PALM BEACH COUNTY
* All Palm Beach County government offices are closed Tuesday.
* Palm Beach County Water Utilities said Monday that water is safe, and no restrictions on water usage. However, all customers (even if you have power) are asked to limit draining or flushing water until full power has been restored to the county. This includes limiting bathing, toilet flushing, dish washing and running any kinds of water down drains.
* All public schools are closed this week.
* All court operations are closed on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with the exception of first appearances which will take place at the Gun Club Criminal Justice Complex beginning at 9:30 a.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the North County Court Facility will be fully operational for court events. A decision regarding the resumption of court events at the main, South and West County Court facilities is pending and should be decided by Tuesday afternoon.
MAIL DELIVERY
USPS is attempting to restore retail and delivery operations throughout South Florida … Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Hendry and Glades counties where it is safe to do so. The USPS South Florida District Emergency Management Team, which includes Postal Inspectors, are assessing postal facilities to ensure they are safe to occupy. At this time, there is not a list of impacted Post Offices and/or ZIP Codes. Read more here.
COURTS
ALL courthouses in the 19th Judicial Circuit (i.e. Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties) open on Wednesday, Sept 13th.
VERO BEACH
Although a majority of Vero Beach lost power, residents did not to lose their water. Residents should make every effort to conserve water. NO BOIL WATER NOTICES were issued in Vero Beach. All bridges remain closed. Driver asked to stay off roads.
- NO ACCESS to the Barrier Island until our emergency crews have a chance to complete the assessment
- Numerous traffic lights are out: TREAT EVERY INOPERABLE INTERSECTION AS A FOUR WAY STOP
- Numerous street signs are down
- Abundance of debris (tree limbs) throughout the city
- No downed power lines observed
- No structural damage to buildings observed
BRIDGE CLOSURES
* The U.S. Coast Guard said Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River county bridges said all bridges were locked down at noon Friday. Lock down means cars can still drive over them, and will not go up for boats.
* DELRAY BEACH: Access to the barrier island restricted to residents.
* INDIAN RIVER COUNTY: The bridges to the barrier island remain CLOSED while the Department of Transportation conducts mandatory inspections. Please do not venture out on the county roads until the all clear has been issued by the EOC.
* MARTIN COUNTY (Stuart): The Old Roosevelt Draw Bridge will be closed on Friday at 2 p.m. There will be no draw bridge openings or bridge tender on-site.
*SAINT LUCIE COUNTY: Bridge in Fort Pierce to S. Hutchinson island open only to residents and business owners.
HOSPITALS
Good Samaritan Medical Center has suspended all services for the duration of the storm and all patients are being evacuated to sister hospitals that are further inland. Hospital officials say their focus is on the safety and security of our patients, employees, and physicians.”
FLORIDA KEYS
Monroe County will open re-entry into the Keys for residents and business owners in Key Largo, Tavernier and Islamorada at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Entry requires a yellow re-entry sticker or proof of residency or business ownership in those three cities. A roadblock will be put around Mile Marker 74, just before Sea Oates Beach where part of the road has washed out. An FDOT road crew will repair the road tomorrow.
Returning residents should consider that there are limited services. Most areas are still without power and water. Cell service is spotty. And most gas stations are still closed.
Mariners Hospital in Tavernier will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Crews are continuing to work to clear U.S. 1 as quickly as possible. FDOT has inspected all the bridges along U.S. 1. They cleared all the bridges to Mile Marker 16 as safe. They are waiting for reports on the safety of the remaining bridges.
