POST HURRICANE MICHAEL REPORT #2 FROM CARRABELLE, FL

Submitted by Brenda La Paz, Mayor

October 14, 2018
TOP PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO REMAIN:
Public Safety; Clear and Safe Roadways; Water & Sewer Service; Fire Control; Open Lines of Communication

On Friday afternoon (10-12-18) Chief Hunnings, Courtney Dempsey, and Charlie Painter, I traveled west of
Carrabelle to the Franklin County EOC to attend a county/city leadership meeting with the Duke Energy
Government Representative, Danny Collins.

As some of us are now experiencing, Duke Energy has restored power in what they call the “Carrabelle
Region” from Crawfordville to near the Franklin County Consolidated School; repairing feeder lines, poles,
substations. Restoration has happened so fast because their main station in Crawfordville was not
damaged. Mr. Collins reported the main priority of Duke Energy is to restore power soon as possible to
locations providing essential services. Duke now has 2,000 repair men/women dispatched in Franklin
County. If you do not have power yet, please be patient. These crews have traveled from faraway places to
help us. Give them a “thank you” when you see them. Note: Unfortunately, the word is that Alligator
Point has suffered significant damages. I cannot speak about power restoration in that area.

The Carrabelle Police Department continues to maintain public safety throughout the City of Carrabelle and
immediate surrounding communities. Yesterday, 10-13-18, our entire police department assisted with
distribution of “meals ready to eat” and water, as well as continuing to assist the general public, business
owners, and other government agencies & their subcontractors in all recovery efforts as needed.

The Carrabelle Streets & Roads Department has all roadways cleared of debris within the City Limits of
Carrabelle. Roadways are safe for emergency access and first responders. It appears Duke Energy has
repaired all downed power lines within the city limits. Debris continues to be very close to the streets, in
the rights-of-way. It will be several days before this debris is removed. Drive with caution.

The Carrabelle Water & Sewer Department has all water & sewer service back on line to the approximately
1,700 customers served. A boil water notice continues in the Lanark and St. James Bay area because the
laboratory used by the department for testing water samples suffered damages. Water samples have been
sent to a different laboratory. For those folks under this boil water notice, continue to check the City of
Carrabelle FB page and my FP page and listen out on Oyster Radio for the immediate notification when the
“all clear” is given by the laboratory. The entire sewer system is online and working. Note: Those using
grinder pumps will not be able to use the sewer system until their power is restored.

The Carrabelle Airport is now being used by the State of Florida Emergency Operation Center, Duke Energy,
and the National Guard for regional recovery efforts. Emergency supplies are being delivered to the
Carrabelle Airport by helicopter and aircraft. These supplies will be managed and distributed by the State
EOC and National Guard from this location. The Carrabelle Airport continues to be closed for normal
operations.
As soon as power is restored to City Hall on Gray Avenue, it will be open for normal public services. This
may be as soon as Monday, 10-15-18. This too will be noticed on the City of Carrabelle FB page and my FB
page. Please have patience with the City Administrative Staff as there will be multiple additional items to
manage such as establishing debris removal with FEMA and assessing City property damage with the
insurance company. Over the next several days all of us, including City Staff, will have many questions that
will need to be answered.

The Carrabelle Volunteer Fire Department continues on standby and ready to serve.

The City-owned boat ramps, docks, pavilions, and parks continue to remain closed for public use. City staff
must have adequate time to thoroughly inspect and assess damages with the City’s insurance company
before opening these facilities to the public. Some repairs will be needed in several locations.

If you need emergency medical assistance, please call 911 for an ambulance. I have communicated with
Weems Hospital CEO, Mr. Cannington. He is diligently working to get Weems Clinic East in Carrabelle open
ASAP when power is restored at that location.

“Meals Ready to Eat” and water will be distributed by the National Guard at the Carrabelle Fire Department
in Carrabelle and Chillas Hall in Lanark from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. I could not get a confirmation if the
Red Cross is returning in Carrabelle with hot meals today, Sunday. We will see what tomorrow holds for
emergency food distributions now that the power is being restored in our area.

The Carrabelle IGA will open for sales of non-refrigerated items only around noontime today – Sunday.
Richard and his entire staff have been working diligently to prepare the store for the public. All perishables
had to be removed and cleanups from freezer outages were necessary. The IGA warehouse in Quincy has
suffered damages, but Richard reports they will have distributions to Carrabelle the first of the week.

The Dollar General opened on Saturday afternoon for sales of non-refrigerated items only. Steve and his
crew sold goods to the public without power on Saturday, all while removing and disposing of all perishable
items. Dollar General will be open again today – Sunday.

Lulu’s Restaurant on SE Ave B in Carrabelle is the only restaurant I am aware of that will be open today,
Sunday, in Carrabelle.

Waste Pro will resume its normal Monday pickup services in Carrabelle and surrounding communities
tomorrow, October 15, 2018.

Kendrick Park, a Franklin County facility, is being used by the State of Florida Emergency Operation Center,
Duke Energy, and the National Guard for regional recovery efforts.

The beautiful new Island View Park, a Franklin County facility, has been destroyed and is in a dangerous
condition. This is heartbreaking, but we all must stay away.

Multiple marinas along the coastline have suffered significant damages to their buildings, docks, and ramps.
In the Carrabelle community the marinas have experienced major losses. Boats, large and small, have been
scattered everywhere except where they belong. Remember, these vessels belong to their private owners
for now.
Debris of every kind is scattered everywhere along the coastline and the Hwy 98 rights-of-ways. This debris
is dangerous and will easily cause a flat tire.

Duke Energy reports approximately 400,000 Florida accounts were without power immediately after the
impact and that the amount of damages are very close to those sustained during Hurricane Andrew .

I continue to request everyone to remain calm and be thankful that overall our City and nearby community
survived the impact of Hurricane Michael without the major significant losses experienced by communities
all around us. Hurricane Michael was a historic and catastrophic event which we will all remember, but
now it’s time for us to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and prepare to help and serve those surrounding
communities in need.

Pray for our families, friends, and neighbors who are suffering the heartbreaking losses we are now seeing
on TV and Facebook.

Sincerely,

Brenda La Paz, Mayor

City of Carrabelle