Hurricane Information Indian River County

Storm Preparation Indian River County

Indian River County is not offering sandbags- but Mountain Stone Gravel in Vero Beach is stepping in with a low cost option to help residents by selling $2 sandbags (will work with you on price for quantity). Open Tuesday 8 am -5pm (not sure if will be open on Wednesday.4650 US-1, Vero Beach, FL 32967 (772) 569-5788

Free Tarps United Way www.Indianriver.gov

Safety Notes for Storm Preparations:

If you have small children in your household- storing water in bathtubs can be a drowning hazard-use large plastic storage tubs with snap-on lids.

After the storm- follow safety precautions using your generators- must be outside and away from windows/ventilation vents.

Alert Indian River County

If you have storm-related questions, please call the EOC hotline at (772) 226-4000 and not 911.

Get emergency and storm alerts sent by text, email, or phone click here.

• The Citizen Hotline at 772-226-4000 is open to answer storm-related questions

• Situation Status, Closures, and Government Services

When to put up shutters:

According to the National Weather Service's guide to wind speed, wind speeds of over 75 miles per hour can lift roofs and break windows. This means that for any storm with wind speeds above 75 miles per hour, your windows should be protected.

If a Hurricane Watch is issued- this means hurricane conditions of sustained 74 mph or higher are Possible.

If a Hurricane Warning is issued- this means sustained winds 74 mph or higher Are Expected.

Visit Ready.gov

Also visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/

for more pre and post hurricane/disaster information.

Shelters and Evacuation Indian River County

Please tune in to your local media station for up to the minute info.
or call IRC Info hotline: 772-226-4000

FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
You must have a FEMA application number and approval from FEMA to participate in the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. Use the hotel locator to find a participating hotel.

Once approved- If you have questions about TSA or need help locating a hotel, you may also call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity. If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

Emergency Shelter (until further notice) check county site

• For specific questions regarding rental assistance or relocation assistance contact Treasure Coast Homeless Services Counsel at 772-213-9040.

• American Red Cross Regional Recovery Shelter- (now open 10-14-24)
  First United Methodist Church 260 Prima Vista Blvd. Port Saint Lucie, FL Cots and Meals Provided.

Shelters Now Closed

• Freshman Learning Center (Also a Pet-Friendly shelter) - 1507 19th St. Vero Beach (open as of 10-11-24 9:00 am)

• Sebastian River Middle School -9400 County Rd. 512, Sebastian (closed)

• Oslo Middle School - 480 20th Ave. SW, Vero Beach (closed)

• Fellsmere Elementary School - 50 N. Cypress St., Fellsmere (closed)

  • Treasure Coast Elementary (Special Needs Shelter - must be registered) - 8955 85th St., Sebastian
    *As storm advances IRC Emergency Management says no one in need of Special Needs Shelter will be turned away. (posted 10-9-24)

Free Uber ride to a shelter, if needed- use the promo code, MILTONRELIEF. One word, MILTONRELIEF.

*Please remember that you will be required to bring some items to the shelter. Note there is a generic list below- but shelter may have prompts.

See What to bring to the Shelter below

If Hurricane Warnings- Evacuation is recommended for the following groups:

- Areas East of U.S. 1 (including Barrier Islands)

- Low-lying, flood prone areas

- Residents with mobile homes or vulnerable housing

- Persons with special medical needs

The Citizen Information Line will be open 24 hours/day for the duration of the storm event if residents or visitors have questions or concerns. The phone number is 772-226-4000.

·         View the active public shelters map application

What to bring to the Shelter

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (i.e., Facial coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer)

• Three-day supply of water per person (i.e., three-gallons per person).

• Prescription and emergency medications; you must be able to take all medications by yourself.

• Special-diet foods (e.g., snacks and juices for those with dietary restrictions or allergies).

• Basic snacks.

• Bedding materials (e.g., pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, cots, air mattresses, etc.).

• Comfortable clothing (at least two changes).

• Collapsible/folding beach chair or camp chair.

• Baby food, formula, bottles, diapers, blankets, & clothes.

• Flashlight, extra batteries.

• Cellphone, with a battery-operated charger.

• Radio with extra batteries and headphones.

• Important documents (identification, medical records, insurance information, deeds or leases, birth certificates and utility bills showing your home address).

• Photocopies of valuable documents.

• Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures.

• Toiletries and personal hygiene items.

• Quiet games, books, playing cards, favorite toys, or other items for entertainment.

• Special items for family members who are elderly or disabled.

• Chargers/cables for any electronic devices you bring - electrical outlets are limited.

• Pet Food and items for your pets

For additional information on shelters and evacuation click here.

Food & Water Indian River County

Call 211 for other local food pantries & meal sites

Food Pantry - The Salvation Army food pantry is open for food assistance Monday - Friday 9 AM - 4 PM at 2655 5th St SW, Vero Beach, FL. 32962

Treasure Coast Food Bank

Phone: 772.489.3034 Fax: 772.489.5673

Email: info@tcfoodbank.org

Web: www.stophunger.org

Utilities Indian River County

City of Vero Beach Utilities
772-978-5100

Florida Power & Light
800-226-3545

(as of 10-8-24) Report Power Outages to the following:
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CUSTOMERS:

• 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243)

• Online: https://www.fpl.com/my-account/web-outage.html

• FREE mobile app. Search for FPL in the app store

(Posted 10-8-24)

• The IRC Landfill - Normal Operations

• All five Customer Convenience Centers - Closed Wednesday October 9th and Thursday October 10th.

• All unincorporated County garbage/yard waste - Normal Operations on Tuesday October 8th. There will be no residential recycling or garbage collection on Wednesday October 9th and Thursday October 10th. Collection will resume ASAP with one day delay in service. 

Garbage collection schedule revisions

Unincorporated IRC Vegetative and Mixed Waste Storm Debris Collection: County Disaster Debris Collection will begin on Monday, October 21, 2024. For more information visit: indianriver.gov/debris

• Post-Hurricane Milton Debris Response

• Vegetative Storm Debris Collection Right-of-Entry Form for Private Roadways and Subdivisions in Unincorporated Indian River County

Debris tips:

If you have Hurricane Milton debris: Remember to separate storm debris into five categories:

1. Normal household trash: Your regular household waste and recyclables will not be collected with storm debris. Stick to your normal garbage removal schedule.

2. Vegetative debris: This includes vegetation such as leaves, logs, plants, and tree branches. Do NOT put yard waste in bags.

3. Construction and demolition debris: This category includes cabinets, counters, doors, drywall, lumber, roofing and shingles, tile windows, wood siding, and vanities.

4. Bulky Waste: Items such as carpet, furniture, mattresses, plastic/PVC pipe, privacy fencing, vinyl siding, and pressure-treated wood.

5. Appliances and white goods: This category includes air conditioners, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators (remember to put food waste with household trash), stoves, washers and dryers, and water heaters.

Placement for pick up:

Place the separated debris at the edge of your property near the road. Do NOT block the roadway or storm water drains. Also, do NOT place debris under power lines and trees, or near poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, utility boxes, or other structures that can delay removal. Do NOT place debris on driveways or sidewalks, and do NOT mix household hazardous waste or electronics with other debris.

Bring them to the Proper Bailing and Recycling Facility in your area for proper disposal.

Seniors & Persons with Disabilities Indian River County

Special Needs Shelter
Treasure Coast Elementary – 8955 85th St. in Sebastian

The Emergency Management Division is the agency assigned to register all potential clients for the Special Needs Shelter. When activated, the Special Needs Shelter is operated by a combined effort of the Fire Rescue Division, Indian River County School District, and the Indian River County Health Department. Anyone who feels they may need special medical assistance during a hurricane event should request an application as soon as possible.

You may call (772) 226-3900 to receive all the information you need to apply for the Special Needs Shelter.

For additional information on Seniors & Persons with disabilities click here.

Pet Safety Indian River County

If you are evacuating- Please take your pets with you & the items they need.

(As of 10-9-24) Freshman Learning Center at 1507 19th Street, Vero Beach, it should also be noted that the 800 Wing of the Freshman Learning Center will be pet friendly.

**Must bring current shot records, collar, leash, crate/carrier, litter box, food & water, medications, and bedding for person and pet.

also visit Shelters & Evacuations - click on Back to top link to see additional links.

For more information on Pet-Friendly Shelters click here.

 Physical & Mental Health Indian River County

Behavioral/Mental Health Resources - Dial 2-1-1

211 staff are available if you are feeling overwhelmed and need to talk, Dial 2-1-1 or Text your zip code to 898211

Florida Community Health Centers all locations are closed 10/9/2024 and 10/10/2024
Check website for re-opening dates www.fchcinc.org

Also ask 211 staff for additional resources from our database or do self-search by clicking on red “Get Help Now” button at the top of this page.

Mental Health Resources:

Mental Health Collaborative of Indian River County is offering free therapy services to help you navigate this difficult time.
How to Sign Up: Please click on the link below to sign up https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/uHuilzg/therapyservices
We will contact you to get your appointment scheduled.

Charlie Health- Virtual Mental Health support during this challenging time & there is no waitlist. Call (866) 491-5196
Their group therapy sessions remain available to assist the community in any way they can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further support or have any questions. We’re here for you. Stay safe and take care. *Insurance:* We work with all major *Commercial* health plans, *TriCare*, and *Medicaids *(Sunshine, Molina, Aetna Better Health, Humana, Simply)

Florida State University
Helping families, communities, and providers to prepare for the storm and its aftermath.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network- resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. Click link below to view strategies and resources…

 FSU Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy

West Palm Beach VA

In anticipation of Hurricane Milton impacting our local community within the next 36 hours, we continue to monitor and remain prepared for the expected impact.

As informed previously, all outpatient clinics, to include our Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Pharmacy, will be closed Thursday, October 10. Please plan accordingly:

• FULLY OPERATIONAL on Tuesday, Oct. 8

• FULLY OPERATIONAL on Wednesday, Oct. 9

• OUTPATIENT OPERATIONS CLOSED on Thursday, Oct. 10

• The Emergency Department will remain open and available.

• All face-to-face outpatient clinics are scheduled to be closed. Veterans will be offered virtual care options where available and scheduled procedures will be reviewed for appropriate rescheduling and care coordination.

• For appointments booked with Community Care, Veterans should contact their community providers directly for availability and alternate options.

• FULLY OPERATIONAL on Friday, Oct. 11

We offer virtual care options that will allow you to continue to receive services from the comfort and safety of your home. For virtual medical care, Veterans can contact the 24/7 VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center at 1-877-741-3400 or download the VA Health Chat app to connect with medical professionals.  

In addition to the Call Center and app, VA has activated the Pharmacy Disaster Relief Plan through Heritage Health Solutions (HHS). Eligible patients with Veterans Health Identification (VHIC) in need of an emergency supply of medications can go to any retail pharmacy within the Heritage network with a written VA prescription or active VA prescription bottle, not older than 6 months and with refills available, to receive a 30-day supply (please be advised: this does not include controlled substances). To locate the closest HHS pharmacy and contact HHS, visit: https://va.hhspharmacy.com/locations/index.html.

 Education & Schools Indian River County

-Public Schools -  Schools will be CLOSED Friday, October 11th. We anticipate schools will reopen on Monday, October 14th.

-Indian River State College campuses - Closed. The College plans to reopen on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 8 a.m.

Indian River School District
https://www.indianriverschools.org/

·         Indian River State College campuses - Closed Thursday, September 26th, 2024

FEMA- Claims &Small Business Assistance Indian River County

Storm Damage Building Permit Exemptions and Procedures
Effective October 14th, 2024 through January 17, 2025 the Indian River County/City of Vero Beach Building Division will not require permits for the repairs listed in the links below. ** This exemption will only apply to damage as the result of Hurricane and only applies to One and Two-Family Dwellings.

·       Hurricane Milton Storm Damage Permit Exemption Notice

·       Post-disaster Building Permit Procedures

·       Hurricane Storm Damage Permit Exemption Affidavit

After the Storm- Avoid Unlicensed Contractors Scams
Reminding residents and businesses that unlicensed contractors from outside the area will be looking for those seeking speedy repairs. To avoid being taken advantage of or stuck with repairs/fines that you are responsible for, you should:

• Always hire a licensed contractor,

• Get at least three written quotes for any job,

• Never put down more than a 10 percent deposit.

To verify a license, you can visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com, and click verify a license or contact your County’s Contractor Licenses Division.

Disaster Relief Applications & FEMA Assistance Residents whose homes or businesses have been damaged can apply for disaster relief funds through FEMA. You can begin your application at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or download the FEMA App. everyone is encouraged to document any property damage with photos and videos to assist with your claims.

Small Business Loans
Residents may also apply for an SBA Loan to help with recovery efforts by going to https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program provides short-term, zero interest working capital loans with fast approvals for businesses impacted by a disaster. Go to www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to apply.

Help small businesses get back on their feet: https://floridajobs.org/floridadisaster.biz

Small Business Association
https://www.sba.gov/

Insurance Information

When a tropical storm or hurricane is projected to hit our state, the Florida Department of Financial Services activates a special consumer helpline for Floridians to seek assistance on insurance matters. The number is 1-800-22-STORM, or 1-800-227-8676. Hearing-impaired residents may use a TDD to call 1-800-640-0886.

• Florida Department of Financial Services web site

• After Disaster Checklist

• Disaster Insurance Assistance

• LÍNEA PARA ASISTENCIA SOBRE SEGUROS DURANTE UN DESASTRE

• www.myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/fullcoverage/homeowners 

• www.citizensfla.com/en/web/public/recovery-resources?

• cpicew_grid=MiltonHeleneRecovery

Transportation & Lodging Indian River County

Locating towed vehicles - Call 772-978-6240 to locate your vehicle if it was stranded and towed.

Reminder to motorists that all non-functioning traffic signals should be treated as a four-way stop.

Note: https://tracker.gasbuddy.com/ can help locate operational gas stations after a storm.

The GoLine/Community Coach - Normal service resumed Friday, October 11, 2024 For the current status, click here.

Relocation & Rental Assistance Treasure Coast Homeless Counsel 772-213-9040

NOT IN OUR SERVICE AREA AT THIS TIME: Airbnb is offering temporary housing for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene & Milton

To see counties/states that are participating go to:  
https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-org-offers-temporary-housing-to-people-impacted-by-hurricane-helene/

Please listen to your local authorities regarding bridge and road closures.

FREE RIDES AVAILABLE to shelters:

 Both Lyft and Uber use code MILTONRELIEF

The GoLine/Community Coach - Normal service resumed Friday, October 11, 2024 For the current status, click here.

 Local Government Offices Indian River County

Indian River County Emergency Management
Visit the website or call 772-226-3900 for more information.

(Posted 10-8-24)

• Offices under the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners - Closed Wednesday October 9th and Thursday October 10th.

• All courthouses in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit - Closed Wednesday October 9th and Thursday October 10th.

• Health Department - Normal Operations 

• Sheriff’s Office - Administrative Offices will be closed on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 through Thursday, October 10, 2024. 

Volunteer & Donation Opportunities Indian River County

Volunteer Florida
www.volunteerflorida.org

United Way of Indian River County- leads the Volunteer Reception Center, AKA the check-in point, for any spontaneous community member or group who wants to volunteer in post-disaster recovery. Our team is also responsible for organizing, tracking, consolidating, and distributing all relief effort donations. 
https://unitedwayirc.org/hurricane

The Scripps Howard FundDonations for Disaster Relief Fund - Hurricane Helene and MiltonScribbs will match every dollar donated up to $10,000 https://www.scrippsnews.com/relief

WPTV.Com/ReliefText 50155

 Before, During and After: 211 Helpline provides information on services for your everyday needs and in times of crisis. Call 2-1-1 or (866) 882-2991

211 Helpline - partners with emergency management services and local agencies in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast to get you the information needed to prepare, endure, and recover from adverse events.      

Be prepared. We encourage all individuals, families, organizations and businesses to take stock, plan and get prepared.  

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