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Major Hurricane Helene Updates

***UPDATE: 10/2/2024 8:49 a.m.***

As many of you know, our community – in some aspects – is far from being done dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. However, as of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, our Electric crew had restored power to every customer who didn’t have personal property damage preventing them from doing so.
 
If you are one of those customers, we want you to know that once the personal property damage has been (permitted and) repaired, it is our priority to get your power restored as soon as possible.
 
Despite one of the most powerful Hurricanes that has impacted the Good Life Community, none of this would have been possible without an immense group effort.
From our Electric, Public Works and Alachua Police Departments, to our Water, Wastewater, Distribution/Collections, Codes Enforcement personnel, and an army of administrative staff, we have come a long way since Helene made her unwelcomed visit to Alachua.
 
We would be completely remiss if we didn’t take this opportunity to also thank all of our residents for your help and patience during this very challenging time.
 
As we continue with clean-up efforts, please stay tuned to the City of Alachua and Alachua Police Department Facebook pages for information and updates on storm debris pick-up.
 

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***UPDATE: 9/30/2024 3:17 p.m.***

POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

There were 18 City of Alachua electric customers without power as of 2 p.m., down from 73 just yesterday at 5 p.m., less than 24 hours ago. 

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***MAJOR STORM DEBRIS PICKUP UPDATE: 9/30/2024 11:57 a.m.***

The City of Alachua is partnering with Waste Pro for storm debris cleanup within the City limits, starting tomorrow, October 1, 2024. Debris pickup will run six days each week (Monday through Saturday), with heightened efforts on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

As a City of Alachua resident, you can help speed up the debris pickup process! When collecting storm debris, please use the following guidelines, so that pickup vehicles can remove debris efficiently:

  • Place all storm debris by the street in two separate piles, one for large debris items and one for smaller debris items
  • Limit each large-debris pile to 6-foot by 4-foot by 4-foot (6’ X 4’ X 4’) dimensions (there can be multiple piles of large debris, if each pile adheres to such dimensions)
  • Attempt to adhere to normal debris restrictions for small-debris piles. Pieces should not exceed six feet in length or six inches in diameter
  • IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE place all debris in an area by the street with NO overhead power lines or water meters in the ground. This allows for unobstructed access for claw trucks and other equipment

The priority for debris pickup is as follows:

  1. Primary streets and highways that provide for post-event evacuation and/or access to hospitals, shelters, police, fire, rescue stations and other facilities providing vital public service
  2. Streets that provide access to components of the public and private utility system that are vital to the restoration of essential utility services, such as electrical power stations and substations, municipal potable water and sanitary sewer pumping stations and communication stations/towers
  3. Collector streets and other major highways
  4. All residential streets and access ways

Regardless of road jurisdiction (County Road vs. Federal vs. Municipal), if your home is within the City of Alachua limits, debris pickup will service your address.

The City of Alachua will be updating the public, at least weekly, with an estimated amount of debris that has been picked up and an estimate of how much is left to be removed. Keep in mind, while debris may be removed one day, it may be replenished with additional debris that had yet to be collected. 

We appreciate your patience and your cooperation as we work together as a community to recover from Hurricane Helene. 

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***UPDATE: 9/30/2024 9:20 a.m.*** 

As of 5 a.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024, there are 41 City of Alachua Electric customers without power. This is down from 73 outages just 12 hours prior to this report.

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***UPDATE: 9/29/2024 8:15 p.m.***

OUTAGE REPORT

There are approximately 61 remaining electric customers without power. This number does not include residents with Clay Electric or other utility companies.

If you have an outage and have not done so, please report it via phone at 386-418-6185. We assure you, our crews are aware of, and are diligently working on, our service areas yet to be restored to power. Many times, when our crews reach an area to restore, they discover that the project becomes more involved than anticipated.

Our crews are working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore power to those areas still without it. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work together as a community to recover from Hurricane Helene.

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***UPDATE: 9/28/2024 8:26 p.m.***

OUTAGE REPORT

There are approximately 250 remaining electric customers without power. 

RECREATION AND CULTURE UPDATE

All Recreation and Culture facilities will remain closed tomorrow, September 29, as hurricane cleanup efforts continue. Our Recreation and Culture crew is working diligently to reopen facilities as quickly as possible.

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***UPDATE: 9/27/2024 8:16 p.m.***

OUTAGE REPORT

311 remaining City of Alachua electric customers without power

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***UPDATE: 9/27/2024 3:58 p.m.***

POWER OUTAGE UPDATE
 
As restoration efforts began early this morning, there were approximately 1,500 City of Alachua electric customers without power. Currently, there are 351 remaining customers without power. These 351 customers and their families are just as important to the City of Alachua as the approximate 1,100 customers whose power has already been restored. Our Electric Department is working, and will continue to work, as diligently, safely and quickly as possible to restore power to those who are still without it.

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***UPDATE: 9/27/2024 11 a.m.***

OUTAGE REPORT

440 remaining City of Alachua electric customers without power

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***UPDATE: 9/27/2024 9:45 a.m.***

All Recreation and Culture facilities will be closed September 27, 2024, due to hurricane cleanup efforts. 

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***UPDATE: 9/26/2024 7:26 p.m.***

HURRICANE HELENE UPGRADED TO A CATEGORY 4 STORM
 
From Alachua Police Department: Hurricane Helene has slightly shifted east and intensified into a major Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 130 mph. As of now, significant effects are expected to be felt beginning around 9 p.m. Helene will bring at least tropical storm-force winds to our area.
 

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***UPDATE: 9/26/2024 3:48 p.m.***

HURRICANE HELENE UPGRADED TO CATEGORY 3 STORM

From Alachua Police Department: Hurricane Helene has intensified and is now a major Category 3 hurricane with winds up to 120 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that because of Hurricane Helene’s massive size, there is a significant risk of a life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula, as well as Florida’s Big Bend region.

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***UPDATE: 9/25/2024 12:57 p.m.*** 

HURRICANE HELENE CITY CLOSURES

Due to potential impacts of Hurricane Helene in our area, City Hall and Recreation and Culture facilities will be closed Thursday, September 26, 2024.

As of the latest NHC advisory (September 25, 2024 11 a.m.), Helene has been upgraded to a category 1 hurricane, and it is expected to continue strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of making landfall and potentially impacting our area on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

City Hall and Recreation and Culture facilities will resume normal hours of operation on Monday, September 30.

IMPORTANT STORM PHONE NUMBERS
Alachua Police Department: (386) 462-1396
Emergency Services: 911
Information & Rumor Control Center: 311
Power Outages: (386) 418-6185
Florida Highway Patrol: *FHP (347)

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***UPDATE: 9/25/2024 11:17 a.m.***

Tropical Storm Helene has been upgraded to a category 1 hurricane. 

Alachua County's Wayside Park (11855 NW U.S. 441) distribution will continue today, September 25, 2024, until 5 p.m. After staffed hours, sand, bags and shovels will be available for self-service. 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 10 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒. You MUST use CR 237 to access this location. Please obey all traffic directions by the crew members at this location.

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 ***UPDATE: 9/25/2024 7:35 a.m.***

Waste Pro’s Alachua trash and recycle pickup has, at this time, been moved to Saturday, September 28, 2024. Depending on transfer station availability, this may also be subject to change. Updates will be published as more information comes available. 

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***UPDATE: 9/24/2024 1:40 p.m.***

The Wayside Park sandbag location (11855 NW US HWY 441, Alachua, FL 32615) will be open and staffed today, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and again on Wednesday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. After staffed hours, sand, bags, and shovels will be available for self-service while supplies last.
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 10 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒. You MUST use CR 237 to access this location. Please obey all traffic directions by the crew members at this location.

 

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City officials continue to closely monitor Tropical Storm Helene and its potential impact to the City of Alachua and surrounding areas. Officials will publish updates regarding the storm, closures and other updates as information becomes available. 

Should you need to report a power outage, watch the following video first, then navigate to our Report a Power Outage page.

 

 

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