Alachua County has issued a partial evacuation order and opened shelters ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, which is poised to reach hurricane status before making landfall Monday morning.
The county called on those who live in mobile homes, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles and other vulnerable homes to evacuate Sunday, even as the storm’s track drifted further west. According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Debby is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the Big Bend region.
Alachua County has opened two pet-friendly shelters and one special-needs shelter.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center, 1028 NE 14th St., Gainesville (general population, pet-friendly)
- The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex, 24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry (general population, pet-friendly)
- Gainesville/Alachua County Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville (special needs)
- If you need transportation to the special needs shelter, call 352-955-2575 as soon as possible.
“We do encourage you to find other places to stay besides the shelters if you can, but if you can’t, the shelters are open to you,” Mary Alford, chair of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, said in a storm update on Sunday evening. “Please be safe and thoughtful in all that you do. If at all possible, stay off the roads and stay at home.”
The county also asked residents to be careful when approaching standing water, not to approach downed power lines, to remember that floodwaters can be contaminated with wastewater, and to follow all safety guidelines if operating a generator.
Alachua County expects to see Debby’s impact through prolonged rainfall, bringing 6-12 inches of rain to ground that is already saturated from this summer’s rain. If Debby slows down, Alachua County could receive as much as 12-20 inches of rain.
The heavy rainfall is expected to cause localized flooding and downed trees.
In a storm update on Sunday, the city of Gainesville reminded residents not to drive through flooded areas.
The county also expects tropical storm conditions, with a 65% chance of seeing at least 39 mph winds on Monday and Tuesday. Residents are advised to check their yards for anything that could be blown around or become a projectile in a storm.
The western half of the county is expected to receive the worst of the wind, according to Jen Grice, the county’s director of emergency management. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has forecast sustained winds of 20-30 mph, with gusts of 40+ mph.
The following government organizations have announced that their offices will be closed on Monday:
- Alachua County offices
- City of Gainesville offices
- Alachua County Public Schools and all district offices
- Alachua County Library District
- Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office
- City of Newberry offices
- City of Alachua offices
- City of Waldo offices
- Town of Archer offices
- City of High Springs offices
- Florida Department of Health in Alachua County
- Supervisor of Elections offices
- All city parks, including Ironwood Golf Course
The Supervisor of Elections has delayed the start of early voting for the 2024 primary election until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
All eight early voting locations will be closed on Monday, but early voting is still scheduled to end at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17.
All Alachua County Solid Waste & Resource Recovery facilities and operations will also be closed on Monday, including the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station, the Rural Collection Centers, the Hazardous Waste Collection Center, and administrative offices.
Residential waste collection services, including garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulky items, will not be conducted on Monday. Services are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, with all collections delayed by one day through the rest of the week.
Regular collection schedules should resume the following week.
For more information about solid waste and resource recovery, contact Gus Olmos at 352-338-3233.
RTS buses will still run their normal schedules on Monday until winds make it unsafe. RTS has waived fares for passengers traveling to shelters.
As of 5 p.m. Sunday, all county parks, preserves and boat ramps are closed. They will reopen after staff members check for storm damage and safety concerns.
Residents can monitor the U.S. National Weather Service website at weather.gov/jax for the latest storm information, including anticipated local impacts. You can find the latest National Weather Service briefing packet at https://tinyurl.com/NWSJAX.
Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area) for questions and rumor control.
Residents can sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay informed on disaster-related information specific to Alachua County.
Information on sandbags, closures, and other protective measures can be found at AlachuaCountyReady.com.