City of Atlantic Beach Tropical Storm Nicole FINAL UPDATE
2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11
Tropical Storm Nicole has come and gone, and although the beach and dunes were walloped, no injuries or flooded homes or buildings were reported in our community.
The biggest concern remains dangerous surf and tide conditions; please continue to stay out of the water until lifeguards say it is safe.
NEW UPDATE - 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10
The City of Atlantic Beach is encouraging all residents to stay off the roads, off the beach, and out of the Ocean. There are reports of localized road flooding, wires down, and traffic lights that are out. It's a great day to stay inside! For up-to-date information in our city, visit our website at www.coab.us/nicole Stay Safe!
UPDATE - 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9
A local state-of-emergency is being declared effective at midnight by Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser and City Manager Shane Corbin. A Tropical Storm Warning and a Storm Surge Warning for areas of Duval County including Atlantic Beach remain in effect. Strong northeasterly, tropical storm-force winds and high astronomical tides are present, and are expected to continue through early Friday. Please stay prepared and informed (www.jaxready.com; www.hurricane.gov/prepare; www.coab.us/nicole; www.nhc.noaa.gov).
Garbage collection (NEW). There will be no residential garbage/recycling/yard debris collection Thursday. Thursday's customers will be served Friday, and Friday's customers will be served Saturday. Questions? Email info@coab.us or call 247-5834.
Closures/cancellations (NEW)
- Atlantic Beach City Hall, other City of Atlantic Beach offices and community centers will be closed to the public for the remainder of the week (Friday is Veterans Day).
- Many City of Atlantic Beach recreation permits will not be effective due to the storm. If you have questions, please email recreation@coab.us or call (904) 247-5828.
- City of Atlantic Beach Environmental Stewardship Committee and Pension Boards meetings scheduled for this week are postponed.
- Friday’s Veterans Day Ceremony at Beaches Memorial Veterans Park in Atlantic Beach is canceled, as are City of Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade and the Mayor's Breakfast.
- City of Jacksonville offices and Duval County Public Schools are closed for the remainder of the week.
- The Jacksonville Fair is closed today and Thursday, and is expected to re-open at 3 p.m. Friday.
Dangerous water conditions/high drowning risk (UPDATED). Please stay out of the order and off the dunes. Our dune systems are weakened and extremely unstable from Hurricane Ian. Standing or walking on the dunes during the erosion process is very dangerous as the dunes are subject to collapse causing injury. When the weather deteriorates, it eventually becomes unsafe for first responders. Ocean Rescue lifeguards will NOT be sitting towers or performing over-watch; public safety response may be limited during these times. The current red beach warning flags on the beach indicate a high hazard, which is expected to remain in place until or about Nov. 14. When in doubt, ask an Atlantic Beach Ocean Rescue member for the ocean conditions. In case of an emergency, call 911.
Shelters open (NEW). Although evacuations are not planned, the City of Jacksonville will open emergency shelters at 8 a.m. Thursday at Landmark Middle School and Legends Center. Both can accommodate people with special medical needs. For information, call (904) 630-CITY.
Political signs (NEW). Please remove them; they are potentially dangerous missiles and unsightly litter in present conditions.
Be prepared and stay informed. Visit www.jaxready.com; www.hurricane.gov/prepare; www.coab.us/nicole; and www.nhc.noaa.gov. Please share with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers that all updates will be posted on the City of Atlantic Beach website (www.coab.us/nicole) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/CityOfAtlanticbeach) before being posted/broadcast on other platforms, including:
- City of Atlantic Beach e-mails (email info@coab.us) to sign up
- City of Atlantic Beach NextDoor page (www.nextdoor.com/agency-detail/fl/atlantic-beach/city-of-atlantic-beach/)
- Atlantic Beach Police Department Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AtlanticBeachPD)
- SaferWatch app for Atlantic Beach residents. Learn about it at www.saferwatchapp.com/atlanticbeach and download it. If you have any difficulty with the app, please email support@saferwatchapp.com.
- Atlantic Beach residents also may call the City’s Tropical Storm Nicole Hotline at (904) 247-5804, and leave a message.
Yard debris. High winds are present, so please secure lightweight outdoor items, like yard debris, lawn furniture, and yard signs. Also, be aware that falling limbs can cause severe injury or death.
Storm drains. Make sure they are not blocked.
Protect your home. Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts and clear any clogged areas or debris to prevent water damage to your property.
Don’t drive through standing water. There is potential for Nicole to produce significant rainfall in Northeast Florida. Never drive on flooded roads; almost half of flood deaths happen in vehicles. If you encounter high water on a roadway, “turn around, don’t drown.” If you must drive during heavy rain … take your time, turn your lights on, and give other vehicles more space.
Avoid walking through deep or rushing water. You can’t see where the solid ground is or isn’t under your feet, and running water can be very powerful especially if you lose your footing. If you need assistance crossing deep or moving water call the ABPD non-emergency number 247-5859 -- or 911 if it’s an emergency. Water conducts electricity, don’t go out to sightsee; downed power lines are particularly perilous.
Builders and contractors. Due to high winds, please secure all materials and debris; remove or securely cover Dumpsters; secure portable restrooms; and do not work on new framing and sheathing;
If traffic signals are not operating:
- No Signal Lights: Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
- Flashing Red: Lights should be treated as a stop sign.
- Flashing Yellow: Drivers should proceed with caution ONLY when traffic permits.
JEA outage alerts. Sign up at www.jea.com/alerts. Electrical outages and service issues can be reported to JEA at (904) 665-6000 or online at JEA.com.
Be extremely cautious of downed power lines. Be particularly mindful when clearing trees and yard debris.
Sand. The City does not plan to make sandbags or dirt available. Bags may be purchased at Ace Hardware and other home-improvement stores. Remember that it is illegal to fill sandbags from sand from the beach.
The City of Atlantic Beach is getting JaxReady. Please know that every decision will be made with safety as Priority No. 1 and protecting property as Priority No. 2.
- Police Department personnel are carrying out their oft-practiced disaster plan of working with first-responders countywide to ensure public safety before, during, and after the storm. The Police Department’s Incident Management Team is fully activated and the Command Post is fully staffed and operational.
- Public Works crews – to protect against flooding -- cleared storm drains, pumped down retention ponds, and are removing debris from roads and rights-of-way. Catamarans and other vessels, lifeguard chairs, and garbage cans were removed from the beach.
Persons with special needs should contact 630-City for more information. Please note, a caregiver should accompany special needs citizens to emergency shelters.
Please be patient, kind, neighborly, helpful, and courteous. If you are aware of an at-risk neighbor in Atlantic Beach, please contact Deputy City Manager Kevin Hogencamp at khogencamp@coab.us or (904) 247-5804. At risk includes elderly, homebound, and those otherwise unable to adequately care for themselves. If you live outside the Atlantic Beach city limits in Jacksonville and need information, please call (904) 630-CITY (2489).
Questions? Email info@coab.us or call (904) 247-5804.