The Matanzas River overflows into parts of historic St. Augustine during Hurricane Milton. | News4Jax
Published on October 11, 2024 at 2:41 pm
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St. Johns County continues to assess damage from Hurricane Milton, and county officials are explaining what residents should expect.
Permitting: St. Johns County residents or business owners who have suffered storm-related structural damage and have questions about permitting for repairs should contact the County Building Services Structural Hotline at (904) 827-6836. To have storm-related permits prioritized, call (904) 827-6819 for expedited review.
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Disaster aid: After flooding in the historic district, St. Augustine’s planning and code enforcement staff are conducting assessments in neighborhoods to catalog property damage to homes and businesses.
The assessment is a necessary first step in securing state and federal disaster relief funds in the wake of the hurricane, city officials said The initial assessment and inventory also are necessary so property owners can determine eligibility for FEMA disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency now and in the future.
“Our team is going through each city neighborhood and business district, and will be in the field until this critical task is completed,” a statement from the city says. “City representatives will be identifiable with official city apparel or carry city credentials. The community is urged to be cautious of unlicensed contractors and other unscrupulous activity.”
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City residents and business owners with storm damage questions should call 904-825-1065 for assistance. Any suspicious contractor activity should be reported to the city’s code enforcement office at (904) 825-1066.
In St. Augustine: Business owners or residents with flooding or storm damage issues in St. Augustine Beach should go online and fill out this web form for assistance.
Emergency Management survey: The county’s Emergency Management division also is asking residents and business owners to document damage resulting from Hurricane Milton via an online survey. This information will be used to collect consolidated impact information and will be provided to other state and federal agencies as they assess the damage.
The survey, available through Oct. 18, is not an application for local, state or federal disaster assistance or to make a claim on an insurance policy, officials said.
Water Management District: Finally, the St. Johns River Water Management District has staff conducting safety assessments of district-managed lands, some of which could reopen as early as Friday afternoon, depending on the results of those evaluations.
Due to significant flooding, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will remain closed until further notice.
For the latest information on reopened properties, visit www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation.
