MyNassauSun's blog

Nassau County Emergency Management has said storm debris pick up will begin Thursday in Nassau County with multiple trips down streets planned.

If you want your yard debris picked up, you need to cut limbs or trees and stack the pieces on your curbside. It should not be mixed with any other trash. Yard debris will not be removed from private property, according to the release.

Pick up will continue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday of next week.

Nassau County Emergency Management has also said those wishing to burn the limbs, leaves and other debris in their yard should follow county ordinances in doing so. Any pile larger than 8 feet in diameter will require permission from the Division of Forestry before it can be burned.

By WENDI ZONGKER
wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

YULEE — Votes from at least one Nassau County race will be recounted Friday due to the slim margin of victory, Nassau County Supervisor of Elections Vicki Cannon said today.

Property appraiser candidate Tammy Stiles appears to have beaten Larry Williams and Michael Franklin for the Republican spot on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

She edged out Williams by 31 votes or .37 percent.

Cannon said Florida statutes require a machine recount if the race is won by less than .50 percent. Manual recounts are required if a race is won by .25 percent.

Walter “JR“ Boatright defeated longtime County Commissioner Marianne Marshall Tuesday in the Republican primary for the District 5 seat.

Boatright, who received 55 percent of the vote, now will face Democrat Ramiro Palma in the Nov. 4 general election.

The vote was extraordinarily tight in a number of Nassau races.

In the three-way property appraiser race, Tammy Stiles edged out Larry Williams by 31 votes to win the Republican primary, according to unofficial results posted by the Supervisor of Elections office.

Stiles will go on to the general election where she will face Democrat Ray Harper.

Heavy rain is hitting already soaked west Nassau County prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood advisory until 7 p.m., including for Hilliard and Callahan.

Rainfall rates could reach 1 inch per hour.

Creeks and streams are running high and the ground is very saturated.

Officials warn that runoff from these storms will flood small creeks and streams, highways, streets and underpasses and roads and farmlands along the banks of creeks.

Residents are urged to not drive into areas where the water covers the road since flood waters are usually deeper than they appear and fast-flowing water can sweep vehicles off the road.

The county's residents say they've never seen water levels so high; many were evacuated.

By DANA TREEN and TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS, The Times-Union

On Sunday afternoon, Christina and Ronnie Moore thought about putting the televisions from their already flooded home into the attic in case the water continued to rise.

The couple, and others among 20 neighbors beside Thomas Creek on the Nassau County side of the line with Duval County, said the creek has risen like nothing anyone can remember.

Tropical Storm Fay has swamped portions of west Nassau County, with approximately 30 homes flooded between the Nassau/Duval county line and Ratliff Road, according to emergency management.

The National Guard is assisting residents needing to evacuate, and the Red Cross has opened a shelter in the county multipurpose building at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds in Callahan for residents whose homes are flooded.

The affected neighborhood includes Jonas Drive, Larry Lane, Cynthia Avenue, Vontz Circle, Lee Stoner, Fouraker Circle, Marlee Road, Janice Drive, Snyder Road, Yost Circle, Hamlet Lane, Freedom Drive, Whistlestop Trail and Woodland Lane.

Another 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible today in Nassau County, according to Emergency Management officials.

A flood watch is in effect until 5 p.m.

There's still potential for flooding in low-lying areas and along the St. Marys River, which is projected to crest on Monday.

Officials said 3,000 Nassau residents were still without power this afternoon.

Hamp Hicks Road in Hilliard was closed as of noon; there are scattered power lines down around the county.

As residents clean up after Tropical Storm Fay, the county plans to pick up vegetative debris on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Storm-weary Nassau County residents can expect to feel the impacts of Tropical Storm Fay for another two days, Nassau County Emergency Management Director Nancy Freeman said this afternoon.

A tropical storm warning for the coastal areas was expected to be lifted at 5 p.m. today, but a wind warning will be issued and Nassau remains under a tornado watch until 6 p.m., Freeman said.

There were reports of a possible tornado near Callahan around 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

“This storm is not over,” she said.

Several heavy squalls passed through Nassau County today, and the county suffered a storm-related fatality this morning when a car fell on a tree on U.S. south of Callahan, killing a passenger.

Officials are asking people to stay home and stay off the roads.

Freeman said there are numerous reports of trees and power lines down and trees on throughout the county.

Signals are malfunctioning at the intersection of Harts Road and U.S. 17 and at Ratliff Road and U.S. 1.

Drivers should treat intersections where traffic signals are not working as four-way stops.

Water level in the St. Marys River is currently at moderate flood stage at 17.2 feet; and the river is expected to crest on Monday.

A preliminary assessment estimates about $300,000 worth of damage on Amelia Island, Freeman said.

Around 1 p.m., emergency officials were reporting more than 7,000 Florida Power & Light, 3,500 Florida Public Utilities and 3,400 Okefenokee customers were without power.

Officials are urging people without power to take precaution using generators and candles.

The Nassau County emergency phone line — 548-4980 or (800) 958-3494 — is open until 7 p.m. today to answer general questions or to assist those with special needs or who need transportation assistance.

One person has died and two others were critically injured this morning in Nassau County as Tropical Storm Fay continues to lash the county.

A tree fell on a car on U.S. 1 near Church Road around 9:45 a.m. this morning. A passenger in the car, Roberto Constantino, 27, of Tijuana was transported to Shands Jacksonville in critical condition and later died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Constantino's brother, Sergio, 19, also was transported to Shands with critical injuries.

In a separate incident, a 50-year-old man was critically injured at the Bow and Arrow Campground on U.S. 17 when a tree fell on him. He was transferred to Shands Jacksonville, according to Nassau County Fire Rescue Chief Chuck Cooper.

The effects of Tropical Storm Fay intensified late Thursday afternoon as the stalled storm finally began its move westward.

Bands of rain and gusty winds lashed the county, but all bridges and roads remained open as of 6:30 p.m. Flooding so far has been minor.

Seas up to 12 feet pounded Amelia Island’s beaches and officials say there are dangerous rip currents.

Both Florida Power & Light and Florida Public Utility customers experienced outages today. As of 6:30 p.m. more than 800 FPL customers were without power as were 500 FPU customers on Amelia Island.

Workers during the day had restored power to more than 5,000 FPL customers and 2,500 FPU.

The general and special-needs shelter at Yulee High School that opened Wednesday night remains open.

The Salvation Army will have a mobile canteen serving a hot meal at noon Friday at the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee.

Nassau County public schools will be closed again Friday, along with county offices, courts and the Port of Fernandina.

Fernandina Beach offices will be open and essential employees throughout the county will be reporting to work.

Garbage pickup for both county and Fernandina residents will proceed as usual on Friday. The county landfill also will be open.

Early voting, suspended today and again tomorrow because of the storm, will start again at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.