, the city is assisting in coordinating Waste Pro services in the cleanup effort in gated communities.
Also after that first round along residential streets is finished, the city will make a one-time special collection of debris left curbside by commercial properties in Palm Coast. Commercial properties are normally required to remove their own debris, and are encouraged to do so now. But because of the emergency nature of the hurricane and the potential safety problems related to having debris alongside roadways, the city has decided to conduct a one-time special pickup of the debris now stacked along the curb at commercial properties, including businesses, condos and apartments. After that, it will be strictly the property owner’s responsibility to remove debris from alongside the roadways at their commercial properties.
By the time the cleanup is finished, the city anticipates it will have collected nearly 150,000 cubic yards of hurricane debris. Due to the large volume, and based on the rate of collections thus far, the city is hopeful the debris cleanup can be fully completed before Christmas. As of the evening of Wednesday. Nov. 2, 2,514 loads had been picked up, equating to more than 80,832 cubic yards.
As it’s collected, the debris is being taken temporarily to a city-owned parcel of land on U.S. 1 between Palm Coast Parkway and Matanzas Woods Parkway. Because of the trucks and other heavy equipment on-site, and because of the massive size of the debris piles, the public should stay off that property until the debris has been removed.
During the cleanup operation, the Shell Trail between Indian Trails Middle School and Belle Terre Elementary School will remain closed between U.S. 1 and Belle Terre Parkway. The temporary debris storage site is adjacent to the hiking trail, which runs through Hulett Swamp.
The pickup is being handled by a City contractor, CrowderGulf, which is picking up loose piles of vegetative debris such as tree branches and loose piles of construction and demolition materials such as roof shingles and fence sections; by Palm Coast’s regular trash hauler, Waste Pro, which is collecting yard debris that has been bagged or placed in cans; and by city public works crews.
To expedite debris removal from residences and businesses, the city has asked residents to help by separating everything at the curb into the following categories:
The East Flagler Mosquito Control District during the wee hours of the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 2, sprayed western portions of the county in an effort to keep mosquito populations down, according to a Flagler County government news release.
“They have been working very well with us, and it’s no shock that the numbers increased after Hurricane Matthew but they are now on the decline,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said. “We are trying to keep that trend going.”
Crews began spraying the area along county roads 302 and 305 and in Espanola and the final application will be made Friday night.
A chart of mosquitoes trapped shows the numbers spiked about October 20, but had dropped back down by the end of the month.
“We are blessed to have people like Director Joe Cash, who really know what they are doing,” Coffey said. “They have been doing a great job staying on top of this.”
Information is included on the East Flagler Mosquito Control District website, flaglermosquito.com, from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension office to help residents control mosquito populations on their own properties.
Source reduction is the “most important” technique that homeowners can use. “Since mosquitoes need water to live, removing water sources around the home goes a long way to prevent mosquitoes,” it states.
Flagler County’s municipalities and private non-profit organizations that intend to apply for public assistance with governmental recovery expenses related to Hurricane Matthew must attend a Monday, Nov. 7, meeting about the process, according to a Flagler County government news release.
“It is very important for all of our partners to attend this meeting,” said Steve Garten, Flagler County Public Safety Emergency Manager. “This is a critical step to get those expenses covered through FEMA funding.”
The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, November 7, at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 3.
Eligible entities must first register at floridapa.org to begin the process. That application deadline is also November 7.
Applicants will be asked to sign on as either “new user” or “existing user” and should follow the instructions provided on the website after clicking on the button to apply for Hurricane Matthew assistance.
FEMA on Oct. 26 added “permanent work” categories that include public assistance for: roads and bridges; water control facilities; public buildings and their contents; public utilities; and parks and recreational facilities as the fifth amendment to its Major Disaster declaration.
Certain private non-profit organizations may also receive assistance, such as: educational, utility, emergency, medical, temporary or permanent custodial care facilities, irrigation, museums, community centers, libraries, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, health and safety services, as well as others deemed to “provide essential services of a governmental nature to the general public.”
“We want everyone to be aware that this date is fast approaching,” Garten said.
The city of Palm Coast will honor America’s Heroes on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, during a ceremony at 8 a.m. at Heroes Memorial Park, 2860 Palm Coast Parkway NW. The park is about half a mile west of the Flagler County Public Library. Also this year, the new Invisible Wounds Memorial will be dedicated as part of the ceremony.
The program will include the presentation of colors by the Palm Coast Fire Department Honor Guard and the Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums. The invocation will be offered by retired U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Harry Gilman. The Matanzas High School Army JROTC and Flagler Palm Coast High School Air Force JROTC will participate, and the Community Chorus of Palm Coast will sing The Star-Spangled Banner.
Speakers for the event will be Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts; retired U.S. Marine Corps Major Neal McCoppin of the Flagler Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America; and Commandant Jack Howell of the Military Order of the Purple Order Chapter 808. Gold Star Mother Cathy Spriggs of Tampa will also speak about the new Invisible Wounds Memorial and PTSD.
Tributes to veterans of the armed forces will include the presentation of wreaths by local veteran organizations and a performance of Amazing Grace by the Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums.
Attendees will then take a short walk in Heroes Park for the unveiling and dedication of the new memorial, which was designed and funded by a committee of community members led by Gold Star Mother Cathy Heighter of Palm Coast. The mission of the Invisible Wounds Memorial is to recognize and honor the brave men and women who have honorably served this great nation and have suffered and continue to battle the “Invisible Wounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).”
After the dedication of the Invisible Wounds Memorial, a 21-Gun Salute will be offered by AMVETS Post 113, and Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano will play Taps. The Community Chorus of Palm Coast will perform a closing musical tribute including Anthem and God Bless America.
The public is invited to join in honoring all who serve and all who have served. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at nearby Fire Station 21, at 9 Corporate Drive.
For more information, contact the Palm Coast Fire Department at 986-2300.
